[Closed] What is (or would be) your vocation?

Almost. I am currently staying with my parents, and writing a book on shamanism and natural plant hallucinogens. However, unless I find a publisher, and it sells in the millions, as Carlos Casteneda did, I will have to get a job. After saying that, I am also just finishing my MSc, which I hope to help me move into a much more rewarding job in sustainability and development, as opposed to gambling which is what i was doing before.

Anaesthesia & intensive care, I think. I've never seriously thought about doing anything else since it became apparent my eyesight was too poor to join the RAF as aircrew. While the appeal does sometimes wear thin at 0300, it really is the best job in medicine by a country mile.

Though I did consider respiratory medicine for about 5 minutes when I was a chest SHO in 2003.

Andy (MBChB FRCA)

"Fellow of the Royal Chartered Accountants" ❓

Medicine might have ben my calling, too late to find out now.

Ah yes, saw your other thread on teaching... guess you knocked that one on the head. 😉 In empathy, I've done this exercise and come to similar conclusions. I've never known what I wanted to do ... still don't. To the casual observer I have lots of qualifications & a career.. but I know it's really just a complete charade, cause I would drop it all like a shot if I could only find 'the thing'. But you know, you run for so long with your head down thinking it's what you are meant to be doing, that it's only when you surface and really, really start to look at who you are, and what you are doing, and why you are doing it that these questions arise. For me, that is itself a turning point, cause at least you are now aware/awake and actively looking...

Oops post lunch dip, could ramble on but won't! Don't worry you are not alone. 🙂 Oh and in answer to your question ... obviously I don't know!

Really wish I had stuck in and become a Pilot...although I think there are a few too many rules which I would cut corners on so maybe for the best.

I would have liked to have worked with teenagers in sport as a coach of something or PE teacher.

However I was sitting here last week and looking out of window and it twigged..... I want to be a council grass cutter on those ride on mowers, the one i was watching was having a grand time.

I'm just back from my vocation. Cracking tan lines.

IGMC

Imminent parenthood does that to you! I rode into the middle of nowhere just before my first was born and sat on a wall for ages just taking stock of my life. Once I’d stopped blubbing I went home and became a dad.

Regarding my calling… Having dipped my toe in it (up to my neck) I’d become a full time MTB events organiser if it would cover the bills. Sadly it doesn’t.

"Fellow of the Royal Chartered Accountants"

Medicine might have been my calling, too late to find out now."

[url= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FRCA ]
WIYF[/url] - Fellow of the Royal College of Anaesthetists.

It's not necessarily too late; quite a few places are now doing medicine as a four-year degree for graduates, & there was a bloke in his fifties doing his pre-reg year in the North East a couple of years ago.

Andy

Yeah, just kicking the ideas round in my head.

I have no real objectio to what I currently do (lawyer), but often wonder if it is really what i want to do. I guess I feel as all soon-to-be parents do: I want my child to do whatever they want, and not what they think they should do. I did the latter.

Had I followed my heart when younger, I'd have been a journalist. Lawyering pays better, but my god it can kill the creative spirit.

ratherbeintobago - medicine has crossed my mind, but I can't afford now to stop earning.

I think I've found my vocation: I'm a dreamer, not a do-er. 😉

Filthy rich indolence.

I am a civil engineer, I just graduated last year. I like my job, it's well paid, the hours are a bit long but the other benifits are good. Long weekend every month and 6 1/2 weeks holiday a year plus bank holidays, health insurance dentist, car, share plan and pension etc....

However I also have this feeling that it's not what I actually want to do.

My back up option is a post grad medicine degree, as apart from teaching, it's the one thing I always wish I did.

I genuinely wanted more than anything to be a doctor, but reality caught up with me at/after A-levels and I had to settle for getting a Biochemistry degree instead.

Then sanity caught up with me and I realised that Biochemistry was both dull and paid badly, so I went into IT where, after far too long, I've got to where the work is interesting again. Surprisingly, it took joining the TA to do a job similar to the one I do outside the Army to make me enjoy it again, so I think my real vocation was probably to be in the armed forces.

I did try to get in before now I have to add, but didn't manage to get in to either the RAF or the AAC on my last attempts.

OMITN - Ive had similar thoughts, but from a position of comfort in what I do. As a freelance consulatnt I own my time much mor ethan one could as a salaried employee. I work only the hours I need to give me a comfortable income, the rest of the time I can explore other skills and interests (currently building my own house 4 days a week)

After the house is finished I'll pick something else to do with my time. [url= http://c-fury.com/ ]Selling boats is taking the lead at the moment...[/url]

ratherbeintobago - Member
It's not necessarily too late

Thanks but not sure I could stomach more uni - retrained in law 7 years ago, still paying off the loan, need to be getting a pension together rather than more debt etc. Am giving psychology some thought though, seems you can retrain in 2 yrs of nightschool. That would be my 3rd degree tho!.

