What do you do for a living? And Why?

#26
#26
I graduated college in '95, went to Grad school for a year and decided I was done with school. Started my own business in '97, had that for 14 years , but by that time I had a family and the hours and stress of the business were not for me. I sold the business and started a career in manufacturing(automotive seating). I did that because my father was very successful in that field and I knew it paid well. He did not have a degree and was doing well, so I thought with my degree I would rise quickly. It was not as easy as I thought. It was crazy stressful, but the pay and benefits were great. I have now moved into the appliance industry, as a PM for a relatively small manufacturing company.
 
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#27
#27
OldandStillaVol said:
This has been an interesting thread and I like reading other people's journeys. I will retire next year so it gives me an opportunity to think back on the good and bad.

Graduated high school in 1974 - during high school had your typical minimum wage jobs at places like Baskin Robbins.
Went to a small liberal arts college and majored in math and chem. Worked summers as busboy, waiter, data entry.
Got a research assistantship in a graduate program in statistics and went straight from undergraduate to grad school. Finished a doctoral degree in 1984.

Worked for a large pharma company in their research and development for 28 years. Most of this was in clinical research involving clinical trials for new compounds. In 2012, company started downsizing so I took early retirement and moved to a university position as a non-tenure faculty supporting large observational studies and non-drug clinical trials. Will retire in 2024.

In regards to the specific questions:

Did you start your career for the money/lifestyle? A little of both. The money was pretty good after grad school and I got some good bonuses working on successful drugs. All office work with little travel required.

Do you have a job you love? My current university position is great. The money is less than in pharma but the stress is much lower and I can work more independently.

What brought you down this path to find this job? In high school, I started to like math / problem solving so a career in statistics was a good match.

Is it something that just gets you by? Or fills you with a purpose? It is very rewarding to work in health research and try and help people suffering from some pretty devastating diseases.

As general advice for young people starting out or wondering what they should do, I would say try and find something that matches your interest/skills/personality and has decent job prospects. Money is important, but I can testify to the fact that if you hate your job, the money is little consolation. Although there is lots of talk about FIRE (financial independence, retire early), you need to realize that your career is likely to be a marathon, not a sprint. Find something that you can stay interested/satisfied for the long haul. If you save wisely and can retire early, great, but don't count on it at the beginning.
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Congratulations on your impending retirement. I was surplused earlier this year and elected to retire. No regrets (so far). šŸ˜Ž
 
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#28
#28
Worked mostly summer jobs in high school. Dad was a plant scientist and I would work in the Food Science Department during the summer doing whatever the department head wanted me to do for whatever he was researching. Got listed as a co-author/contributor on his publication in the Journal of Food Science about using solar heat to disinfect food products. Built the solar "oven," Infested gainesburger dog food patties with bugs and would set the probes and record at what temps food could be disinfested.

Didn't do well my first 3 semesters in college. It was much different than HS. Transferred to a Texas college with my brother and got a clean slate and did very well. Went back to my first school after he and friends graduated or left, and was interested in Law School. Took the LSAT cold and scored 27 which was a very good score, and above national average, at the time in that cycle. Then got my GPA back not fully understanding they would re-average my first 3 semesters back in. So, I'm sitting with a nice LSAT and a GPA that wouldn't get me in a good law school and 2 semester left to crank out all A's and B's to graduate with a 3.0, including 7 classes in one semester just to graduate one semester late. Wasn't really in tune with what I truly wanted to do, or should do but finished with a Marketing degree.

After some job hunting, enrolled at TTU for my MBA. Ended up back in my hometown in the cotton mills as a shift manager. tough life, but came to love it cause you truly worked with the salt of the earth. Textiles was as much a family as it was a business. Mostly because it was perpetuated by generations of families on the floor. Then came NAFTA and textiles began to rapidly disappear. THe region had to re-invent itslef, so started the venture with several companies into automotive and aerospace. And multiuple layoffs cause was no longer a good ole boy, but the newbie when it came to keeping managers.

