What is your occupation? [Archive]

Driver

13th July 2004, 03:56 PM

I’m the general manager of quite a large manufacturing company – part of a much bigger business. I won’t identify the company – only because my involvement with this bulletin board has nothing to do with the business. The company has no connection with woodworking or tool supply, by the way.

Do I like what I do? Emphatically, yes. It’s a great job. :)

Why?

The real answer to that question is – people. A company is defined by its people, not its balance sheet and profit & loss account; not its machines and buildings; not its products and services. What distinguishes one company from another is its people.

You read and hear a lot of cr@p written by the gurus of the business world about company culture and the latest trends in management styles (jeez, I’ve seen a few of them come and go over the last three and a bit decades! :rolleyes: ). But what really counts is people: their skills and abilities, their experience and judgement, their personalities and talents and – most important of all by several country miles (that’s roughly several x 1.6 country km) – their attitude. :D

You can make up for quite a lot of deficiencies if you’ve got people who care. You can even overcome the latest trendy management culture thingy if your people want to do a good job. I’ve achieved that several times!

Col

ozwinner

13th July 2004, 04:04 PM

Now theres something novel, a company that cares. :confused:

Nurse, more chateau, O positive.

http://smilies.jeeptalk.org/contrib/xerx/MODhappyslk.gif

And pick that brain up off the floor!!

Cheers, Dr Frank

jshaw

13th July 2004, 04:20 PM

1. Molecular biologist

2. Yes, when it's going well but not when it's going round the u-bend.

3. When it's good I get to do all sorts of problem solving and end up with a warm fuzzy glow, not unlike when you finish something nice in the shed. Currently the latter, though. Been trying to clone a gene for months that just refuses to cooperate. Also hate the short-term contracts - a boy needs stability!!!!

And just for Al, I used to work on Alzheimer's disease - our work often turned up sloppin' about in a bucket. Yes, they are slippery little buggers. ;)

John

silentC

13th July 2004, 04:31 PM

1. Says on my business card "Senior IT Consultant". Actually just a hack programmer trying to make his way in world that's gone crazy, where everything moves too fast and no-one stops to smell the roses.

2. I've often said that I hate it. I certainly hate computers. Actually, I'd be mad if I did hate it - it has everything I need from a job: it pays rather well; I can telecommute; there are plenty of problems to keep the grey matter sparking; the customers don't have a clue what they want, don't know what they've been given, and don't know why they needed it in the first place. OK, I love it really.

3. Because it beats the hell out of working for a living and they let me do it from 500km away.

Dave gets my vote for "first time I ever heard of someone who actually did that for living". I've read about it in textbooks but never thought for a minute it was a 'real' job ;)

LineLefty

13th July 2004, 04:58 PM

1) Transport Economist/Consultant for the countries only Transport Research Company.
It's not hard to google the company name..................Basically we scavenge any contracts we can get that are vaguely transport related. Got any?

2) Yes

3) It pays O.K better than the Public Service. The variety of work is the main attraction though. One minute I'm in the office desigining a public transport plan, the next I'm out hammering traffic counter rumble strips into the road.

Thinking of abondoning it all and starting a furniture making apprenticeship like that metal-toothed putz in the Federal Govt add. Wife says no.

LineLefty

13th July 2004, 05:06 PM

Jeez DaveinOz

A Software functional sizing analyst?

I'm sure you just tell people that you "work with computers"
I can empathise though. When the hairdresser asked me the other day what I do - I said I'm an "economist" and she replied, "what, like cooking and stuff?" Thats right, as in home economics.

I looked up a definitionof FPC though, and now I'll certainly look at this Access DB I'm developing a bit differently.

Rocker

13th July 2004, 05:30 PM

I am now a gentleman of leisure, but I used to be a geologist. I chose that job because it promised a life of adventure and exploration. In those days there were still a few parts of the world that were coloured red in the atlas, as remnants of the British empire. For my first job, I had the choice of joining the geological surveys of British North Borneo, Tanganyika, or Bechuanaland. I chose Tanganyika (now Tanzania) and spent six very happy years working there. In later years various jobs took me to Ethiopia, and Iran, and to North Queensland and the Northern Territory. Geology has some drawbacks; demand for geologists is very cyclical, and you tend to spend the best years of your life languishing in the bush without female company; and you often cannot do woodwork until you can put down some roots somewhere.

On the whole I enjoyed my work a lot; it didn't make me much money, but I got paid to visit places that most people never get the chance to see, and I got a good deal of satisfaction from unravelling the geology of the areas that I mapped. Oddly enough, you can get quite a thrill from discovering a 700-million-year-old glacial deposit in the north of the Northern Territory. But I suppose my greatest claim to fame is NOT discovering the Century Lead-Zinc deposit in NW Queensland. CRA found it 10 years after I was mapping there. Oh well, you can't win them all:(

When you get too old for field geology you can always program computers, so I did that for a few years, courtesy of the NT government, who were kind enough to give me time to teach myself Unix shell programming.

Rocker

PAH1

13th July 2004, 05:32 PM

Second Molecular biologist on the board

I enjoy what I do, given enough time and resources theres a damn lot of good that can come from what I do. The hardest bit is simply that nobody else actually understands what you are doing. If you think that woodwork is an expensive hobby and major equipment is needed, science and in particular molecular biology has that in spades. When was the last time you used a wood that cost a million+ dollars a kilo?

DaveInOz

13th July 2004, 05:37 PM

Dave gets my vote for "first time I ever heard of someone who actually did that for living". I've read about it in textbooks but never thought for a minute it was a 'real' job ;)

Thats cool too - big fish in a small pond etc :D I like to say to project managers "If I say it will take 2 days, it will" who can call me an exagerater :)

I looked up a definitionof FPC though, and now I'll certainly look at this Access DB I'm developing a bit differently.

