Career Friday: what’s your gig?
I don’t do much in the way of reader surveys, but I ran into a thread on another forum that asked what people do. It was very interesting reading, but then again, I’m the kind of guy who’s only use for shopping malls is the good people-watching.
Anyway, what’s your gig? What do you do to pay the bills?
I’ll start. I work as the Director of Graduate Admissions for a university. Other jobs I’ve had include (in no particular order): an English teacher in South Korea, an Organizational Development Manager, fry cook, paper boy, roofer, janitor, construction laborer, hardware store clerk, rock climbing shop clerk, financial aid guy at a university.
Educationally speaking, I’ve got a BA in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. Ten years later I got an MBA.
Your turn!
34 opinions for Career Friday: what’s your gig?
Dale Cruse
Oct 27, 2006 at 9:19 am
I’m currently a website designer and developer. Previous gigs include being a US Army photojournalist stationed in Germany for three years and Bosnia for six months. I was also a producer for CBS News.com.
Paughnee
Oct 27, 2006 at 11:14 am
I’m an instructional designer for the US & Canadian divisions of an international corporation. I develop customer service and sales training for our operations staff. In the past, I worked at a large state university first as a VA certifying official, then as an Admissions Officer.
Educationally speaking, I have a B.A. in Classics then 10 years later simultaneously earned a M.Ed. (Adult and Higher Education) and M.H.R. (Master of Human Relations).
Nonia Bidna
Oct 27, 2006 at 11:16 am
I’m a novelist. I write young adult fiction. I’m working on a sci fi thriller for adults.
I wake up usually after 1 PM but sometimes not until after 2. I have a leisurely breakfast.
I have a big joint with my early afternoon coffee. I write down plot ideas and little scenes that come to me while I’m high. After an hour or so, when the buzz settles down, I start writing. I write for a couple of hours or so, or until I get bored. All that effort has usually tired me out so I often have a nap.
Then I might play guitar for a while. If it’s close to the weekend I might hit a jazz club.
Time for my afternoon nap. Ta ta.
Mike
Oct 27, 2006 at 11:56 am
I’m a technology and change management consultant at a financial services company. Before that I spent 14 years as a consultant in various disciplines and industries. Various product support, development, and marketing positions before that. Computer Science degree from M.I.T. and several continuing education credits from the school of hard knocks. Paper boy, butcher, roofer, and liquor store clerk to round things things out.
Fun idea, Bren. Look forward to seeing what others say!
Sean
Oct 27, 2006 at 12:19 pm
I work as a technical writer, a marketing writer, and a college professor.
I have BAs from Arkansas and MS from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
I started as kitcen help in one of my dad’s restaurants, and he and his father had hoped I would contiue in the family tradition of being chefs. So while I spent most of my tme in kitchens until I graduated, after then I’ve been freelancing as a writer.
Though there was the short period I got fed up with writing and I apprenticed to a sushi chef.
David Brunelle
Oct 27, 2006 at 12:59 pm
I’m the network administrator at a really fun advertising firm in Seattle (there’s also offices in LA). Prior to ending up here (in reverse chronological order) I was a tech support representative, in the Navy for four years, a supervisor at a Starbucks, and I was moonlighting as a DJ and event promoter/ producer.
Education: In some ways, none. I’m a high school grad. I tried college 4 times so far. While I’ve got some credits, no degree. I had trouble finding a niche. That being said, I have lots of on-the-job training, plenty of technical training courtesy of the Navy and my various employers. I’ve also spent enough time making mistakes to learn how not-to make them as much anymore. So I guess you could say I’m largely self taught.
And for what it’s worth, I’m contemplating a career change. I’m thinking web development looks fun.
Paul
Oct 27, 2006 at 1:47 pm
Ha ha - I’m a professor in a graduate program by day, and a clinical/forensic psychologist by night.
I have always been a psychologist (career-wise), and have worked in public service as a counsellor, private practice, college-level teaching and now graduate-level university teaching.
I look like most other professors in the university calendar listing, B.A., M.A., Ph.D.
Paul
Jorge
Oct 27, 2006 at 2:08 pm
I’ve only had 2 jobs in my life. The first being a Logistic Supervisor for Gap Inc and a Graphic Designer both of which I’m still exercising.
Mike S
Oct 27, 2006 at 4:03 pm
I’m the Director of Product Management at a medium sized silicon valley tech firm, was a product manager, architect, consulting member of technical staff, at a previous company, managed IT for some small companies, did my own consulting firm with 3 others for a few year… before all that, things were fun: rancher, semi-pro skater, stunt man, waiter, night club manager, bouncer, actor, salesman, bartender, DJ and personal bodyguard. I just get paid much more now.
Eric
Oct 27, 2006 at 4:37 pm
Currently: Stay at Home Dad to a very clever 15 month old girl … before this, I was an IT Director for a Law School … and before that, an EMT, Shuttle Bus Driver, and McDonalds Crew Chief. BS in MIS, and I may do some grad school over the next few years at home … since I suppose I’ll have to go back to work at some point :-(
Jennifer Kyrnin
Oct 27, 2006 at 5:59 pm
Currently I’m working as a full-time writer, and loving every minute of it.
