On "Gilmore Girls," Lorelai's first job was working as a maid. After leaving her parents' home as a teenager with baby Rory, Lorelai found shelter and employment at the Independence Inn in Stars Hollow.
The inn's manager, Mia Bass, gave Lorelai a chance when she had very little money or support. Lorelai and Rory initially lived in a converted potting shed behind the inn, making the job much more than a paycheck: it provided stability while Lorelai raised her daughter independently.
Lorelai eventually advanced from maid to manager and became a central part of the Independence Inn's operation. Her experience there also helped prepare her for opening the Dragonfly Inn with Sookie St. James years later.
A common mix-up is to answer "manager" because that is the position viewers most associate with Lorelai during the series. However, manager was a later promotion; her first job at the inn was as a maid.