If you are interested in FPC or software metrics and estimating I'm happy to answer questions, well the ones I know teh answer to anyway. (via PM obviously)

silentC

13th July 2004, 05:40 PM

well the ones I know teh answer to anyway

C'mon Dave, you know the routine - if you don't know the answer, you make something up.

jackiew

13th July 2004, 05:51 PM

my business card doesn't actually have my job title on it for 2 reasons

1. it means they don't have to pay for new business cards if they promote me ( little did they know that I would be resisting promotion strenuously :) )

2. i can give myself any job title that the company feels would be appropriate when dealing with customers :D

I think I was described as a system specialist on my residency and citizenship applications. Software Engineer would probably be about right. around 18 years working on telecommunications software in various shapes and forms.

yes i like my job .... the pay beats working in Bunnings or Coles hands down, fairly flexible working hours ( although the downside is that management has no qualms about ringing up at 10pm or on public holidays and asking one to go in :( ).

I get to surf the internet while I'm waiting for things to compile( though sometimes I get carried away and then I have to work back to make up :( ).

about 30% of it stretches my brain alarmingly . the remaining 70% is routine and ranges from the bearable to the screamingly boring ( writing test harnesses is the pits ).

It would be nice if the male/female ratios in the industry were a little less skewed but I've never been aware of any discrimination against me ( and have sometimes found being a girly advantageous when getting job interviews ).

I get to go to work in trakky daks in winter and shorts in summer and no-one cares if I wear makeup or not. And best of all at the moment I can go home for lunch and potter about the house which means that the job would have to deteriorate alarmingly before I start looking for another one.

ozwinner

13th July 2004, 06:07 PM

no-one cares if I wear makeup or not. .
Yeah, same here. :D

Al

Grunt

13th July 2004, 06:08 PM

I'm another bloody computerist.
I own 1/4 of a software company that has developed a nifty bit of software that we flog and we also provide management services for your application and databases. I end up doing a bit of everything. Selling, programming, spec'ing.

I think I've been doing this for far too long, and most of the fun has gone out of it. It pays the bills and I get to telecommute mostly. Rather build furniture for a living.

bitingmidge

13th July 2004, 06:12 PM

1. What you do for work
I don't work, I'm a Development Manager (That's Property Development not IT!)

2. Do you like it
Yes, except when I have to go on a site and get my shoes dirty. (White shows up every mark!)

3. Why
It's better than working for a living.

P

Rocker

13th July 2004, 06:17 PM

Bitingmidge,

You mean the white-shoe brigade has finally become established on the Sunshine Coast?

Rocker

Dean

13th July 2004, 06:26 PM

Editor.

I get to read lots of stuff, re-write most of it, then they get all the credit :(
Oh well :D

bitingmidge

13th July 2004, 06:27 PM

Actually I lied about the shoes, it's usually barefeet or the old Teva's unless on site when the boots have to go on, but I'd hate anyone to think that there were developers who were caring treehuggers out to exploit anyone with ill-gotten gains so they could re-distribute wealth more fairly (like to my employers and myself.)

:rolleyes:

P

Bob Willson

13th July 2004, 06:36 PM

What the hell is it with you lot? Just about every one of you is in IT in one form or another. (Excepting ozwinner the brain surgeon.) Is it only computer oriented people that have the desire to be woodworkers? Does this fulfil some deep need in us that is absent with computers? IE the ability to actually pick something up and say "I made this?"

I must admit that when I leave my computer after having sat in front of it for the last 4 hours I can seldom see anything that has been worth that investment of time. On the other hand, I get a deal of pleasure out of being able to do the things that I can do on a computer.

I work for Australia Post as Mail Officer. This means that every night when you are snug in bed with the partner of your choice, I am sorting out your mail or parcels or running one of their various $10,000,000 sorting machines that do hundreds of people out of a job. I do not like my job but that is irrelevant. I chose the job because there is absolutely no commitment needed, when I leave in the morning that is it. No more thoughts of work AT ALL. That leaves me with the rest of the day to do the things that I spent the last 7 hours 21 mins earning enough money to do.
So, I am at the bottom of the ladder when it comes to job satisfaction and standing, but I'm right at the top for being happy and having lots of free time to be happy in. :)

jackiew

13th July 2004, 06:40 PM

bob, more likely most of us on line at the moment are doing so thanks to our employers, which means we use computers for our jobs, which means that there is a strong likelihood that we work in IT.

I'm currently waiting for something to compile and can't do much else in the next 2 mins.

journeyman Mick

13th July 2004, 07:28 PM

1)Well if Al can be a brain surgeon then I'm a rocket scientist! :) Actually, I've had dealings with both and they're mere mortals like the rest of us. I'm currently a full-time carer/part-time carpenter/joiner/shopfitter/cabinetmaker/shipwright/set builder.

2)The carer bit can be bloody hard at times but when things are going well there's time to catch up on all the things I've been meaning to build for our house. The other stuff I enjoy 90% of the time, the other 10% is chasing money and doing paperwork. I worked in graphic arts originally (amongst other things) and was on holidays and gave some owner builder friends a hand. I was hooked instantly, went and worked for the chippie that was doing a lot of their work and never went back to art.

3)Job satisfaction. At the end of the day I can look at what I've achieved. I can drive around the area and point out things I've built. I've got lots of friends that started out as clients.

Mick

ozwinner

13th July 2004, 07:44 PM

1)Well if Al can be a brain surgeon then I'm a rocket scientist! :)
Mick
Book me in for your first flight Spock.

Kirk out. :p

Christopha

13th July 2004, 07:49 PM

Thank God for bloody Mick! I was starting to think that I would have to go back to school and get a diploma of geekdom....
Carpenter/ woodturner and would you believe ... pharmacy assistant, oh and according to a piece of paper I am a company director.... what a lot of twaddle that is, SHE is the director!

MajorPanic

13th July 2004, 07:50 PM

Postal Delivery Co-Ordinator/ retired commercial photographer.

Sometimes...

Most of the time it's just like looking after a kindergarten. It's incredible how petty & self centred people are. I find it difficult to understand how people can't compartmentalise work & home life.

I do like the problem solving though.

