What do you do for a living and why do you like it?

I'm 43 and on my second career. I have a BA, wanted to be an attorney, but had a family instead. I spent 15 years as a real estate paralegal then got poached by a contracting company to do the same work for the power company about 2 years ago. I basically do research and draft documents, my job title is Research Specialist/Land Analyst. As a contractor, I don't have much PTO, and my wife basically brings home nothing since she is carrying the family on her insurance, but I'm not allowed to work more than 40 hours a week and my schedule is flexible, as long as the work is getting done, the pay is really good too. Best job I've ever had, wish I found it 10 years ago. I'd like to retire and open a B&B, hostel, or old-school boarding house.

46 year old stagehand here. One of the lucky few who have that as a full time gig (most are part time "on call"). Love the job, hate my co-workers.

Love the job because it allows me to be both hands on AND creative when I get to play with the lights (stage electrician). Hate my co-workers because half of them can't stop yapping long enough to do any real meaningful work. At least they learned to leave me alone while doing it.

It paying well is just icing on the cake

SVreX wrote: However, I disagree about low voltage wiring. The cabling companies will be going through major transitions in the next few years. First, wireless networking will make their work largely obsolete.

Definitely not, but there could be a short-term dry spell as home wireless networks get ahead of home wired networks in speed...until 10Gbps ethernet becomes affordable. Running Cat6 in walls will still be a good idea for people thinking ahead.

In reply to pheller:

A friend of mine is a GIS Specialist/Application Developer for a utility company in CT.

Me - 46 - Electrical Designer (architectural engineering). I design building electrical systems. Mostly for the pharmaceutical industry, but did supermarkets and retail in the past along with a smattering of high-end residential. I've also been a project manager and client manager. My 21st anniversary in the industry will be next month. A side effect of this is a general understanding of MEP (Mechanical Electrical & Plumbing) systems and the various Codes covering them. I am comfortable with (and have) almost completely re-wiring a house if I need to.

How did I get here? Not very directly. Out of high school, I went to an engineering school (Drexel University) for mechanical engineering. Because I wanted to design cars. Within the first year or so, I realized engineers don't really design cars. Engineers make the design work, but "designers" design cars - and that is generally a totally different educational path (more art school). So once I learned what engineers actually "do", I became somewhat disillusioned and quit.

After a year back in the "real world" I decided since I enjoyed writing, I would go to the local community college for journalism. Did that for two years before realizing I didn't really have what it takes to dedicate my life to a career (and journalism is pretty much an all-consuming career). So back to the "real world" again (although I was working at a comic book store while in school).

Since my retail job was barely paying me enough to pay my bills, I'd watch morning re-runs before going to work and see adverts for computer drafting schools. I thought, "hmm... sitting in front of a computer and drawing doesn't sound like a bad way to make a $..." and I'm lucky there's a school a few miles from my house. So I signed up for the night CAD course and 10 weeks later had a certificate that said I know how to use AutoCAD. The course instructor liked me, and recommended me to a small engineering firm in NJ that specialized in supermarkets. I interviewed and a few months later had a job in the Electrical group. I moved up through the ranks from a straight red-line CAD operator (takes manually marked up drawings from an engineer and inputs the info into the computer) to a designer and within about 4 years eventually a project/client manager, almost tripling my salary over that period.

While supermarket design is not technically difficult, the schedule and quantity of projects was often insane. After almost 5 years, I was burnt out and needed a change. A former coworker had called me about a year prior asking me if I was interested and moving. At the time, I said I was OK, but I kept him in mind. Sitting in the office at 9 PM on Tuesday, ready to shoot myself, I dug up his phone number: "Hi - I have to get out of here." I interviewed the next day. He made me an offer Weds afternoon. I accepted and gave my notice on Thu. It was the end of the year and I had use-or-lose vacation time. Because of that, my last day was Friday - although I was there until about 8 PM Friday trying to clean up loose ends.

