So I work for a certain Italian arms manufacturer as a machine operator and being my first non foodservice job, it's a completely different world but I love it. I hate working around people and being able to do my own thing in my own station is great. No dress code. No freaking aprons. I do end up with battle scars from grinding wheels and the four machines I run, though. Only other complaint I have is that I hate smelling like coolant every. Damn. Day.
Ultimately I want to get into astronomy down the road, but college and a lot of money stand between me and there so I'll stick with what I have for the time being.
What about you? I don't expect details but I've always wondered what kind of jobs BYONDers have. I know a lot of you have gone through college so what have you done with that and do you like what you're doing?
ID:1847260
 May 7 2015, 2:47 pm
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I'm a former merchant mariner and power plant engineer, which I did for about a decade. Not much of a fan.
I've been working in web design and development professionally for a few years now, and I love it. The work is far more engaging, the likelihood of being injured or killed on the job is much lower, and the increased salary is nice. My current job challenges me, engages me, and frustrates me -- all at the same time. I wish that I had started in the industry or made the swap so much sooner! | |
I get paid pretty well for having no prior experience. Does it supply a decent enough income to sustain yourself at school or is it like a, "okay do this and we'll cut your dorm costs" type thing?
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I absolutely love my job. Doing research isn't something that I thought I would be a part of, but I find it very interesting. The laid back environment that I'm in helps as well.
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The pay at my job is alright, I suppose. Nothing fancy. Work environment is shitty and so is management. Furnace operator with less pay than it's worth and the hours suck.
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 i can't sum it up any better | |
For almost two years, I have been working at a start up an acquaintance from high school started, it's an affordable solution for human service industries that need portable software for both field and office based employees, no profit yet, bleeding money, but other than three contractors (two of which are dirt cheap), we maintain an okay burn rate.
I too am also paid cheaply, but we really can't afford to pay ourselves industry standard (I am above minimum wage, but like Walmart Manager level). I endure it all, for the sake of the product. Also fuck school, hate it, dropped out after being suspended for maintaining a GPA of .98 for three semesters, at a community college some years ago. | |
EnigmaticGallivanter wrote:
Also fuck school, hate it, dropped out after being suspended for maintaining a GPA of .98 for three semesters, at a community college some years ago. I had a 0.8 GPA my freshman year. A lot of people kept bothering me about how I could do better. Which I could. Took 14 classes the next year to make up all my failed classes. Graduated with a 3.x (I don't remember was x was). Edit: Do I like my job? Yes. | |
School is a lure for young people nowadays just like credit cards and the military. They shove those BS statistics down your throat year after year in high school. You know, the "college grads make this much more money than people with just a diploma, so you better take this loan and go to this super expensive university because they're prestigious and you'll have your dream job as soon as you get out" speech.
And then people go to school, not even knowing what they want to do in life yet ( because high school doesn't even focus on what you want to do in life, it focuses on teaching you useless shit long enough so you can pass their standardized tests and earn the school more aid from the government ), because of pressure from peers, teachers, and their parents. So they get a degree in political science, and then wind up alongside me in a bookstore. The only difference is, they're in debt and I'm not. They spent 4 years getting drunk and going to frat parties, I spent 4 years building my bank account so I could afford the equipment I needed and pay people I plan to hire. They spent 4 years studying and researching topics that have nothing to do with their career choice or true passion, I spent 4 years learning and gaining insight from people doing exactly what I plan to do and am ready to do it now. Our young people just need to stop doing things because other people are doing it. Stop thinking your teachers know what's best for you. Stop thinking your counselor knows what's best for you. Stop thinking your parents know what's best for you. Stop thinking some politician knows what's best for you. Because they don't. You're responsible for your own happiness in life at this point, and if you're busy running around doing things to appease these other groups of people, you're working to make their life happier and not yours. Which is stupid. That's my rant for the day. If you'll excuse me, I have a business meeting in 8 hours. | |
Yes, I love my job.
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I became recently unemployed (but not on unemployment) so currently I love my job. Being able to stay home and care for my daughter is nice with the additional free time to fix up my house, my cars, and etc. Before that I was a "Specialized Services" Customer Service Representative at a bank which wasn't too bad pretty much helping customers with online/mobile banking and the standard mortgages/loans/deposit accounts/CD's etc. The job I liked the most was working side jobs at a friend's auto repair shop. I would get back into car repair in a heartbeat if I had the money for tools and equipment, otherwise I'd love to go back to school for programming when my girlfriend is finished with her schooling.
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I agree. School is a lure. If you have the choice, teach yourself and become an entrepreneur. Don't be a slave to society. Ever notice that those who go the route that is typically frowned upon (dropping out) and pursue their ambition with a plan before dropping out without ever stopping or turning back... they're beyond successful. School just wastes years of your time that you could be spending actually applying your knowledge daily. Hell, it's pretty sad because in College they don't even teach you. They just read a powerpoint to you now. Like.. what the F*** are you getting paid for???