EDIT an ex did anaesthetics, sounded exciting.

I wanted to be.....

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lumberjack![/url]

I actually really wish I was too...

I work only the hours I need to give me a comfortable income, the rest of the time I can explore other skills and interests

I either haven't found the right level yet to permit me to choose, or have too much of an expensive lifestyle. Both, I think.

I like the idea of a "portfolio" career. I suspect it's the Mr Toad part of my nature - taken fervently with one thing, and then violently with another. Iim sure I follow my grandfather, a man who described himself as a "sipper and taster of life".

Hmm when I was young I wanted to be a Farmer or an Engineer - preferably an Engineer working on cars.

I gave up on Farming as my friends farm seemed to show there was very little money in Farming (no matter how satisfying it was).

So I became an Engineer. An Apprentice at first, then did my Degree part-time at 30'ish. Got myself a job designing car brakes and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Made a move to a car manufacturer and I'm very happy with my 'vocation'.

Not quite as simple as that sounds but that's the gist of it 😆

I knew Stoner the artisan builder would be in this thread somewhere 🙂

I was born to be a programmer with a sideline in being annoying

Id like to do more conservation type work or maintaining and building trails failing that whisky tasting would be good or custard pie thrower (are you reading this mr clegg) 😉

farmer or vet, the former would only work if you could inherit a farm as there's no money to be made tenant farming and the latter was a problem as my bad attitude at school prevented me getting the grades at school.

ourmaninthenorth, I too am taken with the portfolio career, but get the impression that it pays very little, considering capitalism is based for the most part on job specialization.
did your sipper and taster grandad end up rich? if so I may reconsider

[i]with a sideline in being annoying[/i]

You do put the hours in, fair play to you fella... 😀

badnewz - no, he was always impoverished, but died happy (I barely knew him, mind you). He also had an idle streak (which I tend to), which probably restricted his willingness to flog himself.

Sensible chap.

My other grandfather came from a very wealthy family, but ran away, was disowned/disinherited and worked as a waiter, dying (while still working) in his 80s.

I need to consider my strategies carefully..!

I too am taken with the portfolio career, but get the impression that it pays very little,

I find mine pays a great deal, hence I only need to "work" 10-20 hours a week on the day job. (My day job is a specialism though) But with another 50+ hours a week of productivity spare to distribute between other activities and family there's more than enough to try out new jobs etc.

DD - building work is much more fun when it isnt your bread & butter 😉

Problem solving and creative thinking are my vocation. I want to work for a think-tank.

If you've got any problems or things that need thinking of - I'm definitely your man.

Stoner - what area?

commercial real estate and financial analysis/modelling cross over. Not many of us around.

Spose my job is what springs to most peoples mind when they think of 'vocations', being a nurse.

I've never really bought into the idea myself, I've always seen it as a job.

I still very much wish I'd joined the army after school. Not going to happen now. Law's not too bad.

Medical Librarian. Sort of ended up doing it, left uni and dicked about for a few years and then went and did a MA the week after my 30th.

It's just my job, but I enjoy it, think I'm OK at it, so it could be my vocation I guess.

Thinking about it, I can't see myself working in something different now.

Eating, that'd be my vocation, I'm real good at it too :)))

Interesting, Stoner, a bit like my first job. Using some mathematical theory to deduce a relationship between prices and profits by experimentation and varying the parameters, rather than modelling as such.

I would love to be able to work short hours for less money, but as it is I have to work full time for the duration of a project.

Fortunately my projects might last 15+ years but not require intensive analysis during that time except for short periods. The alternative is the "rig worker" model - flat out for 90 days, feet up/tinkering at other jobs for 90. But I think that puts a lot of pressure on your other half/children.

The other attraction is academia, but that's because I have a rose-tinted view of it. Mrs (er, Dr) North is an academic, and knows all too well just how cut throat life in a big university is, and how much worse it is going to be.

Shame, I could get quite into socio-political stuff around transport, sustaintability and equality.

BD what is your specialism? (OMITN I Presume corporate?)

Yeah. I'm 9-5 for 6 months or so in theory, but so far it's been 5 years without a long break... just need to save more money!

BD specialises in War crimes defences, Extraordinary Rendition arrangments and Tax evasion.

