The MLP Arena

Pony Talk => Off Topic => Topic started by: Noasar on May 21, 2018, 06:05:28 AM

Title: What’s your day job?
Post by: Noasar on May 21, 2018, 06:05:28 AM
I was thinking about this just now as I am sat on my lunch break, scrolling through posts on the Arena on one hand and answering emails on the other!

I am intrigued to know what you all do outside of the Arena - what’s your day job; what do you do or what did you used to do as a career/skill/profession? Or are you a stay at home parent? Probably the hardest job there is!

I am a Secondary School teacher. I absolutely LOVE my job. I teach Fine Art and Ceramics to students aged 11-18 years old. Most students know I collect My Little Pony and find it intriguing - I have lots of ponies in my classroom that they enjoy drawing and sometimes they bring in ponies of their own from when they were younger to add to our motley crew class collection which is nice!

I’ve been teaching for 6 years and worked in retail before that while I did my degree. If there are any retail employees here I feel your pain!! Hats off to you guys, dealing with the general public is NOT fun  :drunk: I don’t miss those days at all!

So tell me what’s your job? I hope we have some weird stuff like CIA operative, FBI agent? Professional trapeze artist? International spy??

:nerdy:

Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: nessa16 on May 21, 2018, 06:34:33 AM
Nothing too out of the ordinary here.  I am an OBGYN phone nurse in our OBGYN clinic.  I field questions, triage, am a liaison between my assigned providers and their patients.  I have heard some absolutely crazy things working here, so the job is rarely boring.  Before that I was a postpartum nurse up on labor and delivery in the hospital. 
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: invaderhorizongreen on May 21, 2018, 07:34:53 AM
I work at a grocery store, with memorial day weekend coming up work will be a zoo.  :pout:
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: Miniature Sheep on May 21, 2018, 08:07:16 AM
I work in a warehouse packing toys, which is a nice place with great people and all but I need more hours (it only really gets super busy around Christmas as it's a fairly small business.) So I'm part working and part jobhunting. I would ideally like to work as a gardener but there doesn't seem to be much demand in my area at the minute. :/
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: TheBeatlesPkmnFan42 on May 21, 2018, 08:17:12 AM
I work in the deli at my local Safeway.
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: tailrustedtealeaf on May 21, 2018, 08:34:12 AM
I'm at the Service Desk in an east coast chain grocery store. It makes for great stories!
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: Beldarna on May 21, 2018, 10:27:54 AM
I work at a gadgetshop in a mall. We sell everything from smartphoneshells to cables, gears towards pc/videogames (headsets, mouses, keyboards), sextoys, hoverboards, rubics cubes, squishies, slime, boardgames, kitchen utensils, radios, mp3players, RCs, quadrocopters, gopros. You name it, 99% chance is we have it. Best part is we get to play with everything (well not some certain toys ;)) on workhours so we learn how everything works so it's like being in a huuge daycare playing all day :lol:. One day I accidently crashed a 100usd quadro in a wall and my boss just laughed at me. It's a blast being there :biggrin:. If I could just not have to deal with customers, that would be great, lol.

invaderhorizongreen I spent five years in a grocerystore. I feel your pain :hug:
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: Noasar on May 21, 2018, 02:45:36 PM
I work at a gadgetshop in a mall. We sell everything from smartphoneshells to cables, gears towards pc/videogames (headsets, mouses, keyboards), sextoys, hoverboards, rubics cubes, squishies, slime, boardgames, kitchen utensils, radios, mp3players, RCs, quadrocopters, gopros. You name it, 99% chance is we have it. Best part is we get to play with everything (well not some certain toys ;)) on workhours so we learn how everything works so it's like being in a huuge daycare playing all day :lol:. One day I accidently crashed a 100usd quadro in a wall and my boss just laughed at me. It's a blast being there :biggrin:. If I could just not have to deal with customers, that would be great, lol.

invaderhorizongreen I spent five years in a grocerystore. I feel your pain :hug:

What a fun job Beldarna!

Nothing too out of the ordinary here.  I am an OBGYN phone nurse in our OBGYN clinic.  I field questions, triage, am a liaison between my assigned providers and their patients.  I have heard some absolutely crazy things working here, so the job is rarely boring.  Before that I was a postpartum nurse up on labor and delivery in the hospital. 

