[Closed] Whats your occupation?

Software engineer. Surprised it took until page 3 for anybody to admit to something like that - is everybody embarrassed by being one, pretending to be something else, or do all the IT types only use STW during working hours? Slightly disturbing that it also seems to be the profession where people seem to want to get out - add me to the list (possibly very seriously come May), but I've no idea what else a 41yo with family could get into which would pay the bills and still allow me time with the kids.

I work in my LBS, not always a good thing for the wallet...

I work for a community music charity mostly running music workshops, I have also just started doing freelance graphic design, photography and video production - got some work with another charity coming up.

Not paying a great deal at the mo but I do ok. I have plans to make more cash soon, and generally I really enjoy the work I do and feel like I'm doing something worthwhile.

Today: company director running a reasonably midsizeish IT security consultancy.
Friday: Partner in a Big5 having just sold ^ to them 🙂

Another 4 years then its the carriage clock and I'm outta here !

On the side - brewery and biomechanical clothing company.

Signalman (signaller to the pc brigade) for Network Rail, currently playing with the biggest train set in Wolverhampton! 😀

Architectural Technologist here, 14 years in the job so can't mind it too much!

Currently on a year out over in Vancouver but will be heading home soon, que grovelling letters to former employers at the ready...

Design Engineer working in vehicle conversions* so can cover anything although I mostly specialise in designing engine components

*not pimp my ride type conversions but utility companies etc

For the last six months I suppose I would have to say writer, but hopefully I will have a 'proper' job soon 🙂

Car tyre engineering manager, so I always find the topics about 'which tyre for my car' or 'should I bother with winter tyres' an interesting read 🙂

Used to do similar to JAG I think (principal engineer)...
What area of the vehicle engineering are you in? (I'm ex-Gaydon btw)

Accountant of sorts for a software company.

Pro: Get paid well, enjoy what I do
Con: Every penny is hard earned; the hours and pressure are ridiculous

Health, Safety, Security and Safeguarding Manager for a big FE college

Only gonna be here for another 2 years, will then be freelancing my skills back to the education sector for more money and less time.

UK Head of IT for a multinational.

I do computer stuff, looking to specialise more in the IT security field.

Was in industrial automation and control (electrical type stuff)......

......Hated it... then a mental breakdown put an end to me doing it anyway 🙂

Nearly finished a full time college course, and I'm off to university this September to study occupational therapy 🙂
So will be an OT in 3 and a bit years (hopefully).

another psych nurse here, acting manager for 3 private units in the community, 1X floating support, 1X 24 hour support and 1X 24 hour support for forensic clients from broadmoor and its equivalents.

stanley - Member

Was in industrial automation and control (electrical type stuff)......

Thats what our company specialises in - Siemens, Rockwell, etc

The Engineers work insane hours to complete projects!

IT Manager looking after telecoms for a FTSE100 company with a team of lightly trained gibbons

Xiphon,
Yep, Siemens, Mitsubishi, Rockwell, Telemecanique and a TON of pressure for not a lot of money!

I'm a professional Geek, just to bring the numbers up. Specifically, I'm a "Senior Engineer" allegedly.

You know when you come into work and no-one can get their emails, so you get Sheila on reception to ring the 'computer people,' then the helpdesk tells you that your call has been passed to an engineer, and then 15 minutes later it all starts working as if by magic and you think that it's a waste of time ringing the computer people because it's fixed itself? I'm that magic.

It's the sort of job that should pay really well, but it doesn't, leaving me cynical, bitter and twisted. I hate you all.

I'm a refrigeration engineer, work on anything from domestic fridges to industrial freezers. Not really that interesting I suppose but I get a company car out of it.

Photographer and County Councillor, Cabinet member with responsibility for Education.

BRM - Business Relationship Manager - which is basically sales with out a target - for a Alternative Networks Co.

Not bad, as I get to work from home a lot and bandy about TLA's like I know what they are - I sometimes make up new ones and wear silly socks to get through the day.

So have you entered a "back door" for yourself?

Tempting, but no.

I do know a loophole though to get you unlimited free accounts extensions. Needless to say I'm not saying. (In fact it's not that useful really in most circumstances!)

So have you entered a "back door" for yourself?

That's a question for RonJeremy, surely...?

I am the Director of an IT consultancy.

Apart from being a flâneur, I work in business development for a sports performance company. We make people faster, leaner and stronger. We just helped an Aussie rider win a word title. Best job in the world.

Games designer, mainly for 360 and PS3 titles. Spent the last year or so running around working on Kinect.

iDave, earlier:

[img] [/img]

Also note, he is another forum member of whom I am jealous.

Academic Medical Librarian, for University Medical Sciences Division and NHS.

Really enjoy it, work with nice people, interesting topics, feels like I'm doing something useful.

Have also worked in a record shop, factories, minibus driver, cleaner, warehouses, public library.

Overhead linesman working on 400kv powerlines all over the country, currently pembroke to swansea. All good fun but too far from home in the northeast. Pays the bills very easily and normally work 8/9 months of the year.