Caliban

13th July 2004, 07:55 PM

I thought there were heaps of chalkies on these boards. Everyone else is too smart to admit it.
This reminds me how Maxwell Smart used to tell everyone that he sold greeting cards. I did this for about 15 years, then one day I thought (Never done that before and my brain still hurts, never do that again.) "I shouldn't be ashamed of my job, sure, everyone has a teacher they hate, but that isn't always me!
Do I like it? The pay is lousy, but the entertainment is constant, the clientelle keep you young, which explains most of my posts. I like the holidays, but really need them. The thing that I don'ty like is the people who say "It must be great only working nine till three thirty, I frigg1n wish.
Why do I do it? It usually pays the mortgage.

ozwinner

13th July 2004, 08:00 PM

multinut

13th July 2004, 08:57 PM

1 - joinery setout for shopfitting industry, cabinetmaker by trade

2 - depends on the day

3 - redesigning architectual drawings so things actually work is fun
3D cad drawing is fun
doing cutting lists is fun
overall work environment is fun at times
10 - 12 hours a day in front of a computer without net access no fun

Christopha

13th July 2004, 09:02 PM

Strewth Oz, I am going to hafta killya for that!!!! :mad: I did build the bloody pharmacy first..... :(

ozwinner

13th July 2004, 09:07 PM

Ya can get me at the Melbourne WW show. :D :D

http://www.computerpannen.com/cwm/contrib/xerx/MODhappyjaz.gif

Al

Barry_White

13th July 2004, 09:49 PM

This is the list of occupations I have had over my working life.

1.
Telegram Boy

Refrigeration Maintenance<O:p></O:p>

Clothing Sales<O:p></O:p>

Fabric Cutter<O:p></O:p>

Sewing Machinist<O:p></O:p>

Engineering Pattern Maker<O:p></O:p>

Foundry Casting Inspector<O:p></O:p>

Taxi Driver<O:p></O:p>

Life Insurance Salesman<O:p></O:p>

Car Salesman<O:p></O:p>

Ambulance Subscription Salesman<O:p></O:p>

Truck Salesman<O:p></O:p>

Oil Heater Installation Contractor<O:p></O:p>

Oil Heater Salesman<O:p></O:p>

Furnace Installer<O:p></O:p>

Air Conditioner Installation Contractor<O:p></O:p>

Electrician<O:p></O:p>

Window Furnishing Installation Contractor<O:p></O:p>

Screen Door & Awning Fabricator<O:p></O:p>

Screen Door & Awning Installation Contractor<O:p></O:p>

Window & Shopfront Fabricator<O:p></O:p>

Window & Shopfront Installation Contractor<O:p></O:p>

Building Contractor<O:p></O:p>

Tilt-A-Door Fabricator<O:p></O:p>

Tilt-A-Door, Panel-Lift Door and Roller Door Installation Contractor<O:p></O:p>

Truck Driver<O:p></O:p>

Insulation Installation Contractor<O:p></O:p>

Insulation Sales Person<O:p></O:p>

Ramset Fasteners Salesman<O:p></O:p>

Stainless Steel Cookware Salesman<O:p></O:p>

Vacuum Cleaner Salesman<O:p></O:p>

Steel Roofing Salesman<O:p></O:p>

Factory Manager<O:p></O:p>

Burglar Alarm Salesman<O:p></O:p>

Accident Insurance Salesman<O:p></O:p>

Security Door & Awning Salesman<O:p></O:p>

Shed Salesman<O:p></O:p>

Retired because I was tired of working.

2.
I liked all of them at the time of doing each one.

3.Why
Because variety is the spice of life and I can win many arguments on many subjects.

PlanePig

13th July 2004, 10:12 PM

1]My occupation is a "Hire A Hubby " franchise.
2] I love my work .
3]There are several reasons why I enjoy my job, I'm the boss[SWMBO said I could put that in :D ] I have flexible hours, I work for different people every day & all my tools are tax deductible :D :D :D
Before I did HAH I was a printer for 30ish years. I t was time for a change.
Planepig

bitingmidge

13th July 2004, 10:22 PM

Crikey Bazza,

37 careers!

I thought I was a bit of a misfit with only 19!!

Must be something else I can do!!

Cheers,

P

Barry_White

13th July 2004, 10:26 PM

Biting

Depending on how old you are there still might be plenty of time.

Wayne Davy

13th July 2004, 10:27 PM

1. Systems Architect (Computer Software)

2. Yep - very much

3. Same reasons as DaveInOz

DarrylF

13th July 2004, 10:28 PM

1. IT Manager for a mid sized company

2. Mostly yes.

3. I hate the travel (over an hour drive each way). Some of the personalities annoy the hell out of me at times. I have a great team and most of the people I work with a terrific.

The work itself I love. I get to build, rebuild and refine the systems that run every aspect of the company. I get to make a serious difference, learn a lot about all parts of the place, and learn new technologies & skills constantly.

My last job was as Chief Technology Officer for a US dot com, based in London. Hell of a ride - got my passport a week before I left Aus and two years later I had a wife, child and a quarter of a million frequent flyer points :)

I do get tired of working with computers - I couldn't go back to a pure tech role now. A lot of what I do is technology related of course, but these days a big chunk of it is about people, processes, business - more interesting stuff.

One day I'll have made enough money and I'll bugger off up the coast and do something else with my life :)

Dan

13th July 2004, 10:29 PM

1: Industrial Electrician (my location contains a big hint).
2: It's ok most of the time (summers aren't the best)
3: I get to play around with big bits of machinery that don't work properly and fix 'em (or at least get them going again by use of a cunning plan). Doing shift work means there's only me and a fitter there at night (no management, team leaders, etc), and I get 4 days off out of every 8. Pays pretty well too.

bsrlee

13th July 2004, 10:44 PM

1. Pensioned off/burnt out/ex/has-been C.O.P. - almost 30 years in total for my sins. At least I got the good pension scheme, so I am allright since the wheels came off.

The last 25 years in Communications. Interesting job, good workmates mostly. A******e management who treat all their staff like s**t, on a good day. Still miss the place sometimes, like when I'm having a nightmare.

