As I go forth everyday (Monday thru Friday) I wonder "How the hell did I end up doing what I do for a living?" I like what I do, for the most part, but it really isn't what I went to school and college for. I'm in outside sales, for technical metals and if anyone would have told me 35 years ago that's what I'd be doing, I would have not believed them!
The Mini-meme today is:
1. How did you end up doing what you do for work? (paid or unpaid!)
2. Do you like it, or would you like a change?
I look forward to your answers!
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29 comments:
I want change....
"I took a big job in the city..."
Ok enough of singing...
My story is kind of long..but I'll try to shorten it. I started to working right out of high school, cause I wanted to get my own apartment....got a job with a company in NYC who paid for all my degrees, BS and MBA, went to school at night. Also became certified in: are your ready? Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining....Like you said, I would never, ever had picked that, I just fell into it and it's been very good to me. Have had loads of fun doing it altho it was very intimidating at first....but hey, with a little practice...here I am...ready to retire!!!!
Peace
DogB- Short answer- me too!
odat- That was great! I envy your retirement, but I know you'll stay busy..
I use to work... Now I'm just a slave and I don't even get paid for it.
I ended up slaving because of that man I married. But I wouldn't change it for anything...although a weekly check would be nice!
I became a librarian when I got tired of waiting tables...
Today is my last day--so I'm ready for that change! I do like working with college students--never a boring day.
I'm one of those rare people who actually went to school for the field I'm in. Sort of.
I have a degree in Advertising. I was a copywriter for a while (still do it freelance), but I write, edit and layout a newsletter for a labor union. Basically PR.
I'm ready for a change of scenery, not necessarily job responsbility.
1. How did you end up doing what you do for work? (paid or unpaid!)
I went to college for Early Childhood Development, wanted to be a Preschool Teacher. I worked ina daycare/preschool for two years and ended up HATEING people and their children. I decided I wanted to raise my own children, not other peoples.
2. Do you like it, or would you like a change?
I love it. It's good, it's bad, it's up, it's down. But I wouldn't change a thing.
1. How did you end up doing what you do for work? (paid or unpaid!)
By default! Way back when, due to an aptitude for numbers, I got into accounting. It was always a steady, reliable career field. At 40, I went back to college to finish a degree in my "dream" field (paralegal studies). Finished the degree, worked in the field, liked the work, HATED attorney's and their politics. Now I'm back in accounting.
2. Do you like it, or would you like a change?
Well, this *is* a change, kind of. I'd like a DRASTIC change - I'd like to be paid for something I am passionate about doing. The problem is I haven't found what stirs my passion.
I wasnt prepaired at all for what i have ended up doing - and i wouldnt change it for the world!
I'm an admin worker in a school and yes, I do love my job. However I can't wait to retire - I've done my bit now. :)
PS Give us a shout when you're visiting England!
I had some interesting classes as far back as middle school and especially in high school and landed in college taking much the same in the way of courses and parlayed it into an actual career which I can honestly say that I love and I have a job making more than alot of people who pissed away 4+ years in college.
sherry- That's life in a nutshell! Trade-offs!
Lini- My love of books started young. With a few different turns, I might have enjoyed that as a career..
Finn- Me too.. I like what I do, but the paperwork and routine has gotten old.
leighann- That's good! Daycare takes a special type of personality(and drugs!)
dana- I know what you mean.. the things I'd like to do don't pay as well as what I'm good at!
casdok- Sometimes your "Calling" comes calling when you least expect it...
Ake- Sorta how I feel- "Been there, done that, got all the damn tee-shirts"!
Sornie- I only have an Associates Degree, but in classes that really did help me out over my career...
I decided to become a secretary (it seems they call it "assistant" nowadays LOL) due to health problems my choices were limited. I worked in that field for 10 years and after my kidney transplant I decided to go back to school to become and English Second Language Teacher... I have been teaching for 10 years now... I truly enjoy my work... great change for me.
What did you want to do at first?
1. I spent nearly fifteen years in the restaurant biz. Realized what crappy hours and pay were in my future and wanted out.
Helped a guy who was painting my parents house years ago who said I knew enough about painting and other types of construction that I should start doing that instead.
I listened to him and put an add in the paper listing myself as a handyman for hire. Twelve years later I have a successful business as a general contractor.
I'm now specializing in decrative concrete coatings.
2. I love what I do as I've never been a "same four walls" kind of guy, so this is great. I'm not looking for a change, but I've learned to never rule out possibilities either.
I started school, majoring in artwork and graphic design, and lo, got a job with a printing company doing layout and graphic design when I was 19 years old.
"Why," I said to myself, "should I go to school to get a job what I'm already doing now?" I dropped out of school. Bad idea.
