What do you do for a living?

[Erwin_]

Just mess around. Was bartender and made great tips. My favorite job was paralegal, pushing paper, looking for details. And l have been a successful career counselor and a successful mom of a nerdy geeky young lady who is learning python currently.

I probably couldn't do anything with a lot of social interactions as I have bad social anxiety. Counsellor does sound fun.

 

[Erwin_]

Computer programming

It's a fair point about worrying about working conditions and times more than what you do exaclty.

I have tried getting into programming but this was when I was younger around 14 years old, but I haven't tried in my older years fully and put time & effort into it.

 

[Aspychata]

I am not comfortable either with the social thing, but my looks pushed me into this role pretty early in life, so l have learned to tolerate it.

 

[Dagan]

Two career paths because of necessity, and they've both stuck. Entertainment industry was always going to be one because I grew up surrounded by it, learned it second hand and then needed it as secondary work / income when my day job otherwise wasn't enough to fully provide for my then wife and kids. The wife is long gone and still rather climbing the materialism/financial extravaganza ladder, if you will, but with her not being a perpetual debt machine stressing me out anymore, I actually can enjoy the secondary work again. I'm limited due to my oldest daughter's epilepsy, but I'm not a social butterfly much, either, so I don't do the huge gatherings, mixers, society of themselves fundraisers and whatnot. I have a set pipeline of those who contract me, and I'm good with it. When I can, I use these set of skills to do charity work, as I feel that is most rewarding.

My day job actually started out as simply inventory control management, but it quickly took a major turn due to the 9-11-2001 event. I was forced to cross-train and take on many roles. Not everything was a hit, but that which was numbers and/or precision (even physical work like this) helped me dig in and move forward to where I am now in quite a specific position of ensuring an area of ongoing safety for the entire world, believe it or not.

I don't mean for any of this to come across as woo-hoo, look at me, I'm this or that. I want you to understand the hard, cold reality that I was forced to make things work "or else" be penniless and stressed out to no end. We have different stress levels, obviously, but within ourselves and of ourselves, we can and will find out what we're capable of and make something work - therefore we find paying work. Don't let fear completely hold you back from trying anything to figure out what you can handle and excel at. I'm a firm believer that every kind of job matters, too, so don't ever think your job is actually worth less than another. Your employer may well value you less than another, but that does not specifically define your personal worth or decide that you should stay at only that position because you may well move on / up to do better.

 

[Kisa the tea]

Mental disability. I tried working once. I ended up vomiting from stress.

 

[GypsyMoth]

I look forward to hearing what some of you do as a living, hopefully, this can give me better insight into what I wanna do and help me decide.

My prior work experience has been varied. I started out by working multiple jobs at a time, moving frequently, continually having to start over. I've worked as a waitress, home health aide, greenhouse worker, agricultural inspector, factory worker, retail sales manager. I've also trained horses and riders and taught the Bible to children and teens. I wrote a novel. For nearly 20 years, I worked in the accounting field as an accounting technician, where I wore a broad number of hats in several different industries. That industry exposure is about to help me again as I transfer into a new career field; I'm currently re-training to be a data scientist. I'm also working towards running my business and I am qualified to teach lower-level college courses in 2 fields of study.

If I could hand out 2-bits of advice, it would be this:

1. Know yourself. Where were your favorite successes in school? What kinds of people did you like going to school with? What are your hobbies? What do you like to do?

2. Pursue an education that helps you explore what you like doing. Do you like taking things apart, or seeing how things work? Perhaps a degree in mechanical engineering would interest you. What about music? A 2 year degree in music may help you get your foot in the door for an agency that books musicians and events. The point is, an education helps open doors. It's not your destination; it's your doorway to many destinations. An education helps you to achieve your long-term goal.

3. Right now, work anything. This is your short-term goal. What you do and where you work at this level really isn't as important as what you take away from the experience. Did you apply yourself? Did you learn everything you could about your job and the company you worked for? Would your boss hire you back? Where did you succeed--and where did you fall short? Be honest with yourself, and seek to become the person you would hire.

By the way, 'work anything' does not mean this is where you're going to stay for ever and ever and ever. This simply means that maybe you'll work a seasonal job for 3 months. (I did A LOT of seasonal work.) Maybe you'll find an apprenticeship position at a machine shop. Maybe you'll be changing oil for a time, or answering phones, or entering data. Doing this kind of work for a time is great, because whatever skills you learn here will help you when you finally are ready to pursue your dream job.

4. Find a mentor. I know, this is a bit nebulous. This is usually someone working in a field or a position or a company in which you would like to be working. Ask them for advice and take it--that's what they're there for. Follow a blog, or find a friend who knows someone doing what you think you would like to and ask to be introduced. Some people are very open to mentoring and will share what it is they do. They can help point you in the direction you need to go in pursuing a career like theirs.

5. When you finally get in a couple of years of experience doing something, and you can show that you're reliable and dependable, and when you've earned an associate's degree or trade school certificate, then you can start applying that experience and education towards something you would really like to do.

6. And what if you 'arrive', but don't like what you're doing? See it through for a time, then move on. Experience is the best teacher. It will help you to make better decisions in the future.


