What do you do for a living?
- Thread starter Country Misfit
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Bamamav
Well-known member
Dr Crankenstein
Rocket Surgeon
LibTimothy
Well-known member
This is very interesting. This is such a varied group....
I am an assistant professor at a small offshoot of a large Texas University. Mostly, I teach computer science classes, programming in Java and Visual Basic along with the odd software engineering class.
Before this I spent 18 happy years at IBM where I was a mechanical engineer, then an electrical engineer, and finally a software engineer.
I left IBM to go work for Sony-Ericsson. After five years I was happy when the layoffs came.
I went on to teach at a small college in western NY (which is the coldest, most dismal, god forsaken, place on the planet, no offense to anyone still stuck there..). We parted ways on less than happy terms.
But now I am warm and happy in Texas. With any luck, next year I will get tenure and will drop back to a normal 40 hr work week. When I was a grad student, I thought Grad Students were abused, over worked and under appreciated. Now that I am an Assistant professor, I have found that I am being worked like a rented mule and paid poorly. The difference is I now get certificates of appreciation to frame and hang on my office wall. I'd prefer money, but what are you going to do?
Still, I like this job and would not give it up. As one of my friends said, it sure beats working for a living.
Timothy
I am an assistant professor at a small offshoot of a large Texas University. Mostly, I teach computer science classes, programming in Java and Visual Basic along with the odd software engineering class.
Before this I spent 18 happy years at IBM where I was a mechanical engineer, then an electrical engineer, and finally a software engineer.
I left IBM to go work for Sony-Ericsson. After five years I was happy when the layoffs came.
I went on to teach at a small college in western NY (which is the coldest, most dismal, god forsaken, place on the planet, no offense to anyone still stuck there..). We parted ways on less than happy terms.
But now I am warm and happy in Texas. With any luck, next year I will get tenure and will drop back to a normal 40 hr work week. When I was a grad student, I thought Grad Students were abused, over worked and under appreciated. Now that I am an Assistant professor, I have found that I am being worked like a rented mule and paid poorly. The difference is I now get certificates of appreciation to frame and hang on my office wall. I'd prefer money, but what are you going to do?
Still, I like this job and would not give it up. As one of my friends said, it sure beats working for a living.
Timothy
RoddingRon
A man in his natural habitat....a Studebaker
I went to Penn State for mechanical engineering. Did that for about 12 years working mostly with material handling stuff (conveyor systems, racking systems, storage systems), but also worked in the engineering department of a fire truck manufacture for a short time.
Got tired of driving a desk, and started my own sign business. Actually had my work on cars that competed in the Indy 500 and was seen on TV during races at Pocono Raceway. It was fun, but had a partner that had a different view on the way things should be.
Was looking to get back into the engineering field, but took a temporary job rebuilding photo processing equipment to pay some bills. Almost 15 years later I had installed and serviced photo equipment all over the country including Hawaii and several places in the Caribbean, but got laid off because of the advancements in digital imaging.
For the last 9 years I've been working as a machinist. About 90% of what we make goes into the human body (spinal plates, bone screws, eye drains...lots of fun stuff). I primarily work with EDM equipment, but have spent time in the milling department and screw machine (lathe) department. They're not afraid to ask me to help out in just about any area that they may need help, but again, primarily I work with EDM equipment
Got tired of driving a desk, and started my own sign business. Actually had my work on cars that competed in the Indy 500 and was seen on TV during races at Pocono Raceway. It was fun, but had a partner that had a different view on the way things should be.
Was looking to get back into the engineering field, but took a temporary job rebuilding photo processing equipment to pay some bills. Almost 15 years later I had installed and serviced photo equipment all over the country including Hawaii and several places in the Caribbean, but got laid off because of the advancements in digital imaging.
For the last 9 years I've been working as a machinist. About 90% of what we make goes into the human body (spinal plates, bone screws, eye drains...lots of fun stuff). I primarily work with EDM equipment, but have spent time in the milling department and screw machine (lathe) department. They're not afraid to ask me to help out in just about any area that they may need help, but again, primarily I work with EDM equipment
39flatback
Well-known member
Made a career change about 14 years ago and became a millwright. Worked for a couple of millwrighting companies travelling to various industrial sites. Enjoyed working in the metal fab shop at the last place I was at...get your blueprint and go make it. Would have stayed if the owners hadn't been such a**hats, their daddy set them up in business. They went out of business a few years ago.
Last 6 1/2 years I've been at an animal feed production plant. It's slowed down some with the economy, dropped a shift but it's ok with me. The 24hr on call was really wearing and I ain't getting any younger, that and the witching hour for the equipment always seemed to be around 2AM.
Last 6 1/2 years I've been at an animal feed production plant. It's slowed down some with the economy, dropped a shift but it's ok with me. The 24hr on call was really wearing and I ain't getting any younger, that and the witching hour for the equipment always seemed to be around 2AM.
Jason454
Well-known member
I have been self employed uphlostering home furniture since 1991. Did a few cars, never enjoyed them. I still do my own.
26Troadster
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 22, 2007
- Messages
- 4,076
i wear many hats, machinist, welder, fabricator, ironworker local #92, electrician, rotary blast drill mechanic, hydraulics mechanic pumps/motors/valves and cylinders, now i got a desk in a air conditioned office pushing parts. i never back down from a job, my grand father always told me, someone has already done it once, you can do it again.
GJunktionMike
Something's wrong with that boy!