In the past, I have held jobs like web development manager, cat cage cleaner, movie concessions, tefl teacher in Uzbekistan, technical support rep, web developer, paper carrier, library page, web writer, and primate research technician.
I got a BA in Linguistics and about 10 years after that an MBA.
Tom
Oct 27, 2006 at 6:19 pm
Just for variety, I am retired. I do some teaching in mediation, and I love to write. (Keep working and paying your FICA folks.)
My last day job was HR Director at a hospital; the same at a manufacturing company and a soup manufacturer. That experience was mmm ,mmm good. Concurrently with the HR stuff and for the past 15 years I taught as an adjunct faculty member at two universities. I have been a middle school teacher, an elementary principal, a naval officer and a laborer in a feed mill. Before that I milked cows both by hand and machine.
I have a BS from a large state university in the east and an MA from a smaller state university in the Midwest.
Bren
Oct 27, 2006 at 6:33 pm
These are great, thanks, everybody! It’s fun to hear what everyone is doing/has done.
Sorry about the spam flag problem that lots of you have experienced. Something about these kinds of comments is setting it off. I’ll see if I can loosen it up for future commenters…
Seamus MacAmus
Oct 27, 2006 at 6:55 pm
I’m an employment law attorney, defending employers when they are accused of doing silly and bad things.
Brad
Oct 28, 2006 at 3:43 pm
Current: insurance defense attorney. Previous: U.S. Army Judge Advocate, hotel desk clerk, carpet/floor covering installer, short-order cook, research assistant, lawn boy.
Mike Lewis
Oct 28, 2006 at 5:13 pm
I’m an unemployed computer programmer in Melbourne, Australia. My last job was writing air traffic control software and the job I had before that was writing high speed Linux device drivers for a cell phone base station. That was for a company in financial difficulties whose payments to the staff became quite erratic for eighteen months before they finally closed down, owing all of us six months wages.
Keeping my very small staff working when we hadn’t been paid for some months was quite a challenge. I did it strictly according to Maslow, pointing out the importance of what we were doing and saying that, even if we didn’t get paid, we’d still have the experience. It must have worked because he (I did say it was a very small staff) kept putting a lot of effort into what he was doing.
The reaction of some of the staff on the other teams was not as good. A lot of them just came in and sat down and did nothing. I’ll never forget asking someone to help us and getting the reply that he wasn’t going to do anything until he got paid. He then complained about how bored he was!
Alex Fayle
Oct 28, 2006 at 11:12 pm
Right now I don’t work - I sold my house and am using some of the proceeds to fund a year in southwest Franc where I write. Moving my Professional Organizing career from one of doing to one of speaking and writing.
Prior to running my organizing business, I was a database administrator, web content manager and a waiter during the school years.
Education-wise I have an interesting but useless BA in Celtic Studies and a less interesting but much more practical Master of Information Studies.
Milo Riano
Oct 29, 2006 at 8:04 am
I am a technical lead for C#.NET, the Collaboration Lead for Subject Matter Experts in SharePoint, VSTS, Ms Office, LCS, WCM, Project Server. I am also a Capability Mentor in .NET. I worked in one of the top three largest technology consulting firms in the world.
Dan
Oct 29, 2006 at 1:05 pm
Currently I am a literacy specialist and teacher coach at a small high school. I have BAs in English and English Education and I’m finishing a master’s in Educational Administration. I have been an English teacher, freelance writer, crime reporter, editor, bartender/piano player, waiter, cook, mechanic, paper carrier, fast food manager, and laborer.
Thom
Oct 29, 2006 at 4:01 pm
I’m in real estate sales, and I develop computer software. I actually got into real estate sales through a client I wrote some software for many years ago. It’s a great supplement to my income when there are few software development contracts.
Marianne Powers
Oct 29, 2006 at 4:22 pm
I am a writer and public speaker in the areas of personal growth, professional development, work relationships, conflict resolution, management, and leadership. I wrote a book called Doing the Right Thing and Achieving All Your Goals at the Same Time.
I love Slacker Manager and recommend it to everyone!
Rebecca Thomas
Oct 29, 2006 at 9:28 pm
Currently, I’m lead instructor for a tutoring center. I also teach most of the upper-level math students, some of the writing and study skills students, the occasional reading student, and all of the SAT students (I only teach the math side of that program.) When I’m not teaching, I’m a freelance editor and a jewelry designer.
Previously, I have been a museum educator and a content editor.
I have a BS in Interdisciplanry Studies with a focus in Mathematics. This is a very fancy way of saying I have a piece of paper that allows me to teach elementary and middle school students (which is why I spend ninety percent of my teaching time with middle and high schoolers). I also have most of the work completed for an MA in Museum Science with a minor in Curriculum and Instruction.
Andy
Oct 30, 2006 at 5:58 am
I did quite a few years of tech support for a school district. Then did grounds work for co-generation plant (they sold power to new york and steam to welch’s) and nights at BK as a burger flipper. During college I was a linux system administrator and perl web developer.
