1. IrvingSnodgrass - June 22, 1999 - 9:31 AM PT
Talk about your job. What makes it worthwhile? What would you change? Are you considering a career change? Here is the post which inspired this thread:
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24497. MsIvoryTower - June 18, 1999 - 9:22 PM PT
Irving
Something that would interest me (and, really, that's where all suggestions stem from, eh?) would be a discussion of the various professions represented here in the fray, their plusses and minuses as occupations, and the difference between the work and what people *thought* they'd be doing when they trained for it.
We have several lawyers, some engineers, computer people, teachers, bureaucrats, and the like here. I'm thinking of something like what I stumbled upon in TableTalk one time regarding the pros and cons of studying law. Some prospective law student started a thread asking people for their thoughts on the profession, and advice about law school. The discussion, which didn't last long (of course, nothing does over there) provoked some interesting comments. One could certainly tell which individuals enjoyed their work, and which regretted entering that profession.
I thought it would be interesting to look at all the kinds of jobs people do here in the Fray.
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2. IrvingSnodgrass - June 22, 1999 - 9:35 AM PT
I have been thinking about this topic for a while, ever since i saw the following list. See where your job rates. Whoever rated "Web Site manager" at the top obviously wan't thinking of *my* job, and some of the people I have to deal with around here.
So you think you've got a good job?
NEW YORK (AP) - Baseball player, president and cowboy - great jobs, right? Wrong. Try Website manager, computer systems analyst and software engineer. Low stress, short work weeks and room for advancement put those professions near the top of the list in "Jobs Rated Almanac," a new book ranking the best and worst jobs in the country. "I think what surprises most people are those jobs they always thought were so glamorous are at the bottom. The work-a-day world for some of those jobs is the pits," said author Les Krantz. Using data from the government, trade groups and telephone surveys, Krantz ranked 250 jobs according to six criteria: income, stress, physical demands, potential growth, job security and work environment.
Where Does Your Job Rank?
By The Associated Press
A ranking of 250 jobs, according to “Jobs Rated Almanac.”
1. Web site manager
2. Actuary
3. Computer Systems Analyst
4. Software engineer
5. Mathematician
6. Computer programmer
7. Accountant
8. Industrial engineer
9. Hospital administrator
10. Web developer
11. Paralegal assistant
12. Parole officer
13. Meteorologist
14. Technical writer
15. Medical secretary
16. Medical technologist
17. Financial planner
18. Medical laboratory technician
19. Astronomer
20. Historian
21. Postal inspector
22. Dental hygienist
23. Biologist
24. Insurance underwriter
25. Sociologist
26. Urban/regional planner
27. Physiologist
28. Bank officer
29. Broadcast technician
30. Agency director
31. Dental laboratory technician
32. Statistician
[continued]
3. IrvingSnodgrass - June 22, 1999 - 9:39 AM PT
33. Motion picture editor
34. Audiologist
35. Industrial engineer
36. Nuclear engineer
37. Vocational counselor
38. Computer service technician
39. Optometrist
40. Medical records technician
41. Dietitian
42. Physicist
43. Political scientist
44. Federal judge
45. Mechanical engineer
46. Speech pathologist
47. Pharmacist
48. Occupational therapist
49. Publication editor
50. Economist
51. Protestant minister
52. Aerospace engineer
53. Philosopher
54. Electrical engineer
55. Purchasing agent
56. Chiropractor
57. Geologist
58. Psychologist
59. Podiatrist
60. Attorney
61. Electrical technician
62. Oceanographer
63. Television/radio newswriter
64. Chemist
65. Physical therapist
66. Petroleum engineer
67. Executive search consultant
68. Anthropologist
69. Tax examiner/collector
70. Civil engineer
71. Market research analyst
72. Personnel recruiter
73. Newscaster
74. Military officer
75. Advertising account executive
76. Optician
77. Architectural drafter
78. Musical instrument repairer
79. Engineering technician
80. Flight attendant
