What do you do for a living?

[John Koch-Northrup]

I work mainly with data... I've been in IT for about 16 years and mainly work to make data useful information for people. Whenever I can do that - it makes me very happy.

The software and systems have shifted over the years... wrote queries on DB2 on a mainframe back in the mid-90's, worked on data design and queries in Oracle, implemented and helped design call taking systems, installed reporting systems including some early dashboarding systems, shifted to admin/programming an ERP system (software that runs the entire company) running on a PICK/Universe database - which was a massive shift from normal "relational" databases, and now that my company was acquired we switched to running SAP. I'm mainly doing work with EDI (which is sending data between companies in specific formats), and tinkering with MS Access, Excel, etc... I'm one of those people that knows a little bit about a lot of things - and a lot about a few things... :-)

Been at my current job at an electronics manufacturer for 10 years (as of 3 days from now...) - and was at a large inbound call center for 7 years before that. (and worked part time at a music store for 6 years and taught piano and synth as well...)

I don't want to dive into a resume type thing at all... just curious what everyone does - whether you're a full time musician, student, got a "day job", or whatever... :-)

[Exuviae]

I work a job I hate so I can buy things I don't need.

Just kidding- I have an unhealthy obssession with stealing film dialogue and using it for my own evil gains! Two points if you know where the above line is referenced (sort of) from...

Anyhow...

I am a typical office monkey guy. I seem best suited to work in a cubicle farm, doing repetitious work and am fairly skilled at both tricking my co-workers into liking me a lot and doing the same for customers who call.

At present, I am working for (and very well may become a lifer with) a dental supply company. We send out catalogs that are to dentists across the country as American Musical Supply or Musicians Friend is to gear nerds across the galaxy.
TESTIFY!

I answer phones, take orders, do paperwork, and act like a silly grade-schooler pretty much all day in order to both make my co-workers laugh and have a good time as well as keep my own sanity at an operable level.

I've passed on a few opportunities to obtain "schooling" that could "advance" my "employability" and "marketability", but simply put...I don't "want" to. I am content to be well below management level and pay scale (especially in "This Economy") and I have no desire to give two squirts of pee (or poop) about my "job" the very second I walk out the door for the day.
My mother dislikes the fact that I lack "ambition" and don't tend to "plan" for the "future" very well, but what the fuck, eh?
My lovely wife and I had a discussion of our financial standing in the world years ago and both agreed that we are both pretty ok with being lower middle class earners because we get by pretty fine within our income. Sure, more money would be nice, but we aren't "into" doing what it "takes" for that to happen. So we don't. The only time this becomes an issue is when GAS PRICES ARE OUTTA THE FUCKIN' PARK! sorry...It also doesn't help when GROCERIES COST A COCK AND A BALL EACH WEEK! sorry...

But seriously...

Happiness. Is. Key.
That. Is. All.

.b

[sympathetic | DIVISION]

Here we go...this is going to destroy my reputation as an international man of mystery! I'm a chef by trade, well a 2nd Chef actually...I'm not that great at it though! I'm a bit soft on the others under me, which if any of you have worked in kitchens is a no no! I work in a Cafe by the beach, which is always busy (On average we will do around 200-250 meals a day). Our kitchen is nothing like Gordon Ramsey's kitchens, in fact it's pretty calm even though we're quite busy (Although I have worked in some high pressure kitchens). The most stress we have in the kitchen is bitching over who gets to play their CD's on the stereo, I always lose cos as they say, I have a "fucking weird taste in music"! In my time as a chef I have seen major fist fights in kitchens, head chefs throwing pans of hot oil at waiters, apprentices slicing off half a finger on a meat slicer & pizza chefs making dope cookies in the pizza oven! I became an apprentice chef in 1990 & became a proper chef in 1994, even after all these years I'm still doing the bloody dishes! I've been in kitchens since I left school in 1990 & have has a love/hate relationship with it. I always think what if I had gone to University & studied more, then five minutes later I think...what the hell would I have done????
On the whole if I didn't work in this industry, I wouldn't have met my beautiful wife & I wouldn't have a gorgeous little daughter.

There...my working life to date!!!

I may not be making the money I could be if had I gone to University, but I'm a lot happier...Poor, but happy!!!!

[SAVO]

Working at your place sounds pretty cool!

and, don't matter wot they say, weirdness is good!
sympathetic | DIVISION said:

Here we go...this is going to destroy my reputation as an international man of mystery! I'm a chef by trade, well a 2nd Chef actually...I'm not that great at it though! I'm a bit soft on the others under me, which if any of you have worked in kitchens is a no no! I work in a Cafe by the beach, which is always busy (On average we will do around 200-250 meals a day). Our kitchen is nothing like Gordon Ramsey's kitchens, in fact it's pretty calm even though we're quite busy (Although I have worked in some high pressure kitchens). The most stress we have in the kitchen is bitching over who gets to play their CD's on the stereo, I always lose cos as they say, I have a "fucking weird taste in music"! In my time as a chef I have seen major fist fights in kitchens, head chefs throwing pans of hot oil at waiters, apprentices slicing off half a finger on a meat slicer & pizza chefs making dope cookies in the pizza oven! I became an apprentice chef in 1990 & became a proper chef in 1994, even after all these years I'm still doing the bloody dishes! I've been in kitchens since I left school in 1990 & have has a love/hate relationship with it. I always think what if I had gone to University & studied more, then five minutes later I think...what the hell would I have done????
On the whole if I didn't work in this industry, I wouldn't have met my beautiful wife & I wouldn't have a gorgeous little daughter.

There...my working life to date!!!

I may not be making the money I could be if had I gone to University, but I'm a lot happier...Poor, but happy!!!!

[SAVO]

All I'll say about my current status is that I'm unemployed, and its depressing.

[Razzlog]

Well, since I'm still a student, plus I'm interested in lots of things (music, poetry, cocktails, walks, movies, comics, list goes on, but you get it :D ), I don't have much time for full-time (or even part-time) job... I do some translations (English->Serbian) for a hobby electronics related magazine and... well, that's it :D It seems that I've chosen all the things that don't pay off (poetry and music), so all of my pocket money comes from those translations :)
We'll see what future brings, after I finish studies (of Computer Science/Informational Technologies)

[Nathan Youngblood]

After quitting my 5 year stay at Steve Roach's Timeroom, no comment.... :(