Ooooh OBGYn, I can only imagine the things you have heard...good and bad haha! What a lovely job to do though, helping mothers and new babies :)
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: ColdRuru on May 21, 2018, 03:39:59 PM
Well hard question.
I usually call me an "artist" but in real, I'm struggling with myself (lost confidence and fate in a personnal problem and depression) so I've got some boring and absolutely uninterresting part jobs to gain just enough money to live.
One day I hope I could fight myself and go on a full time illustrator job.
BTW I'm not complaining :blush:
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: Gator on May 21, 2018, 05:32:59 PM
I'm a veterinary technician. 
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: Marlin on May 21, 2018, 09:21:19 PM
I am an administrator in an early childhood centre (3-5yr olds). I work with both the teachers and the families, and deal with a really broad variety of people from all walks of life (I actually split my time between two centres, one in a lower socio-economic area and one mid range).

It's actually quite a challenging role and I get tired sometimes, but just the other day, as I walked through the centre in the sunshine while the kids were playing happily, I reminded myself my working environment could be far worse! Especially when you're in the middle of invoicing fees and a little guy comes to visit me in my office to show me the latest spaceship he just made  :)
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: northstar3184 on May 21, 2018, 09:45:52 PM
I'm an administrative assistant at an animal shelter.
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: Mewtwofan1 on May 21, 2018, 10:17:23 PM
I don’t really have a job, as I focus on my studies.

    I may not be an international spy or cia/fbi Guy, But I have been paid (once or twice) in the past to sneak around people and get bits of information. I’m quiet, and nobody ever really notices I’m in a room, let alone listening. So I guess I have part timed as some kind of spy? But this doesn’t come without downsides though. I generally hear conversation by mistake, and some of the stuff people say when they think nobody is listening in public...it’s a little funny and kinda scarring. But, the work of a student/animator/part time spy is never done! Not even when you hear all the details about Jessica’s party when you’re trying to study!
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: CloudyGlow on May 21, 2018, 10:39:39 PM
I suppose my day job is artist. It's what I do all day (besides video game) and it's the only money I earn. But I don't earn anywhere near enough to be even be paying taxes, haha.
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: Noasar on May 22, 2018, 07:41:00 AM
Well hard question.
I usually call me an "artist" but in real, I'm struggling with myself (lost confidence and fate in a personnal problem and depression) so I've got some boring and absolutely uninterresting part jobs to gain just enough money to live.
One day I hope I could fight myself and go on a full time illustrator job.
BTW I'm not complaining :blush:

Aw ColdRuru I hope you find yourself in a happier place soon. Being an artist full time and making enough money is sooo hard - all my artist friends have part time jobs doing other stuff to supplement their income too. We have two Art technicians at my work who are fantastic and very successful artists but they still work in my school part of the week so they have a steady wage. That’s part of the reason why I went into teaching. Have you ever thought about doing painting workshops for adults/children or teaching?
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: Pokeyonekenobie on May 22, 2018, 10:19:34 AM
I work in a library.  When I'm not at the check-out desk I reproduce artwork for DVDs and CDs that have been damaged.  I also shelve when necessary and do a plethora of other odd jobs that need to be completed.
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: Broken Irishwoman on May 22, 2018, 02:02:19 PM
I do production work in a sheltered workshop (I had to look it up in English, I hope I got the right translation). Which basically means that I am folding boxes from 08:00 to 16:30. It's my dream job, really. >_<
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: Loa on May 22, 2018, 03:08:42 PM
I'm a travel agent!
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: Noasar on May 22, 2018, 03:08:52 PM
I do production work in a sheltered workshop (I had to look it up in English, I hope I got the right translation). Which basically means that I am folding boxes from 08:00 to 16:30. It's my dream job, really. >_<

I think we call that a warehouse in English!! But good translation, I got what you meant  :lol:

What would be your dream job if you had to give up folding boxes?
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: Kiwi on May 23, 2018, 05:52:46 AM
I am administrative support for a cluster of health programs for a college. So lots of paperwork, emails, all of the behind-the-scenes things that make the program run.
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: starstrider on May 23, 2018, 09:36:50 AM
I'm a Registered Nurse working full-time in a busy general medical ward in a small city hospital.  We get a little bit of everything to keep things interesting  ;)  I do love nursing, but it is exhausting.  There are days when I want to burst into tears, and other days where I go home deeply satisfied from knowing I've made a real difference.  Much as I love nursing though, I feel like I'm ready to retire already.  It's so physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding that I can't imagine bedside nursing on a ward for another 30 years  :( 

