So... What do you do?

[BecBennett]

I'm currently working as a property manager for a real estate here in Australia, and while the work is ever changing, and keeps me on my toes, I'm getting bored of it, and am thinking it' about time for a change... But a change to what, is the question!

So my question to you, is what do you currently do for a living, how did you get into your current position (like courses, college/uni, certificates etc.) and what are some positives/negatives about your job, that may not have crossed my mind -or anyone else who's interested.

TIA Can't wait to read about how everyone currently spends their time.

 

[usnuzuloose]

Well I have not worked since 06. But I was a manager for a major gas chain. Did that for 8 years. Nothing I would ever want to do again. JO

 

[JoShan1719]

So my question to you, is what do you currently do for a living, how did you get into your current position (like courses, college/uni, certificates etc.) and what are some positives/negatives about your job, that may not have crossed my mind -or anyone else who's interested.

For the last three years I have been working overnight shift at the front desk of a hotel in Boca Raton, Florida. Possitives? No managers around watching everything I do, and I don't have too much guest interaction since everyone is sleeping. I get paid to do nothing for 7 hours except be present
Negatives? It's rough on your body if you don't keep up with yourself. I'm a night owl and love being awake when everyone is sleeping. But humans are supposed to sleep at night. Every six months or so I have to take an extra day or so off so that I can recover.

 

[luvsJack]

I am an Accounts Receivable Clerk in a college business office. I completed the Office Systems Tech program at the same college, worked as a work study in this office. After I graduated with a certificate, I got the job as a secretary for 3 departments here and then moved up to this current position. While I have been working here, I have gotten my Assoc. Degree.

I am starting school in June to get a teaching degree (K-8). I know this isn't the greatest time, but I know this is what I need to do. I have been pulled toward teaching for years (used to teach preschool at a child care center) but for many reasons felt I couldn't go to school for that long. Now I can do it without quitting work, so here I go!

Oh, and I do like my job and the work that I do. It is not particularly challenging nor do I feel much like I make a difference to the lives of our students and that is what I miss.

 

[tennisfan]

I'm an EMT for the ambulance service. I have been in the job for just over a year. I have a degree in Sport therapy, health & fitness. I do not need a degree for this job but it will come in handy when I go for Paramedic as that is now degree based.

I'm now happier that i'm back at the station I started at. After I completed my driving course I was based elsewhere & didn't settle there, it has a reputation of not being a friendly station & this is true.

The parts I enjoy about the job is helping people when they need it most & on the odd occasion saving thier lives, it feels good when this happens.

The downside is the shifts & weekends I work, i'm coming off the part of the rota where I have worked the past 4 weekends in a row. Also a negative is the amount of drunk people we have to take to hospital, they don't really need to be there but we can't leave them passed out in the gutter

 

[ReneeA]

I'm a registered nurse on an ICU stepdown unit. I just graduated in December and took boards in March. So far, I love my job...but I worked there as a tech for a year prior to graduation, so I knew what I was signing up for.

My DH was diagnosed with a heart problem at 27, the year we married. I became really interested in health care at that time, but didn't return to school for my nursing degree until my kids were in preschool.

It's been the best decision for our entire family.

 

[Rora]

I'm a 3rd grade teacher. I went to college, got a BA in Elementary Education and a Master's in Elementary Education with a specialization in Child Literature.

I love my job but it's exhausting. You need to have about 6 more arms and the patience of a saint.

The pay isn't all that fantastic but the benefits (health care, vacation time) are wonderful.

This certainly isn't a job you just "do"-- you have to love it and the kids, or you'll be miserable.

Best of luck to you!

 

[stepmommyof1]

Well I graduated college in 2008 (Bachelor of Science), and I only worked a little bit....a full time job in pre-school, and then later a part time job in a library.

When I got married several months ago I quit because then I didn't have to work anymore, and that was pretty cool...Im not going to lie, it was pretty awesome to realize that you don't have to get a job unless you really want to, lol.

So now I am "just a housewife" (that is sarcastic because it can be a struggle, lol) and....

Since my wonderful hubby has a 15 year old son who's mom is not in his life, I also get to play mom too and he is such a good kid, I just adore him, but he is a ton of work (lots of dirty laundry, needs help with homework, has to be driven to all kinds of practices and games and stuff) lol.

I am thinking of getting a part time job or maybe starting something up just for fun and so I get to do something that is "all mine" just for me to feel good about it. Not sure if I will or not but it might be fun.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

I'm an attorney. I work mainly in health law corporate transactions (translation, I write contracts for hospitals and doctors). I got here after 4 years of undergrad, a year in between schools working at a scientific lab, 2.5 years of law school, and 6 months of internship while studying for the Bar exam.

I hate my job. Hate, hate, hate. It is not worth the money and other perks. If you want to become a lawyer, don't come to me for support. At least, not if you want to work in the private sector. I know a bunch of people who work for the state, and they seem generally at ease with their positions.

 

[Pakey]

I'm the Chief Financial Officer for a large manufacturing company. I have an undergraduate degree in Accounting and a graduate degree in Business Administration. I made the decision to specialize in cost accounting when I started my career and I've been at it now for 25 years. I still love it. I've held my current postion for 13 years.