2. Sometimes give a mate a hand with his movie SPFX/Armoury buisness. Very interesting work, pity I can't keep up with the hours I's like to be there.

macca2

13th July 2004, 10:47 PM

I started out like Bassa as a telegram boy. But I didn't think it was worth while changing firms so I stayed with the big T for the next 40 odd years. Saw a lot of this great land and retired a very happy chappy.

Was I happy at work.....yes

Would I go back......not a chance

Now retired and learning how to make sawdust.

Macca

Ivan in Oz

13th July 2004, 11:06 PM

fxst

13th July 2004, 11:10 PM

retired Locksmith
loved it ( own business)
was fun (hated the boss) :mad:
sold up when the right offer was made
was also
railway signalman
shunter
Beekeeper
brickies labourer (got smart)
plasterers labourer (forgot the above)
station hand on sheep & cattle stations
prospector (now a hobby) :cool:
gem facetter (hobby No 2)
woodworker (sorta) (hobby No1)
and now enjoying the fruits of my labour
Pete

echnidna

13th July 2004, 11:11 PM

Well I suppose I am somewhat like Bazza as I have done many different things.
But unlike Bazza I'm too lazy to try and write the long list, too much like writing a C.V.
I have enjoyed most of the things I have done, and regretted a couple.

Many of my occupations have involved woodwork which is an oxymoron of sorts. Woodwork was my worst subject at school. Challenge is why I became a pro woodworker, no point in getting a job that you're good at, unless you want to become dull and under stimulated.

I retired 10 years ago and while I have always kept busy I get bored so I am now in the process of setting up a business as a souvenir manufacturer. I did consider making chairs and chair kits (and still might as a sideline) but that is more or less a repetitive activity. (probably lots more money in it than souvenirs)

I prefer being physically active and the idea of computer programming sends me to sleep. I did a short stint as a brickies laborer, but preferred a nailbag and hammer.

Dan

13th July 2004, 11:14 PM

Ivan,
I don't work at the power station, but my employer uses a fairly large chunk of the power in the Queensland grid, (another hint). :)

Ivan in Oz

13th July 2004, 11:22 PM

Dan,
Some came from one place, some from the other.

Kinda AC/DC....................... :rolleyes:

I was there in 71, just out of School.
It'd be different now,
I've just come from BHP HBI, Iron Ore in WA

Kev Y.

13th July 2004, 11:22 PM

> 1: Industrial Electrician (my location contains a big hint).

G'Day Dan,
I might be working with some of your Rapscallian Mates :(
I'm also a 'Lecky, at the 'local' power station, in Cypress Country.

Winters are cold....Sunny Qld, HUH!!
Summers are scorchers

I'm my own boss and do what I want; when I want.
As long as the work gets done.
AND I do NOT trip the Turbine :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Count

Finally TWO other people on the board with a "proper job" :p :cool: ..

The title given to me by the B.O.S.S is "Assistant Unit Leader" (panel jocky for you two - Homer simpson for the rest of you!)

Deputy in charge of any one of 4 515Mw units in The Latrobe Valley in "sunny" Victoria.

Do I like it NO!!! but it helps support the habbit (amongst other things)

Ivan in Oz - you trip MY turbine and I will NOT be impressed :mad: .

Anyway , have been here for 23 years, and the companionship is just wonderful.

Kev :cool: :rolleyes: :p (WHO RE-ARRANGED THE SMILIES!!!!)

FAB

13th July 2004, 11:25 PM

1. Farmer. Cotton and wheat mainly.
2. Yes, most of the time. The past few years have been a little stressfull!
Bought a second farm 4 years ago and have planted 2 crops and harvested none, so the bank manager is getting a little toey.
3. I am my own boss, they hours are generally good and the fresh country air is great. but most of all I think it is just like the satisfaction you get from growing your own little vegie patch out the back, just my patch is a little over 3000acres.

Dan

13th July 2004, 11:31 PM

Kinda AC/DC....................... :rolleyes:

Exactly ;)

Cohuna

14th July 2004, 06:46 AM

1) Psych. Nurse I tell people I went to hospital for treatment and I got a job instead. :eek: :D

2) Yes to the actual job of working with patients because people's basis needs have not changed, :D and "no" when I'm not allowed to give clients the help they need. :( The system has a different priority list from when I first started; The new one looks like this:- 1. budget, 2. budget, 3. budget, 4. client. When I first started it was the reverse. :mad:

3) I do my job because of the good feeling I get with the small positive changes and improvements that occur when dealing with patients. I still believe patients are people with a disease not a disease that just happens to have a person attached. :D :D

Cohuna

Slavo

14th July 2004, 10:52 AM

1. Environmental Planner (Studied both environmental science and town planning)
2. Yes & No
3. It's one of the few jobs where you deal with politicians, beaurocrats, developers and the general public. Can be very rewarding and very frustrating all at the same time.

bitingmidge

14th July 2004, 11:44 AM

Environmental Planner

Been there done that!

One of the great oxymorons I think (the description, not the job;) )...but not quite up there with
"Civil Engineer"....

:D :D :D
Cheers,

P

arose62

14th July 2004, 03:02 PM

1. What you do for work
Database Administrator (Short version - It's another IT job. Long version - I look after all the information that the company tucks away all over the place. I don't care what they do with it, just make sure they can get at it when they need it)

2. Do you like it, and 3. Why
There tends to be one-or-few DBA's per company, so I get to shape the job a bit to fit me. I like trouble-shooting and problem-solving, and there's a fair bit of that in my job.

However, the 3 hours travel each way are NOT acceptable, so I'm counting down the next 16 days to my resignation. The Real Estate boom has been kind to me, so I'm not having to look for a "job" for a while.