81. Computer consultant
82. General practice physician
83. Jeweler
84. School principal
85. Agricultural scientist
86. Dentist
87. Cashier
88. Symphony conductor
89. Computer operator
90. Public relations executive
91. Zoologist
92. Bookbinder
93. Archaeologist
94. Stenographer/court reporter
95. Senior corporate executive
96. Antique dealer
97. Military/Warrant officer
98. Respiratory therapist
99. Typist/word processor
100. Airplane pilot
101. Florist
102. Catholic priest
103. Museum curator
104. Secretary
105. Ticket agent
106. Barber
107. Shipping/receiving clerk
108. Librarian
109. Guard
110. Photographic/process worker
111. Teacher's aide
112. Lithographer/photoengraver
[continued]
4. IrvingSnodgrass - June 22, 1999 - 9:42 AM PT
113. Occupational safety/health inspector
114. Appliance repairer
115. Receptionist
116. College professors
117. Author
118. Hotel manager
119. Commercial artist
120. Bookkeeper
121. Set designer
122. Conservationist
123. File clerk
124. Stockbroker
125. Psychiatrist
126. Piano tuner
127. Social worker
128. Bank teller
129. Orthodontist
130. Sports instructor
131. Veterinarian
132. Insurance agent
133. Physician assistant
134. Telephone installer/repairer
135. Surgeon
136. Waiter/waitress
137. Child care worker
138. Industrial machine repairer
139. Fashion designer
140. Rabbi
141. Wholesale sales representative
142. Forklift operator
143. Registered nurse
144. Architect
145. Fashion model
146. Cosmetologist
147. Communications equipment mechanic
148. Home economist
149. Photographer
150. Vending machine repairer
151. Office machine repairer
152. Automobile body repairer
153. Disk jockey
154. Janitor
155. Musician
156. Undertaker
157. Maid
158. Osteopath
159. Nurse's aide
160. Military/enlisted personnel
161. Heating/refrigeration mechanic
162. NCAA basketball coach
163. Sewage plant operator
164. Teacher
165. Singer
166. Stationary engineer
167. Electrical equipment repairer
168. Bus driver
169. Telephone operator
170. Highway patrol officer
171. Mail carrier
172. Cook/chef
173. Furniture upholsterer
174. Correction officer
175. Real estate agent
176. Newspaper reporter
177. Chauffeur
178. Advertising salesperson
179. Bartender
180. Astronaut
181. Licensed practical nurse
182. Recreation worker
183. Compositor/typesetter
184. Emergency medical technician
185. Race car driver
186. Buyer
187. Tool-and-die maker
188. Mayor
189. Aircraft mechanic
190. Congressman/Senator
191. Travel agent
192. Construction foreman
[continued]
5. IrvingSnodgrass - June 22, 1999 - 9:43 AM PT
193. Railroad conductor
194. Automobile assembler
195. Precision assembler
196. Photojournalist
197. Police officer
198. Air traffic controller
199. Artist
200. Shoemaker/repair
201. Jockey
202. Major league baseball player
203. Dressmaker
204. Carpet installer
205. NBA basketball player
206. Machinist
207. Retail salesperson
208. Surveyor
209. Dairy farmer
210. Plumber
211. NFL football player
212. Electrician
213. Dishwasher
214. Major league baseball umpire
215. Plasterer
216. Firefighter
217. Automobile mechanic
218. Actor
219. Machine tool operator
220. Auto sales
221. Painter
222. Glazier
223. Nuclear plant decontamination technician
224. Drillpress operator
225. Drywall applicator/finisher
226. Choreographer
227. Welder
228. Butcher
229. President of the United States
230. Truck driver
231. Construction machinery operator
232. Bricklayer
233. Farmer
234. Ironworker
235. Stevedore
236. Meter reader
237. Carpenter
238. Boilermaker
239. Automobile painter
240. Garbage collector
241. Seaman
242. Roofer
243. Taxi driver
244. Sheet metal worker
245. Dancer
246. Cowboy
247. Construction worker
248. Fisherman
249. Lumberjack
250. Roustabout/Oil field laborer
___
Source: "The Jobs Rated Almanac."
6. judithathome - June 22, 1999 - 9:52 AM PT
Well, my job is #96 and I'm pleased to see it outranks lumberjack.
7. incognito - June 22, 1999 - 9:56 AM PT
I find it interesting that butcher ranks just above President of the US.
8. IrvingSnodgrass - June 22, 1999 - 9:57 AM PT
Poor Lemwalker, who is (AFAIK) the Fray's only lumberjack.
I can't even find two of my four occupations on the list, but I haven't scanned it carefully.
9. CalGal - June 22, 1999 - 10:02 AM PT
Well, I'm either 3, 4, or 6 on that list, depending on what you call me.
