What is your job?

[Brian Krashpad]

I'm an attorney.

My firm only does legal research and writing for other attorneys. So that includes opinion letters, trial-level pleadings, contracts and agreements, appellate briefs, and even the occasional ghost-written bar journal article.

But no layperson clients and no court. That stuff would drive me batsh*t fast.

Plus I wouldn't be able to wear t-shirts, shorts, and Converse to work.

 

[ibanezjunkie]

1. lifting stuff for money

2. voluntary musical entertainer (hope to be paid for this one day!)

 

[just strum]

1. lifting stuff for money

I'm not sure how you are using that, but in the States that is meant as stealing for a living - literally.

 

[aeolian]

I am a hardware and software design engineer.

In the mid 1970s I started working for a well-known semiconductor company designing integrated circuits. Part of my design was used in the first IBM personal computer.

After about 8 years I quit and ended up being a founding member of an electronics design automation company. We produced a software product that helps circuit board designer simulate their design before they spend money building their board. After 10 years the company was bought and I left shortly afterward.

Although we were pretty successful with this startup we decided that we gave away too much of the company, so a few of us started another company with our own money. Unfortunately lightning did not strike twice, and after 7 years we called it quits.

I then ended up at another electronics design automation company working on a tool to help chip designer debug their design on a chip. I've been here now for over 8 years and thoroughly enjoy what I'm doing. We used a lot of new ideas and so far 2 have been granted patent rights with a couple more in the pipeline.

 

[ibanezjunkie]

what i mean was

like, freight lifting, moving stuff around, unloaded lorries. etc.

i might have some immoral views on certain things, and ive done my fair share of dirty deeds, but im no criminal.

 

[just strum]

and ive done my fair share of dirty deeds, ...

Done dirt cheap.

(couldn't resist)

 

[sunvalleylaw]

I'm an attorney.

My firm only does legal research and writing for other attorneys. So that includes opinion letters, trial-level pleadings, contracts and agreements, appellate briefs, and even the occasional ghost-written bar journal article.

But no layperson clients and no court. That stuff would drive me batsh*t fast.

Plus I wouldn't be able to wear t-shirts, shorts, and Converse to work.

Sometimes I think I would like to re-invent my practice that way. I like helping people, but the business aspects of a small general practice make it challenging at times. Plus, as a former appellate clerk and law review geek (ok, I tried to be the guy on law review that was not a geek), I love research and writing. In small town general practice, one does not often get a chance to do much of it at the level I prefer.

 

[Gil Janus]

• 62-66 USAF Weapons Control System Tech - worked on F-101B/Fs
• 66-72 Computer Systems Tech for Control Data Corporation
  Worked on many different systems, specialized in exotic gear
  such as high-speed drums, and computer communication equipment
• 72-00 Computer Software Engineer for New York University
  Worked on many different types of computer communication equipment
  and systems, including custom hardware interfaces
  Worked on very early time-sharing systems
  Worked on ARPAnet and the follow on IP/TCP projects (which became the Internet)
  Worked on Internet-2, a really high-speed version of the internet
• Retired, then helped to start a new Computer/Network Management Company
• 00-06 Network and Software Engineer for IP-Soft
  Retired for good

Now I'm just a retired, lazy hippie bum who's re-learning the guitar!

I used to tell folks that I was a specialist in getting folks to communicate using computers - networks weren't known about by the general public :thwap: People would say - who would want to do that :whatever:

Gil

 

[Rocket]

Now I'm just a retired, lazy hippie bum...

+1

 

[bek]

Powerhouse operation/system dispatching for a major US City over 31 years. They're trying to fire me a month before my optimum retirement date. Maybe one of you lawyers could help!

 

[street music]

With all the lawyers and criminals we have, I think we could come up with jurors for our own court

 

[birv2]

Middle School teacher: computers and history. I've taught pretty much every age from beginning reading to adult ed over my 30 years in the trade.

