OT What Job do you do?

[Check Six 2]

I left school at 15 to join the Army (WANTED to go to Vietnam...boy, what an idiot!). Anyway, myself and the Australian Army had a fight, so we broke up 8 months later (honourable discharge). I worked for QANTAS as a Radio Trades Apprentice. Got retrenched when I became a fully-fledged tradesman.

 

Joined the Department of Defence (NAVY) working as a radio tradesman, then as a Technical Officer of various grades in such diverse positions as Test Equipment and Instrument Calibration, Superintendant of Aircraft Maintenance and Repair, Torpedo Maintenance Establishment, Inspector of Naval Ordnance, and Trials and Assessing Unit as a weapons assessor (Anti-Submarine Warfare torpedo weapons practices [Mk 44, Mk46, and Mk48 torpedos] - that was REALLY interesting work, and well paid too! - and later on, Naval Gunnery).

 

I "retired" in 2000 to concentrate on my research (Australians who served in the RNAS in WW1) and went to France, Belgium and England to study and visit museums and research centres. Umm...It's REALLY expensive, and as I didn't pull out all of my superannuation, I ran out of bucks quickly.

 

Tail between my legs, I got back to Sydney and moved in with my brother, and started looking for something interesting in the way of a job. I selected Security Officer.

 

Worked in several smallish Security firms, eventually became Site Supervisor at a few places, and then concentrated on Surveillance, getting a job working the cameras for the surveillance team at Star City Casino. I left there and am now Shift Supervisor at a (quite large) building complex that comprises the old GPO building in Sydney (has 4 bars, 7 restaurants, 6 boutique shops), an office tower (24 floors) that houses the headquarters of the Macquarie Bank and Australian Securities and Investments Commission, and a five star hotel (32 floors) - The Westin, and a seven floor car park, and all the security concerns for all these premises and tenants, and all the building infrastructure that is required to run them (airconditioning, electrical supply, telephone, computer systems, door control access, access passes etc etc etc etc...the list is endless).

 

Sounds complex, and it is, but I get a LOT of time working at night to trawl the internet, and hound great sites like this and The Aerodrome to try to keep me awake (caffeine helps!)

[sitting_duck 3]

Sending out samples for Christmas? Thanksgiving? My grandfather was a baker after his stint at farming which didn't turn out . But he could make a heck of a French donut, I think they are called

 

 

you know its funny,,pulled into a bank one day to make a deposti,,and the tellers (cute girls too) saw the lettered van,,so they asked me if had any sample cookies.....i told them i would trade them for some of that sample money they had back there...

[capn rick 0]

Local government worker drone for 30 years. retired 4 years ago and re upped with another local government the following monday. been doing geographic information system spatial analysis/mapping/goofing off in a one person office at a local university for the past 4 years.

teach geography, planning consultant (both part time). Restore 1975 Triumph Spitfire in spare time when not hooked up to TrackIR and getting bollocks shot off.

 

Aint life grand?

[Gous 0]

Full time Physics student while taking some PPL lessons at the same time. Maybe I will combine these two and something good will come up in the future. Or I will just keep the PPL for hobby and move on for more theoretical and more nerdy (and more difficult..!) Physics stuff.

[02RAF_Puff 0]

Left school at 16 and joinned an explosives factory as an Instrument Artificer..been one ever since..nearly 28 years, currently working in the local paper mill.

[The_Black_Knight 0]

I serve as a US Army officer for the Corps of Engineers.

16 year veteran now, multiple deployments, with a couple of combat tours in the history.

Background is as a construction / facilities engineer, but I have worked a lot of other jobs over the years.

A few of the more unusual which unrelated to my training were recruiting command and diplomat assistance out US Embassies.

 

Looking forward to retirement.

Just want to run a old school arcade / malt shop and build my Nieuport 28.

Of course, I could just become a garbage collector, but I might get a bit bored quickly........... ;)

 

 

 

[Mr. Lucky 0]

Started life after school as an Aviation Electronics Technician in the Navy on F-14's (see my avatar), got out and worked on surgical lasers, then family's heating & air company. Moved on to computer programming and software design, then struck out on my own doing same while working part time as line handler at local airport where I was involved restoring a B17E. About that same time, I got my private pilot's license and tailwheel endorsement and bought my own airplane, a 1946 Taylorcraft BC-12D. Then I moved south and now work as an automation technician at a local Kaolin (white china clay) plant and have my own part time business as a clockmaker.

[Doublestop 0]

Sales Manager for the only paintball manufacturer in the UK. Only been there for a couple of month following a couple of redundancies. Best job I've ever had was as a tutor in a small adult learning centre helping folk acquire literacy, numeracy and IT skills.

[Velvet 1]

I just had my 10 yr anniversary at Pratt & Whitney. I'm an aerospace engineer.

 

Velvet

[77Scout 3]

Civil Engineer doing consulting from my home office, one man company. No boss and since two years ago no marriage-boss (wife) either. Living free and easy (grin).

[Dej 17]

I'm a Consultant Data Architect and head up the Data Management Practice of the UK division of a large global IT consultancy and outsourcing firm. Quite what I want to be when I grow up, I still don't know... but if it involved computer art and air combat history I'd be a lot more satisfied than I am now.

[NS13Jarhead 6]

Currently a contractor working for the U.S. Department of Defense. Kind of dull, but someone's got to do it.