I did a summer internship at an insurance company fumbling with COBOL on mainframes and then a 9 month internship at a manufacturing company doing Java for their online ordering and catalog system.
After college I did a brief stint as a QA person, then switched companies and was a project lead on a C# project for a company specializing in circuit-board manufacturing software. Now I’m a software engineer for a large government contractor and working on a side web site project with a few friends.
Tom
Oct 30, 2006 at 6:44 am
I work as a consultant doing a mix of IT and Business type work.
I am actually thinking about going to korean for six months (3 months in a language program and 3 months teaching English) How was your time teaching English in Korea? I’d love to hear your thoughts on it.
Cesar Diaz
Oct 30, 2006 at 7:19 am
I am a support team manager for an IT consulting company. In reverse chronological order, I have been: a Senior Network Administrator, Help Desk Associate (twice), Park Ranger, Lawn Care Specialist for a chemical treating company, construction estimator, laborer, stocking crew and a home center, SCUBA diving instructor, McDonald’s.
I have a high school diploma, and like a previous commenter, have tried college a few different times just never seemed to be getting anything out of it.
Scott
Oct 30, 2006 at 9:14 am
I’m an electrical engineer for a major automotive supplier. My BS is in computer engineering from a small engineering school in Michigan. In college I interned at a spark plug plant as a mechanical engineer in training and then at another auto supplier as a web programmer in training. I also worked at Target. I went through one day of new employee training and decided it wasn’t worth my time. During my senior year in high school I was a stock boy at a grocery store. And my first job was in the carnival circuit.
Yep, I was a carny. I spent 3 of my summer breaks in high school running a few different games on the show. It was hard work and helped me understand the importance of getting an education. I met a 65 year old man who was illiterate and had been on the show his entire life. It was all he knew. I never thought I’d meet someone who was illiterate. And I also met a 14 year old kid from Arkansas who partied like Keith Richards and hadn’t been to school in a year. It was a job I’ll never forget.
Jason
Oct 30, 2006 at 9:50 am
…like anyone cares this far down the list…!
I work for an extremely large IT & Service company. I’m a project manager and quality consultant.
My career is noteworthy for my my tremendous good fortune and the fact that I have achieved this with no higher education to speak of. I don’t know that this could happen outside the UK.
Barry
Oct 30, 2006 at 4:59 pm
Director of Business Case Strategies (read: proposal manager) for a rapidly growing managed service provider.
I’ve been in IT for 20 years now, and have been a technical writer and editor, information architect, trainer, and technical support engineer; outside of IT I’ve been an emergency medical technician and a short-order cook.
Jay
Nov 1, 2006 at 7:14 am
Currently, I am a public utilities director for a city in Florida with a population over 100,000. Previously, I was a city manager for a small community in Central Florida for seven years. During my early working years, I have been a computer tech., salesperson of prepaid funeral arraignments, and a student marshal.
I have a BA from a small catholic university in the southeast and a MPA from a small state university in Florida.
Liz
Nov 1, 2006 at 12:47 pm
Art Director at a small screen printing company in Tennessee for 3 years. I have always been involved in design/web development but have skills all over the map. I’ve never been to college, but I would have if I could have.
There are a lot more days lately when I wish I could do more writing. I’ve been published before, but I want to write articles that people read about something other than technology/design. I want to write stories that move people, not just teach them how to write code.
AJ
Nov 2, 2006 at 6:35 am
I’m late to this party but, here goes…
Currently, I’m the instructional technologist at a medium sized community college in the Southeast. In hte past, I have been a high school chemistry teacher, a science museum educator, a lifeguard, a movie theatre ticket seller (and concession stand attendant), a DJ on a soft rock station and the person who puts the sales inserts inside the newspaper (what is that position called?)
I have a BS in Secondary Education and Chemistry and MS in Science Ed and a MS in Information Science.
Catharine
Nov 2, 2006 at 8:11 pm
I am a techie- I manage large computer systems, specifically the database domain. I have a degree in history from one of the “Southern Ivies” and a masters in hospital managment. In between then and now I have been a baker, a forest ranger and trainer (people, not animals). Someone volunteered me as the student rep to the Systems Group when I was in grad school and things have been fairly wonderful ever since.
Ike
Nov 3, 2006 at 12:47 am
Current: VP of Loss Mitigation at a Bank and College Professor. Previous: Director of Analytics at a Bank, Director of Business Intelligence at a research survey company, HR Consultant for video rental corporation, COO of print company, multimedia developer and project manager for Electronic Media company, Navy Nuclear Power school instructor, EEO consultant for a city port, paperboy, pizza cook, K-Mart associate, pinsetter at a bowling alley.
Bren
Nov 3, 2006 at 12:21 pm
Thanks for the responses, everybody! It’s been really cool to see the wide range of experiences, as well as the stuff we’ve got in common.
I’m going to turn off comments on this thread, since it’s been a bear to maintain. All the comments that were languishing in the moderation queue have been posted, so we’re up to date.
Thanks again!