I am a consultant who contracts out for systems analyst work--I usually implement whatever I design as well. My contracts range from primarily technical (although my definition of 'technical' would cause a "real" programmer to raise his brows in disdain) to the strictly process-oriented. My area of expertise is difficult to describe, so as a short-cut I often refer to myself as a help desk consultant, since that is the area where most of the work is these days. But a more complete description would be "corporate process management". I design all the end-user systems that *aren't* considered "line of business".
For example, a brokerage company would have many apps that directly relate to their line of business. But how do they manage address changes? Billing problems? Internally, how do they manage their IS problems? Outages? Immigration or relocation requirements of new employees?
What data is needed to start the process? What decisions drive the process? Who has the data? Where is the starting point?
If this sounds like management consulting: Management consultants usually address these issues at the executive level. My work is in the next tier down--once all the shouting has been done and the "direction" (ha) been decided on, the groups get cracking on defining the processes and building the systems that will drive the work and collect the data for management use.
It is niche. I would estimate there are no more than 3-4 thousand people doing this as their full-time occupation in the US, and the majority of us are consultants. Others work directly for one software vendor or the other. And a few stay employed at one company, but this is silliness on their part, since they get no respect and the money isn't good. (These numbers are nothing more than a SWAG, but I'd bet a beer on them.)
10. judithathome - June 22, 1999 - 10:03 AM PT
Well, I've learned something already...I thought LEMwalker was an astronaut.
11. phillipdavid - June 22, 1999 - 10:04 AM PT
Why I love teaching.
12. CalGal - June 22, 1999 - 10:20 AM PT
Given that this is an online forum, I thought people might be interested in how I find work. In previous years, I usually relied on networking and word of mouth. I know many software vendors who sell systems that work as a starting point for many processes, and they still call me up and hand me clients. I often do facilitated sessions and get people started on a product and then move on.
But there is an amazingly easy way of getting work these days, and while it is very common to me, I thought I'd describe it and see who else uses it--since I'm the only person I know who uses it.
Dice.com
Dice started out as an exchange BBS between contractors (I can't remember what all the letters stand for, but the last two are Contract Exchange), but it is now pretty much run by headhunters. Companies call them with contracts for temporary or permanent work and they are listed. You can search by location, skill, type of job (contract or FTC) and so on. You can apply for a particular contract or "announce your availability" and wait for a deluge of calls. (As mentioned, I'm a niche market and I still get 25-30 calls after announcing availability).
Dice isn't the only service--Monster.com and Jobs, Jobs, Jobs are two others--but it has been the most reliable for me.
I find a contract I like, email the headhunter with my resume--either a Word doc or my URL--and they call me back up or email. I prefer email; it's easier. Then I either go out on interviews or do the interviews by phone. For my last two contracts, I haven't left the house until it was time to show up for work.
13. chrisTIPeterS - June 22, 1999 - 10:23 AM PT
ummmm...
Why is Industrial Engineer both #8 and #35?
Just wondering.
14. colossus - June 22, 1999 - 10:31 AM PT
Attention all law students!
Before you plunk down a wad on the Bar Review course in your jurisdiction, you should read:
"Running from the Law: Why Good Lawyers are Getting Out of the Legal Profession"
and
"What You Can Do With A Law Degree: A Lawyer's Guide to Career Alternatives Inside, Outside & Around The Law"
both by Deborah ARRON
15. JJBiener - June 22, 1999 - 10:31 AM PT
CalGal - On your suggestion, I used Dice.com in my last job search. I got a bunch of good leads from there. What is odd though is the job I accepted came from a newspaper ad. I mean newspaper ads NEVER work. This time it did. It goes to show you never can tell.
16. CalGal - June 22, 1999 - 10:33 AM PT
The downside of these contracts is that they are onsite and pretty much like normal work--as opposed to my independent consulting gigs, which are part-time, show up when I need to, work my own hours, write up results at home. And the rates for straight contracting are slightly lower because they are longer term. But still, I pretty much set my own rate and work as needed.
The downtime between contracts can be as short as three days or as long as 6 weeks. Companies don't always move quickly in hiring contractors. As a general rule, I work 10 months out of the year--sometimes less. Last year I had part-time work by choice for four months, took six weeks off, and then worked the last part of the year as an employee for a startup company--something I do to vary the routine. I rarely work 40 hour weeks.