My first and longest lasting job was as a checkout operator on the registers of a major supermarket.  So glamorous!  :P  15 years I lasted there, and to this day I still don't know how!  It wasn't exciting but thankfully the rosters were flexible and it allowed me to work part time from 14.9 years of age until I finished my postgraduate degree.  Throughout that 15 year period I worked a variety of other jobs to supplement my income; 2IC of a childcare centre, histological pathology lab technician, nannying, para-professional interpreter, School Learning Support Officer in a large urban high school.  I actually started out studying education with the goal of being a primary school teacher, but I got half-way into the degree before I realised there's no job security in Australian schools anymore.  I'm glad I switched degrees in the end, I'd so thankful that nurses tend not to have to take home lots of paperwork (but we fill in plenty on the job :P )
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: Noasar on May 23, 2018, 01:04:31 PM
I'm a Registered Nurse working full-time in a busy general medical ward in a small city hospital.  We get a little bit of everything to keep things interesting  ;)  I do love nursing, but it is exhausting.  There are days when I want to burst into tears, and other days where I go home deeply satisfied from knowing I've made a real difference.  Much as I love nursing though, I feel like I'm ready to retire already.  It's so physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding that I can't imagine bedside nursing on a ward for another 30 years  :( 

My first and longest lasting job was as a checkout operator on the registers of a major supermarket.  15 years I lasted there, and to this day I still don't know how!  It wasn't exciting but thankfully the rosters were flexible and it allowed me to work part time from 14.9 years of age until I finished my postgraduate degree.  Throughout that 15 year period I worked a variety of other jobs to supplement my income; 2IC of a childcare centre, histological pathology lab technician, para-professional interpreter, School Learning Support Officer in a large urban high school.  I actually started out studying education with the goal of being a primary school teacher, but I got half-way into the degree before I realised there's no job security in Australian schools anymore.  I'm glad I switched degrees in the end, I'd so thankful that nurses tend not to have to take home lots of paperwork (but we fill in plenty on the job :P )

Wow Starstrider you’ve done so many different jobs! I kind of know what you mean about not being able to see yourself doing it in 30 years - I love my job but I can’t imagine having the energy to do it at 60! Nursing must be so emotionally draining.

How come teaching jobs in Aus aren’t secure? Surely everyone needs teachers?
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: ColdRuru on May 23, 2018, 02:23:48 PM
Aw ColdRuru I hope you find yourself in a happier place soon. Being an artist full time and making enough money is sooo hard - all my artist friends have part time jobs doing other stuff to supplement their income too. We have two Art technicians at my work who are fantastic and very successful artists but they still work in my school part of the week so they have a steady wage. That’s part of the reason why I went into teaching. Have you ever thought about doing painting workshops for adults/children or teaching?

Well here we need a special graduate to teach here and I was not thinking of it when I left my studies, so I don't have it. Also, I would be lucky to found somethin' like that. My father used to teach art, but it was another world when he got the job.
It's so HARD to got a job today, so an interresting one... well... :blush:
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: Noasar on May 23, 2018, 02:54:25 PM
Aw ColdRuru I hope you find yourself in a happier place soon. Being an artist full time and making enough money is sooo hard - all my artist friends have part time jobs doing other stuff to supplement their income too. We have two Art technicians at my work who are fantastic and very successful artists but they still work in my school part of the week so they have a steady wage. That’s part of the reason why I went into teaching. Have you ever thought about doing painting workshops for adults/children or teaching?

Well here we need a special graduate to teach here and I was not thinking of it when I left my studies, so I don't have it. Also, I would be lucky to found somethin' like that. My father used to teach art, but it was another world when he got the job.
It's so HARD to got a job today, so an interresting one... well... :blush:

Yeah it’s the same here, I had to do a teaching degree after my art degree. It’s so cool that your Dad was an art teacher - jobs are very hard to get though, if you teach maths/science it’s really easy to get a job but unfortunately at the moment the arts aren’t in demand :(
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: ColdRuru on May 23, 2018, 03:11:47 PM
I'm wishing to do an etsy shop with my art, but it will need that I found the groove back and draw more :blush:
Thanks for your support!
I may post to explain my whole situation but I'm affraid of some things, that's why I'm always asking me if it's worth the share, but in a way it should be good for me... don't know.
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: ghouldilocks on May 23, 2018, 05:57:27 PM
I file cases to the counties for a local police department. It's not a bad gig, but it's just a foot in the door for me.    :work: :nerdy:
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: dragonfly on May 23, 2018, 07:23:14 PM
intergalactic rockstar. Catch my show on Jupiter.
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: starstrider on May 24, 2018, 08:25:40 AM
Quote
How come teaching jobs in Aus aren’t secure? Surely everyone needs teachers?