 

Previously, as indicated by my handle, I served in the U.S. Marine Corps. I made it from Private to Lieutenant Colonel. My last job was to be Operations Officer, senior Marine, and 2nd in command of the Marine Corps Museum in Quantico, VA (www.usmcmuseum.org). During my 27 years on active duty, I traveled to 27 different countries (and was only shot at in four of them). My profile on a Marine Facebook-like page is http://marines.togetherweserved.com/profile/101671

[+matt milne 5]

I score films, games, adverts, tv programs and corporate videos. And have yet to be paid to do it.

[Burning Beard 14]

I'm a sign painter (thats US for sign writer) and am the son of a sign painter, grew up in the business so thought I didn't want to do it.

 

Worked for the US Forest Service as a surveyor then joined the Army, (1969) became an (for the want of a better term) intelligence analyst. Did a tour in Viet Nam (1970-71) a tour in Okinawa (2 1/2 years) and the rest of the time at the National Security Agency. Total Army time was just short of 10 years. Then went back to work as a surveyor, originally doing standard property surveys, then subdivision design, finally ended up doing Cadastral surveys in northern California. Well the recession of Jimmy Carter hit and engineering dried up so I went back to painting signs which I found out I actually love to do. I do most of my designs on computer now, but very rarely cut anything out of vinyl. I am still a brush man so if it has my name on it you know it is hand done.

 

Beard

[hood 2]

Joined the Australian Army from school and served five years in WW2.Just a rifleman,made corporal three times and was still discharged as a private.Must have been doing something wrong.Most of my active service was in New Guinea but was attached to the US army for twelve months in the Philippines.On discharge, having no trade, I took a course in photography and that's what I worked at until I retired 25 years ago.Self employed most of the time.

[Rickitycrate 10]

well I humbly submit my back ground. I worked for 3M Company for nearly 30 years. Started off in the Automotive Graphics silk screen printing business for them as an press operator, became a supervisor and a Protective coatings specialist. Joined a pilot plant operation for the New Products division and worked at making DNA filters for the research labs around the world. Became the Quality Assurance Lead. Took an opportunity to work for the 3M Aerospace Lab. We developed adhesives and primers, I was a major contributor in the developement of a Water-based primer for Boeing Co., we made the QPL and the product went into manufacture and is being used in Europe as far as I know. Started out as an entry level technician and left as a Senior Master Lab Tech back in '04. We put our house on the market eventually with hopes of selling and moving to Hawaii. Things being what they are I'm still here and for a little pocket money I am a contractor of dog care. I take care of others dogs anywhere from 2 days to 3 weeks or more. I enjoy the dogs but I really need a job. Thanks for sharing your work background guys.

[saltysplash 0]

Ive been a Police Officer for the last 24 years in south east London

 

Woolwich, Catford, Peckham, Croydon and now Lambeth.

 

I used to drive the big old pursuit cars such as rover SD1's 827's and BMW's but now I drive a computer aided despatch terminal

 

 

" calling all cars, calling all cars, a type 06 in progress 7b south st ec1

 

 

[redwolf 19]

I'm an elementary school teacher. Been so for the past 10 years.

[JFM 18]

Dad, writer, illustrator.

[Canvas Wings 1]

I'm a mostly freelance writer. Instead of a respectable, if under fed, author, I'm the literary equivalent of a hooker. Most of my years of scribbling has been for radio/TV however, there's probably not many things I *haven't* been paid to write -magazine/newspaper articles, speeches, jokes... I also write fiction, fantasy, songs (part time musician as well) -and even poetry, on the side; but that's a personal hobby for the most part. After hitting the keyboard 8 hours a day, the last thing I want to spend much time on is more writing. So instead I strap myself in to the cockpit of my trusty Sopwith Tripe..........

[Flyby PC 23]

Stonemason.

 

Or stone cutter as you say in the US.

 

Best work in progress? - That'll be my 3 apprentices.

[+Paarma 0]

Im at the moment full time student. Im studing Fashion and Clothing at Metropolia Polytechnic University. I have a part-time job at the Liquor Store. Also done some graphic design job.

[UK_Widowmaker 571]

My God!...What a diverse crowd!...fascinating Stuff!

 

So Far we have a WW2 veteran, an Explorer...and just about every other trade in between!

 

Amazing!..please keep them coming guys!

[Firecage 1]

Im a musician and between gig I work at a guitar center. Been playing guitar in bands for about 39 years now. Mostly Roadhouse stomp and blues stuff. I have done pretty much every style of music in those years.

 

WHen I had to make ends meet here and there I was in the IT world doing Server Upgrades and Support for boring and the Feds at times... but only as long as I had to... hate the feds as a boss.

 

If you want to hear some of the original work we do feel free to drop by and check it out

http://www2.mixposure.com/MichaelLee/music.php

 

I play the guitar, sings, write, produce and manage the band.

 

I also have one of the strangest schedules and can be online at strange hours flying when im not writing , playing or at GC during the day.

[Duce Lewis 3]

Started out in school for mechanical then automotive engineering

When the money ran out I went to work for a small motor manufacturer

Being that the product is electro-mechanical I also worked on electronics

A elecrical engineer took me under his wing and mentored me in the trade

I went back to school nights and got my associate degree in electrical engineering

I worked on motors design and testing for the typewriter, disc drive, then finally the automotive industry

Ended up a test engineer and laboratory supervisor 2 companies later

I was in heaven and set to retire there ...then they outsourced the company to Mexico & China

Now I'm a test technician in the space industry

It pays well but it's about as boring as watching grass grow

But in this economy, I'm staying put