Settled into a good job in NE GA with a strong company and bright future. Large plant. Plant Manager was high on me and said I could be in his chair in a few years if I got the exposure I needed on the financial side of managing a plant. I excelled at working with and managing people and processes. He could just point and say he needed this from that area and I'd go get it off the ground and where he needed it to perform. I've always been fairly adept at figuring out how things "work." But, mom and dad were aging. My brothers business had already took the hit and he moved to the TN "farm." I soon felt the need to move up and help out. My specialties were much less available here, and I now work as an estimator for a millwork company that outfits dining spaces service lines and millwork needs. Only fractionally as lucrative as my other job, especially the potential of where I probably would be in that company.

Still not sure what my true calling should have been at 58 years old, but in some way it would have involved people. My personality and how I ran jobs in the way of people always allowed me to perform well, and I was one never to say "I" did it. I could pull extra shifts to cover other supervisors on vacation and run their shifts better then them. But I have been able to work with some of the best people I've met, many of which never made it past 6th or 9th grade. Yet, I've never been truly without financial stress cause of the cycle of layoffs and closings in industry over the last 15-18 years. Textiles has made a bit of resurgence throught VA and the CArolinas and parts of GA, but I'm no longer in that area and have been out of it too long to get back in at a desirable financial level, though it seems to pay much better than it used too.


Edit: Advice to young ones trying to decide a areer path:

1. We were required to take the ASVAB in HS as juniors. I scored well in the maths and sciences but did not consider any of those as career paths. Always use the opportunity to take those kinds of tests when available and seriously consider and investigate areas of possible interest where you score well. Those tests are good at finding out how you are wired.

2. When you do find out what you truly feel is for you, don't fear the change if you started down other paths.

3. Always make sure no matter what you do, you deal with people in a positive light and try to learn the best of who you work for and what made them successful. I reported to some great senior managers, all different, some harder to work for than others, but all had things I picked up and carried with me in my managment of others and the company assets I was looking after.

4. Best advice I ever got...even if you do not manage people in your job..."You do not run this place. Let 3 or 4 be absent and you'll find out who runs it. Mnage your people so that they will want to be here with you." There were never truer words spoken to me in my career.
 
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#29
#29
allstar34bd said:
Iā€™ve started working in business consulting and I regularly work with Take Offs and Blue Prints. You guys sure can do impressive work.
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I always thought I could "fall back" to that side of things if the professional side didn't work out. But I have learned that they are completely different mindsets/skillsets and I probably wouldn't be able to do that stuff without some major retraining.
 
#30
#30
Recruiter currently and happy with it.

Did my 20 years in the USAF and got into private security afterwards. Decided to complicate my life and made a huge switch to HR/Recruiting almost two years ago.

I do like the safety of the industries I recruit for (wildland firefighters and emergency management) and I get to interact with a wide range of people. Not necessarily fond of the company in with but I do like the work.
 
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#31
#31
88 Carson Newman grad. Took a job as a manager for a large janitorial company based in Knoxville. Did that for about 5 years, fun job but no work/life balance.
ā€œElopedā€ with my wife of now 31 years. Moved to Ft Worth and got a job as an assistant superintendent for a fairly large local home builder. We found our way back home to Ky in 1999.
I have now been in this business for over 30 years, in a leadership role for about the last 20 and currently run operations for for a large national homebuilder. I have a team of 23 field mangers of various levels and service managers. Tons of support from corporate.
I love what I do. I am truly blessed in that regard. I work outside most of the time, I deal with real people who are fun loving and professional. Problem solvers. Every member of my team has a degree or achieved some rank while serving the country.
It is pressure packed and stressful but pays very well.
We are building the American dream and we care about our customers.
Canā€™t say enough how fortunate I am.
 