When I was growing up, school teachers worked largely in permanent positions.  They tended to keep those jobs until they either retired or expired.  So it was great for those teachers on a permanent full-time contract, they had incredible job security. 

However, these days the vast majority of teachers are forced into casual roles (at least in my state, honestly am less certain about the rest of the country).  If they are lucky they can pick up "blocks" of work which may last a few weeks at a time, or hit the jackpot and take over a position replacing a teacher on maternity/paternity leave.  For every other teacher, they're often stuck in a cycle of picking up a few stray casual days at different schools, and the whole time they're still job hunting for the rest of the week trying to secure work anywhere they can.  They have practically no job security, and have enormous amounts of stress trying to get enough casual shifts to make ends meet, and that's without taking into consideration the amount of stress which comes from teaching in the first place. 

Some teachers are so talented and passionate educators, but it is heartbreaking that they're left struggling to survive and overwhelmed with stress.  There is a really high burnout rate in recently graduated teachers, many leave after the first 2 years because it is just unsustainable.  Very few of the people I met through my teaching degree are still working as teachers now, they've had to reboot their career goals.  It's really sad. 
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: Kiwi on May 24, 2018, 10:34:34 AM
I meant to (but forgot to) include with mine above that I also have an Etsy shop on the side for my plastic canvas work (siggy banner & link). It's more of a little bit of craft income to support my hobby.
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: nessa16 on May 24, 2018, 11:07:13 AM
Quote
How come teaching jobs in Aus aren’t secure? Surely everyone needs teachers?

When I was growing up, school teachers worked largely in permanent positions.  They tended to keep those jobs until they either retired or expired.  So it was great for those teachers on a permanent full-time contract, they had incredible job security. 

However, these days the vast majority of teachers are forced into casual roles (at least in my state, honestly am less certain about the rest of the country).  If they are lucky they can pick up "blocks" of work which may last a few weeks at a time, or hit the jackpot and take over a position replacing a teacher on maternity/paternity leave.  For every other teacher, they're often stuck in a cycle of picking up a few stray casual days at different schools, and the whole time they're still job hunting for the rest of the week trying to secure work anywhere they can.  They have practically no job security, and have enormous amounts of stress trying to get enough casual shifts to make ends meet, and that's without taking into consideration the amount of stress which comes from teaching in the first place. 

Some teachers are so talented and passionate educators, but it is heartbreaking that they're left struggling to survive and overwhelmed with stress.  There is a really high burnout rate in recently graduated teachers, many leave after the first 2 years because it is just unsustainable.  Very few of the people I met through my teaching degree are still working as teachers now, they've had to reboot their career goals.  It's really sad. 

I know my older brother who was originally a history teacher had quite a few temp jobs at different places before he found a permanent position.  It's not even teaching history anymore.  He has an associate's degree in airplane maintenance, so now he is an IT/technology teacher.  My sister-in-law was a math teacher for only a few years after graduating too and never went back.  She caught some students cheating, and the administrators backed the kids' complaining parents instead of her.  So, she got the short end of the stick on that deal.  She has not gone back to teaching since and probably won't.
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: Noasar on May 24, 2018, 11:46:04 AM
Quote
How come teaching jobs in Aus aren’t secure? Surely everyone needs teachers?

When I was growing up, school teachers worked largely in permanent positions.  They tended to keep those jobs until they either retired or expired.  So it was great for those teachers on a permanent full-time contract, they had incredible job security. 

However, these days the vast majority of teachers are forced into casual roles (at least in my state, honestly am less certain about the rest of the country).  If they are lucky they can pick up "blocks" of work which may last a few weeks at a time, or hit the jackpot and take over a position replacing a teacher on maternity/paternity leave.  For every other teacher, they're often stuck in a cycle of picking up a few stray casual days at different schools, and the whole time they're still job hunting for the rest of the week trying to secure work anywhere they can.  They have practically no job security, and have enormous amounts of stress trying to get enough casual shifts to make ends meet, and that's without taking into consideration the amount of stress which comes from teaching in the first place. 

Some teachers are so talented and passionate educators, but it is heartbreaking that they're left struggling to survive and overwhelmed with stress.  There is a really high burnout rate in recently graduated teachers, many leave after the first 2 years because it is just unsustainable.  Very few of the people I met through my teaching degree are still working as teachers now, they've had to reboot their career goals.  It's really sad. 

Yeah that’s the same in the UK, a lot of graduate teachers only last a few years and then give it up - it’s very stressful. I’m in quite a difficult school, but I love my subject, love the kids and although I don’t necessarily agree with everything that happens in the school in terms of workload and accountability I really enjoy my job and manage to filter out most of the BS.

