The Edge for August 2025
Everyone remembers their first job – and the takeaways often last a lifetime. We asked members of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce to look back at their first jobs – and the surprising lessons that shaped their careers. Read article below.
I Was a Phlebotomist, and I’ll Never Forget It
My first job in health care was as a phlebotomist, and I’ll never forget it. Walking into a patient’s room, I had only a few seconds to introduce myself and earn their trust. It taught me that health care is about so much more than skill – it’s about compassion, patience, and connection. I learned to listen, to treat every person with respect, and to never take for granted the courage it takes for patients to put their care in our hands. Those lessons still guide me every single day.
– Deborah Visconi, President & CEO, Bergen New Bridge Medical Center
The Hello Kitty Store Taught Me Accounting Skills and People Skills
One of my first jobs was working at the Hello Kitty store in the Cherry Hill Mall when I was a teenager. I thought the Hello Kitty character was cute, so I liked the idea of working there. Often being the only employee in the store, I felt a tremendous sense of responsibility. The job nurtured both my accounting skills by making sales transactions and people skills by interacting with customers. While some of those customers could be difficult, I now appreciate what I learned about customer service and conflict resolution – skills that I use to this day.
– Diane Wasser, Managing Partner – Regions; Partner-in-Charge – New Jersey, EisnerAmper
As a Paper Girl, I Learned that Great Service Earns Loyalty – and Tips
My first paycheck came from a job that barely exists today. I was a paper girl for The News Tribune. For a student-athlete, it was the dream: riding your bike, tossing papers, and getting paid for it. I learned early that you don’t earn a dime until customers pay (hello, accounts receivable), punctuality is non-negotiable, and great service earns loyalty – and tips. Oh, and ink smudges on white clothes? My first “branding fail.” That route built grit, accountability, and hustle – the foundation for leading a brand-led marketing agency today.
– Debra Rizzi, President, Rizco
At an Icehouse, You Learn the Value of Workplace Safety and Environmental Regulations
I worked at an icehouse in Trenton for two summers after graduating from high school and following my freshman year in college. The first summer I helped a delivery driver on his routes delivering ice; the second summer I had an “inside” job cutting 300-pound cakes of ice and bagging the resulting cubes. The workers were a combination of full-time staff, students, local Trenton residents and convicts on work release. I learned a lot from my co-workers given the diverse backgrounds. I also learned the value of workplace safety and environmental regulations. To this day I still value the experience and remember the lesson from the plant engineer: “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.”
– Dennis Toft, Member & Chair, Environmental Law, CSG Law
As an Engineering Consultant, I Learned it Takes More than Technical Expertise to Succeed
My professional foundation was shaped while working at Structural Dynamics Research Corporation, my first role after completing doctoral study. As an engineering consultant, I worked with leading automotive and aerospace clients, traveling extensively in the U.S. and abroad. These formative experiences revealed that technical expertise alone is insufficient. Success requires fluency in power skills, also known as soft skills – teamwork, communication, grit, adaptability, time management, and integrity. This insight has guided my academic career, where I prioritize innovative, interdisciplinary, and entrepreneurial approaches to higher education.
– Teik C. Lim, President, New Jersey Institute of Technology
As a Teacher, I Learned About Patience, Treating People Well and to Never Take Myself Too Seriously
I’m a lawyer now but before law school I worked as a middle school teacher in a few different schools. That was a tough job – in many ways, tougher than being a lawyer. While I left teaching behind, and while dealing with other lawyers is (mostly) not like dealing with seventh graders, I do think there’s some overlap: the need for patience; the underrated value of treating people as individuals; and the importance of not taking myself too seriously.
– Joshua S. Levy, Director, Business & Commercial Litigation, and General Counsel, Gibbons P.C.
Frying Chicken in a Chaotic Environment Taught Me Street Smarts
My first job was at Kentucky Fried Chicken in Welwyn Garden, UK, frying 75 whole chickens a day – each cut into nine pieces. Using logic and math, I figured out how to finish in three hours while getting paid for six at 50 cents an hour. What stands out most are the drunken young customers who often caused fights, and the many times I burned my hands in hot oil. That tough, chaotic environment taught me more than just cooking – it taught me how to be street-smart.
– Ali A. Houshmand, President, Rowan University
My First Accounting Job Taught Me to Show Up on Time and be Prepared
My first professional job was as an accountant at a regional firm. It taught me to work with diverse personalities, manage clients and stay organized. Each engagement had deadlines and follow-ups, which led me to develop checklists – a habit I still rely on today. What I remember most are the people – many relationships lasted well beyond that job. The biggest lesson that’s stuck with me: Show up on time and be prepared. It’s a simple principle that’s guided my career ever since.
– Theresa Hinton, COO, NJCPA
Unloading Trucks Taught Me Humility and Taking Instructions
One of my first jobs was loading and unloading trucks in a warehouse in Central Jersey. It was hard work. More than anything, the job taught me humility, importance of following rules and taking instructions from those who had more experience. The real value of the job was working with a gentleman named Woody, who had no education beyond 6th grade. Still, Woody imparted countless lessons on me, from respecting people, to showing up on time, to putting in an honest day’s work. He would let me make mistakes, then patiently correct me, without judgment. He always said that “being smart is good, but knowing things is better.” I think of him often and continue to apply his wisdom in my everyday life.
– Paul J. Di Maio, President and CEO, Delta Dental of New Jersey, Inc.
At Morgan Stanley, I Learned to Navigate the Pressure of Real-Time Decision-Making
Starting my career in the fixed income sales and trading division at Morgan Stanley was transformative. I learned how to analyze complex data, respond to shifting market conditions, and communicate effectively with clients. I was exposed to the mechanics of bond pricing, credit risk, and liquidity management, all while navigating the pressure of real-time decision-making. This role taught me how interconnected the economy and consumer behavior is to geopolitical tensions, trade disputes, emerging technologies and elections. It has helped me to best advise my clients as they make decisions that ensure growth and long-term viability of their institutions.
– Dale Favors, Managing Partner, Adaptive Growth Leadership
The Navy Instilled in Me a Team-Based Approach
In 1989, I was commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy upon graduation from Cornell University. During the next four years, I served onboard the USS Kauffman (FFG 59) out of Newport, Rhode Island, during Desert Storm and the end of the Cold War. My experience in the Navy taught me the importance of effective leadership informed by a clear vision, mission, and values; of building and sustaining effective teams; and taking care of your sailors. These learnings have shaped the team-based approach I use as a scientist and administrator at Rutgers University.
– Michael E. Zwick, Senior Vice President for Research, Rutgers University
My Job at McDonalds Taught Me to Jump In Wherever Help is Needed
My first job was at McDonald’s, where I started on the grill and eventually became a crew chief. I was proud to be named ‘Employee of the Month’ three times. But what stuck with me most wasn’t the recognition – it was the teamwork. You learn quickly that no one can serve a busy lunch rush (or the 99-cent Big Mac promotion) alone. Everyone has to do their part, and sometimes you need to jump in wherever the help is needed. That lesson – rolling up your sleeves, supporting the team and staying calm under pressure – still guides how I lead today.
– Jon Hirschfeld, New Jersey Office Managing Partner, PwC