I started at this job on Jan 8, 2001 and have been here ever since. Do I like it? Not really, but as I often say to people, "I didn't really choose to be an engineer, engineering chose me - it's just what I am." When I was in engineering school, I knew the last thing I was interested in was electrical. I prefer visual "things" and electrical principles are somewhat difficult to visualize. That said, I am paid very well for someone without an engineering degree. Few people seem to get into this field, so job security is good. My direct boss doesn't really micro-manage us as a dept so our stress level is pretty low. If there is one big downside, the commute (over an hour each way) sucks balls and I have no desire to live in NJ.

If there is one overall take-away from this long, rambling diatribe, it's that sometimes life takes you in strange directions you would have never expected and often success can depend on being in the right place at the right time and making the best of opportunities presented to you.

GameboyRMH wrote:

SVreX wrote: However, I disagree about low voltage wiring. The cabling companies will be going through major transitions in the next few years. First, wireless networking will make their work largely obsolete.

Definitely not, but there could be a short-term dry spell as home wireless networks get ahead of home wired networks in speed...until 10Gbps ethernet becomes affordable. Running Cat6 in walls will still be a good idea for people thinking ahead.

Agreed. At least in my world. WiFi data capability just can't handle the amount of data we move around on a daily basis with Revit files. Hell - there are times when Cat 6 has trouble. Unfortunately, a fiber optic network doesn't quite hit the ROI number yet.

34, engineer at a major company making gas and steam turbines for power generation on all scales.

Recently I got promoted, just pushed me into six figures, which is nearly exactly double what I got when I got my first job out of college in 2006. Those results are atypical, but possible, and even more is possible if you're a ladder climber. I'm not. My boss makes 50% more than I do, my boss's boss probably makes double what I do. You can stay in engineering and climb that ladder instead, at the top rungs of that one, you can make close to seven figures if that's what you're after.

I have a dual degree in ME and applied physics with a minor in math. I got the initial job with this company for two reasons: Racing with Lemons on my resume got me the interview, and long term co-op experience got me the job.

It's a great job. I work a 40 hour week with unlimited vacation/sick time and annual bonuses. Family life is critical for me. I get to touch many part of many systems. When I grew up I had no idea what I wanted to be. I used to see that Dupont commercial, "We don't make the things you buy, we make the things you buy better" and I wanted to do that. That's what I do now. I do not design things anymore, I make designed things better using common sense, evidence from the field, and huge amounts of data. My annual goal used to be to save the company $10MM per year and I always blew that away. Now my team of five each have that same rough goal.

I don't ever do math, I just call the guy who's good at that. I don't ever do statistics, I just call that lady. I just put good ideas together to bring real value to the fleet, rather than just water cooler conversations.

Best job ever.

Ian F wrote:

GameboyRMH wrote:

SVreX wrote: However, I disagree about low voltage wiring. The cabling companies will be going through major transitions in the next few years. First, wireless networking will make their work largely obsolete.

Definitely not, but there could be a short-term dry spell as home wireless networks get ahead of home wired networks in speed...until 10Gbps ethernet becomes affordable. Running Cat6 in walls will still be a good idea for people thinking ahead.

Agreed. At least in my world. WiFi data capability just can't handle the amount of data we move around on a daily basis with Revit files. Hell - there are times when Cat 6 has trouble. Unfortunately, a fiber optic network doesn't quite hit the ROI number yet.

I've worked with 13 different cabling companies in the last 7 months.

Every single one of them would send crews of 4-6 people who would take 3 days to do the job a single man could have done in a day and a half.

The price point is ridiculous, and they are a very ripe target.

It has happened to every other construction trade in the industry over the last 15 years. They are just the next one up the food chain.

I am not suggesting wireless can replace cable. I am suggesting the cabling companies are providing very little value for the service they provide (and 3 of the last 5 companies I worked for did, in fact, replace entirely with wireless).

The only reason cabling companies exist at all is because data companies have been trying to avoid the licensing and liability issues of doing it in-house.

