I am an editor on the copy desk of a major metropolitan daily newspaper. Prior to coming here (New Orleans), I worked in various capacities at the farthest-north daily newspaper in the United States, in Fairbanks, Alaska. I was even a sports reporter for a time, covering things such as curling, ice hockey, women's volleyball.
In my college years, I worked several interesting jobs:
* Jack Daniel's distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee. I was there as a seasonal hire, working in the sawmill. We'd cut wood and then burn it, making the charcoal to filter the whiskey. What a great job! Full-time hires made something like $18 an hour at the time (mid-1990s), and the pace of work was, uh, relaxed. When the tour guide was asked by visitors how many people worked at the distillery, she would respond, "About half of them."
* State highway department in northern Indiana. We'd arrive at work at 7 a.m., clock in and head straight to breakfast. Typical state job. They'd send eight guys to patch a 12-inch pothole in the road. Two guys always combed the roads for major debris -- lots of 18-wheeler tire carcasses, and lots of animal carcasses. The smaller road kill, we'd pitch into the ditch on the side of the road. Larger animals we'd pick up, throw in the back of the truck, and deliver to the rendering plant. Found a lot of dogs, deer. Once found a badger that had been run over by a car. ("Only thing that'll kill it," said my crusty old co-worker.) One guy supposedly took home a turtle that had been smooshed and made stew out of it.
* Bartender. Great job. Met a ton of ladies, and everybody really likes the person selling them drinks. Paid better than entry-level journalism at the time. Hard on the liver, though.
Then again, so is journalism.