I usually enjoy the downtime--although it can be frustrating for planning.
For example, I had a potential contract in July that would be in Boston. While I normally don't travel, I thought it'd be fun to spend a month in a big city--Spawn has summer school, but the company would pay for travel and I could fly him out every weekend to kick around. I was really looking forward to it, so I was planning on taking June off.
But the contract company couldn't confirm it, so as a backup measure, I decided to start checking out other contracts. Since they usually take 2-3 weeks to come through, I figured that if the Boston contract fell through, I'd have two or three in the hopper that would at go-nogo status at the same time.
I didn't list my availability, I just pulled down two contracts that looked interesting. TWO.
I did this a week ago Friday, and had a three month contract offer at a higher rate than Boston on the following Tuesday. It was originally supposed to start yesterday, but the office space wasn't ready so I'll start next Monday.
Sigh.
17. colossus - June 22, 1999 - 10:35 AM PT
I am considering a career change. Disability has made it easier for me to take time with it and work with a vocational counselor - do all the personality and interest tests, research, informationally interview, network, all the "What Color Is Your Parachute?" things we should do but never have the time to do because we are too busy.
As a consequence many (most?) become victims, flopping from one thing to another thing without exercising any real control over our lives victims of downsizing and capital that moves at the speed of light while we move at the speed of mules.
18. CalGal - June 22, 1999 - 10:35 AM PT
I realize this may not seem like a problem, but I *wanted* to go to Boston for a month. But the rules of my life dictate that you *never* turn down the sure thing for a possibility. Especially one that is at a higher rate and for a longer term.
So my careful contingency planning ended up taking over my *actual* plan. And that is nothing new in this life.
Most of the "problems" that others associate with contract work are relative. When I look at the financial constraints and rigidity of full-time long-term employment I get same hives that I'm sure some people get at the supposedly uncertain nature of my job.
I am considering a career change right now. The problems, though, are many. I make quite a bit of money and I don't work very hard. I have a very ordinary English degree from a very ordinary school. In other words, most other careers are simply not feasible from a financial perspective alone. The ones that are financially feasible will require further education.
And a big part of the problem is that I'm not sure what I want to do next. I didn't choose this career, I just saw the opportunities and went for them. But changing careers would involve active choice--not a CalGal strong point.
19. CalGal - June 22, 1999 - 10:37 AM PT
JJ,
I laughed--I don't think my job is even *found* in a newspaper! And you're right in general about systems analyst and senior programming jobs--newspapers are not the norm.
But even want ads are listed online these days.
20. chrisTIPeterS - June 22, 1999 - 11:05 AM PT
I don't know if I can talk about my job. Which job? Besides, I still haven't decided what I want to do when I grow up. So far I have worked at:
Retail Sales (drugstores and clothing stores)
Assistant manager of clothing store
Waitressing
Veterinary Assistant
Horse training
Horse show Judging
Horse breeding
Horseback riding Instructor
Military, enlisted
Avionics component technician
Squadron Training NCO
Wing Training scheduling
shift supervisor in avionics shop
pre-school child care
reading and math tutoring
Ghost writer for technical speeches
Text editor for Doctoral Dissertations
Engineer
Designed remote Infrared detection system for NASA
System Safety Analysis
Product Qualification planning and testing
Product testing and QA
Product testing program development and
improvement
Customer Service/Failure Analysis
Teaching
I think I'll try Lawyer next.
Or maybe just get an MBA and see what that gets me when combined with the BSEE.
21. chrisTIPeterS - June 22, 1999 - 11:08 AM PT
Oh, the Horseback rinding instructor job encompassed teaching beginners, coaching for competition, and teaching riding as therapy for challenged youngsters (some physically disabled, some mentally disabled, some just with problems because of previous abuse).
I'll have to say, that is the "job" I enjoyed the most and would have liked to have spent my whole life doing.
*sigh*
(:o(
22. DanDillon - June 22, 1999 - 12:29 PM PT
I am very much looking forward to the contents of the "About the Author" page in my first published work, you know the one where all of my bizarre low-paying professions are listed, along with the names of my loved ones and the town I "currently reside" in. This will be one of many highlights to come in my middle years.
23. colossus - June 22, 1999 - 12:36 PM PT
Christi -
"I think I'll try Lawyer next."
