Alvin Ossip (’51), Delivery boy, Edro Photo
“I was 13 years old. It was during World War II, and there was a shortage of available workers. I made 60 cents per hour and learned I liked earning money. To land our jobs, a friend and I went to every office in every office building from 14th Street to 22nd Street.”
Stanley Becker (’55) Mailroom (again, here with first job out of College and after a two-year stint in the U.S. Army)
“I decided I wanted a career in show business and got a job in the mailroom of General Artist Corporation. I met some of the biggest stars in music and television and was one helluva go-fer. So good that I became Lenny Bruce’s special go-fer. All sorts of duties—none that would imprison me, but going to some of his nightclub engagements. He left me with the ability to be passionate about what I believed, enthusiastic about my beliefs, and trusting my innate sense of humor.”
George Gershon (’56), Newsboy
“I sold The Saturday Evening Post for 5 cents a copy in front the 184th Street and Overlook Terrace subway station. It was in 1936, and I was six years old. I made one penny for each sale. I learned that it took a lot of selling to make a buck.”
Richard Gorin (’61), Billing clerk, Able Slide Fastener Corp.
“It wasn’t my first job, but it was the job that Baruch helped me land. . . . I learned a lot about dealing with different types of people, including a boss who insisted that I learn how to multiply in my head, though the job also brought me proficiency with a 10-key calculator pad.”
Jeffrey Danowitz (’65), Helper on an A&P trash truck
“Sixteen years old, I learned two things: Beer is good. Burn your clothes.”
Rosalie (Kesten) Brinn (’72), Social worker, day care center
“I took this job because I needed work and a recession was on. I felt like I was placing a Band Aid on a cancer patient. The need was great and spaces in the day care system were sparse.”
Gail (Newberg) Kaufman (’77), Clerical work
“My first job was a clerical role in my uncle’s company, Electronic Equipment, on Long Island. I discovered that I liked organizing and working in a busy office environment. I didn’t like Long Island though. After that, my jobs were in Manhattan until I moved from New York.”
Frank Antonucci (’85), Part-time library worker
“My first paying job was at the Brooklyn Public Library, Kensington Branch, at East 5th Street and Ditmas Avenue. I remember how the staff members put me under their wing, taking the time to show me so much. I was 17 years old and wanted to know everything there was to know at the library. I learned about such specifics as cataloguing and shelving but also about the larger issues of customer service, security, building maintenance, and administration and payroll. All of these experiences were beneficial to my career as Baruch’s director of campus operations and administration.”
Susan Downes (’84), Assistant to celebrity photographer Ron Gallela (aka “the godfather of the U.S. paparazzi culture”)
“I thought I had died and gone to celebrity heaven. Seeing all those pictures before they made it into the magazines was very exciting!”
Christine Klusko (’05, MA ’07), Runner/waitress
“I learned how to listen and work as a part of a team. . . . Another lesson was the importance of tipping/generosity. Too often people forget how dependent workers can be on tips. Having been on the receiving end of this generosity, I try to be generous whenever possible.”
Shadia Sachedina (MSEd ’06), Waitress at Friendly’s
“I learned multitasking, dealing with irate customers, keeping track of orders, and keeping a positive perspective. I also learned that everybody has a story and that just because you had a rotten day yourself doesn’t mean it’s okay to treat the world in a rotten way.”
Brittany Hodak (MS ’10), Bumblebee mascot for a radio station
“I got hired at age 16 to wear this giant costume with my little skinny legs sticking out. In the costume, I had no peripheral vision, so I had to move my whole head and body to try to see. And I would constantly feel arms wrapping around my legs, as little kids ran up behind me. I learned a lot about parenting. Parents would try to make me hold their screaming kids so they could get a picture, and the kid would be terrified. I wonder how many photo albums I’m part of, in the state of Arkansas.”
Jane E. Herman (’12), Page, public library
“It was a terrific job for an avid reader and any downsides (mostly dusty books and unruly and rude patrons) were quickly erased by the perk of being placed at the top of the list to check out new, popular books before they were made available to the general public!”