Cheers,
Andrew

WOOD DUCK

14th July 2004, 03:32 PM

1. Public Service. But I have learnt how to type faster.

2. Love it, work shifts but not the rude 11pm to 7am shift.

3. Pays enough to get into this woodworking gig. Hours are great for golf and woodworking . We have bradband here so I can surf the web for these sorts of pages all day at break neck speeds, and of course the best reason
Beats working for a living

lbarnes

14th July 2004, 03:41 PM

1. RSL Club Manager now, previously sailing club manager, truck driver, surveyors chainman, fish cutter upperer, sawmill lackey, student civil engineer.

2. Like it. It funds a lifestyle.

3. As I now live in Northern Rivers NSW and not Sydney and the move is funded by being a club manager I am very grateful. Also the people I work with and for are a breath of fresh air after some of the clowns I dealt with in the big smoke.

Zed

14th July 2004, 06:10 PM

1) what do I do ?

Operations Integration Manager (OIM) for one of the telco's here in our big broad brown land. I make sure (or at least try to make sure) that our operations sections have what they need to run new technologies or products bought in by product and technology marketing and engineering - such as headcount, funding, capability, s/w & h/w functionality, training, doc etc etc. this involves meetings, reading techo manuals, negotiation, friggin email wars, nasty meetings, short lead times, reduced budgets less resouce etc... we have some truly AWESOME technology....

In the past i've been a prosthesist, camera salesman, dairy hand, telecommunications rigger, telecom technician, pabx installer, phone-girl, programmer, process analyst, manager of 6 diff teams in a technical dept. my resume and qualifications summary is about 50 pages long (not kidding!)

2) Do I like it ? I've always enjoyed my jobs except the phone girl job. the most exciting was the telecoms rigger building towers and antenna systems around NSW especially the day a mate fell off a tower in the back of bumf*ck near griffith - that was most exciting (ina bad way - luckily hes ok - like all good riggers he fell on his head and only suffered mild concussion...).

3) why ? why does anyone work ? to have a life and hopefully learn and utilise skills gained.In most of my jobs i've been lucky enough to find friends who I will and do cherish for life and who I would not trade for anyone except my wife - who wins hands down everytime.

4) what would I rather be doing ? listening to zappa on my farm in the shed reducing timber to component molecules watching my kids and wife enjoy thier lives in a pleasant rural environment (hopefully near milton NSW somewhere) with no corporate bullsh*t and stress. one day I'll have a suit burning party and you as my virtual friends who help keep my sanity intact with your replies will all be invited. I will keep one suit, one shirt and one tie for weddings and my own funeral!

5) would I drop it all in a minute for Q4 above if I was financial ? like a rodent up an aquaduct, a bear in the woods, a crow to a carcase, the half life of U238 would not have time to complete one half cycle before I had written my goodbyes.

cheers all

Bob Willson

14th July 2004, 06:51 PM

and who I would not trade for anyone except my wife - who wins hands down everytime.
Come on Zed, be honest.She's looking over your shoulder isn't she. :)

ozwinner

14th July 2004, 07:02 PM

especially the day a mate fell off a tower in the back of bumf*ck near griffith -

Ive been there. :eek:
Nice place. :D

Al

Caliban

14th July 2004, 07:36 PM

Ive been there. :eek:
Nice place. :D

Al

Only if you land on your head and see things differently aterwards. ;)

scooter

14th July 2004, 09:21 PM

Yeah, same here. :D (re: wearing makeup)

Al

Uh, Al, ...I care, mate..... :confused:

Trainee manager in retail, enjoy my job, I agree - it's all about the people you work with and / or interact with each day. Very average pay but keeps the wolves away....Previously been in a bank for 10 years and had a Jim's Mowing for 5. All for self employment as long as there is some benefit - financial, leisure time, perks or whatever - flicked the Jim's as there ended up being none of any of that.

Sean

Sir Stinkalot

14th July 2004, 09:26 PM

1. Architect.

2, Its not bad ... could be worse.

3. What do I like? I like to be a total ass and provide the structural engineers, and builders, with totally impractical designs that look great on paper but either a) dont work or b) cost the client a packet for no real benefit, whilst at the same time costing the client rediculus amounts of money for my services.

No really, I like the fact that each job has a different set of challengers that are always testing the brain matter. I get to design and construct on a large scale, then on the weekends I do the same thing in the garage on a smaller scale.

There are so many clever ideas out there and my job allows me to explore them all and use them on a daily basis.

I dont like clients who have no idea of what they want .... they walk in with after buying a standard block and want to put 10, 3 bedroom units on it to make lots of money. They dont think about parking, council requirements, rescode and just common sense. I hate mock period styles, architecture should be new and fresh, designs for today, not living in the past with their mistakes, there is no place in Australia for the revamped Georgin style.

After all doesn't every woodie want to be an architect?

Grunt

14th July 2004, 09:43 PM

3. What do I like? I like to be a total ass and provide the structural engineers, and builders, with totally impractical designs that look great on paper but either a) dont work or b) cost the client a packet for no real benefit, whilst at the same time costing the client rediculus amounts of money for my services.

We just gave an architect just like you $5000. Everything he said was basically a complete lie and not one of the ideas he put forward was workable. The man should go into politics.

E. maculata

14th July 2004, 10:19 PM

1. What you do for work
2. Do you like it
3. Why

#1-Career Timber Industry (resource management/ultilisation, logging, sawmilling, processing)
Started at 15 as a millhand, started in the bush at 17, (logging & sleeper cutting), started back as sawyer at 24 for large company, few years later even larger company swallowed us up and closed us down(thanks Bondy...owe ya one for that). Luckily had done some external studies in the meantime, these qualified me for position with NSW Forestry Commish, unbelieveable learning curve for 3 yrs, combined with previous skills sat me in the job of being responsible with a couple of other unfortunates for ensuring uniform log quality for whole NSW Hwd industry. That got real political, which lead me to my current position with the industry owned training company. Says on my business card "industry consultant" (hah fooled em all)

#2-yep, I learn new things about timber everyday, can see myself dying doing this job....actually almost have several times at work, but thats another issue altogether.