Find a good mental health professional first.
Phillip -
Thanks for the link. That's one thing I am thinking of doing.
24. vonKreedon - June 22, 1999 - 12:42 PM PT
Cal - You were going to be in Boston when? July/August!?! Be glad you took something else, Boston in High Summer is near insufferable. I remember an August where I seemed to spend weeks laying in bed, rolling over and taking several minutes to wipe the sweat from the exertion. Go to Boston in May/June or September/October.
On topic - My occupation, Corporate Training Program Manager doesn't seem to have made the list.
25. chrisTIPeterS - June 22, 1999 - 12:43 PM PT
PhillipDavid -
I think I would enjoy teaching.
Unfortunately, I doubt I could support us the way I want on a teacher's salary. I'm pretty sure I could not afford the mortgage payments on my present house solely on a single public school teacher's salary.
If I actually get to retire, I may teach then.
If I win the lottery, I am more likely to set up another Riding School.
26. CalGal - June 22, 1999 - 1:07 PM PT
vK,
I would have been living all expenses paid in either a hotel or a corporate apartment.
But I did consider the weather.
Incidentally, it always amuses me when I find these lists separating between something like "systems analyst" and "computer consultant" (81). Like they are separate jobs or something.
27. vonKreedon - June 22, 1999 - 1:13 PM PT
Cal - Air conditioning helps, but it still prevents you from really being IN Boston if you can't stand to walk around Harvard, Copley or any of the other squares or commons, or to take the T (a must for the Boston experience).
On topic - I was wondering about the difference between Software Engineer and Computer Programmer?
28. CalGal - June 22, 1999 - 1:30 PM PT
vK,
I think they are making a distinction between types of programming. It is a hazy distinction, and you'll get into huge religious and definitional issues with any group of techies. And it's not like these are the only three terms there are.
A *very* rough breakdown would go something like this:
Computer programmer--just writes the code. Understands the language, but doesn't care much about the application of it. If you've ever read Cringely's book Accidental Empires, he refers to these sorts as lumpenprogrammers. Lowlevel COBOL apps people, IBM coders who are paid by the KLOC, etc.
Software engineer--"engineer" is the operative word here. They construct applications, design technical solutions. The reason for the distinction is in platform worked (computer programmers is nearly always used as a mainframe designation) and then skill level and broad base of experience. As you might guess, software engineers are paid more.
Systems analysts--generally, they are more involved with the user end, the design, the impact of business data requirements, application flow, etc.
Obviously, engineers analyze and analysts engineer. And you'll find a lot of people (such as myself) who cross over from one to the other, depending on the job and the technical skills required.
As a general rule, I believe analysts are the highest paid--although most true software engineers sneer at the technical skills of analysts. The higher rate is not an indication of greater knowledge, but for some reason analysts are harder to find. I think it is because they generally require greater facility with people and words than the average technician has--as well as more patience with bullshit. Most software engineers don't see the need to bother.
29. CalGal - June 22, 1999 - 1:35 PM PT
One other thing--the title has no meaning in any objective sense.
It's not like you are a computer programmer for five years, learn the right amount of languages, and then you get to put software engineer on your resume.
I could read a requirement for "Computer Programmer" and know by the rate that they needed an analyst and were willing to pay for it. The rate--or salary--is the best indicator of what the job involves.
Now, within a company, they probably have designations that show the seniority or expertise of the various programmers on staff. But any designations would be largely meaningless outside that company.
30. ChristinO - June 22, 1999 - 1:49 PM PT
ChristinO: Data-Monkey
Everyone already knows that I work for demons in Hell, but this is really only because the owners of the company are difficult not because the actual job is horrifying.
The work itself is more tedious than difficult as far as I'm concerned, but I've recently been trying to train our Internet guy to do what I do and apparently not just any bone-head can do it. Running the software involved is easy for the most part, but the processes behind the software and understanding the relationships between the raw information and the bottom line can be tricky.
I suppose that officially I'm a Database Administrator. I maintain a 7Gig database that is the repository for all our customer and billing information. It's a cranky bitch to be perfectly blunt and requires about 30 hours of dead-of-night work every month to keep it from collapsing in a runny puddle.
Additionally I maintain 12 smaller Access databases, do software and network support for about 25 end-users and act as the liason to all our carriers and our billing company.