And still get paid when ime not there!

another psych nurse here, acting manager for 3 private units in the community

Phil - how's life compare in private compared to the NHS; I guess in terms of work life balance, security etc?
I've just been approached by one of the private MH housing providers for an op managers post, and after 12 years in a DSH team I'm thinking of a chjange, the money is similar, but the main bonus I have at the minute is when I'm off shift, I am off.

...And yet another psych nurse here. Been doing it 23 years, and to be honest, getting a bit bored but too long in the tooth to retrain for anything that would pay me a similar wage now - oh for a job with less responsibilities 🙄

I am a chair coverer 😉

hey smell_it 🙂

i couldn't comment too accurately unfortunately... its been a few years since i've been in the NHS and when it comes to job security i can only comment on what i've heard and my own specific role:

nearly every time i speak to a professional from the public sector they comment about not being certain they'll be in a job by the next time i'm due to meet up with them. on the other hand as everyone is trying to cut funding from every angle we're constantly battling to keep/attract residents/patients... without residents to look after there's not much need for an RMN manager! so to save babbling on i'd say there's no more security in either at the moment 🙁

but... if you're feeling a change then its a rewarding role! all our residents have moved on to further independence apart from one. feels more like social work than healthcare most of the time but bringing in that specialist RMN knowledge means you'll be bringing something extra to the team 🙂

make sure you push for as much training as you can get out of the company as non-nurses forget that you need your X hours to keep your registration up sometimes!

its completely different to shift work, i used to love the freedom that shifts gave me but now i'd struggle to move away from mon - fri 9-5 🙂

if you get your teams up to scratch then there shouldnt be much need for them to hassle you outside of normal work hours.

Lecturer in Modern British History

Master Control Room Engineer at Sky.

Soldier - Commercial Diver - Mathematician - Patent Examiner

It was a long journey but I think I'll stay put now.

criminal mastermind, gigolo and body double for cameron diaz in films remade for the blind

I buy duff houses, do 'em up and rent them out, maintain them. On the census I put Residential Landlord, but have been called other things.

Started as Electronic Design Engineer, then car salesman, IT Trainer/support, database wrangler until I took the stay at home with the kids option. Will still do a bit of IT if one of my old clients rings, but pretty rare now.

"Slightly disturbing that it also seems to be the profession where people seem to want to get out"

Development used to be a challenging but fun craft. What makes software good is transparent to Engineers but opaque to managers. So they made us spend half our time writing documents and completing spreadsheets and databases, and the other half trying to keep them in synch. And programmers became commoditised.

Cheers, for that Phil – you are right, I guess there are no answers regarding security, I guess I’m just undecided whether to take the leap across. Working in a bit of a niche that I enjoy, I have never really had to think about working for anyone else. I can’t say I’m worried about staying in a job, despite what colleagues say and despite being part of a 1900 strong herd that needs thinning by 400 in the next 18 months. Being half clinical and half managerial at present, my guess is I’ll still be in a job, but what that job could be will be somewhat flexible. Given we are heading back to GP budget holding and the move towards greater privatisation, there will be a mix of uncertainty and opportunity! Anyhoo, I’ll stop going on about it and leave folk to tell us what they do.

sand control operations engineer.
pros:
get to see the world - just been to california for a jolly for a month. now know i dont want to go back to LA 😉 bakersfield/fresno was quite nice
cons :
i used to race bikes .....

molecular biologist in a cancer research lab
it pays the bills, just!

I was a Software Services Director in London, but it got very boring. I jacked it in a year ago and now I am a Diving Instructor (both SCUBA and FreeDiving) which lets me live in Dahab at the bottom of the Sinai mountains and ride my bikes all year.

Life's a bitch eh? ;o)

Property Underwriter. I look at multinational companies' physical assets (buildings machinery, stock) and ability to generate profits and work out how much money my company might want in exchange for paying for Damage and lost profits in the event of something going bang, woof, fssst, slosh, etc that isn't supposed to go bang, woof, fssst, slosh, etc.

Learning about industrial processes, hazards and how companies make their money is good. spreadsheet and admin bundle----ing isn't.

Money's not bad, hours aren't either, being tied (for now) to London less good.

Paramedic

Pros - I get to drive a car fast
Cons - Sometimes I have to actually do something with a patient if the ambulance is slow to back me up

Best job I've ever had and money isn't everything 😀

Surrounded By Zulus - Member

You know the purple lines that get painted on the roads - thats my job.

I'm still intrigued by this one. I don't remember ever seeing any purple lines on roads ever. I did see this
[img] [/img]
any idea what that's all about?

it's The Saint picking up his halo after a night on the town

Currently, a Catastrophe Modeller for a reinsurance co.

Ski instructor and Weed control technician.

Think going back to school is on the cards soon though.

used to be a tree surgeon, now a motorcycle instructor.

Jim_Kirk - Member

used to be a tree surgeon, now a motorcycle instructor.