In reply to SVreX:

Well, we were mainly responding to, "First, wireless networking will make their work largely obsolete."

As far as LV cabling companies, I can't really say. Most of the clients I work with have in-house contracts for that work, although for the last large project I worked on the general E.C. provided the network cabling, although it was under a separate contract price. In the field, the same crews installed everything. They were very fast.

In reply to Ian F:

I understand. I didn't say cable would be obsolete. I said what cabling companies are currently doing will be largely obsolete.

I am referring to to current jobs, not system specifications.

41 year old Line Dispatcher for NYC Bus. It isn't the most exciting job in the world but it's the first place I worked that never forgot to pay me which is a good thing. I spend most of my day outside on my own which I like and as someone who gets bored easily there's almost always something to do and if not people watching in New York can often be entertaining on it's own. Much of my day is spent trying to keep my buses coming at a regular interval and prevent the inevitable bunching that occurs and correct it when it does happen. I enjoy interacting with customers, helping tourists find what they're looking for, and making sure my drivers have what they need to work safely and stay on time. In addition to making adjustments to my route and addressing problems that come up I also respond to problems on any other routes in my area such as street closures, breakdowns, collisions and customer incidents. I usually have enough to do that the day doesn't drag on too much and I work with good people. The route that I work now is the busiest in Manhattan, and second busiest in the city. Besides the routine day to day operations I also help set up and run emergency service if there's a problem with trains or subways, and after storms and during power outages. It can be long hours of dealing with angry crowds but I enjoy the challenges that come with it. I also get a fair paycheck for my time and my health insurance has covered most of my wife's health issues.

I don't have much advice to give you on finding a career as no one sets out to become a bus driver and then on to a low level supervisor. I always thought I was going to build race cars but that didn't pan out the way I'd hoped. I dropped out of college after three semesters when I found out that an ME degree had much more math than I could do and went racing for a few years. While it was fun and we did fairly well it was also clear I was never going to do pro caliber work. That led to a brief stint in auto parts and then the fun and exciting world of towing and auto body. I was happy there but when my dad lost his job he talked me into taking the NYC bus driver's exam with him. A few years later it looked like my boss might be closing up shop and the city called so I went on to brive a dus. What I would suggest is find if you can't find something you love doing make sure you have the time and money to do things you love outside of work. I spend a lot of time working and have a long commute and the lack of free time/fun is really takes a toll after a while. I've gotten to a point where I haven't enjoyed many of the things I thought I'd do when I grew up and most likely never will.

In reply to SVreX:

It's already starting to happen. My brother in law has been holding down my parent's couch for almost a year as company after company closes up and lays him off. He's currently training with the electricians union as they are getting ready to add cabling to the things their guys do.

In reply to Wall-e:

Right.

The data companies and cabling companies have made themselves vulnerable by pretending what they do is gold plated, charging exhorbatant rates, and failing to make the business decisions necessary, like keeping up with current licensing requirements.

25 and working for 2 years as a structural and dynamic analyst at an engine company. It's pretty awesome. The job is a healthy mix of computer-based analysis and hands-on experiments in a lab or test cell environment. I perform stress and fatigue analysis with FEA and other tools. I break stuff in load frames. I induce fatigue failures. I get parts instrumented with strain gages, thermocouples, accelerometers, proximity probes, lasers, whatever and measure them on running engines. It's great having both sides of the story - I use my tested data as inputs for analysis, or analytical predictions as a reason or starting point for a test. I really "own" the issue. It's all nuts and bolts mechanics. No process-driven corporate BS hoops to jump through. No one shooting down my designs. I just do the science and deliver the facts.

But I live in the middle of a Midwestern cornfield, five states away from all my family and friends. I moved here for the dream job, and it really is that. But here it's just me, SWBMO, our cat Bill Murray, and handful of new friends. I miss everyone and everything about home, which was a big warm city in the good n' gracious South.