I thought it was "zombie from the sky" PI claims?

"zombie from the sky" PI claims?

Only on a no win, no fee basis.

I wanted to be an engineer but by the time I left school and went to uni I was done with studying and after a year of illness I decided to walk away froom a half finished degree,

went and worked in restaurants for a few years as waiter/bar manager/head waiter then duty manager but the hours got crazy and the drinking was too.

moved back home, sold fridges for a while, worked for halfords, crc and bikedock all in sales

then thought I'd like to sell cars, did that for 2 years before 80hr weeks and the credit crunch told me enough was enough

back in bikedock for 2 years now and it's not the best but not the worst, I mainly work in purchasing with some sales and a lot of technical support or staff and customers so it's good......

but I still fancy a change every now and again

vocation- no idea!

cynic-al - used to be corp. Now in-house for a telco (sorry, communications provider).

Like it, but there's always a hankering. So to speak.

Once I realised that being an international playboy was out of the window – I settled in to retail management – working in my parents business – unfortunately due to recessionary pressures in the early 80’s I was made redundant – spent a couple of year bouncing between uninspiring retail jobs – and during a period of unemployment was pursued by my then girlfriend (now wife as of 22 years ago today) I took a care assistants job in the hospital that she was a nurse – five year latter I began my nurse training and have never really looked back since.
Not sure I’d necessarily call nursing my vocation – certainly would not do it without been paid – bit it fits – I enjoy the face to face work with client & I’m passionate about older peoples mental health – I can’t really imagine do much else these days

Did a degree in psycholinguistics and thought about speech therapy but couldn't face two more years of study. Got the first job I applied for out of uni, but applied for anything that looked vaguely interesting. Ended up recruiting students for an American uni in London. Got bored joined old bill and wouldn't look back.7 years now and done so many different roles can't think of any other job I would do. Mind I would like to do some forensic linguistics but couldn't face study and full time work. So just read about it instead.

Have to say, i'm pretty much in my dream job. I spend my time travelling round the country, continent and as of september,the world with a variety of bands as their lighting designer or backline tech. I work for a few months, have a couple off then out again.

On occassion, I have to do the odd bit of corporate work to keep the bank balance where it should be but nothing beats being self employed and doing what I love.

There will come a time when the wife gets annoyed at how much I'm away and I'll get the "I'm too old for this ****" feeling but for now, my work life is pretty sweet.

Sorry to sound happy about work but hey

I was born to be annoying with a sideline in being a programmer

fixed that for you sfb 😉

I have no idea, I fell in to my job by accident, it pays the bills and I enjoy it. I'm not sure I want a vocation, I like preferring life outside work.

I fell into my job by accident and, realising that it really does nothing for me, have fallen out with it. So, I'm off for a bit of travelling and to think about I want to do when I come back.

Unfortunately I haven't got the foggiest what that may be.

Munqe-chick, I have that itch. Its always been there and has never gone away. I feel the Specials calling.

I spent 20yrs as a m/c tool engineer, then retired, got a bit bored, now a self employed handyman/gardener a couple of days a week.

Life is sweet, i spent this arvo sitting on a lawnmower mowing a customers five acres in the sun with my ipod on 😉

Vocation - In some ways I do as I am a nurse specialising in dementia care.

However I also enjoy it mainly and find it rewarding. Its an impossible job to do if you don't so I am a bit dubious about the "vocation" thing

Done a billion jobs, love what I do now - run a PR company.

My ideal "job" would be a loaded trustafarian though 😉

I think I was put on this Earth to fix other people's sh1t. I've always held that I might not be the best engineer in the world, but I can jury-rig [i]anything.[/i]

Hora if you want to e-mail me for honest opinions/advice/guidance then feel free. I never knew whether to apply or not as I'm not from a family that has had previous members be coppers. Initially my parents thought I was mental and it was a faddy idea that would go away, when the realised I was serious they came around to it and are now very pleased. You will be amazed at how many different careers/jobs there are WITHIN the police. After my initial application I thought "phew no more application forms" how wrong I was in 7 years I have now applied for 7 jobs in 7 years (and got 6 of them). Hopefully pending the new job move on 13th September I'm planning on staying there for a few years.

I've always had a creative spirit, and was brought up among bohemian artists. I've enjoyed a career in the arts since leaving college. 25 years on, I cant imagine anything more rewarding.

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He's not got a helmet on, shock, horror!

But that's a nice pic..

Engineer. It's in the blood.

