What do you do for a living?

[hillcountry]

OK...I've just spent the last several weeks wrapping up a project that I've been working on for almost a year. I redesigned a research clinical data collection system, migrated all the data to a new database (Informix to Oracle), reconfigured the security model, went from a two tier client server model to a three tier thin client model, blah, blah, blah, blah (the details aren't that important). Anyway, even with the best planning, every software project that I've been on has always been completely exhausting by the time things go live. With each new system, I contemplate a career change. I'm still not sure where I went wrong. I got a degree in Economics and somehow ended up an IS Director and I don't even like computers!

Anyway, I was just wondering what other people did for a living and if they enjoy what they do?

[Tourmeister]

Howdy,

:tab Well let's see here. I spent seven years in undergrad. Three years were at a junior college taking all the basics and tons of electronics classes. Then I went to Tex A&M and spent five years getting an Aerospace Eng. Degree, just in time for the defense industry to go belly up. So I went to Law School and spent two years cramming three years worth of material into my head. I came back to Texas, passed the three day Bar Exam and went back into engineering :| The legal industry went into a nose dive right when I graduated. So now we see why I did not choose to be a professional surfer, I'd always be hitting the backside of the waves :mrgreen:

:tab The last ten years I have been a self employed engineer designing steel clamps for online leak sealing in refineries, power plants, and anything else with pipelines. It is a great job except for the fact that it is 24/7, 365 days a year :( I long for the days when I won't be carrying a pager and cell phone every where I go! My job has really awesome perks, but as usual, those are offset by some serious downsides. I NEVER know when or if work is coming in. It is impossible to plan my schedule around work. I won't know if I'm going to be busy until I am busy, and I won't know what time I'll get off each day until I walk out the door. The first eight years were great because I was making pretty good money which allowed me to pound down the Law School student loans of about $120K. :shock:

:tab As of the 9/11 terrorist attack, the entire leak sealing industry has just about ground to a halt. We have reduced our staff from eight to three and even that is hard to maintain. So unless something gives soon, I will probably be joining the ranks of people looking for new careers. This is why I am trying to get a motorcycle tour service started. At least then I will be doing something I enjoy!

:tab Somehow or someway, I'd like to earn a living doing something motorcycle related. The student loans have been greatly reduced so I am not a total slave to my income any more, which is a good thing because most of the people I've met making a living doing motorcycle stuff aren't rich :wink:

:tab I'd like to shed the light of reality on people that think being self employed is like running your company while sitting on the beach sipping a pinacolata. If you are self employed, typically you are the person that does the work. You are the one where the buck stops. You are the one that your customers want to deal with, even when you have other people working for you. Sure you can take off anytime you want, but you will also go out of business pretty fast if you do that. You will put in far more hours than you would working for someone else. The only good thing is that you will also be the one to reap the reward of that effort. The risk is high, but if things work, the rewards are great. If things don't work, there is no paycheck to fall back on. Keeping track of paperwork for tax purposes is a total pain in the A__!!!

:tab I'm not sure what I would consider my dream job? Anyone else?

[max955]

I read you loud and clear, Scott. I ran my own consulting business at the height of the tech boom and it was great, but it took over my life. :( Almost three years ago I quit doing that and took a salary job with a big company, just in time for the internet bubble to do it's whoopie-cushion impersonation. Lucky for me, I had already locked myself into a good job with a salary in proportion to the boom times. Couldn't have done that one better if I'd tried. :-D Yeah, I miss working for myself, but I don't miss the way I used to run myself ragged. And really, with the bennies I get from the company (which are fabulous, btw), I'm not any worse off than I was as an independent.

As for what I do now, I manage technical writers for a software company. I have some here in Austin, one in Europe, and some in India. It's a rough job, what with coordinating with dev teams all over the world, but seeing as how the economy is in the dumper right now I'm not about to complain. I've been very fortunate.

[hillcountry]

Every time I think I'd be better off on my own, I panic about health insurance. After I got out of the Air Force (right after Gulf war part I), I was unemployed and wife number 1 (I'm on number 2 now) didn't have health insurance at her job. One day, she didn't feel well and after being turned away from two hospitals (no insurance) she had emergency surgery. The hospital worked with us, but we came very close to becoming homeless (it wiped us out). After getting a job and facing several rounds of lay offs, I decided to become the "indespensible" guy around. It has saved me several times as well as landed me several promotions but I wonder if its been worth the toll. At my last job, I had my back operated on twice (thank you health insurance) and cut both recovery times short so that I could meet work-related deadlines, I went one stretch of 5 months without a single day off and then followed it a month later with an 8 month stretch without a day off. I thought I was having a stroke one day and decided it was time to leave (that's how I find myself in Texas now). I guess I'd rather find myself in this position than unemployed. Its easy to complain when my belly is full and the mortgage is being paid.

Many years ago while on a marketing trip, I got up early and was walking on the beach (Ft. Walton Beach) and saw a guy driving an ATV with a big fishing net. He would stop every once in a while, scoop up some trash, and then drive on. I think I want to be first in line for his job in my next life :-D

[elliott_p]

I started off as an Auto Tech at one of the big dealers here in town but after 8 years of that crap I had to get out. The heat in the summer and the cold in the winter sucked. Having people assume you're a crook (including Ford warranty claims adjusters) sucked. Being filthy all the time sucked. Did I mention that the job sucked? So I left, went back to school and am now doing IT support for the engineering dept of a telecom company here in Richardson. Been doing this for 5 years now and have survived 5 rounds of layoffs but the constant spectre of the one with my name on it is taking it's toll. With nowhere to go though, I'm pretty much just hanging in there and hoping for the best!