Do people not realize that all you're paying 50 grand or whatever for is just a damn piece of paper? Do you not realize that all that paper does is make it "easier" to persuade someone to hire you? Do you not realize instead of paying all that money for a piece of paper and going through 2 - 4 years of hell... you could just socialize with people and network to the point that you know someone higher-up who will offer you a job? I have been offered countless jobs just because I friggin' talk to people. Yet everyone is complaining about how they can't find a job. I just think they're going about things wrong or they're living in the past. | |
Just to comment on the school thing: Degrees aren't worth what they used to be, mostly because these days most students don't get--or seek--a well-rounded education, they typically don't graduate as critical thinkers with strong problem-solving skills, and for many it's just proof that they partied for four years on their parents' dime. (And don't go to law school whatever you do, unless your family is connected out the yinyang and can get you an awesome job. There's a glut of lawyers right now. Doctors not so much, but that's a punishing career.)
IMO, anyone could do a lot worse than to go to a trade school. There are typically jobs going begging for good construction guys, electricians, plumbers, and HVAC techs. Engineers I think are also in short supply. Research what the job market is like in any given field you might like (or expect will pay well enough to make up the difference) before going to any college. Mike Rowe has become a real champion of blue-collar employment. I'm sure his organization has lots and lots of good resources. | |
The only amount of critical thinking I received in school was from elementary school when teachers actually taught (even though they tried to skip me up 2 grades because of my "abilities"... I was already 1 year younger than everyone around me, sadly my mom refused the offer for fear that I'd get beat up in middle school). Other than that, I learned most of my critical thinking by myself through personal experiences out of school.
I find it kind of sad that American education is literally far behind everywhere else. Especially all of our services here... We're so far behind in terms of internet speed *cries*.  The only class I literally went balls deep to try and pass was Pre-calc/Trig. I was busting my balls to not fail those exams. Especially since the Highest grade on our third exam was a 60%. And he told us all what to study. That exam just had 3 sections that were long is all. Now, that man... was a marvelous teacher. He taught each day all day. From the start time to a bit OVER the end time even. He even came around to explain some stuff to us when it was time for us to do a problem on the board. All of my other professors.. no. I did learn a bit from my Psychology professor though. He gave some good lectures on life that I will most likely take along with me forever. Operating Systems and Visual Basic... Same professor... same bulls*.... He read off a powerpoint all day. Didn't even review for the exam. Told us to read the book when he probably didn't even read it. Yes, I'm ranting. But, this goes to show just how much school is worth nowadays. Most of it is useless. I'd drop out if my mom wasn't the one actually pushing me to finish. | |
One thing I can't stress enough is that for anyone who does college--and I strongly recommend doing a community college for the first two years--avail yourself of tutoring services. I was a math tutor at my college and loved it, and I got to help a lot of people through their courses. I also got to know how the different instructors taught, and what to expect.
I worked with a lot of students who struggled in math, and the ones who came to see us regularly did better. The cases that left me feeling sad were the ones who came in at the very end of the semester (worst was in summer session--we had 4-week and 6-week semesters for those) who hadn't learned anything the whole time, were totally lost, and were desperate to make some headway before the finals. Get help early with anything you can. | |
I am in Community College. Much cheaper. Not to mention I can get accepted to a University in-state with ease right after. So, I don't have to pay the first 2 years of higher prices and I get automatically accepted as I transfer. Even though I'm just getting this degree though and that's it. I'm not going to a Uni.
I've been thinking about doing Programming tutoring. But, I can never find time to do that, keep up the A's and B's, work on my projects at home, and Stream on Twitch altogether. As for finals. I went in the tutoring lab, as I do every Tuesday and Thursday (since I stay late those days), and I started working on my 5-paged essay which was due in about 6 hours. It was 7 in the morning and i had only gotten 3 hours of sleep. On that Tuesday... the one that just passed... It seemed like everyone there was just there to get tutoring for finals. I usually go in there because it's quiet and I can bring my water in there to drink. The librarians are jerks. It's a closed bottle lol. I was hearing people having trouble with quadratic equations, slopes, and asymptotes. And then there was this chick at a desk with her tutor that had a flirtatious tone who said "Yaaaaa" after ever 5 words. Honestly, I wanted to stand up, walk over to her, slap her, and tell her to shut up. The night before I finished all 7 of my assignments for the same class I was writing my 5-paged essay for. The assignments came up to 13 pages. -- Honestly, if I know I need help, I get it early. But it seems like some other people are waiting until the day before their final to get their help. Which bothers me. I procrastinate. But I don't make stupid decisions like that. However, I agree with your statement. Being in someone else's shoes really does help you better understand what is to come. Just like what you said before with critical thinking. It's just another experience. One that I will probably do next semester to learn a bit more. | |
I am currently a father of 3 with another one on the way. So I try and find work anywhere haha.
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I'm currently a sous chef at a fine dine restaurant in a casino resort. Love it to death. This fall chef is taking me hunting with his dad.
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and
i hate my job.
I do Technical Support / Programming / Server Administration / Classroom Support / Help Desk as a "student job" for a college in my University.
I don't get paid enough. The people with Dr. in their name are the worst clientele.