What do you do for a living?

[iaYakker]

Hello all! I'm currently in the midst of a very weird time in life where I have no fishin clue what my calling is and am struggling to find something I can put up with career wise. I'm 25, smart (at least I'd like to think so), and am good with building relationships (but I'm not about to go selling crap I don't give a rip about).

Hip arthritis and lower back issues keep me from going into skilled trades, which I would love to learn. But with the manual labor factor, I'm not sure it's good for me in the long run if I want to be able to move at 60.

 

What do you all do for a living and is it enjoyable or does it give you satisfaction at the end of the day? I just want something that gives me time for my hobbies and understands personal well being away from work. But also something that doesn't make me dread going to work every day. Fire away.
 

[BrianinMD]

Cyber Security Forensics, most of the time its enjoyable because it fits my personality and strengths.

[Jar11591]

I work for a wholesale glass distributor making insulated, double-paned windows exactly like the Anderson windows you'd find at Lowe's or Home Depot. 

 

Is it enjoyable? Not really. But I'm able to make a living and it funds all my shenanigans so it's alright. 

[J Francho]

There's lots of these threads, over the years.

 

I work in web/mobile software development.  I like the team, and the work.  The apps are for schools, so that's satisfying.

[ww2farmer]

Drive truck hauling AG products, mow hay, spray crops, and harvest beans. With a little bit of wrenching on the equipment I run. It's a year round job crammed into 8-9 months. The other 3 months I am a stay at home dad. But as the kids are getting older and soon won't need dad in the winter, I went out and added the Hazmat endorsement to my CDL to hopefully in the future be able to get a in with one of the local fuel oil/propane companies when they add seasonal help in the winter when we are slow on the farm.

[Scott F]

I was exactly your age when I got hired as a service technician to repair restaurant equipment. I was always mechanically inclined, but I had no idea these jobs even existed. As you already realize, the physical stress took a toll on my body and I had to retire due to a back injury. At the time I was hired, I had no idea what I was going to do with my life. Like so often happens, the job found me. Just because you might hear of a job you might be interested in, doesn't mean you can get someone to hire you. Keep your mind open and find someone who wants to hire you first. Give whatever job you can get a chance. You may find a career that you may have never considered. If it doesn't work out, keep looking.

[Bass Turd]

I am a firm believer that a job or career should "satisfy" a person. It's the only way to make it through life because... let's face it... sometimes life is a grind. 

 

I will turn 50 this year but when I was in high school my parents made me take the AIMS test. It tests aptitudes on a variety of subject matter and at the end spits out a list of careers for which your personality is best suited and explains why this is so. I said yeah BS and went about my life choosing my own path based on my own set of criteria.

 

When I was 33 years old my wife and high school sweetheart died from cancer. We fought it tooth and nail for a year. Her death was horrible and devastating. But.... it gave me the chance to look at everything in my life and make changes. After all... I had a fresh slate so to speak.

 

I was a graphic designer at the time. It satisfied part of me but I was still mentally exhausted when I got home each night. Not to mention long hours and low pay. But it was fun!! I made a list of what I liked about my job and a list of what I didn't. Boiling it down I like working with my hands and I like the satisfaction of making something work that was broken. I am an introvert and so I get energy from working alone. A friend suggested watchmaking. Today I am a certified watchmaker and have been working in a Rolex dealership for the past 14 years. I get to work on the world's finest time pieces and have the satisfaction of seeing the watch running at the end of my day. I love it love it love it. I go home and have energy for hobbies and life in general.

 

Now the story comes full circle. I found my AIMS test folder the other day. And wouldn't you know it... watchmaking was listed. Wow. If I had only payed attention I could have done this much sooner. I'll put the link below. Look into it or something like it. Good luck. 

 

-Danny

 

https://www.aimstesting.org/faq/

[DogBone_384]

I'm a Firefighter.

[iaYakker]

2 minutes ago, Bass Turd said:

I am a firm believer that a job or career should "satisfy" a person. It's the only way to make it through life because... let's face it... sometimes life is a grind. 

 

I will turn 50 this year but when I was in high school my parents made me take the AIMS test. It tests aptitudes on a variety of subject matter and at the end spits out a list of careers for which your personality is best suited and explains why this is so. I said yeah BS and went about my life choosing my own path based on my own set of criteria.

 

When I was 33 years old my wife and high school sweetheart died from cancer. We fought it tooth and nail for a year. Her death was horrible and devastating. But.... it gave me the chance to look at everything in my life and make changes. After all... I had a fresh slate so to speak.

 

I was a graphic designer at the time. It satisfied part of me but I was still mentally exhausted when I got home each night. Not to mention long hours and low pay. But it was fun!! I made a list of what I liked about my job and a list of what I didn't. Boiling it down I like working with my hands and I like the satisfaction of making something work that was broken. I am an introvert and so I get energy from working alone. A friend suggested watchmaking. Today I am a certified watchmaker and have been working in a Rolex dealership for the past 14 years. I get to work on the world's finest time pieces and have the satisfaction of seeing the watch running at the end of my day. I love it love it love it. I go home and have energy for hobbies and life in general.