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#32
#32
joevol33 said:
Haywood college in Waynesville? I went there for lumber grading., did that for about 7 years before I got into the textile industry, worked for a long time as a technician. Ended up swapping about a year and a half ago from that to Johnson and Johnson. Had a job offer, and the benefits were too good to pass on. Good pay also, but the benefits are sweet, they even have pension.
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Yes sir. Haywood in waynesville.
 
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#34
#34
I graduated with a degree in journalism and began working as a reporter. After a few years, I began covering hospitals. Eventually, a health system offered me a job in marketing. I've been in health care marketing for nearly 25 years and am now chief marketing officer for a health system. I love the work I do and feel very blessed.
 
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#35
#35
I went to med school thinking I was going to be an Ophthalmologist (eye surgeon) with interest in retina procedures.

An amazing experience at St Jude called me to pediatrics.

I take care of sick kids and love every bit of it. Even the days when I catch spit and get kicked. I love watching them grow up and hope that I provide some positive influence in their overall health, nutrition, education, critical thinking, purpose, and drive to succeed.
 
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#36
#36
Thanks to everyone who has participated so far! I really enjoy getting to hear other's story. It's hard to find people who can carry a conversation in today's World šŸ˜†
Lots of good going on out there and it's neat to hear how others are contributing to it.
 
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#37
#37
VolunteerVandiver said:
Worked as a chemist out of college. Felt isolated, lonely, and like I wasn't making a difference to the world, so I changed to a career in education.

Began as a science teacher, then recently got promoted to assistant principal after 4 years of teaching for a charter network. Pays extremely well, but it is very tedious, as our charter specializes in turning around failing schools. I am mentally and emotionally out of gas every school day, but we are genuinely making a difference and changing lives. Believe I will be moving from Texas back to Tennessee next year, which is exciting, though it'll be as a principal in Memphis in year one of a turnaround. Being a principal for this particular organization is brutal, but the pay and opportunity to make a difference is too much to turn down at 32 years old with a wife and five kids. I love the job some days, but I always feel like I'm serving an important purpose.

Hoping to be smart with money and change to a more easygoing career around 40. Want to spend more time with my wife and kids.
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Principal was removed Friday. I've been named interim principal. Wish me luck, as balancing those responsibilities with my familial responsibilities is going to be tough. Excited about the new challenge though.
 
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#39
#39
I started out working construction jobs as a kid in the summers helping my step-dad and other family. Everything from laying flooring to framing houses and paving driveways. I did work like that through high school and half of college. I learned how to work hard from a young age. My Mom was a teacher and pushed me to work hard in school so I could get into college. I did and after a couple engineer week visits settled on a mechanical engineering path. I went to school and got my degree while working for a small research/test lab on campus. I spent way too long at that place after i graduated (afraid of change and a new job) and stagnated (I stayed for ~4 years after graduating and while I had some growth, it wasn't nearly as good as what I've had since). After I finally left, I've continued to work as a test engineer at the last couple of jobs I've had; each has really helped grow. Now I work as a test engineer for the space division of my company and I'm pretty happy. I get to work with a lot of really smart people (a lot smarter than me lol) and I'm learning a lot working on space hardware tests. I'm fairly early in my career, but I've been pretty blessed in spite

Did you start your career for the money/lifestyle?
My parents pushed us to get a degree and a good job if I could. I picked a degree/career that sounded interesting and would provide a good wage. Probably the primary starter was the money but it wasn't the only factor.
Do you have a job you love?
Depends on the day but mostly yes. Some days I feel like an idiot and don't belong, some days I feel like I'm spinning my wheels, but often I feel challenged and satisfied with my accomplishments.
What brought you down this path to find this job?
My family pushed me to go for a productive degree, my wife pushed me across the finish line, and I've been blessed to find each role I've been hired into. Each new job/step I've taken has helped me improve myself. It's not perfect, but no job ever is. I'm lucky to be in a role getting this much good experience so early in my career.
Is it something that just gets you by? Or fills you with a purpose?
I do feel a purpose in my role and I do get some meaning out of it, but at the end of the day I work to live, not the other way around. My family fulfills me much more than my job.
 