I have now worked in printing and publishing for 26 years, almost 21 years with the same company.
I still have a passion for the craft of layout, and printing, and how many sheets of paper it takes to create a 1-inch spine on a book. But outsourcing to India is killing us, I haven't had a raise in 6 years, there's none to be seen, and I'm hard pressed to find something in this field without that degree I so wisely passed up.
So, there's change on the horizon for me, I just haven't figured out what it is, yet. I will, though. :-)
nancy- Glad you found your calling! Glad the new kidney worked out even more! Young kid, a vet- loved animals, later architectural drawing, finally mechanical design... Still ended up a salesman!
jeff- I've been a travelin' man so long, I could never, ever work inside at a desk all day now..
gnightgirl- Between outsourcing, and technology advances, whole industries in this country have gone through changes that did not create more, or better paying jobs. Much more the opposite...
My job is my salvation. Aside from my wanker boss.
Every single day I thank god that I am fortunate enough to have this job.
Love what I do, am good at it and it is rewarding. Time off a lot and it makes me feel good.
I am a lucky gal.
har- Happy to hear you say that! I have always worked in the private sector, and have always felt- if you don't want me, some other team does! I am the original arrogant prick when it comes to capabilities! I like a good argument, or fight- you'd be amazed how many bullies back down when you don't!
My story is almost the exact opposite of yours. When I was a kid I used to play/pretend that I was a secretary, a boss and a teacher. I've had all three of those positions in my working life. I never did pretend to be retired - but maybe the play was the preparation for that because now that I am retired all I do is play.
Buf, This is one of your most interesting posts & I enjoyed reading all the comments here, with interesting variety of outputs from people about their career conflicts and struggle...
Ps> I shall be writing a mail to you soon...
I started life working in The Ministry of Defence..... loved it, left to have 4 kids, which is work in itself BUT cos me now X worked in his fathers nursery business and was low paid, I went to work at his family nursery with 10 day old son in tow, went on to have 4 sons and all were taken with me, but at the same time started a childminding bususiness and a pre-school so juggled it all..... then my now X parted ways with his fathers business and we had our own nursery business, I still had me preschool and me childminding business, worked 80 hours a week for 5 years to get the business off the ground, he then walked away from me and his 4 sons..... fank whoever that I still had me childmindinding and preschool businesses.......... I sold me pre-school a few years ago.....cos I had to raise me 4 lads completely financially but more importantly emotionally on me own..... me childminding business keeps us all ticking over, my mission of raising me sons is almost over with only 2 still in education, even though all 4 still live here lol....
Even though I am very good at my job, and for the main I love it...... its not where I saw myself all those years ago.....
I am more then ready for a change of life completely...... but its knowing how to go about that..... different job, different country maybe, a new beginning somewhere else.... its been a long hard 7 years nonstop with no break.... I deserve something besides toil before I die.....
x
to much information right? lol
x
annie- After being in the workforce for so long, it's great that you can now have some playtime!
mona- I've always said, everyones got an interesting life- it's just getting them to tell you about it..
marmy- You've worked harder than I had imagined! And yes, you do deserve more than just more work everyday...
:) well hard work never killed anyone to my knowledge...... I had me first job at 12 and was from that day forth responsibe for all me own clothes and shoes etc, except for me school uniform which me parents did buy.... I aint work shy thats a dead cert lol....
It was what it was and it is now what it is..... its life, its what we sign up for......
Im a very creative person and would love to make a living with my hands painting and making things...... really Im most at home being mother earth LOL....and would so love to own a little bit of land and become self sufficient, but alas I do know those dreams are just that.... old dreams what whoosh around me head....
Im thinking of running away and joining the amish.... except, I can do aprons but I DONT DO BONNETS lol
x
marmy-I'm sort of on the edge of a career change(maybe), I just know I've been in the steel business for almost 35 years, and I'm getting stale... Join the Amish? You'd have to work even harder! LOL!
Yeah :) but its muvver earth work and I LOVE all that..... lol
wow 35 years.... will ya get a gold fob watch lol
x
In USA they just usually fire you, or eliminate your job in your fifties- no gold watches here anymore....And it was 3 places: 25 yrs.,1-1/2 yrs, and 7-1/2 yrs.
1) I stumbled into it, because I needed money & I passed the piss test.
2)The money could be better, but the scenery changes & I get to tear shit up & make it better!
Buff I have a award for you click here for your award!
Rog- Funny how we end up where we are, and what we do.. Kinda what this post was all about! Good thing you got out of this state- The Motor City don't build motors much anymore, The Furniture City, doesn't do furniture like it used to, and the birthplace of the mass produced car is having alot of still borns these days.... Thank God I live in W. Michigan- still beautiful, and diversified..
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