What do you guys do for a living? - Page 3

Tingkai · April 25, 2002, 00:46

For lack of a better description, I'm a freelance journalist. Most of my work involves editing press releases and writing stories for boring trade publications. This isn't work that most people would think of when you mention journalism, but it pays the bills.

About once a month, I tap into a story that really sparks my interests. The story I’m working on now is about how expatriate parents in Asia can cope with potential drug problems among their children. Sounds kind of boring, but I managed to find a guy who was an ice addict at 15. It’s a great personal interest story and much more preferable, from my perspective, to stories about what Expert A has to say about Problem Z.

Although I do a lot of editing these days, my strength is on the reporting side. Editing is very precise work that is best suited to people who like to work in isolation. I prefer talking to people, asking questions, and learning new lessons every day. Learning something new is the great thing about journalism. I’ve been in the business for about 12 years and I’ve learned as much about the world as I ever did in school.

Tingkai · April 25, 2002, 00:47

Quote:

Originally posted by steelehc
I'm in the Navy, and I work in the Pentagon. I don't really like my job; I want to go back out on the water.

Steele

Did you just get transferred? I thought you were up in Alaska.

DinoDoc · April 25, 2002, 00:47

Have you done anything for American papers?

Tingkai · April 25, 2002, 00:52

I assume that's a question for me.

No, I've worked for Canadian newspapers in Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia. I've been in Hong Kong since 97.

I might try to pitch my latest story to an American publication operating in Asia.

devilmunchkin · April 25, 2002, 00:52

student
former premed
writing major with an emphasis in creative writing
i've had alot of different small jobs to get myself through college like fast food, kmart, secretary to baylor dean of music, piano lab assistant, working with the mentally handicapped...etc.

DinoDoc · April 25, 2002, 01:08

Quote:

Originally posted by Tingkai
I might try to pitch my latest story to an American publication operating in Asia.

Interesting. Have you ever thought of getting something more permanent or does freelance work pay more than I think it does?

Tingkai · April 25, 2002, 01:14

I would prefer to get something more permanent, but there are not that many full-time jobs out there. Even with a steady amount of freelance work, I’m always worrying about what will happen tomorrow. Will I have enough money to pay the rent next month? I try not to worry about it, but I often wake up in the dead of night and start thinking about it.

This is why I admire people who have their own businesses. I don’t know how they do it.

Skanky Burns · April 25, 2002, 02:21

I'm a student studying Information Technology at uni.

I also get payed to drive pallets around inside a supermarket

Guardian · April 25, 2002, 04:53

I'm an IT Consultant (professional computer geek!).

To be a little more specific, I'm a Systems Operator / Database Admin, meaning that I operate, administrate and occasionally plan and design database systems and related software for banks and financial organizations. I got the job in June 2000 after applying about 3 months earlier. Before that I worked a few years with more or less the same kind of stuff in local government administration.

I got into this line of work because I studied organizations and information systems at college and was fascinated by the prospect of how much a well-planned, well-designed, smoothly running database system can do towards getting the right information to the right people at the right times.

So, here I am, trying to make it happen in real life.

Haven't lost my job yet, so I guess I must have gotten some things right...

The Viceroy · April 25, 2002, 05:21

Im a Technical Consultant in IT, working for the worlds favourite airline

worked on many a wonderous thing, including a system to allow check-in agents to wonder around the terminals at Heathrow, checking people in .. its very ammusing .. ROBOCHECKIN-AGENT

It apparently went down really well, especially when the queues get out of hand .. although, one agent reported scaring several young children

I did comment that the agents should start by saying "We are the borg, you will be checked in, resistance is futile " .. but nobody saw the funny side in it.

Tom201 · April 25, 2002, 05:45

I had my own Mailorder company selling Adult entertainment. That means movies which are for ppl. 18+ like Starship Troopers, Evil Dead, etc.

Cose of some legal issues with the police , the buisiness had to close down (complicated story if you are not familar with german laws and horror buisness history - to keep it short: I didnt break any laws

).
Later I also sold some porn, but wasnt that great, because the market is overfilled with that.

So right now Im doing nothing, living from the money I earned in earlier days, enjoying my live etc. Maybe I start something new when I feel like it. By the way Im 21

Alexander's Horse · April 25, 2002, 07:00

I wander the earth seeking the ruin of souls.

Aside from that, I work for the government. I started out working for the government through a clerical error. I stayed because I'm allergic to work. When they stop sending me money every fortnight, I'll leave.

our_man · April 25, 2002, 07:22

What do I do for a living?

I scrounge off my parents - in other words I'm a student.

I'm currently at the end of my second year in University College Dublin studying Science, or more specifically Physiology, Pharmacology and Biochemistry. I'm still hoping to get into med school next year (looks doubtful), but if I don't, I'll probably end up pursuing a joint honours degree in Pharmacology and Genetics.

There seem to be very few people involved in health services in the forums. No radiographers, dentists, nurses (no surpise here though

). Very surprising. Is Dr. Strangelove the only doctor we have on Apolyton?

Provost Harrison · April 25, 2002, 07:27

Actually I am a biochemist by degree (as I said earlier) and I am applying for jobs, the major one I am after is a clinical biochemist, so there is a good chance I will be working in the healthcare sector.

But as for clinicians, no, I think Dr Strangelove is the only one we have. Docfeelgood isn't a medic though

redbaron · April 25, 2002, 07:28

Quote:

Originally posted by Guardian
Haven't lost my job yet, so I guess I must have gotten some things right...

