First Job

sales assistant / shoe shop

The first job I had was a sales assistant in a shoe shop.

A 'sales assistant' is a person that works in retail store and tries to sell things to customers.  A 'shoe shop' is a place that sells shoes. Notice the following:

1. I need to find a sales assistant to get me the right size.
   
2. If I had a job in a shoe shop, I would spend all of my money on shoes.
   

gone out for lunch

By the time I'd gone out for lunch and taken the bus home, I had no money left.

When you 'go out for' breakfast, lunch or dinner you go to a restaurant to eat. Notice the following:

1. Where do you want to go out for lunch.
   
2. I went out for lunch with her last week.
   

end of the month

I always got paid at the end of the month.

The 'end of the month' is around the 29th, 30th or 31st of each month. She says that she received her money on one of these final days of the month. We can use the phrase 'end of the _____' with any set length of time like day, year, week, etc. Notice the following:

1. He is finished working here at the end of the month
   
2. She will be gone until the end of the month.
   

last

How long did you last at this job?

Used like this, 'last' has a similar meaning to survive or stay. Notice the following:

1. She wouldn't last a day doing your job.
   
2. I only lasted about 10 minutes running today.
   

closed down

The first company I worked for closed down.

If a company 'closes down' they no longer continue to sell things or provide services.  Companies close down many times because they are not making enough money to pay for everything. Notice the following:

1. They had to close down after the health inspectors came.
   
2. That restaurant actually closed down a few years ago.