#3-I love, love, love my work, I work all through NSW in logging compartments, national parks, sawmills and processing plants(flooring, kilns, treatment plants etc) with all sorts of people, the other field people in my organisation are real experts in their respective arena, and being the youngest they take pity on me and are really great to work with. And sometimes we actually get feedback that what I do makes a difference, Get to be a smarta*se & pass along to apprentices & businesses the techniques developed & shown to me by much smarter people than I.
I have learnt to shut up & listen to all the experts in my industry, from the 80 yr old bush/sleeper cutters to the top CSIRO R&D men and all between. Also try to make the job safer than it was for all who walked here before.

P.S. Did I mention I love my Job.

Bruce C.......I can't believe someone actually pays me to do what I do!

Geoff Sims

15th July 2004, 12:50 AM

1. Police officer.

2. Hate it.

3. Been doing it for 26 years and am fed up with having to deal with the dregs all the time, and with being canon fodder for the mongrel organisation I work for.

Only a couple of years from being eligible for retirement though, so too late to change. Too much to lose or I would walk out the door tomorrow. If I could have my time over again, there's no way known I would join this job.

Should have stayed in the electronics industry as a qualified Electronics Engineer or the building industry as a qualified Architectural Draftsman, but had great visions of a career helping people as a cop and threw it all away. If ever there was an idiot wearing rose coloured glasses, it was me.

Cliff Rogers

15th July 2004, 01:21 AM

G'day.

1. Computer Tech, you f' em, we fix em.

2. yes & no :confused:

3. yes, if it wasn't for the customers & the employees, it'd be a sh!thot job.
no, been doing it for 25 years now... too many customers & too many employees.

The back of the business card says "You'll love the service 'cos we love our job"
I guess that means that you'll only get good service when I feel like it. :D

craigb

15th July 2004, 12:18 PM

1. Mainframe Systems Programmer (yes they still exist :D )

2. No and yes

3. There are a lot worse jobs and it pays well enough to let me indulge my tool addiction.

Jon

15th July 2004, 01:43 PM

1. Telstra, currently working as a Facility Manager. I am located full time with a customer ( Centrelink ) and look after their phone needs

2. I like it

3. What I do is almost project managment. I am fortunate that I am away from the day to day garbage or stronger words that I would encounter if I was located within Telstra. I get on with my work and generally I can sit back and see the results of my efforts. It is also very varied in location and what is involved, very rarely boring.

GCP310

15th July 2004, 03:05 PM

1- joinery production/detail draftsperson

2- yes - its cool to design & draw up furniture and cabinets and see them from drawing stage thru to delivery

2a - No - dealing with Architects with no idea when it comes to appliance specifications, hoping will fit.

3- You get to play with cool tools like CAD and CNC machines, Go out on site to see them installed, Come up with solutions when the builders formwork and besser block walls are out of whack but the designer still wants a 10mm shadow from floor to ceiling.

Ian007

15th July 2004, 03:57 PM

1. What you do for work?
Run my own small buisness fixing,installing and consulting about air-conditioners

2. Do you like it?
yes & no

3. Why?
Love not working for anybody else and wont if i can help it :)
work when i want to at this time of the year :D but sometimes not enough work and $$$ :(
then work stupid hours in summer time, usally over 100hrs week doing the normal stuff during the day and then the paperwork, quotes etc after hours but make a good dollar in summer :) :)
and all the hot in the roof work during the 35+ days :mad: :eek:
but i need 2 cos ive got 5 Kids 4 of who go to a private school ( little one with down syndrome goes to a special school) and a wife ( and we all know the running costs of those dont we)
and then there is this tool addiction that i seem to have

I better get of this computer and go and make some money
nar make some sawdust instead that will make me feel better :D :D :D
cheers Ian :)

silentC

15th July 2004, 04:26 PM

1. Police officer.

2. Hate it.

Geoff,

I for one am sorry to hear that. It's a thankless job and god knows I couldn't do it. You had the best intentions and it's a shame you don't feel as though it was worth it. So for what it's worth, thanks for doing it.

simon c

15th July 2004, 04:45 PM

1. Chemical Engineer - now specialising as a safety consultant
2. Most of the time it's good, but has its downsides like any job
3. Normally the work is pretty interesting and varied, mainly work in the oil, pretrochem, mining, aviation, etc industries. The people I work with are what make the job, both from the good side and bad side.

Bauerbird

15th July 2004, 05:55 PM

1. Professional Firefighter
2. Relief teacher
3. Part time table maker - but only when I can get away from teaching.

Teaching is a real chore but firefighting is an absolute buzz. In 9 years I haven't once not wanted to go to work, in fact I still pinch myself that I got in.

HappyHammer

15th July 2004, 06:01 PM

Geoff,

I for one am sorry to hear that. It's a thankless job and god knows I couldn't do it. You had the best intentions and it's a shame you don't feel as though it was worth it. So for what it's worth, thanks for doing it.I've gotta second that, I couldn't do it either. Geoff, can't begin to understand how hard the job is and thanks from me as well.

I'm in IT as well :( (Couldn't find a yawning smilie)http://instagiber.net/smiliesdotcom/cwm/3dlil/sleep.gif(Thanks Ozwinner). Been in IT for 19 years doing different roles, never went near programming would have definitely died of boredom by now!:D

I have worked predominantly for merchant banks as I do now and the money is a handcuff I can't get away from. (I know boo bloody hoo you earn good money!) I know I'm lucky but now I have a wife, mortgage and two young kids my options in terms of employment seem to run in ever decreasing circles. I just need to find the courage to say f*** it and sell up in Sydney and move up the coast and buy a small franchise that gives me the time I want for myself and my family (Easier said than done by the way, I've been looking). Problem is I get the guilts about not being able to put the kids through as good a school, be able to finance their Uni education without them having big Hex bills etc. etc.

Anyway enough of my woes, do I like my job? Increasing the answer is only yes when I get to squish the self important tw**ts I work with. BTW I'm sure this is how I'm percieved within the company as I'm certain if I'm honest I am just as bad as many of them when I want or need to be. I think this is the thing that is most concerning me and why I NEED to get get out before I go passed the as****e point of no return.

