#Age17: Tutoring and guarding malls, Twitter users talk first jobs

NEW DELHI: Tutoring, selling kerosene on the black market, working as a security guard in a mall -- the first jobs were not glamourous and brought a modest income. But first pay-cheques, no matter where they are earned, are always a critical step in one’s professional life. On Wednesday, Twitter users reminisced about their first jobs and pay-cheques on the micro-blogging site, gathering the posts by tagging them with “#Age21” and later, “#Age17”.

In a response to a query posted on Twitter, ostensibly for research, hundreds of Twitter users shared their first salary and when they received it.

For many, it was a private tutoring job which earned them their first salary. Others recounted earning their first pay doing odd jobs at shops and offices. One had worked as a security guard at a mall; another, as a data-entry operator; and a third was a helper at a pharmacy. Many also shared that their first income was from internship opportunities and other jobs they bagged at a young age. Some made decent wages; some earned pitifully small amounts from odd-jobs or as salespersons.

However, very few Twitter users mentioned the year they started working making any analysis of how salaries have changed near-impossible. Also, given how India’s education system is structured, 21 is the age at which many are expected to graduate college. At 17, most students are in high-school, Class 11 or 12.

Here are some of the experiences people tweeted.

Odd jobs

One worked at a pet fish shop at age 14 earning Rs 2 for every four-hour shift -- it is not clear which year this was. Another student worked as an office assistant at 18 and during the Class 12 summer vacation, earning Rs 5,000.

First salary : 5000/-
Age : 18
Source : I used to work as an office assistant during the 12th Class summer vacation.

Please do not go for a call center job, work as an assistant job in the office that you like to do business or high profile job in future.

experience will work. https://t.co/VdzBh6mLDP

— ? (@VIKASIISM) November 18, 2020

Age 14. Worked in a pet fish shop, part time and i packed worms and fish food. Salary was Rs. 2 for every 4 hour shift i worked. https://t.co/znSlX2eRE9

— Muttai Bajji (முட்டை பஜ்ஜி) (@muttabajji) November 17, 2020

750 as Data Entry Operator in 96’ https://t.co/kBgM2ys1eA

— IndianDa - HINDU (@jkgche) November 17, 2020

I started with 350/-pm
as a sales representative for an Interior decorator, I was 21yrs.
I became an Interior decorator
myself after 4 yrs. Started Export
business after 5 years.Stayed
abroad for almost 28 yrs. At present retired from business but teaching English..? https://t.co/AIFmGT3cbL

— Thakur Anil Singh (@KunwarAneel3) November 17, 2020

First income - ₹400
Source - Security Guard at a mall
Age - 18 https://t.co/tJUNLOpmCw

— nilesh kaushik (@Nileshfriendly) November 18, 2020

First salary: 1000
Age:20
Source:theatre play assist director https://t.co/7IcAO7jaAw

— Zaid Ansari (@TheZaidAnsari) November 17, 2020

In 13-14 yr of age earned around Rs. 400/- weekly by selling kerosene in the black market. ?? https://t.co/oJpkGkqhUm

— Bring Back TI (@Luca_Braasi) November 17, 2020

My first salary was 3000, working as a worker in kirana store at the age of 17. https://t.co/xdrL7ZoLyc

— Vikas Nagar (@VikasNishad1422) November 17, 2020

Tutors

A large number said that they began earning by privately tutoring school children. Many recounted their first job as a tutor which began at age 16 for some. Sixteen, incidentally, is when many students graduate Class 10 -- the first major public school exam -- and join the senior secondary level, or Class 11.

Income : 2k per month
Source : Teaching Economics & Maths to school kids as private tutor.
Age : 18 https://t.co/MlwXNNcOQ0

— Anjali Lal (@AnjaliLal14) November 17, 2020

First Salary: Rs. 1100
Source: Tution
Age: 17!! https://t.co/CtmUaMOz4H

— Abhay (अभय) Mishra (@AbhayMitrust) November 17, 2020

First Salary - ₹500
Source- Tuition
Age-16 #FirstSalary

Going with trend? https://t.co/i7VreCHl2Z

— Priya Dubey (@Priyadubey94) November 17, 2020

First Salary : 500/ month.
Job: Part time Tutor
Age:21 https://t.co/sbAosNfcem

— codingbitz (@inttam) November 18, 2020

Stipend

Research fellowship and grants while studying in a university is also a source of first incomes for students.

First Salary : Rs. 12,400
Age : 21
Source : Stipend given by @EduMinOfIndia while studying at @iitmadras :) https://t.co/l8RpVaGUZ8

— KITTU (@im_KPS) November 18, 2020

Rs 5000
Age: 22
Fellowship #JustAskingForReaseachPurpose https://t.co/144RFhUfmO

— Bhartiya Vaigyanik 2.0 (@Vagyanik2_0) November 17, 2020

Internship

Internships are most crucial for learning and gaining experience right at the beginning of one’s career. For many, paid internships fetched them their first salaries.

First Income: 10,000
Source: Internship
Age: 23

Felt so good that started going to brewery instead of pubs. ? https://t.co/nFFT0Pxbgl

— pranav (@pranav_72) November 17, 2020

6000/-
intern
18 yo https://t.co/9gMyP2x4o3

— shawarma (@followkarnare) November 17, 2020

First Income: ₹8000
Source: Internship at a start up (Vaagmi Inc.)
Age: 24 https://t.co/81sxY5jvSh

— Srinath | శ్రీనాథ్ ?? (@SrinathNagella) November 17, 2020

480 Stipend, Circa 1995, Trainee Chef. https://t.co/WRwBmrBPQs

— Bina blue tick wale dusht (@PiousKaffir) November 18, 2020

First Salary(Stipend): Rs.7500
Source: Articleship Training
Age: 20 years https://t.co/E3K7VAyECe

— Sagar Aggarwal (@AggarwalSagar) November 18, 2020

Also read:

• Over 300 offers made in IIT Delhi’s virtual internship hiring season
• Online Placements: How COVID-19 disrupted job drives across campuses

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