@Erwin_ , if you really want something, then go out and work for it. You can do this. It won't be easy, but managers look more favorably on people they see who are really trying--even if they're not always succeeding--than on people who are there just earning a paycheck. Learn how to be one of those who are really trying.

 

[Chailatte_]

Programmer, but I'm thinking of studying data analysis. I would like to resume my vegan food business. Unfortunately, the reason I stopped is the same that led me to become a programmer: practically zero contact with people. Certainly, food is one of my interests and it gave me a lot of satisfaction, but the psychological toll(people)was too high.

 

[jsilver256]

Sounds like a good career choose, I have never looked into software engineering though one of my friends is one of those and he says it is exhausting and very time consumering.

I think that part comes down to whether it's a special interest or not.

 

[NDR2]

I’m a procurement (purchasing) specialist. My Associates Degree was in Office Technology - I chose that because I knew I was good at using software packages. Most of my jobs have been office/clerical type (Administrative Assistant, Secretary, Office Assistant, etc.). I do it well in an environment that’s not too hectic or fast paced, and that allows me enough time to get my work done properly.

With my current job, I started out as a temporary administrative assistant in the procurement department at the organization. They were pleased with my work and encouraged me to apply for something permanent. So I applied for the procurement specialist position and got it. The work I do now is similar to the work I was doing as a temp, and I get the benefits as well.

 

[Tired]

That seems like an interesting career.

Yeah, just rather underpaid heh

 

[Erwin_]

Yeah, just rather underpaid heh

I don't know where you're based, I don't think the EU or US would get underpaid massively.

 

[Tired]

I don't know where you're based, I don't think the EU or US would get underpaid massively.

I live in Serbia, and I don't suggest anyone to come to live here lol

 

[Crossbreed]

Before retiring, I was an on-again/off-again electronics tech.
I also did various types of programming, which I much more prefer.
I later supplemented my income as a paper carrier (until our state [Wisconsin] abolished contract work).

Now that I am retired, I am a full-time caregiver for my ASD3 daughter (29).

 

[Forest Cat]

I live in Serbia

I'm guessing you are familiar with the rakija then?

 

[Tired]

I'm guessing you are familiar with the rakija then?

Of course, I don't drink it though, but if any Serbian person becomes alcoholic- it's because of rakija, of course

 

[Yeshuasdaughter]

Homemaker

 

[Shevek]

I'm on pension now, and stretching it with a lifetime of frugal habits. Last year, I saved many thousands of dollars by fixing my car myself. My vocation was in developing benign technology, but all the investment still goes to the wasteful, dependency-forming stuff, so I usually had a part time job as well. Most often, I did extra-odd jobs, making or fixing things that the regular tradesmen didn't want to try. Using skills from two different trades, I once brought in a job at .1% of the other estimates.
Working for a company, there are potential problems with internal politics, but when self-employed, you have a new boss with every job. The up side is that you can either quit or look forward to only a short period of enduring a dummy, but the down side is you have to find a new one every time, and get through their getting acquainted filters. Referrals are the best - a satisfied customer is rare, and will remark on it to friends, which is the very best advertising.
Fairly often, I lived cheap or free by taking care of a place, usually mostly rented. That helps with the need for extra space for a workshop. Always remember, a penny saved is a penny earned. Don't pay for processed or prepared food, or buy anything new if it is available used. Avoid low quality stuff unless you know it is temporary. Fix or re-purpose rather than buy. Half the appliances in the garbage only need a switch or a cord.

If you use a bicycle to find your home, work, and shops, they will all be within bike range, and you can do a much finer-grained search for them. A bike will save you enormous amounts of money, and is the quickest way around a city center. It also integrates exercise into your day, and burns the extra adrenaline automatically on a stressful day. That's half of the battle in avoiding medical bills. The other is good food, and the healthy, economical option is going vegan. Organic loses some of the savings, but you may well get it back in better health and energy.

 

[Tom]

I;m retired but my career was in military both Air Force and Army. My specialty was radar/electronics. I did not know I was on the spectrum till late in my career and purposely avoided seeking a diagnosis. I have a retirement side gig buying/selling Toy Soldiers which has been a lifelong hobby of mine.

 

[Aspychata]

Thank you @Tom for your service. I totally agree @Shevek , l have salvaged many things l would have bought new. I feel great that the item isn't in a landfill. I am not very social, so no need to entertain, l don't work now, so no need for many things to be work ready, (makeup, shoes, hair products, gas, car repairs). And l help my neighbor pick up slats to repair her carport roof so she won't get evicted. I believe in helping those older woman who really need help. Right now, l am hoping l found a homeless couple a reasonable priced studio because van living is difficult after age 50+.

 

[saturnv]

I am a software developer. I enjoy it quite a lot. I have been working from home for over 10 years, which is ideal for me. I think I spend more time interacting with people than most would expect though. Programming computers is probably under 50% of the job. I talk to other developers, designers, project managers, system administrators, and users quite a bit. That is my least favorite aspect of the job. I find so much satisfaction in the programming part in which I make useful things for people that it is worth it overall.

If I didn't do this, I think I would like being a machinist. I took some classes and learned to operate milling machines and lathes. They can both be programmed using a language called gcode. Manually operating the machines and making things is fun too, just not as fast or repeatable.