 

Now the story comes full circle. I found my AIMS test folder the other day. And wouldn't you know it... watchmaking was listed. Wow. If I had only payed attention I could have done this much sooner. I'll put the link below. Look into it or something like it. Good luck. 

 

-Danny

 

https://www.aimstesting.org/faq/

That's awesome. I am an introvert as well, and pretty 'anti-establishment' to be honest. If I found something like that, something that I can work with my hands on, and not deal with a bunch of people, I think I could genuinely enjoy work. 

[Raul]

Professional Hitman for El Chapo.

 

3 hours ago, DogBone_384 said:

I'm a Firefighter.

 

 

Brave !

[buzzed bait]

Sales Analyst, not really fun per se, i call fishing fun!

[riverbasser]

Diesel mechanic, not for those with weak backs. Idk if there is such a thing as the perfect job. Anything you enjoy doing will turn into work and will lose its appeal so I would choose anything that you are good at and pays well. Make your life about the things you do away from work. 

 

When I die I hope no ones says he was a good mechanic. I would much rather them say he was a great witness for Christ, family man and fisherman.

[Fishing Rhino]

Nothing.  I'm retired.  But, when I had a job, here's the list.

 

I started out as the general manager in a production woodworking shop.  Did that for seven years.  The next four years, I made wood clock cases for a company on Cape Cod. Grandmother, grandfather, wall and mantle clocks as well as making kits for them.

 

After that, I did this for twenty some years.

 

 

You'll notice the wheelhouse before (above) and after (below) I rebuilt it.

 

After lobstering, I made fiberglass race car bodies.  These cars are not painted.  The color is in the gel coat.

 

 

 

 

[jr231]

I work for a private contractor remodeling homes. Often looked down on by people with an abundance of money... As if I'm a dirty peasant. But if it wasn't for people like me they wouldn't have a home to live in or a car to drive ! 

 

Work, family and fishin. 

[halochef]

retired chef 30+ years

[CroakHunter]

I build toyota suvs. Is it satisfying? Eh... it pays the bills, keeps insurance on my family, has a good pension program, and satisfies the bait monkey from time to time. I have a degree but never used it. 

[flechero]

8 hours ago, iaYakker said:

I'm currently in the midst of a very weird time in life where I have no fishin clue what my calling is and am struggling to find something I can put up with career wise. I'm 25, smart (at least I'd like to think so), and am good with building relationships (but I'm not about to go selling crap I don't give a rip about).

 

Lots of us have trouble finding out what our calling is...  more still struggle with a career choice.  Big difference.  I hope you are only struggling with the career! 

 

Start with education- no college degree rules out a ton of stuff.  So do you have a degree?  If so, in what?  Some things require voc or specialty schooling/training- there are options for that as well...  one thing you probably can't do is just pick a career and get hired making any decent money and enjoying what you do.  You'll have to develop some enthusiasm for something to get hired.  Few people will hire someone who's not willing to work his way up.

 

It's hard to articulate a high worth when you are just looking for something you can "put up with."  

 

Good at relationship building, enjoy flexibility, smart, willing to work hard... I might have suggested real estate.  The "crap you are selling" is secondary to the relationships and service you provide the people.

 

I bet most of us started off doing something completely different than we are doing now and different that we may have wanted to do initially.  I would have laughed if you told me I'd end up in real estate... and I don't love it- I love the people.  And because of that, have done well.  99% of it is your attitude (open mindedness) and your willingness to learn.  Unless your folks are filthy rich, you are probably going to have to make it happen on your own...  

 

Get motivated and get after it! 

[david in va]

 I was raised on a tobacco farm, so I raised tobacco for a few years. Also trapped while on the farm. Worked at a Chevrolet dealership for 6 years or so. Built a shop and went out on my own.

Went to work at a local university running their Golf Course, was State owned worked there for 17 years, retired . Then went to work at my present job at a tractor dealership as a mechanic.

 Loved it all , so I guess I have never worked a day in my life. No regrets

David

[slonezp]

Commercial refrigeration mechanic/pipefitter turned cripple. Recently started a new job with a Fortune 500 company doing hvac/r tech support. 

[A-Jay]

I am retired USCG, but I'd like to suggest the PFT Field.

Professional Food Taster.

The hours are reasonable & I think there's a decent dental plan, but the lunch breaks are very short.

A-Jay

[Gundog]

I'm Batman!

No retirement, no healthcare and my boss treats me like &#@%!

[dwh4784]

Walmart Greeter

[AndrewJ]

Im a Juvenile Detention Officer with the local Probation Department.  Like every job it has it ups and downs, and can be enjoyable for the most part.  The benefits are good and the it pays me well enough to own a home and a boat so that a plus.   

[Jtrout]

Collision technician 

[12poundbass]

I'm a Utility Locate Technician. I locate underground utilities so they aren't damaged ( that's the idea some contractors don't follow that idea LOL). For you Michigan guys Miss Dig...that's me. Ohio I think it's called Oops funny enough. 

 

It's a job and putting in the time and gaining the experience to climb the ladder and turn it into a career. I can't and won't complain. I'm on my own and always outside! Nobody watching over your shoulder and bugging you. Call 811 before you dig it's VERY expensive/dangerous when utilities get damaged. ?