I always worked hard, not smart
I went into Drywall hanging right out of highschool, spent 12 year doing that and every backbreaking low paying side work I could find. After that got a job as a foreman for a commercial drywall company, worked my way up to Estimator/Project Manager. That lasted 13 year. The last 2 years has been job hunting and filling the time with welding/fab work and the occasional car builds for OPP and a couple home remodels.
I went into Drywall hanging right out of highschool, spent 12 year doing that and every backbreaking low paying side work I could find. After that got a job as a foreman for a commercial drywall company, worked my way up to Estimator/Project Manager. That lasted 13 year. The last 2 years has been job hunting and filling the time with welding/fab work and the occasional car builds for OPP and a couple home remodels.
endicott_jb
Well-known member
Lets see...
Worked at a pizza joint when I was 16 cooking, cashier, deliveries, bar tending(not exactly legal at that age), and eventually assistant manager.
Quit that to work on a turkey ranch.
Quit that to go work for the City of Turlock in CA, where I am from, as a Maintenance worker 1. So I did gardening, lawn care, and janitorial.
Quit that to join the Marines where I became a diesel technician. Became very good at my job and was put in charge of my units preventative maintenance and repairs. I really liked the big trucks. Was "forced out" due to medical issues that stopped me from being able to re-enlist and moved back to CA from NC to live with my mom, ugh.
Worked at a VW restoration and hot rod shop for a friend for a few months until I was completely EAS'd and could start school.
Went to UTI for 9 months but found out I don't do well in school anymore plus it's too expensive. So I dropped out after getting a really really good job in Havre, MT.(What was I thinking?)
So now, I am a welder, a mechanic, and a machinist for BNSF Railway. Turns out, locomotives have really big engines and when things break, they really break. Been here for 2 years almost and really love my job. Ask me in 10 years and ill see if I still do.
Worked at a pizza joint when I was 16 cooking, cashier, deliveries, bar tending(not exactly legal at that age), and eventually assistant manager.
Quit that to work on a turkey ranch.
Quit that to go work for the City of Turlock in CA, where I am from, as a Maintenance worker 1. So I did gardening, lawn care, and janitorial.
Quit that to join the Marines where I became a diesel technician. Became very good at my job and was put in charge of my units preventative maintenance and repairs. I really liked the big trucks. Was "forced out" due to medical issues that stopped me from being able to re-enlist and moved back to CA from NC to live with my mom, ugh.
Worked at a VW restoration and hot rod shop for a friend for a few months until I was completely EAS'd and could start school.
Went to UTI for 9 months but found out I don't do well in school anymore plus it's too expensive. So I dropped out after getting a really really good job in Havre, MT.(What was I thinking?)
So now, I am a welder, a mechanic, and a machinist for BNSF Railway. Turns out, locomotives have really big engines and when things break, they really break. Been here for 2 years almost and really love my job. Ask me in 10 years and ill see if I still do.
RustyNCA
Well-known member
One of the partners at....
So I am planning to start getting busy here soon.....
RustyNCA
So I am planning to start getting busy here soon.....
RustyNCA
choppinczech
Well-known member
Endicott, I know Turlock well.
I worked with Gary at Lock-N-Stitch for a while repairing industrial castings.
dowoplover
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2011
- Messages
- 157
been in and out of the construction business since I was a kid (just turned 62). Been a licensed electrician since '75. Just scored a job with FreddieMac as a "building engineer". Fancy name for a maintenance man. Consider myself semi-retired. Even though I work 40 hours a week.
31chevrod
Well-known member
I am the paint shop supervisor for a busy hydrovac company in Stettler Ab Canada. Side job and hobby car enthusiast!!
I started working at 16 for a car lot washing cars then into detailing, detailing at the body shop of same dealership, body prep and then painting, did paint work at a couple different body shops and then got back to detailing for quite a few years up until 5 or so years ago. Now Im a janitor at a school and love it as weird as that sounds. Hoping to stay at this when we move but always could get back into detailing. I loved doing that too.
sneakysnake
"There’s nothing new in originality"
Worked at a feed store in high school.Got a job at a plastics warehouse driving a forklift,moved into the industeral maintenance side of things,did that for 5 yrs. Got tired of the hussle bussle moved back to Okla from H town went into maint and trans for an Elementry school,did that for twenty years.Had been buying rental property and went to HVAC school in the process. So about 4 yrs ago started my own appliance and refrigeration repair
business and have 13 rent houses.
business and have 13 rent houses.
junker39
Well-known member
I did five in the Navy (Engineman) right after high school. Then mostly tractor and auto repair for a few years. Opened my own shop in a small east Texas town and went broke from not getting paid "on the third". Got into the chemical/petroleum plant work as a boilermaker, in the mid 80's. Been doing that since. I traveled around the country for a few years until I had a kid and he wouldn't know who I was when I got home after being gone a couple of months. Been staying local since. It's getting real hard to compete against 25 year olds, for a job. I never could and still can't "kiss butt". I know my craft very well and that intimidates most of the bosses that don't. So, I've got to make four more years some place(s) and take early SS and hope for the best.
IronRat
Well-known member
My job is simple....make everyone happy, the customers, my employes, my boss, his boss, his boss's and his boss.
Work is just one big basket of rainbows!!!
So why do I feel so old, why is my hair falling out and why do my feet stink?
[S
Grandpa always said a $hit job's pay check beats no paycheck every time.
Work is just one big basket of rainbows!!!
So why do I feel so old, why is my hair falling out and why do my feet stink?
[S
Grandpa always said a $hit job's pay check beats no paycheck every time.
cornfield customs
Well-known member
i have been running a hot hotrod shop full time since i was 20.
