What do you guys do for a living?

[Prateek73]

Working as a Marketing Analyst right here, although I studied Chemical Engineering in college. Have only been working 7 months and will be transferring to another rotation in February. Pay is pretty good for someone my age - the same as any starting Chem E salary, but the work is pretty boring and mind numbing. I hate getting up early every single day, and dealing with typical corporate bull****. My life is kind of like Office Space except less programming. Haven't been around long enough to tell you if this is a good gig relative to other careers

Anyway what do you guys for a living? Would you recommend it to others? Also some perspective is nice - how many years have you been working in the field, what industry are you in, etc. Also what are some common public misconceptions about what you do? What are you general likes and dislikes? What's your day at work like?

[TBean]

I am a non-profit fundraiser for over 15 years now. I have both a full-time job and I do some some consulting. I work, generally, with small to mid-sized non-profits. Most of my experience is in the arts, which matches my interest and education, although I have worked for other types of organizations but mostly as a consultant.

Non-profits never have enough funds and we are competing with other very worthwhile organizations for limited philanthropic dollars. I think the most common misconception is that we are begging for money from anyone - the fact of it is, non-profits present their case to individuals, corporations or foundations that have expressed an interest in what they do, and if that case is compelling enough to the donor we receive a contribution. That is just the first step - after that there is stewardship, acknowledgement, recognition and of course prospecting potential contributors. Endless and hard, but ultimately - if you believe in your organization - worthwhile.

[Lady Quindecim]

I am a student. I probably have no business posting here. Oh, well.

[matt9476]

I'm a sports reporter with a group of weekly newspapers in Buffalo. I like my job, but I loved it when I was covering the Bills, Sabres and pro boxing. The paper cut all professional sports coverage last year. Now, it's all high school, all the time.
I would recommend sports journalism to someone, as long as you know there is very little money in this profession. As my mentor told me, if you want to make money, go into business or politics. However, being a sports writer opens doors for me that no other profession can. I have talked to hundreds of athletes, entered the locker rooms at several arenas/stadiums/ballparks, and, most importantly, gotten paid to watch sports.

[HookUpandFence]

I am a computer systems analyst. I worked as more of a programmer than I really am now... the pay was not as good but I liked it better.
I work a lot with automation systems and data management for a pharmacy devision of a health care company.
So... I am not exactly _looking_ but if the rights opportunity came along...

[Gav]

I am an IT manager for a Scottish Agri' firm.

Which means I am a general layabout and professional shouter.

[foibles]

I help create the tests that help teachers not leave a child behind.

[dharmaqueen]

I am a physician in internal medicine (adult doc). I have been in the field 10 years and recommended it for anyone who is willing to suffer with drug companies and insurances for the sake of the patients (who I adore!).

[Purple Fencer]

Fending equipmet vendor/armorer...really a niche field in a niche sport...but even with the 12 hour day I had by myself yesterday (friggin' middle/high school epeeists who never learn how to adjust the contact sprong or put in a screw), it's FAR superior to the 9 years I spent as a legal secretary...8 of those in family law....ugh.

[magic_moose]

Computer systems integration specialist, currently focusing on Citrix, for a cable television network. Fun, challenging, and too much work as a result of having half of the IT department laid off over the past year.

But too much work sure beats the alternative!

[Mergs]

A Senior Systems Engineer for the Air Force, working on the Air Staff (Pentagon) working on review processes and technical oversight of all Air Force Cargo, Fighter, Training and Unmanned aircraft.

Secondary responsibility for providing common sense and adult leadership. Much harder. ;-)

[Katherine]

Archivist at a large aviation museum. Where I've spent fourteen years overseeing 75,000 linear feet of photos, negatives, letters, engineering drawings, files, charts, unpublished writings and the museum's painting collection. Part of the job is to preserve the collection for perpetuity (which is a realllllly long time for stuff that is bent on self destruction), catalog the materials and generate finding aids. The other part of job is to help researchers, historians, writers, students, producers, model makers and just plain enthusiasts access and utilize materials in the collection.

For the most part it is an interesting and intelletucally stimulating job; my co-workers are special in their own special ways and the patrons are frequently entertaining.

Added bonus: The Parents are always crazy happy to see the kid's name appear in the credits or acknowledgments, makes them feel all those school bills were worth it.....

[tchwojko]

Currently: Oracle Clean Content

I'm at the same job I took 14 years ago to pay the bills until I figured out what I'd do next after getting my Masters degree.

[Purple Fencer]

Archivist at a large aviation museum. Where I've spent fourteen years overseeing 75,000 linear feet of photos, negatives, letters, engineering drawings, files, charts, unpublished writings and the museum's painting collection. Part of the job is to preserve the collection for perpetuity (which is a realllllly long time for stuff that is bent on self destruction), catalog the materials and generate finding aids. The other part of job is to help researchers, historians, writers, students, producers, model makers and just plain enthusiasts access and utilize materials in the collection.

For the most part it is an interesting and intelletucally stimulating job; my co-workers are special in their own special ways and the patrons are frequently entertaining.

Added bonus: The Parents are always crazy happy to see the kid's name appear in the credits or acknowledgments, makes them feel all those school bills were worth it.....

Ohhh oohhh.....drooool!! I was quite the warbird nut when I was in high school, as my father was an engineer at Convair (which is why I get ticked when I see the F-16 listed as a Boeing aircraft....it was a CONVAIR plane, dagnabbit!

I did some archive work at the San Diego A&S Museum years ago, and helped restore the Convair Sea Dart that's on a hardstand outside the entrance.

[ChristopheK]

I am a buyer (specialized in supply chain) in a huge office supply company. I do this for more than 15 years and very happy

[Lady Quindecim]

I am a burden on scociety and a full time brat for just over 15 years.
=^_^=

[Nolano]

Right now I'm going to college as a Fabrication and welding student. And that's also what I do when I get a job.

[rory]

Software development contractor (ie independent consultant for hire).

[Patrician]

I'm in accounting and have been since I graduated High school 2 yrs ago. I took some time off studies but will probably apply for Law school this fall. My work is ok I guess, all my colleagues have an economics degree, everyone except me .
Pay is ok, I mainly do it because it looks good on paper.

[Morale Officer]

I am a physician in internal medicine (adult doc). I have been in the field 10 years and recommended it for anyone who is willing to suffer with drug companies and insurances for the sake of the patients (who I adore!).

LOL! Sorry...I have to laugh. I'm a Paramedic who would love to be a doctor (yes, I'd go into internal medicine like my father), but will probably be stuck as a medic the rest of my life. I do like having slightly less hassle than the docs with regards to the drug companies and insurance companies, but I have just about as much hassle dealing with other groups. I do have to say that most of the time I like my job, although there have been a few times where I have considered finding a new line of work (usually after really bad calls...and especially with really bad calls involving kids). And my job isn't all excitement all the time. In fact, most of it isn't. No not everything I go out for is an emergency. And even though you may think that you're going to die in the next 10 seconds from a hangnail...more than likely you won't.