Bloody hell that was a bit of a spew!:eek: Don't give me any sharp utensils, strictly plastic sporks! How did I get started on this rant, apologies to those who had to skip most of this rubbish to get to the next post.

Fancy starting a thread about work I come here to get away from work.

HH

ozwinner

15th July 2004, 06:28 PM

I'm in IT as well :( (Couldn't find a yawning smilie).

Ya didnt try too hard. :D
Heres one on me.

http://instagiber.net/smiliesdotcom/cwm/3dlil/sleep.gif

Al

RETIRED

15th July 2004, 07:26 PM

Cheques in the mail? HHAAAHHAA HEEEE:D

glenn k

15th July 2004, 07:44 PM

1/ At 15 worked for a builder offered an apprentice but went on to become professional student then odd jobs.
Then Maths Science teacher,
House renovator then worked down the docks.
Chemist in a precious metal refinery
Too many fumes so bought a plant nursery in bush
Back to working for a tree surgeon for extra money (been doing this since student days)
Back to school to be a qualified arborist (in the first lot trained in Australia)
Got a Lucas Mill to save some good logs
Got a wife put her through medical school as a retirement plan after she specializes she leaves.
Now after 3rd degree she's doing masters in philosophy and doing drama.
I'm still making saw dust in many forms.
2/ I do like it most of the time, but hate trying to repair trees after tree loppers and working for idiots.
I write a lot of tree reports now but will probably climb trees till I die.
Used to be into computers a bit but I'm told Fortran is not used any more.

Caliban

15th July 2004, 11:54 PM

1. Police officer.

2. Hate it.

3. Been doing it for 26 years and am fed up with having to deal with the dregs all the time, and with being canon fodder for the mongrel organisation I work for.

Geoff
I realise the Silent one beat me to it, so it probably sounds lame but I too thank you for a thankless task. I just managed to talk my daughter out of being a cop for exactly the reasons you've outlined.
I quit the NSW public school service for pretty much the same reasons. I now work for a poverty stricken Catholic school, work harder, longer but don't have to hit the bottle everynight any more because of ars3holes, so I really understand your predicament (just on a lesser level) I threw away 20 yrs of long service etc and the best super scheme in the country, but I might still be alive to see retirement this way, just with no money to enjoy. Hang in there, be the good cop and try not to be jaded, we need all the good ones we can get.

AlexS

16th July 2004, 12:32 AM

Last week, i was a hydrographer (like a surveyor with water).
This week, I'm a hydrographer on holidays in Japan.
In 2 weeks time, I'll be a retired hydrographer - just have to turn up at work for one day after my leave.
Then, get the sparky to rewire the workshop, collect & assemble the tablesaw, and into a new career in sawdust manufacture.

Enjoyed being a hydrographer for most of the time (37 years), except the last few when I was stuck behind a computer working for a bunch of rent-a-managers who saw the organisation I worked for as just another notch on their CV.

Best things about the job were the travel, the people, the brainwork (I actually enjoy maths) and the VR package at the end.
Worst things - rent-a-managers, AKA seagulls - they fly in, make a lot of noise, on everyone, take what they can and fly out again.

DanP

16th July 2004, 03:03 PM

1. Police officer.

2. Love it most of the time, hate it with a passion all the other times.

3. Was a fitter and turner in a previous life. Wanted something to fall back on if policing wasn't for me. I won't be going back to that I can tell you. Eight years a copper and will be for a lot more if the internal bull doesn't get the better of me.

Dan

http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung0304/auto/car-smiley-011.gif

Wood Borer

16th July 2004, 04:10 PM

Dan,

Something that you might be able to answer for me.

Most police cars and ambulances in Vic, NSW, QLD and WA have the red lights on the left and the blue lights on the right side of the car. This is consistent with navigation lights on ships and planes (except of course ships and planes use green for starboard). In SA I noticed they are the opposite - red on the right and blue on the left!

Are there reasons for this and SA got it wrong or perhaps I am just too bored when I am on the road? Is it something to do with SA being the only state not to have convicts landed there.

- Wood Borer

HappyHammer

16th July 2004, 04:13 PM

Maybe they got hold of a cheap job lot.

They could be up for receiving!

HH

ozwinner

16th July 2004, 04:14 PM

Rob, I think you had better give the wacky backy away. :D

Al

Wood Borer

16th July 2004, 05:39 PM

Then I would have no reason to be looking in the rear vision mirror.

- Wood Borer

Bob Willson

16th July 2004, 07:28 PM

Wood Borer

This is a really sad question. Is this really the epitome of your life that you have been reduced to wondering about the side that the colours are displayed on police cars? I mean c'mon, get a life. :)

Wood Borer

16th July 2004, 08:12 PM

These days I stick to the speed limits and on a long trip with the cruise control and on good roads there isn't much else to do.

Like most people I have my doubts about 61 in a 60 zone being a serious breach of the law. You will get booked in Vic or NSW for such an offence which costs money.

So every time I see a cop car and I am sticking to the limit I think to myself there is a another couple of hundred bucks I can put towards another LN plane.

I haven't been booked for over ten years now (touch wood) and this half baked wacky philosophy is keeping me on the road and in good tools.