Oh well, gotta fuel this motorcycle habit with some kinda job...right?

[mrb]

I work with Jenna Jameson in the adult film industry. J/k :-D

I spent 10 years in Music went back to school during, got a Bachelor's in INSY, got certified on Cisco/Microcrap during the tech boom, and have been working in the industry for about 4 years now. I'm in Telecomm now (safer than a straight data company). I went from running boxes at layer 3, to layer 1 work but get paid considerably more? I'm happy to just have a job, even if the job sucks.

[Tourmeister]

I'm happy to just have a job, even if the job sucks.

Seems to be a lot of this going around lately :?

[AggieVFR]

I started off as an Auto Tech at one of the big dealers here in town but after 8 years of that crap I had to get out. Having people assume you're a crook (including Ford warranty claims adjusters) sucked. Being filthy all the time sucked.


I know EXACTLY what you mean. I was a Lincoln/Mercury technician for close to six years. During that time I saw my warranty labor operation times cut in half for the same jobs just so Ford could increase their profit. Everyone thinks you're a crook even if you're the only one in the shop with any scruples. I finally had enough and went back to school. I'm now at A&M working on a Mechanical Engineering Technolgy degree. I'm hoping with that and the Associates Degree I got through Ford's ASSET program at San Jacinto College will help me find a job as a field engineer of sorts. I got to work with quite a few of them finding fixes for epedemic problems on Navigators, Cougars, Lincoln LS, Mountaineers, etc. I found thier jobs quite interesting and challenging, so something along those lines would be great. As long as I'm not stuck in an office day after day after day, I shouldn't go too crazy... :wink:

At least working for Ford as a tech required me to amass a giant selection of tools for wrenching on my toys. :-D

[Dketchum]

I have spent the last 24 years of my life working for IBM.

Have done quite a few different jobs. Manufacturing, Engineering.
For the last 11 years I have been a Field Engineer on Large System Printers.

I have suvived 7 layoffs so far, relocated 5 times with them.
Believe there is another round of layoffs coming in June or July. Don't know if I will survive that one..I am a prime target..over 40 and over 20 years. 5.5 years away from retirement with them. :angryfir:

We shall see.

Dave

[buck000]

:eek: No wonder I kinda liked you from the getgo, Dave... My wife and I both started at IBM Lexington in '79. She's still with 'em in Austin, worrying about her own growing layoff bullseye... I left IBM end of '99 to go make million$ with Vignette as a code-slinger. That, er, didn't work out as planned. :angryfir: Found a job with a small software company making the World Wide Waste of Time safe for credit card shoppers :) .

[mlinkibikr]

I'm a finance guy with "Big Oil". Best thing I ever did was get into the international arena and work 28 on / 28 off rotational assignments in the World's "garden spots" (West Africa / Kazakhstan). The 28 off offered me the time I needed to enjoy some great bike rides. Part of that time I lived in Northern California which is sportbike Mecca.

Now I'm back in Texas doing the 9 to 5. Haven't been on a good long ride in a while, but hope dawns eternal. And it's kind of cool riding to work everyday.

Why an oil company? Dumb luck initially ... but I wouldn't change a thing. Job assignments change every 3 or 4 years (just when you start to get bored), locations to choose from are plentiful, and the people you work with come from all over the world and every imaginable background.

And there's always the chance to land another one of those 28/28 assignments !

[Tourmeister]

And there's always the chance to land another one of those 28/28 assignments !

So are you paid for 12 months? I'd go broke because I'd never be home during the 28 off! I seriously don't think I would be able to handle that much free time :eek: I recently traded emails with a guy from India that has a VFR 800. He was having trouble finding gas with high enough octane :( Anyway, he is a merchant marine, 4 months on, 4 months off!! He could spend the 4 months anywhere and bring the bike on his ship for transporting. Ohmigawd!! And to think I fantasize sometimes about teaching so I can have the summers off to ride ;-)

[LMFIRE629]

Howdey all

Looks like a good topic, and looks like there is alot of money being made here. (just kidding) I for myself come from a great "BROTHERHOOD" I am a second generation motorcyle rider and a second generation firefighter, I would like to thank my dad for both. I work in a small town just north of Galveston, and I would like to say that, I will never get rich at it, but it is steady work.
Great hours for small pay.

thanks guy's
John :chug:

[10-95]

Just a poor civil servant here. Have worked as a police officer for a little over 12 years and the last 2 years in motors.

Like the smoke-eater above, I'm not going to be rich but I'm safe from layoffs (crime is always going to be here), I've got good insurance and my paycheck is guaranteed every 2 weeks.

[hillcountry]

Well, I'm glad that you guys are around because after having a couple buddies of mine (volunteer fireman, and cop turned EMT) tell me some stories about their jobs and some of the people that they meet, I'll keep my computer job. Unless you can die from boredom, I'm at least safer here.

Bill