I would love to get on the stay-at-home-dad career track and work part time as the brunt laborer/business manager/slip casting technician for SWMBO's burgeoning ceramics business. Open a studio, buy a few more kilns, rent space to other artists, travel every other weekend bringing her pieces to art fairs and wholesale shows. And of course, build custom hot rods on the side. There is not much holding us back, other than the stability my career is affording us.

SVreX wrote: In reply to Ian F: I understand. I didn't say cable would be obsolete. I said what cabling companies are currently doing will be largely obsolete. I am referring to to current jobs, not system specifications.

Oh well I can agree with that. It seems that most of the cabling companies in North America are abominable ripoff artists, at work we have this problem with our Canada and US offices all the time.

37 year old roll repairman here. Formerly a Journeyman Maintenance Machinist for the same company with just over 10 years in the machining trade.

As a roll repairman I turn the large nodular iron or carbide rolls in the rougher portion of our rod mill and grind the rolls for the finishing v-mill.

Before entering the machining trade I worked as a diesel mechanic for a few years.

Besides job related studies, training courses, studying I've done on my own and such I am woefully under-educated.

I can't even type, it takes forever just to post something and then I read it several times, hoping I don't leave some glaring grammatical error that puts my ignorance on display. Stay in school! I make a comfortable living but every day I stress the importance of school to my children.

I consider myself very fortunate that I have a knack for machining and learn quickly. If I were to find myself somehow independently wealthy I would go back to school.

I could write a book on this.

Currently I am president and owner of an architectural firm here in metro west Boston.

Shamless plug for my company "EHA Design, Inc".

I like the freedom of owning and running a company. I am constantly learning and adjusting as time and the business climate keeps moving. There is also a lot of responsibility that comes with it especially when you have employees. This may sound hokey but having employees is a responsibility that should not be taken lightly. I worry about them. I make decisions in part based on what is best for them.

Running a company is not for everyone. It is stressful but extremely rewarding especially if it is something that you started from scratch or in my case pulled from the ashes and resurrected.

I also had a run in radio. It was lots of fun and my gift of gab I think was what in part got me on the air. I can have a conversation with an inanimate object while painting a picture in words to those that care to listen and I have just enough education on a wide verity of things that I can usually hold my own or at least ask relevant questions that I don't sound like a complete idiot. . .. . Ok maybe it was the little bit of "idiot" in my on-air time that was also entertaining. IT was lots of fun but it was something that I never intended to do and the reality was that unless you are amongst that very select few you will not be earning a very good living so I moved on and went back to engineering. Although I would like to get bac in to it on a part time basis. More as a hobby as it was lots of fun.

Yes my background is actually Chemical engineering. I loved chemistry and physics. It always came easy to me in part because I suck at spelling (dyslexia is a SOB) Oh and dyslexia can lead to some really funny on air bits but that is another story.

The short of things is I have been all over the map with doing thigns however there is one thing that I can say to someone starting out no matter what field they are exploring and that is get some background in business management and accounting and also in management. You don't need to become an expert just get the basics under your belt.

Why I do what I do now? I love designing things that I can drive by and point to and show my kids. I like to think I have left a small mark on the landscape of New England that when I am gone my kid and there kids will still be able to see and remember me. I also like helping others. Nothing is more rewarding than solving a problem design wise and making someones life easier.

I do not do it for the $$$$. Architecture is another profession that only the select few are living on easy street.

I'm a geotechnical engineer. 32. I'm pressed for tine because I'm leaving early today. Long story. Read the article below and digest that a bit.

The article below

29 years old and careerless.

Life started out looking like I would stay in commercial construction forever, by 21 I was the assistant supervisor for a developer. He died of a heart attack when I was 22, and my 8 years of cash paid experience didn't mean E36 M3 to any of the big builders in the area at that age I'd have been a grunt forever.

Switched into fiber optic work and burglar/fire alarms, 3 companies folded within 3 years.