 

[bigoldron]

Computer tech in a small school system, which entails working on computers, projection units, and many other kinds of technology. Also training over-educated idiots (teachers & admins), covering everyone's butt when they don't know what they're doing, running sound for our elementary auditorium, pulling cable when needed, running electrical circuits when convenient, doing data entry when no one else will, doing paperwork, sweeping floors, taking out the trash, cleaning the bathrooms, etc. (OK, so I don't sweep floors, take out the trash and clean the bathrooms.) :thwap:

We have 2 schools and the board office, 850+ computers, about 50 interactive whiteboards and projectors, approximately 125 networked printers, 1,625 students, about 200 employees, and 2 "technology specialists". Needless to say, my co-worker and I stay busy. Most of the time, I tell people that I'm a firefighter, 'cause most of my day is spent putting out somebody's fire. :whatever:

 

[Mr Grumpy]

I am a workshop supervisor at the UK national repair centre of one of the worlds largest forklift manufacturers, looking after a small team of technicians and the northern UK rental fleet of about 500 machines. Used to be a techician myself, prior to which I worked as an electrical engineer for a large bus company. I still keep my hand in 'on the trucks', whenever I can get away from the phone calls and the targets/kpi's, emails and exel spreadsheets which form the basis of my day these days..............

 

[markb]

Semi-retired IT techie majoring in Microsoft products. This explains why I'm burnt out and a Mac user at home

Also semi-pro musician and sound tech. This means I'm paid about half what I'd like

 

[Geraint Jones]

I`ve been fixing planes since I was seventeen and I`d still like someone to explain to me how they get off the ground.

 

[WackyT]

I work on the IT Helpdesk of an emergency medical company.

 

[tjcurtin1]

I have the best job in the world. I teach at a Waldorf school, where today I graduated my 8th grade class after having started with them in first grade. They are beautiful human beings and it has been a great honor to accompany them on their journey. They are also good musicians - at graduation they performed a beautiful arrangement of 'Ashokan Farewell' we worked up for soprano, alto and tenor recorders, cello and two guitars. Next year I get to go back to first grade and do it again!

EDIT: Sorry if that opening line sounds obnoxious - I was pretty high that day!

 

[ZMAN]

I am CEO of Stewart Investments Inc. I have a large portfolio of investments that I manage.
For myself!
Actually I have been retired for 5 years from an Accounting job with a large Canadian Steel manufacturer.
My actual job is having a blast with my childrens inheritance!

 

[sunvalleylaw]

I have the best job in the world. I teach at a Waldorf school, where today I graduated my 8th grade class after having started with them in first grade. They are beautiful human beings and it has been a great honor to accompany them on their journey. They are also good musicians - at graduation they performed a beautiful arrangement of 'Ashokan Farewell' we worked up for soprano, alto and tenor recorders, cello and two guitars. Next year I get to go back to first grade and do it again!

That sounds like a great job! :AOK: :AOK:

 

[piebaldpython]

I have the best job in the world. I teach at a Waldorf school, where today I graduated my 8th grade class after having started with them in first grade. They are beautiful human beings and it has been a great honor to accompany them on their journey. They are also good musicians - at graduation they performed a beautiful arrangement of 'Ashokan Farewell' we worked up for soprano, alto and tenor recorders, cello and two guitars. Next year I get to go back to first grade and do it again!

So, you have them ALL 8 years? WOW, I never heard of that. That can be very rewarding......OR.....hell on earth, depending on the kids.

 

[tjcurtin1]

So, you have them ALL 8 years? WOW, I never heard of that. That can be very rewarding......OR.....hell on earth, depending on the kids.

Yep, 4 of them have been with me since first grade, and the rest for from 2 to 5 years, having joined us along the way. It's a brilliant part of the Waldorf curriculum in my experience. The class becomes a kind of family. It can be challenging and demanding work, but I've never found it onerous. When you know that a child will be with you for 8 years, it creates a different expectation for you both, an incentive - a need - to find a way to meet that child and to find a way to love them. It's usually not hard - kids are naturally wonderful people and can stay that way if you give them good experiences and protect their childhood from being overwhelmed by the pressures of contemporary culture. Actually, a lot depends on the parents and their willingness to work with the program!