 

[fireman17]

I have been a career firefighter for 23 years now. I became a volunteer firefighter at 15 then held numerous jobs from warehouse work to security director for a mall before I came on the job.
I hold certifications in Firefighter 1 and 2, EMT, HazMat Technician, RadCon worker, Driver/Operator Pumper and Aerial and numerous other certifications.
I can retire this September or can stay until I reach my mandatory retirement are of 57 which will give me 30 years total.
I have mentioned to my wife that I would like to put in two more years and maybe retire but if there is no other work to pick up and make up the difference in my retirement pay I'll stay until 57.
Wouldn't want to do anything else!!!

 

[mill4023]

I'm a software developer.
I got a BS in Computer Science in 2001.
Spent 5 years working for Kodak at one of their manufacturing facilities.
Then 1 year with a commercial software company.
Then back to manufacturing with my current employer for the last 3 years.

Pros: It's extremely satisfying to see users/clients/customers using software that I personally designed and built, and to see how it helps them do their jobs more efficiently. I love it when our production people tell me how thrilled they are with the software I wrote.

Cons: Can sometimes be long hours when deadlines are approaching. It's easy to get burned out when spending hours or days trying to troubleshoot complex code.

 

[AKL_Megs]

I am a flight attendant.

Sheer luck landed me a MUCH sought after interview, and a day of interviews, six months of waiting, and a month of training later, the rest is history.

Cons: I am NOT home all that often. I work LOOONG days and even LOONGER weeks.

Pros: I haven't "worked" a day in the past almost two years.

I also LOVE the people. The "first-time fliers", the kids, the babies, the people who need help catching a connection... I AM one of the good ones, just trying to make your two hours in our aluminum tube THAT much more enjoyable! It's also fun having breakfast in Florida, lunch in Memphis, and then dinner in New York!

 

[kellyg403]

I was a SAHM for my 6 children for a long time. I worked periodically for a non profit group during that time. When I was going through my divorce, I needed a job yesterday, so I got a part time job as a cashier in a grocery store. 10 years later I am a manager for the same company. I love my job and most of all, I love having a career! Staying at home with the kids was great, don't get me wrong, but I love having a career. I never went back to college as I should have, so maybe that will be the next step for me. Right now, I enjoy just about every aspect of my job, the people, the company itself etc.

In a perfect world, I would have been a lawyer...maybe that will happen someday!

Kelly

 

[tasha99]

I feel like a perpetual student, but I have just one more year of grad school to be an slp. Pros so far (from practicum) are that I love working with kids and helping people. Plus, it appears to be a job where there are openings most places, so I will have the kind of job where moving wouldn't be too hard.

 

[scrapquitler]

I work as a 'residential program worker' in a group home for developmentally disabled adults. We have four adult men living in the house, and they all have various issues, including autism, OCD, mental retardation, etc. Basically I work helping them to manage all aspects of their daily life...I assist with showering, brushing teeth, laundry, grocery shopping, transporting them to/from work and recreational activities, assisting them with cooking, cleaning the house, laundry, administering medication, etc.

Its actually a lot of fun, though it has a lot of responsibilities. One of the big plusses is that I can kind of do what I want while I work without any bosses standing around watching me. But that also can be a minus because if anything goes wrong, well, I'm to blame.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

I am an IT Director. The hours are long but the pay is great. I travel too much, but I love my job. Seriously, I'd do this kind of work for free.

 

[marcyinPA]

I'm a preschool teacher. I teach two year olds...12 in each class, four classes a week. Some overlap...so 29 kids total. I teach in a church preschool, so I love having the freedom to plan activities that suit my current class. I LOVE the staff I work with. And I love that we have a strong Christian background.

What I dislike, and not even that much, really...the pay isn't great. The hours are few (12 hours a week) and having those "difficult" conversations with parents isn't fun (as in, we feel that you should have your child evaluated). This is a career you choose because you love children and want to make a difference in their lives...not for the money!

I have a B.S. degree in Elementary Education with a dual certification in Early Childhood Education from a PA state university.

 

[marcyinPA]

I work as a 'residential program worker' in a group home for developmentally disabled adults. We have four adult men living in the house, and they all have various issues, including autism, OCD, mental retardation, etc. Basically I work helping them to manage all aspects of their daily life...I assist with showering, brushing teeth, laundry, grocery shopping, transporting them to/from work and recreational activities, assisting them with cooking, cleaning the house, laundry, administering medication, etc.

Its actually a lot of fun, though it has a lot of responsibilities. One of the big plusses is that I can kind of do what I want while I work without any bosses standing around watching me. But that also can be a minus because if anything goes wrong, well, I'm to blame.

I did this kind of work when I was in college, and just graduated from college. It is very hard work, but very rewarding. I worked in a group home with four severely and profoundly mentally challenged women...it was a lot like taking care of small children. They needed all of their needs taken care of...it was a truly humbling experience for me and really changed how I looked at life!!!

 

[Pig Pen]

I am a professional executive assistant. I have worked for cabinet secretaries, governors, CEOs and other high level officials. I did not graduate from college and didn't train for this, I just happened to fall into it.