Nah, it just means you haven't got anything terribly wrong

I'm laughingly described as a Business Systems Analyst specialising in Accountancy systems (Don't go to sleep, it's really very, very interesting

)

I got into it when I was working as an economist for a US oil company and had to develop some PC systems for the traders. (The IT department didn't hold with 'toy' computers in those days).

Zopperoni · April 25, 2002, 08:00

Quote:

Originally posted by our_man
Is Dr. Strangelove the only doctor we have on Apolyton?

Dr.Oogkloot

Post Count Zero · April 25, 2002, 08:58

Economist for a natural resources company.

That is why I avoid all the economic show-off threads around here.

LTEC! · April 25, 2002, 10:01

Ok, so I'm not a kept woman.

I'm an Architect. Do custom homes and commercial/retail design mostly.
Have worked as faculty at my alma mater, did admin/pr work for them as well and worked through school as an overpaid drafter/underpaid designer way before cad was widespread.
Graduated top 10 architecture students in the country, summa cumlaude and blah blah blah.

Now I'm full time mom, wife, housekeeper, part-time vet, april fools moderator, architect in between and coming soon nightclub/restaurant partner.

edit. coz latin words are banned.

Dr Strangelove · April 25, 2002, 10:22

Quote:

Originally posted by Provost Harrison
Actually I am a biochemist by degree (as I said earlier) and I am applying for jobs, the major one I am after is a clinical biochemist, so there is a good chance I will be working in the healthcare sector.

But as for clinicians, no, I think Dr Strangelove is the only one we have. Docfeelgood isn't a medic though

I thought that Docfeelgood was a nurse or something.

Roland · April 25, 2002, 10:52

I am what translates roughly into an assistent prof at law faculty - I shall spare you the details of our university organisation and employment rules.

Not to mention that they change every five minutes. I work in constitutional, administrative/regulatory, european law mostly.

Besides I have a stake in a small biz with a couple of friends. Work on legal consulting, although a lot less recently. Also did some biz consulting, where someone added the knowledge of the business in question, and I added some guesstimates and the nice-sounding phrases.

How did I get there ? Well... I started studying law, macroeconomics, history and politics. In economics they weren't able to explain what I wanted to know. In history and polsci, they didn't tell me much I didn't know anyway. So I stayed with law. The Uni job opened up, but I may well leave it when or even before my contract expires in 2006 and look for something else.

Saras · April 25, 2002, 13:27

Investment banker.

After a Management Buyout I own with four partners a cool small lean mean boutique that does a lot of groundbreaking stuff in the local market - first local currency corporate bonds (its funny how we still dominate the primary market, given our puny balance sheet in comparison with high street banks

), first property investment vehicle, etc etc.

Currently holding discussions with two major Western European banks to buy us out

Kristalli · April 25, 2002, 13:33

I study physics at Turku University. Not as glamorous as you coul think, though...

No, it's nice, I like physics. But why doesn't the government give me more money! I have no money to go to student parties...

Dauphin · April 25, 2002, 13:49

Physics graduate, then chose to become a chartered accountant.

Technically a "student" (only exams for another 18mnths

) I spend most of my time preparing company accounts and then auditing them. Occasionally I spend some time doing other kinds of financial "stuff" such as taxation, business management, corporate finance, acquistions and mergers etc. All in all it is very interesting.

Rogan Josh · April 25, 2002, 13:49

Quote:

Originally posted by Kristalli
I study physics at Turku University. Not as glamorous as you coul think, though...

No, it's nice, I like physics.

There is nothing wrong with studying physics

Saras · April 25, 2002, 13:52

Quote:

Originally posted by Sagacious Dolphin
Physics graduate, then chose to become a chartered accountant.

Technically a "student" (only exams for another 18mnths

) I spend most of my time preparing company accounts and then auditing them. Occasionally I spend some time doing other kinds of financial "stuff" such as taxation, business management, corporate finance, acquistions and mergers etc. All in all it is very interesting.

Would you be surprised if I told you physics graduates make up a very significant portion of Lithuania's I-Bankers? I also spent one year in physics until transferred into Business Admin.

Just check out the CV's of my rival firm, Vilfima www.vilfima.lt

Dauphin · April 25, 2002, 13:57

Physics is an undersubscribed university subject and chartered accountancy an undersubscribed profession*.

* which is why they get paid more, on average, than other professions such as solicitors.

Brtndr4u · April 25, 2002, 13:57

Beerslinger and Bookmaker,little shylocking on the side.

- Groucho - · April 25, 2002, 14:27

Quote:

Originally posted by Sagacious Dolphin
Physics is an undersubscribed university subject and chartered accountancy an undersubscribed profession*.

* which is why they get paid more, on average, than other professions such as solicitors.

Where are you from, Sagacious? Around here (New York) accountants make, on average, about half what a corporate lawyer (the US equivalent to a solicitor) makes. It's one of the big problems with the whole post-Enron/Andersen auditing crisis. CPAs just don't get paid enough to take on the liability that comes with the auditing territory.

Dauphin · April 25, 2002, 14:32

London, sort of.

Accountants get more on average, but I don't know the distribution of wealth in other sectors to comment on exact details.

Garth Vader · April 25, 2002, 15:54

Computer Programmer for a small engineering company.

So that means I do some programs for the office, do scientific/data logging programs, test systems and analyze data, help administer the network/user support.