I lot of Art teachers struggle to get jobs - I’m in a full time permanent contract so I’m pretty lucky. I’ve had some interviews for Head of Department job too recently although theyre rare as hens teeth because like you said, there’s not much movement unless someone retires or dies!!
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: mlp4me on May 25, 2018, 05:42:01 AM
By day I'm an assistant secretary, coordinating part of the busing for a moderately sized school district/misc facilities related items. Makes the day interesting doing things that really aren't related constantly. Some evenings I provide in home respite care for special needs adults.  Down to 3 employers now; used to have 5 a few years back. Got tired of working 60+ hour weeks.

I've been in the school system now for a decade in various capacities; just not teaching or administrative stuff...
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: Broken Irishwoman on May 25, 2018, 08:54:17 AM
I think we call that a warehouse in English!! But good translation, I got what you meant  :lol:

What would be your dream job if you had to give up folding boxes?

I see! I couldn't find a proper translation, so I just went to the Dutch wikipedia page about the subject, and clicked on the English page from there. XD

I'm not even sure to be honest. When I was little I always wanted to do something with trains, but that is way out of my league. :P
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: kestral_kitsune on May 25, 2018, 12:02:24 PM
I'm a housekeeper... sorry Environmental Worker-gag me- at a Nursing Home/Rehabilitation Center.
really thankless job but its one of the best paying jobs in this dumb town with benefits.
really bad side of it is I have no life so i literally go home, go work go home go work and it just... drags.
if I can find the energy and care I tend to draw but no one likes my work enough to buy it so I have given up on commissions
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: Noasar on May 26, 2018, 12:19:13 AM
Quote from: kestral_kitsune link=topic=391670.msg1717598#msg1717598date=1527274944
I'm a housekeeper... sorry Environmental Worker-gag me- at a Nursing Home/Rehabilitation Center. I
really thankless job but its one of the best
I'm a housekeeper... sorry Environmental Worker-gag me- at a Nursing Home/Rehabilitation Center.
really thankless job but its one of the best paying jobs in this dumb town with benefits.
really bad side of it is I have no life so i literally go home, go work go home go work and it just... drags.
if I can find the energy and care I tend to draw but no one likes my work enough to buy it so I have given up on commissions
paying jobs in this dumb town with benefits.
really bad side of it is I have no life so i literally go home, go work go home go work and it just... drags.
if I can find the energy and care I tend to draw but no one likes my work enough to buy it so I have given up on commissions

Keep at it! You have a really lovely art style - sometimes you jist have to keep working and drawing to find your ‘niche’ in the art world and to work out that people want! Something I’m still trying to do too :)
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: beajjai033 on May 26, 2018, 06:37:20 AM
really bad side of it is I have no life so i literally go home, go work go home go work and it just... drags.

So am I, 80+ hours/week at most :work:. I only worked for almost 4 years but it feels like 10  :lol:
I am an auditor.
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: dashesndots on May 26, 2018, 06:53:56 AM
I've been a graphic designer for 5 years and counting now.  Some days I absolutely love it, other days I want to pull my hair out, but that's more to do with my work environment than the job itself, haha.  Let's just say there are some administrative issues.  I'll never leave though - in the area I live, it pays so well compared to other jobs, and my husband also works at the same company, so we can share one car :)

Before that I was a proofreader for 5 years at the same company, same department.  Also a decent gig if a bit boring at times. 

Before that I worked as an assistant to a K-12 school art teacher for a year.  It was a lot of fun with the smaller children but I didn't like the Junior High or High School kids at all.  (I was only 22 at the time, right out of college, and I'm painfully shy so dealing with / trying to help discipline kids who were almost as old as me was NOT fun.)

And before that I worked for about 6 years part-time in a grocery store through high school and college (bagger->cashier->courtesy desk assistant->night manager LOL). At the same time  I also worked as a periodicals assistant and re-shelver in the college library for the four years I was there.

Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: starstrider on May 26, 2018, 08:32:42 AM
Quote
The really bad side of it is I have no life so i literally go home, go work go home go work and it just... drags.

Can so relate.  When I'm not at home I'm at work, and when I'm not at work I'm at home.  I love nursing most of the time, but I'm so beyond exhausted by the end of a shift that I rarely go out.  By the end of a 5-6 day run I'm comatose.  Have started to question why I even have regular day clothes - I only ever wear scrubs or pyjamas! :P
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: Taffeta on May 26, 2018, 10:08:59 AM
Full time student (PhD third year, funded).