 

[pes_laul]

I do whatever makes me money. though giving guitar lessons has been giving me a good chunk of money. :dude:

 

[Rx Tone]

Working guitar tech.
13 years pro touring nationwide, plus 2 European tours. Over a thousand shows.
Have passport, tools and extensive experience.Will travel.References available.
Airport 40 minutes away.

When I'm not on the road I perform complete guitar repair and restorations in my own shop. (except paint/refinishing). References available.

27 years as a Union and non union stagehand

Also, if/when I'm not touring I work as a stagehand for the New Orleans Arena (a few of the shows this year: Metallica, Eagles, Britney, New Kids, Kenny Chesney, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Kid Rock, etc.... and day before yesterday Coldplay.Next week Fleetwood Mac.

I also work for the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra as a stagehand during their season when not touring..

 

[Monkus]

Working guitar tech.
13 years pro touring nationwide, plus 2 European tours. Over a thousand shows.
Have passport, tools and extensive experience.Will travel.References available.
Airport 40 minutes away.

When I'm not on the road I perform complete guitar repair and restorations in my own shop. (except paint/refinishing). References available.

27 years as a Union and non union stagehand

Also, if/when I'm not touring I work as a stagehand for the New Orleans Arena (a few of the shows this year: Metallica, Eagles, Britney, New Kids, Kenny Chesney, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Kid Rock, etc.... and day before yesterday Coldplay.Next week Fleetwood Mac.

I also work for the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra as a stagehand during their season when not touring..

Dream Job !!!!!!

 

[Rx Tone]

Dream Job !!!!!!

Yeah, I guess.
I made the "mistake" of having a career that I love versus a career that is stable, has benefits, insurance, 401k, paid vacations, etc...

It's tough when you work entirely at the whim of musicians. THEY have to decide that they need a tech. Nobody can tell them anything.

..and there's 2 things, I've found, that EVERBODY knows.
One is whatever it is they do for a living..and the other is guitars.EVERYBODY is an expert...no experience required.
I charge an extra $20.00 for people that start a sentence with " I read on the internet that......"

"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free and good men die like dogs.
There is also a negative side."
Hunter S. Thompson

 

[Rx Tone]

...and then out of the blue this appears on my itinerary:

AUGUST, 2009
Festival du Chant Marin. Paimpol, Brittany. FRANCE

Can't complain about that.

 

[evenkeel]

Late to the party but a fascinating thread!! Great idea Robert. :bravo:

Graduated college in 1975 with a degree in Art History, what was I thinking. :thwap: Generally muddled around a few years working in a gallery and teaching skiing in NH. In the early stages of the running boom I opened a running store. Usual small business story, underfunded, worked 24/7 trying to keep it open. Lots of mistakes. I was running for a athletic shoe company, Saucony, and when the store went belly up went to work for them in marketing/product development. Eventually wound up at adidas as marketing director for the track and feld division. Then moved over to the dress casual side of the shoe business with jobs at Bally and Cole-Haan. Left Cole-Haan to go cruising and semi retired. During our cruising years Mrs Keel and I feel into a job with an event company in Annapolis. We produce a variety of boat show events in the Annapolis/D.C. area. I'm the Operations Manager and Mrs. Keel handles temp hiring and purchasing. Our flag ship event is the Annapolis Sail and Power boat show which celebrates it's 40th year this October.

 

[Monkus]

I made the "mistake" of having a career that I love versus a career that is stable, has benefits, insurance, 401k, paid vacations, etc...

How can it be a "mistake" when you do what you love? We should all be so lucky...

And to top it all, ur gigging in France ?!?!?!?

Dream Job !!!

 

[TS808]

I worked 21 years in addictions treatment and forensic psychology...my undergrad degree and first master's are both in psychology. I started as a therapist and eventually wound up managing two outpatient treatment programs.

In 1997 I went back for a second masters degree in management, and eventually left the addictions treatment field and managed an international psychiatric research study on childhood-onset depression. That was federally funded so the grant was set to expire after being there 4 years.

I now work at a large university managing a department that has to review and approve ALL of the research that is conducted at the university, and university medical centers. We review 6500 research studies a year and have to make sure they are ethical, scientifically sound, and adhere to federal regulations pertaining to human subject research.