So I moved to California, and got involved with the medical field, worked there for a few years, then had to come home for family reasons.

I've had offers to get back into kitchen work, offers to get back into alarms, but I've found I'm better off keeping myself in control of my finances and not working for bosses.

I got into flipping because it's something I can do from anywhere, at any time. Cars, domain names, ranked Google sites, stuff from estate sales and auctions. It doesn't make for a glamorous lifestyle, but I have a roof over my head and the bills are paid.

I like it because I can make my own hours, and earn as much as I want. I hate it because it's not steady income, and I have to be overly cautious with my money because there is no guaranteed pay.

My favorite career was my time as a maintenance guy at a hotel. Always doing something different everyday, but essentially the same thing. If I could recommend a career path for someone good with tools, it would definitely be maintenance work. Apartments, hotels, condos, at 22, be seasonal and don't tie yourself to one area. With the right opportunities, you'd be able to live and work in whatever climate near whatever hobbies you wanted.

35 years old. I do warranty/repair work on electric motors and gearboxes that power conveyor belts, assembly lines, etc. I've only been here about a year and a half and I love it. I work alone in my corner of the assembly shop, no direct contact with customers, Monday-Friday schedule, good pay and great benefits. I turn on the radio and turn wrenches. Very little stress, no drama, just work.

Spent the previous 11 years working as a store manager for a major auto parts retailer. If you're considering a career in retail, DON'T DO IT!

I'm 46, and have been in IT for a couple of decades now. Title is 'Senior Consultant' which is vague enough that I get to do a lot. I like the broad range of things I can be involved in - Whether Windows servers (building, configuring, optimizing, securing), networking (wired, wireless, firewalls, and the like... and yeah, I can run or terminate low voltage stuff. Generally 'below my pay grade' but it is definitely lucrative side work), Security - again with firewalls, policies, training; IP telephony & video conferencing.

As the industry continues transitioning to the cloud, I'm focusing on security in that space, have done work with both Amazon AWS and Microsoft Azure. If you're getting bored doing IT... you're doing it wrong. There's new stuff every day and you need to stay current.

In reply to Ian F: Got a pair of retired Cisco GigE switches with 10G optics and I have 10G fiber between the basement (server area / demarc) and home office. Speed kills!

46, and my degree is in nursing. My current job is in cardiothoracic (heart/lung/chest) surgery; I scrub in to help the surgeon, hand him the instruments he needs when he needs them, and try to think faster than him . Best analogy I can come up with is knowing the course - you need to be thinking a couple corners ahead, at least. Made even more exciting because our primary surgeon is Schumacher fast, and the 'course' can change in rapid and exciting ways at times...

One of the best things about nursing is the ridiculous variety of jobs you can do with that one degree. I've worked in critical care, organ donation, and healthcare IT in the past, and that represents about .00034% of possible job descriptions.

In reply to dean1484:

I can vouch for Dean's gift of gab

In reply to The_Jed:

Hmm, person who uses subjunctive case and frequently posts amusing, pithy jokes is not someone who should spend a lot of time worrying about putting their ignorance on display.

I'm really enjoying this thread. It's interesting to hear everyone's career paths, and it's even better to get to know them a little better.

Funny how much you can learn about a person just by hearing how they approach their day-to-day.

Margie

I'm 36 and an IT guy at a software company. I handle hardware and software needs for our in house employees, and often end up doing other handy things around the building. It can be enjoyable at times, stressful often but pays pretty decently.

Pros: I don't spend my whole day at a desk/computer; money is nice; play with cool stuff; know everyone in the company; close to home; flexibility

Cons: you have to help EVERYONE in the company; "its broken" is often the only clue you get; you can never be fast enough; if you're doing things right people may think you're not busy enough.

truthfully, i'm thinking about a change soon.

Nick (Bo) Comstock wrote: In reply to dean1484: I can vouch for Dean's gift of gab

I have been know to have had in-depth conversations with inanimate objects more than a couple times.

This about sums it up.