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#40
#40
Started out working in an afterschool program and coaching my old middle school basketball team as I worked my way through college. Got married young and quickly during that time (big mistake.) Left school and my job during that time for a job that paid pretty good money with Citi Bank, plus I was not enjoying my student teaching I had done either. Did that for a few years, got divorced, was miserable at that job, quit without any plan in place. Applied about everywhere and actually landed a job in early childhood education. Ending up enjoying it more than worker with older students. Went back to school, changed my degree to ECED and finished. Continued as a teacher for about 5 years at that early childhood center. Took a job with a multi-state non-profit that also had Headstart centers under their umbrella, worked as a Curriculum Coach for about 5 more years. Which brings me to now, work for another non-profit that works in the Technology sector. I serve as a Technology Coach, training educators on various forms of educational technology. Curriculum coach job was great, loved the company, but the Tech Coach job is incredible, the pay and quality of life it offers is really hard to beat and I love what Iā€™m doing. It does look like I may have a good chance of moving into an Early Childhood Quality Coach position with a partner agency of ours if I want too, but will have to look more into that.
 
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#42
#42
Dad left when I was 14 and didn't pay child support. Single mom of 3 boys, I'm the oldest, barely able to make ends meet. I went to work at 14 doing odds and end jobs on farms and anything that paid to support myself. I took drafting in high school and liked well enough. Went to college and it wasn't for me. Went into the workforce in a drafting job in the pre-engineered metal building industry. Helped support my mom and brothers, put my wife through college for 2 degrees. I now manage a drafting office with 8 employees and advise the president of the company. It's worked out pretty well and they pay me great.
 
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#43
#43
itsme said:
Dad left when I was 14 and didn't pay child support. Single mom of 3 boys, I'm the oldest, barely able to make ends meet. I went to work at 14 doing odds and end jobs on farms and anything that paid to support myself. I took drafting in high school and liked well enough. Went to college and it wasn't for me. Went into the workforce in a drafting job in the pre-engineered metal building industry. Helped support my mom and brothers, put my wife through college for 2 degrees. I now manage a drafting office with 8 employees and advise the president of the company. It's worked out pretty well and they pay me great.
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where abouts?
 
#45
#45
After a 12 year career in the Navy, came back home and went into a career that had absolutely nothing to do with what I did in the military. Got my foot in the door for Army Civil Service and have been there since 08. I work in acquisitions and recently moved from missiles over to Army Aviation and now have my own branch of acquisition and contracts. I love what I do because I feel its a way I can still serve, even though I physically cant anymore in the military. I feel what I do every single day makes a difference for our Warfighters and know what we do is important. Could probably make a bit more working for a contractor, but maybe in a few years when I retire from civil service.
 
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#48
#48
Been snooping around VN a little today. Saw this thread from a good while back and thought I'd throw in my .02.

My first job was flipping burgers at Sonic when I was in high school; and then for most of college I slung sandwiches at Subway. Did some summer missions work in Orlando area for two summers in college and worked at Fun Spot running rides.

Got my teaching degree at Tech and taught high school history. The problem with that is that you've got to either be a football coach or related to somebody important in a school system to keep a job doing that. I have neither of those things going for me, so I was let go of two teaching positions. Went back to Subway and managed two stores over a two year period, and then got back into education...where school #3 let me go in favor of somebody else's cousin.

By that point I'm damaged goods to a school system, but a new prison opened up about 40 minutes from the house. I started teaching Adult Basic Education there and did that for four years, until I transitioned to teaching a career management class for the next four.

Back in March, I was promoted to Education Counselor. I'm in charge of setting up HiSet testing (similar to GED, just under a different company) for inmates and verifying any previous education they may have.

Education in corrections is unlike anything else there is. No two days are alike at all. I've seen a little bit of everything. The pay is okay; not terrible, not great. What's rewarding is seeing some of these men achieve something they didn't think they were capable of and getting a chance to make something of themselves.
 
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