Company: Superior Coffee, a producer of coffee products in Chicago.
Salary: $13 per hour
Time on this job: 21 years
Previous jobs: I was a quality inspector for six years at another company.
Age: 45
Education: Four years of high school in Wroclaw, Poland
How I got this job: A friend told me Superior was looking for a packer, so I applied.
Why I took this job: I liked working with machines, and I was interested in learning something new.
Main responsibilities: I work on the packaging line at Superior’s coffee roasting plant, using a computerized machine to package different blends of coffee into various size packages. I tell the machine what to do through the computer, so the coffee is properly packaged. I type in the weight and length of the package, the weight of the coffee and the number of packages per box. The machine then packages the coffee according to the data I entered. I make sure everything is done correctly, and then the boxes go to the shipping department. Before computers, I was packaging by hand using an old-fashioned scale–putting an empty package on one side of the scale and coffee on the other. Today, I use a high-speed machine that makes my job easier and more efficient.
Best thing about the job: I enjoy learning on the job, and I work with nice people.
Worst thing about the job: I love everything about my job. There’s no downside.
My ideal next job: I’m in my ideal job.
Advice for job seekers in this field: Don’t be afraid to learn something new. Once you learn a new skill and get used to it, it’ll be a piece of cake. Most importantly, you should be happy in your job.