Also occasional proof reader. And this year, Graduate Teaching Assistant in the department of History.

PhD means no official holidays but some perks of travel. Since I began I've been to Lisbon, Paris (Ok, so I don't really like Paris, sorry Parisiens), Jerusalem and various parts of Japan on academic errands, and have been largely funded to take those trips, so can't complain about that...I've given conference presentations at some of these as well. I've also invigilated for the exams at the school.

Beyond this I want to stay in academia but it's a difficult market.

Before I did my PhD I worked as a learning support assistant at a FE college in the UK, supporting mostly invisible disability but also some other disability ie Muscular Dystrophy students. I worked in the mainstream department which basically means kids taking qualifications towards jobs rather than kids learning lifeskills to live independently, but I did some work in the foundation department too (ie in gardening, and also in the art class).

Before my MA I worked in a library, but not a lending library. It was an information library, but it closed because of govt cuts.

Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: Noasar on May 26, 2018, 10:25:33 AM
I've been a graphic designer for 5 years and counting now.  Some days I absolutely love it, other days I want to pull my hair out, but that's more to do with my work environment than the job itself, haha.  Let's just say there are some administrative issues.  I'll never leave though - in the area I live, it pays so well compared to other jobs, and my husband also works at the same company, so we can share one car :)

Before that I was a proofreader for 5 years at the same company, same department.  Also a decent gig if a bit boring at times. 

Before that I worked as an assistant to a K-12 school art teacher for a year.  It was a lot of fun with the smaller children but I didn't like the Junior High or High School kids at all.  (I was only 22 at the time, right out of college, and I'm painfully shy so dealing with / trying to help discipline kids who were almost as old as me was NOT fun.)

And before that I worked for about 6 years part-time in a grocery store through high school and college (bagger->cashier->courtesy desk assistant->night manager LOL). At the same time  I also worked as a periodicals assistant and re-shelver in the college library for the four years I was there.



I empathise with the high school kid thing! When I first started everyone thought I was a student. I’m not shy though and the kids that I teach are really respectful if you respect them. I love teaching  the older kids, no way could I do primary school or nursery - they’re just too much! Plus...snot and germs  :X
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: cookifaa on May 26, 2018, 05:19:21 PM
I'm actually still in school! Only 3 more weeks left though! :lol:

When I'm avoiding my GCSE studying, I actually work at my local riding school as one of the yard workers! I do all the yucky jobs like mucking out, grooming, cleaning tack etc. I don't mind it though because I get free rides once a week! I can't ride my pony until summer (someone tell me why I bought a baby >_< ) so getting the one hour ride once a week is amazing. I ride this big Belgian Draft called Hercules (I think you can guess what he's like by his name). The only downside is, the instructor is my mum, and because I'm her child she likes to take my stirrups, and then my saddle and eventually the bridle so I'm left with just Herc's none exsistant mane to hold onto :|

In September I'm starting my A-Levels providing I get the grades I need...

Oh and in September I'm taking on a volunteer job at an equine therapy centre to help kids like me who have anxiety, depression and other mental health issues! I'm actually a student there at the moment but they can only work with kids up until they leave secondary school, so they hatched a plan that if they take me on as a volunteer, I'll work there while they continue with my therapy sessions!
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: Barnacle_lady on May 27, 2018, 04:19:18 AM
I am what people call a job hopper, every other year I have to look for another job because for budget reasons I can not be offered a permanent contract. Which makes me wide ranged on supporting positions.
The past 2 years I have been supporting different Human Resources locations from a college chain with their transfer from one computersystem to another. So archiving backlogs, sending mail at first but people saw I can do more so they let me work in the new system. Which meant I was also to help out when a sick colleague was out for a while, guiding new people into the system, help out teachers how to fill in their travel costs. But at one point there is no backlog anymore and no budget or position for me too. So now looking for something else.
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: kestral_kitsune on May 27, 2018, 02:54:15 PM
Quote
The really bad side of it is I have no life so i literally go home, go work go home go work and it just... drags.