(Currently) unhappy programmer but would like to be a lawyer. Pilot is now out of the question (but, oh, I wish I had taken a chance and done it when a very good friend offered to lend me the money - would have meant lots of time away from MrsJulianA though)

For a number of years I was on a surveillance / investigation team focused on major(international drug traffickers etc)criminals. Learnt lots, met intersting people on both sides of the fence, traveled lots had a good time at the same time felt it was vaguely worthwile. Probably the nearest to a vocation I ever had.

Munque will do in am. Thank you 🙂

Don't know not a clue.

I always wanted to be a Royal Marine but some fat c**t of a Naval recruitment officer said I wasn't fit enough and my scores wasn't good enough. But did offer If I wanted to be in the Royal Navy as a missile operator or radar/sonar operator.

Not bright enough to fire a rifle but a £500,000 pound missile no problem 👿

Pilot and love the flying, wanted to do it from about 8 years old.

I always wanted to be a Royal Marine

From a very young age I wanted to be a Judge (Dredd) or a Canadian Lumberjack.

Ironically I absolutely love being in woods/wilds now. I just feel relaxed in Woods 😀

I've worked outside since leaving school. Now days often with a chainsaw in my hands come winter 🙂

Until a year or so ago I was absolutely sure I was in the right career, I'm now not so sure.

I wanted to be an army officer for a long time but enjoyed languages as well. Wouldn't have minded being a Spanish teacher.

Had to settle for electrician/engineer and thats what how i'll retire I guess but I was ok at comic drawing many moons ago and still flick through old copies of 2000AD and wish I was Simon Bisley.

I'm a writer inside but do corporate bollox at the minute.

I expect I'll knock out a novel and screenplay one day.

They might be crap but I'll do it.

mushroom chomping cider swilling dreadlock wearing anarchistic free rave organising spray can wielding tattoo gun toting bus dwelling techno hippie..

unfortunately something went wrong somewhere along the line and so I'm now a clean cut tv watching lower middle class house husband/abstract painter/part time builders mate..

BigDummy... I know a couple of people that have been both. Without wanting to sound like a recruitment campaign for the Army Legal Services, you could always give them a try as either a PQO or a TA PQO.

People may take the pi55 a bit at getting the Queen's commission that way rather than by doing Sandhurst the normal way, but it does mean that you can work with and for the Army.

Mrs Grips is a writer.. having trouble getting that book finished tho. Sounds familiar, but she's already written one book that she won't let anyone see cos she thinks it's rubbish, and she's halfway through this one.

Well, started out working in theatre doing all kinds of techie jobs, then moved to London to do Film and TV techie stuff, but ended up doing lighting. It was awesome when I was 21/22, and about the closest I've been to a career. I ended up working for one of the big players, but going up the career ladder was very difficult. There was a lot of 'who you know not what you know' and if your face didn't fit you weren't going to get on.

Eventually, the low pay, long hours and sheer bloody hard work got the better of me, and I left for the country to get married and get on with doing something else. Still haven't figured out what that may be, so settled for IT in the meantime, which pays but is VERY dull.

Err niallmb... got any jobs going 😉

Did my first degree in Archaeology & Anthropology. Spent the next six years as an auxiliary nurse in a very busy (surgical) emergency admissions unit - a fair few moments of intense (and poorly paid) job satisfaction. Then did my nurse training (2 year 'fast-track' Diploma). And then got lured [i]back[/i] into Archaeology via a Master's, which finishes in September. Currently undecided about returning to nursing - & not worrying about it until I get this fugging dissertation written up. 😳

Occasionally bug slightly about not having followed Noteeth Snr (Army Doc) into the Forces. Equally, suspect I would be pretty happy as a university librarian. Or a park ranger. Or in a bike shop.

Money - no kids, so I get by perfectly ok. Indeed, I'm still riding a bike with a one inch headset. 8)

molgrips - Member
Mrs Grips is a writer

I'm a pilot and fly the Airbus A320 for a living. God help me if I ever have to get a real job... 🙂

Came out of uni with a Programming degree, went into the service industry for 6 years. duty manager(Music bar), Ass manager (cocktail bar) Restaurant manager(coperate fukin company, Living Ventures) Got burnt out by the hours and the lifestyle, ruined my relationship with my ex-GF and left me in debt. Now i'm doing a 16 weeks fast track outdoor instructor course. Deffinatly the right move as i wanted to earn without actually doing any real work :). It's all about the fun.

What's she published?

Nothing yet. One may be a writer without being a published writer 🙂 The latter is more significant usually of course.

In the same way that I am a cyclist, but not a pro.