All I need to do now is to make an arrangement with Dan so I drive past him five or six times when I have SWMBO in with me and hey presto another LN plane will be in the mail. :D :D

Now just how sad is that Bob? :D :D :D :D

- Wood Borer

minis4meau

16th July 2004, 08:30 PM

Oooh, you fellas seem awfully well qualified to me. Well qualified for what I am not sure! Me, well I have a degree in Home Management (self taught) and guess I will be in this job till the day I die. I'm not complaining mind you, the pay's not so great but the hours are flexible. And it's just a short walk to the shed!
Barbara

Munchkin

16th July 2004, 08:53 PM

Getting a bit bored at work, so it is time for a post.
Tell us
1. What you do for work
2. Do you like it
3. Why

1 Trained fully qualified Fitter & Turner, now employed as a CNC machinist/programmer/setter.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

<o:p></o:p>

2 Love it, I cannot believe they pay me so well for having so much fun.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p></o:p>

3. I work in one of the largest metalworking CNC workshops in NZ.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p></o:p>

The machine I am currently using is a Mazzak 60/160. (means the work table is 60 inches wide by 160 inches long) The main machine casting weighs in at 26.5 tonnes! Yep she's a big beast and there are 2 others that are larger in the workshop! <o:p></o:p>

<o:p></o:p>

The hours are long, averaging over 60 hrs a week but get paid very very well. The main thing is the workshop is very Tim Allen "Tool Time" where the motto of MORE POWER is always a must. So I get to take large lumps of steel and cut them with much serious intent into somewhat smaller big lumps of metal. Out put in a day is measured in cubic meters of swarf made. <o:p></o:p>

<o:p></o:p>

The co that I work for manufactures one of the main componitens needed in the assembly line to produce computer chip. Yep and it’s here in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City><st1:place>Auckland</st1:place></st1:City>, home grown and holds about 80% of the worlds business for this one item.<o:p></o:p>

gatiep

16th July 2004, 11:00 PM

Quote

Most police cars and ambulances in Vic, NSW, QLD and WA have the red lights on the left and the blue lights on the right side of the car. This is consistent with navigation lights on ships and planes (except of course ships and planes use green for starboard). In SA I noticed they are the opposite - red on the right and blue on the left!

Are there reasons for this and SA got it wrong or perhaps I am just too bored when I am on the road? Is it something to do with SA being the only state not to have convicts landed there.

- Wood Borer
************************

Maybe they are really meant to drive on the right in SA but nobody told them!

fxst

16th July 2004, 11:36 PM

OOPS :eek: u mean I should drive on the left ................bugger so much for ....look at those idiots drivin on the wrong side.......... :confused:
Oh well bit of networking and they will have me retrained
Pete :D

Toggy

17th July 2004, 01:03 AM

DanP,

You're only a toddler at it yet. Give it time & you too may end up on the scrapheap like a lot of others if you are unlucky.

Coppers are like proctologists; dealing with ar*eholes all the time.

As to occupation, just say that I have early retirement from the above.
Probably part hermit now would describe it

Do I like it. Yes, cos I get to wake up another day on bonus time. And no political & departmental bullsh** either. I even get to do some woodworking at times.

The pay. Well I won't get rich, but at least it lets me buy some toys occassionally. Actually the geeks probably pay more tax than my super.

The hours are long 24/7, but I get to "work" from home . I even get to sit down on the job. Also there is nobody looking over my shoulder all the time (unless SWMBO has a day off.)

Ken

DanP

17th July 2004, 09:32 PM

Wood Borer...

I don't think there is a hiden meaning behind the Red/Blue lights. They used to be all blue but found that the red was easier to see during the day. Probably spent tens of thousands of dollars for a scientist type to do an encyclopaedia size report telling them what they could see with their own eyes.

Toggy,

Good to see another Goulburn Valley resident on the board. Does the saying, "Five litre, five speed, life is complete" mean anything to you? Or did I get your handle wrong?

Dan

RETIRED

17th July 2004, 10:15 PM

Gooday.

Better watch it now folks, they are talikng in code.

As for the lights in SA. They didn't read the instructions right. :D

Caliban

17th July 2004, 10:35 PM

Gooday.

Better watch it now folks, they are talikng in code.

As for the lights in SA. They didn't read the instructions right. :D

Unless all else failed, they wouldn't have even read them. :D

Toggy

17th July 2004, 10:43 PM

Nah ,

The sand blew in their eyes and they got the instructions mixed up.
And be worried about the code; be very worried.

DanP, You shouldn't really be talking about my handle like that. The great white poobar will start bleeping things out.
If you are talking about modern day tin plate with disco lights; I much preferred the good old 351 GT's. I'm an old p-hart now.
If you are asking if I was in the job; yes. Now I've got all upset at the thought. I'll just have to have a few ports so I can sleep tonight.

I know of the remains of a nice bit of red sheoak up that way. Must check it out 1 quiet day. Some poor blighter might run off the road and hit it.

Ken

BigPop

17th July 2004, 11:04 PM

Danp and Ken (oops Toggy )
Geez sounds like an old reunion p*ssup to me - only I belong to another state.
Same feelings and same sentiments. I spent 25 years of hell and now enjoying my retirement like there is no tomorrow. Would I do it again??? Now - a definite NO !!!!!
Yesteryear a possible maybe.
I have met some great people (and many proctologists clients too I might add but too many of them to mention) and made some great friends throughout my time.
BSRLee I think we may have something in common also. Does 138 of '74 sound familiar???
My biggest quandry now is where to spend most of my time in the shed or with my new 3 month old grandson - at the moment he wins out hands down and takes pride of place. But then he will learn the ropes too over time and join his BigPop in the shed I s'pose. :D

Toggy

17th July 2004, 11:24 PM

Bigpete,

If we keep going we will outnumber the geeks. It's not hard to see where the hard work is. They are still raking in big bucks and most of us are vegetating. Ah, the life of a cabbage isn't too bad though. As too the p*ssup; DanP's only a young fella. Wouldn't do to teach him bad ways.

Ken

BigPop

17th July 2004, 11:34 PM

Toggy,
I agree plus the life of a cabbage ain't too bad ey.
The hardest part is working our what to do next as each day unfolds - my new 3 month old grandson is keeping me busy at the moment but no doubt I will be teaching him the 'rounds of the shed' in the not too distant future. Guess he'll know where 'The Fridge' is at least something his Grandma don't know and sometimes methinks don't want to know. :):):)

Toggy

18th July 2004, 09:57 PM

Bigpete

I don't have any trouble filling my time in; mind you the speed is not as quick as it used to be.

I had to choose my words carefully for DanP. Didn't want to use the c........ word in light of the crooks in Melbourne going down. He's got a rep to uphold still.

The state line didn't make much difference to me as had a NSW special badge. DanP probably is the same being on a border station. Anyway all that was in another life.

Ken