Not a Starship captain then? 😥

There's been cut-backs at star fleet too you know 😉

10 - Member

Ski instructor and [b]Weed control technician.[/b]

Are you employed by Customs? 😆 8)

Blimey - I've simulated new airspace arrangements for NATS, managed various software teams, been involved with delivery of 3's first 3G phones pre-launch and worked for a niche management consultancy, then gave all that up to design gardens, and after the recession effectively killed that I've gone back to uni again.

So right now I'm back to being a student. No idea what comes next, but I'm enjoying it right now.

[img] [/img]

Last time i drove a starship, this happened!

montylikesbeer - Member

lift engineer by trade, now co own my own lift maintenance company and love it

I'm always amazed by how crap lifts are for reliablity, i mean it's not Willy Wonkers great glass frickin elevator. It's a tin box that go's up, then down, then up then down Why do they need maintenance, how tough can it be to make one of these things work properly?

I used to have my own bike shop which was the best job that i ever had. Moved to NZ for the kids 3 1/2 years ago and now work as a teacher of 'technology' which has much better hours with significantly less fun. Thou here we have a mortgage free 'big' house walking distance from the beach and only pay a quid a litre for petrol. Swings and roun-a-bouts i guess. Thou i really miss my old job. 😥

I got stuck in a lift once.

A Business Inteligence consultant
(SQL code monkey!)

Really good little company to work for though

Just demonostrating how unrelable these things are. At my old college that also taught 'special needs' kids they broke [i]all[/i] the time. You can imagine what happands once you get 8 'mentally impared' kids stuck in a lift together! it sure puts up the overtime for their coucellors and cleaning staff, I can still here the groans and screams 16 years later. Not pretty, not pretty at all.

Like i say, how hard can it be to make this tin box go up, then down, then up then down - reliably, I mean really how hard can it be?

titusrider - Member

A Business Inteligence consultant
(SQL code monkey!)

Really good little company to work for though

[url= http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/words-you-wouldnt-expect-to-see-next-to-each-other#post-2417703 ]Ha ha![/url] 😆

Director for a genetic diagnostics Biotech company. A very interesting job for a science geeks like me.

Hotshot commercial disputes lawyer, working for the UK's biggest firm in Scotland.

So, who's actually going to find their professional skills in demand after the apocalypse?

Not me for one.

Recently had a slight change, I was modelling and programming for CNC machines at a forging company.

I'm now drawing window and door installations for a Danish company supplying the construction industry.

I'm still intrigued by this one. I don't remember ever seeing any purple lines on roads ever

I think it may have been "humour."

Registered Nurse and Offshore Medic, working in sunny Nigeria.

smogmonster - Member

Registered Nurse and Offshore Medic, working in sunny Nigeria.

I recieved an email from you the other day, about a one million dollar bank account with my name on it?

I'll send you a copy of my passport when I get home.

Xiphon, i already have a copy of your passport......Mwuhahahahaha

Stress Engineer in the airframe / avionics industry.

I work for a printing company, if you want any cheap printing give me a shout! 😀

Manage the Internet retail dept
for a large high st fashion chain
its not bad but used to be a lot better
been in retail forever,bit fed up with it to be honest
but there's not a lot else going just now

Health and safety officer.. there I said it. Used to be a tree surgeon but a bad back stopped me doing that! Thinking of going back to plumbing at some point or LGV driving... Can't be doing with all the politics in an office.

Property Underwriter. I look at multinational companies' physical assets (buildings machinery, stock) and ability to generate profits and work out how much money my company might want in exchange for paying for Damage and lost profits in the event of something going bang, woof, fssst, slosh, etc that isn't supposed to go bang, woof, fssst, slosh, etc.

valiant effort to make it sound interesting..... 😉

I'm a jizzer 😉 in an environmental consultancy, not sure I would recommend it, there are easier ways to earn a living!

thanks Dave!

im a financial adviser

i'm a Stay at home Dad!!
Used to run the cleaning bay for a local garage (nissan), had been cleaning cars since was tiny and went 'pro' when got my licence and could travel to peoples houses, picked up a long term illness in '04 and not been able to work since so made the descision id do the stay at home dad thing and the wife would work, (sat here with 7 month old asleep on me as type and wife gone to get 4 1/2 year old from school)
absolutely the best job ive ever done! wouldnt swap it fir the world! even with the illness (m.e.) i love it!
would recommend it ti anyone! plus side is Lots of milf to talk to and they Always love stay at home dads!!

Sell used plastics machinery. Worked in the retail side of the cycle trade for 10 years prior (since becoming a saturday boy at 14) but figured that I needed to do something that gave me proper money for things and would give me my weekends back, having said that, I've never really had them!

Always having conflicts about whether I was right to give up a job I loved for a job that paid really well, don't think I'm ever going to find an answer to that tbh, although the new job has given me a 20 mile, majority off-road commute by bike as opposed to a 5 minute walk down the road.