I most enjoy setting up processes and working with Development at our billing company to iron out bugs in the software. I don't have anything to do with the code of the thing but everything to do with explaining to them why such and such a thing doesn't work for our process or whatever.
I tend to be a bit anal in an organizational sense because I want to be able to set things up and then forget about them. I like to leave a process in place that any idiot can come in and successfully complete. This is purely selfish because I don't want to have to go back and clean up messes that could have been avoided by having better, more detailed instructions or a simpler process. My first inclination if someone makes a mistake is that it's most likely my fault for not explaining well enough.
31. Jenerator - June 22, 1999 - 2:17 PM PT
Let's see...what I don't like about my job at the moment. The biggest event of the year for us is around the corner (4th of July), so everyone is extremely busy. Not only do I have to deal with vendors, crafters, artists, commercial sponsors, and the midway people, but I have to juggle entertainers, agents, PR, local media, national media, AND try to get all of the telephone calls answered and keep all of the info. we all share as up date as possible.
My eight hour work day is increasing daily and will culminate into a 20 hour work day on July 4th.
My saving graces....God, water, tennis shoes, and power bars!
32. incognito - June 22, 1999 - 2:21 PM PT
what are power bars?
33. incognito - June 22, 1999 - 2:22 PM PT
oh wait, probably those "candy" bar thingies for energy, right?
outside of July 4th, what other events do you coordinate jenerator?
34. Jenerator - June 22, 1999 - 2:26 PM PT
Nothing after this 4th of July. I'll be leaving my job at the end of August.
You were right about the power-bars.
35. ChristinO - June 22, 1999 - 2:32 PM PT
Actor
Print Model
Veterinary assistant
Cashier
Grill Operator
Courier
Bank Teller
Vault Custodian
Securities assistant
Server
Deli worker
Telephone Surveyor
Kinkoid
Bookkeeper
Make-up Artist
Costume Designer
Stage Manager
Theatrical Director
Executive Assistant
Marketing Rep
Temporary
Office Manager
Corporate Training Assistant
Inventory Specialist
Jr. Help Desk Analyst
ISO 9000 Manual Writer
Corporate Reseller Service Rep
Database Administrator
Communications Coordinator
Payroll Specialist
Data-Monkey
That's all the ones I could remember in the order in which I held the jobs. There've been various and sundry other things that I just can't recall.
36. incognito - June 22, 1999 - 2:33 PM PT
oh
i'd ask you things like how long you've been doing this job and so on, but i don't have the time or interest.
just joking on the latter :-)
37. incognito - June 22, 1999 - 2:34 PM PT
my message #36 was to jenerator not ChristinO
38. CHristipEtERS - June 22, 1999 - 2:54 PM PT
ChristinO -
WOW!
You are soooo young to have done so much! Don't wear yourself out, dear!
Cal -
Hmmmmm....
I have to design and code programs that will not only meet MilSpec but will test every possible use the customer could put the chip to, plus catch any annoying little problems which have cropped up in customer use or at the fab. I help the customer with thier applications and programs, too.
So, is that programming or systems engineering?
(I suspect programming for the actual test coding and the rest of my job falls under Engineer)
I am lucky to work in this division of my company as I deal with the product from design to customer to end-of-life. In most of the other divisions you work with just one tiny step in the life of a product.
39. incognito - June 22, 1999 - 2:56 PM PT
ChristinO I'm just hoping that "grill operator" and "veterinary assistant" were not done at the same place!
40. incognito - June 22, 1999 - 2:58 PM PT
"I am lucky to work in this division of my company as I deal with the product from design to customer to end-of-life. In most of the other divisions you work with just one tiny step in the life of a product."
ChristiPeters, years ago I was offered a job just like this, head of a design engineering department of a company. The job looked ideal for my mindset, but I didn't take it at the time. The head hunter that set me up with the interviews called me a "dummy" for not taking it. And although he was probably right at the time, in retrospect it wasn't any big deal. For starters, I would have lost my company car!
But doing that sort of work affords so much variety that I don't doubt you love doing it.
41. incognito - June 22, 1999 - 2:59 PM PT
that should have been "developmental engineering" and not 'design.'
42. ChristinO - June 22, 1999 - 3:06 PM PT
I forgot about the summer I worked in the day care so including that job that covers the first eight items on the list before I turned 19.