Can so relate.  When I'm not at home I'm at work, and when I'm not at work I'm at home.  I love nursing most of the time, but I'm so beyond exhausted by the end of a shift that I rarely go out.  By the end of a 5-6 day run I'm comatose.  Have started to question why I even have regular day clothes - I only ever wear scrubs or pyjamas! :P

oh i know the feeling of not really having nice clothes, my 'nice' clothes are my work scrubs XD Nurses do soooo much too. there are a couple in my work place that I am all 'why bother hiring these guys if they don't wanna work' but we have some really good ones working
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: reddsetgogirl on May 28, 2018, 04:58:37 AM
I can vouch for the non-permanent teaching position in Australia.  My brother did eight years of just substitute teaching before he landed a MOSTLY permanent position this year.  When he was lucky he would get a whole 3 month term contract; when he wasn't he would go weeks without a single day of work.  To his credit, being a male teacher with a high tolerance for teenagers being jerks, a lot of his placements were at the high schools notorious for rough, dodgy students, simply because he was one of only a handful of teachers who hadn't refused to work there.  Now he is doing very long days and coming home stressed just to do some more work before tomorrow's lesson.  If he hadn't been offered a position this year, he probably would have chucked it in entirely.

As for me, I was selected by the universe to have chronic pain and so I'm no longer able to work.  The strangest was a temp job doing Santa photography in a mall.  The psychically hardest was a pet sitter, doing 7 - 20 houses a day.  I couldn't work more than 4 days in a row it was so exhausting.  This was before GPS was affordable so every night I would have to get out the street directory and write out my route and directions.  I had a lot of weird and funny experiences doing it and met some really lovely pets but it was so much harder than I imagined it would be.
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: Taxel on May 29, 2018, 02:21:24 AM
My job isn't very exciting but essentially do data entry with mortgage documents. It sounds incredibly boring, which isn't wrong, but gosh is it high paced and stressful! I keep getting trained on new tasks because I excel at them all so I'm at the point of doing very important time sensitive work that requires a ton of concentration and energy.
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: katrine2309 on July 25, 2018, 11:20:27 AM
I am a teacher! Teaching grade 5 to 7 in Norway, which are kids aged 10-13. I lobe it! I used to work in business up until 2 years ago and I am so, so happy that I switched professions. I am much poorer evonomically, but much richer in happiness!
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: Sky_Rocket_Sammie on July 26, 2018, 01:55:31 PM
Part-time pet/house sitter for folks who will be out of town. It's a lot of work but I love it, plus it fits into my schedule.
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: Sweet Stuff on July 27, 2018, 02:30:57 AM
I work in a children's nursery. My toy knowledge wins over many children especially when we play with ponies. :lol: I love my job.
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: aquamarinemolly on July 27, 2018, 08:24:45 AM
Visual Arts Administration! I come from the museum world, currently work in development for Brooklyn Arts Council. My background in arts education and technology, so now I manage our database and institutional giving.

I love what I do, and I tweet about it all the time ^.^  @mollymacfadden
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: Teddy on July 27, 2018, 02:57:23 PM
I was a zookeeper when I lived in the US, but moved here to Sweden 5 years ago. It's been incredibly difficult to get back into that kind of work here, much harder than I ever thought it would be. So, I've been working for a dog walking company in Stockholm for almost 3 years now. I love it! Of course I hope to get into something a little more "grand" in the future, but for now this works great for me and I really enjoy it. ^-^
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: Shatyr on July 27, 2018, 04:27:55 PM
I do in-house technical support for a local financial institution. I troubleshoot software issues, hardware issues, and user issues ('what color is the power button on your monitor?' is a question I ask FAR too frequently each week). We build computers, unlock user accounts, switch out hardware, program phones, and teach entirely too many people how to use Outlook functions.

I usually enjoy my job, but the number of repeat questions is starting to drag on me. There are only so many times in 3 years I can show someone how to move icons across their desktop without wanting to hurl my headset across the department with a shriek of rage.

I'd really like to get into the coding side of things, where we write automated scripts and really dig into why things are breaking and how to fix them, but there's no clear-cut path to that job and it's been rough trying to navigate it solo.

I'd love to have a side gig making and selling cross stitch patterns, but I haven't the foggiest how to get started on that.
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: EienMau on July 28, 2018, 07:31:53 AM
I escaped from Walmart one month shy of my 5-year anniversary (I was trying to make it, but my new assistant manager was a sour lemon), the strain of working 2 jobs got to be too much (I worked two from November - March, and we all know how crazy retail is during the holidays). I work for a company that does utility billing for large companies (we handle the electric/water/etc bills for like Starbucks, fast food places, convenience stores, etc). My team specifically handles hotels and healthcare facilities.
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: Katika on July 28, 2018, 08:07:10 PM
I am a full-time epic fantasy author these days :)

I went to college to become a veterinarian, but lost my constitution for dissections and necropsies my junior year, then got engaged to my husband who was established in a career that would keep us moving on a routine basis and decided to change my focus. I've worked a lot as a veterinary technician, I've worked rehabilitating research dogs and cats for adoption, I've worked a ton in canine and equine behavior, and had a brief stint as a military working dog handler. My absolute dream job at this point is to become a horse trainer and riding instructor (for very beginners to set them off on the right foot), but the liability and financial investment is more than my husband and I are comfortable shouldering.

