I used to be an ear-piercing specialist when I was 16, and had to pierce babies’ ears. It was horrendous. I had to practise on my friends – several have misplaced piercings.
The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 28 November 2020 source ↗
The question
What is the worst job you have ever had?Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
The Guardian's long-running Q&A repeatedly asks this standing question, with minor tense variation.
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Others on this question
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Kevin Rowland
British singer
I worked in the stores of Edgware hospital when I was about 17, and it was grey and depressing.
Double-glazing sales when I was about 16 – on the phone, cold calling. Horrendous.
Rosanna Arquette
American actress
A really bad film for no money: the director had no idea what he was doing and I was wondering: why am I here?
Julie Hesmondhalgh
English actress and narrator
I cleaned for a very posh lady in Knightsbridge who made me handwash her knickers. I’d advertised myself in The Lady as a dog walker, so I’m not sure how I ended up there.
More from Steph McGovern
View profile →For Good, from the bit in Wicked the Musical where the two witches go their separate ways. The lyrics are about people coming to your life for a reason, who might not stay very long, but there’s a reason they’ve played a part in your life. I well up thinking about it.
A poster for The Godfather, my favourite film, signed by Marlon Brando, Al Pacino and everyone. I got drunk at a children’s charity auction and started buying everything!
Some famous people. I am not giving you names.
Scary, because when you really love, it means that you are really scared of losing it as well.
As a good friend.
At the beginning of lockdown; it was just me and my new baby and my partner in the house. It was lovely.
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