43. CalGal - June 22, 1999 - 3:07 PM PT
Christi,
It sounds like you design and implement test programs? I'd call that software engineering, which encompasses the programming.
44. judithathome - June 22, 1999 - 3:10 PM PT
Years ago I worked as a stripper...a lithographers stripper. My son was in pre-school and told his teacher I was a stripper; I came to pick him up one day and all the teachers and aides were at the front window (small private school) peeking out to see the stripper. Of course, they met me when I enrolled my child in their stuffy little school but hearing I was a stripper increased my "interest" value, I guess.
45. JJBiener - June 22, 1999 - 3:15 PM PT
Judith - I have a friend who is a lawyer. He used to have a stripper working as a part-time secretary for him. Her friends from the clubs would come to him to take care of their legal problems. They tended to pay with one dollar bills. The other clerks in the office were rather put off about having to handle those bills.
46. judithathome - June 22, 1999 - 3:18 PM PT
JJ:
Filthy lucre, huh?
47. JJBiener - June 22, 1999 - 3:22 PM PT
Judith - You bet. I offered to do collections for him on those accounts, but he insisted on doing them himself (g).
48. cllrdr - June 22, 1999 - 3:23 PM PT
Hi there. I'm a writer by trade, and a homosexual by profession.
49. judithathome - June 22, 1999 - 3:26 PM PT
cllrdr:
Check the beginning of this thread to see where your profession ranks out of the top 250....I'm #96! I'll bet yours is higher than that, truth be told...
50. marjoribanks - June 22, 1999 - 3:35 PM PT
Jobs I've held:
Child Model (2 -10)
Bronx Zoo Safari Train Driver (summer)
Paralegal (summer)
Copywriter (India) (summer)
Nature Reserve Ranger (Israel) (summer)
Semi-pro basketball player (Italy) (summer)
Bartender (England) (college)
UN Photographer (4 months)
Photo Editor (Brazil) (4 months)
Newspaper Editor (1 year)
NGO Director (Paris) (3 years)
Foundation Fundraiser (1 year)
Adviser to TV C.E.O. (1 year)
Media Consultant (2 years)
Crisis Communications (2 years)
51. judithathome - June 22, 1999 - 3:37 PM PT
marjori:
Your skills on that last one are needed in Politics right now.
52. marjoribanks - June 22, 1999 - 3:39 PM PT
Judith,
I only do my work if complete control is given to me, and if I am paid heftily by the hour. Wanna splurge?
53. judithathome - June 22, 1999 - 3:44 PM PT
marjori:
Naw...I doubt 'complete control' is a concept the participants would recognize. I'll save my money for the party after....
54. vonKreedon - June 22, 1999 - 3:53 PM PT
Ok - Jobs I've held in chronological order:
Director New England Region of Liberal Religious Youth
Farm Hand
Dishwasher
Magnetic Tape Re-processor
Ice Cream Maker
Grounds Keeper
Tree Digger
Tree Digger Lead
House Painter
Seafood Processor
Seafood Processing Lead
Christmas Tree Processor
Farm Hand - again
Dishwasher - again
VISTA Volunteer - Food Resource Network
Computer Application Consultant
Dishwasher (yet again)
Prep-cook
Word Processor (temp agency)
Computer Application Consultant - again
Internal Helpdesk Tech
Internal Helpdesk Escalation/Beta Support Tech
Training Specialist
Training Program Manager
55. Greystoke - June 22, 1999 - 3:57 PM PT
My intent is not to make any of you feel inferior or inadequate. But if my success story brings out those emotions, it is perfectly understandable.
I started down my current path a few years ago when I met a Grateful Dead roady at a Rainbow Gathering. He pulled a few strings and got me a job cleaning port-a-johns at Dead shows. What a racket! I got to watch the shows for free and could eat as much acid as I wanted. Ever since that time I've had a thing for women who let their armpit and leg hair grow.
All good things must come to an end, and my gravy train was over when Jerry died and the Dead quit touring. But, by virtue of my past experience, I landed the job of head shoveler for a company that provides the animals for donkey basketball games. It did not compare with the glamour of my previous employment, but it wasn't half bad. Its a damn shame that donkey basketball is a dying sport in America. BTW, after having a donkey between their legs for two hours, those female alumni and faculty members are hot to trot.