All that said, I feel blessed most of the time (ie: when I'm not formatting or writing back cover blurbs...) that I'm able to write full-time. My career's still building slowly, but I've been watching it steadily grow for the past couple years.
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: tikibirds on July 29, 2018, 01:46:33 AM
Joann Fabrics but I am leaving next month to teach English in China. Again.
Two more weeks and I am done with retail.
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: CactusBloom on August 06, 2018, 10:25:03 PM
I'm an office assistant! I work for my dad's company, I am one of his two employees! We manage the office and computer work, and he sells boxes. I truly love office work (except answering phones).

I also aim to make some extra money as an artist and photographer, but I don't have enough experience, training, or following to be hired for anything at the moment. I've only gotten one art commission and sold two adoptables, but that's a start!

Also in school for a photography degree right now.
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: RoseNoire on August 07, 2018, 01:13:52 AM
I dropped IT college this year, so I have nothing yet but I plan to be a train driver. I like trains, they're pretty cool.^^
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: Strawberrysweets on August 07, 2018, 01:36:24 AM
Grocery store in what I can call a drive through town to avoid driving around Sogn&Fjordane to get to Bergen.
Tourists can be weird at times.
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: Minty_Magic on August 07, 2018, 01:50:01 AM
I work customer service at a call center for insurance. It's kind of a drag, but it pays really well for an entry level job and the company offers insanely good benefits, so I'm ultimately pretty happy with where I'm at. Turns out I'm much better at customer service on the phone than I am in person, it must be because no one can see how tired or irritated I really am :P
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: Strawberrysweets on August 07, 2018, 08:49:18 AM
I work customer service at a call center for insurance. It's kind of a drag, but it pays really well for an entry level job and the company offers insanely good benefits, so I'm ultimately pretty happy with where I'm at. Turns out I'm much better at customer service on the phone than I am in person, it must be because no one can see how tired or irritated I really am :P

I would been horrible taking phonecalls, I dont even have the guts to call my own doctor when I am really sick.
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: Ivaness on August 09, 2018, 11:49:08 AM
I work for a company that makes headstones, haha. I love it.
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: lilico on August 10, 2018, 06:21:28 AM
I work in a federal prison. Not as bad as it seems ;-P
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: Ribbs on August 11, 2018, 05:41:59 AM
I work for a small record label and tour and release music with my band Crooked Ghost. Formerly of the bartending/service industry. (No, I don't miss it at all)
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: Einhornbaby on August 11, 2018, 11:03:58 AM
Im only a cleaner in a store (dont know the english word, its like a dollar store). I help out with other tasks if one of the sales clerks is sick but my main focus is keeping the store clean :P
Its nothing special and some people in my area have quit greeting me since I started working there (I have heard they are calling me names because Im only a cleaner) but I still like to go. Its good money and my colleagues are mostly nice :) (if I didnt have that job -> no ponies for me lol...so who cares what names they are calling me.)
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: Luxrayx on August 12, 2018, 06:02:16 AM
I work in a hotel restaurant. My job is to do simple things like cleaning tables, doing dishes, taking out the trash etc. so my more experienced coworkers can focus on more important tasks. But even though my job is simple, it's very busy. The hotel is always full in the summer, and it seems like we're perpetually understaffed, which is probably why I got the job without even doing an interview.

Sometimes, we do have moments where the restaurant is empty and there's nothing to do. My kitchen coworkers and I like to take this opportunity to rest our feet and have a glass of water, but when the receptionist finds out we're not doing anything, she usually sends one of us to work as a chambermaid. Let me tell you, the people who work as chambermaids every day are champs for putting up with it. You know how boring it is to clean your room? Imagine cleaning your room 20 times or more a day, every day, with the added bonus of dealing with guests and their grievances. Working in the kitchen may be boring and repetitive, but it's nothing compared to cleaning rooms.

Overall, my job isn't very fun. But at least all the leftover food we make is fair game at lunchtime, so there's that ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Title: Re: What’s your day job?
Post by: Artemesia's Garden on September 12, 2018, 09:20:08 AM
I'm a technician, I've worked in all sorts of places like a steam museum, an testing station for new varieties of flowers, a crop breeding station. I also worked in an an art museum. It's a cliche but I like making stuff work :-)
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