All of this experience led to my current job, Head of Program Development for ABC. The flashbacks aren't as bad they used to be, and I can still wear my tie-dyes to work. I was the one who spotted "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" and "The Hughleys" as diamonds in the rough. Right now we are working on "The New Happy Days", which will feature the humor and singing of Anson Williams. Ha! That Potsi, he cracks me up.
So, no matter how humble your job is now, take heart. With a few lucky breaks, you could end up like me.
56. phillipdavid - June 22, 1999 - 4:40 PM PT
clossus
Message #23
My offer of discussing teaching as a profession with you still stands.
phildavid@hotmail.com
57. MsIvoryTower - June 22, 1999 - 4:44 PM PT
I don't know about anyone else, but I have a hard time believing anything in Message #55.
BUT, I am acquainted with a woman (a colleague at my institution) who was asked to film Garcia's funeral and such for his wife, with whom she was longtime friends.
58. MsIvoryTower - June 22, 1999 - 4:46 PM PT
Actually, now that I think about it, I'm not sure it was his funeral, it may have been a documentary Garcia's wife was working on near the time of his death.
I'm terrible with details that don't affect me.
59. ranheim - June 22, 1999 - 4:48 PM PT
#82 on the list
I wonder why so high?!
All through high school I was interested in playing basketball. White guys can't jump was certainly true in my case. Frustration!
All through college I was in a laboratory. Nothing complicated but it certainly helped to be exact. For an obsessive complusive (I know, bi-polar) that was simple. But, very little dating. Never met any girls. Lived at home as my parents couldn't afford tuition; to say nothing about board and room. After school and summer jobs put me through college.
Medical school is time consuming. Count on a minimum of 12 hours a day. When one gets on the wards in actual patient care "school" + work on the wards frequently meant 18+ hour days. Again, very little to no time to meet women. And no money.
Internship was worse!
Almost 10 years as an USAF Flight Surgeon. 5 years of the 1960s were spent abroad. While on Okinawa, my wife and I saw the Orient. Military personnel were not allowed in Burma nor Indonesia then. We hit the remainder. While at our Embassy in Moscow, we stayed behind the Iron Curtain (a diplomatic passport carried more weight their than a tourist passport). Flight physcials in Germany; r&r trips to Helsinki. Went through Scandanavia on our way back to the USA.
Ran the Dispensary in Albuqueque for 1 year. Drove me insane! I cannot be a boss.
General practice in central LA since (1972). I know no self-employed GP who has put away enough money to retire. That's why many of us look old to you. We are!
60. MsIvoryTower - June 22, 1999 - 4:59 PM PT
I am in academia, as many of you know. The training is long, but is also very closely related to what one ends up doing in this sort of work. If, when at the graduate student level, you find you DON'T like teaching, reasearch, reading, writing, and talking about ideas, then this is not the job to pursue.
There is a great deal of independence in this sort of work, which is a real plus as far as I'm concerned. One need really only be around for one's classes, the bottom line commitment one has to your institution, and otherwise, your agenda is your own. The best of my colleagues, however, manage to be in their offices fairly regularly, interact with their students frequently, and are visible at department meetings and events.
Some of the negatives associated with this work is the relatively low pay given the training required, and the constant pressure to publish, which produces a constant pressure to find interesting projects to work on, to hunt for funding and grants that bring additional resources to both your college and to your ability to do good studies. Then the last sort of downside is that if one isn't in a tenure-track position, and eventually given tenure, the life becomes very difficult. Many are then put in the status of *gypsy scholars*, faculty who are part-time at a range of institutions, teaching mostly, and never really getting much out in the way of publications. Pay under these circumstances is even lower.
If one survives, though, and becomes a full professor, the main advantage is that one can do interesting, challenging, and dynamic work well into one's 70's without either being sidelined, or being considered obsolete.
61. wabbit - June 22, 1999 - 5:09 PM PT
You'd think drugs and naked people would rate higher than #199. Must be the great pay and high prestige.
62. ProfEmeritus - June 22, 1999 - 5:14 PM PT
MsIT
That is a very good summary of the pros and cons of academic life. I will give my views of a somewhat different career later.
One point I would like to make now is that there are many tenured professors who go to seed and do become obsolete. That becomes a very difficult life because of ridicule from colleagues. Academics specialize in making barbed comments in otherwise quite pleasant encounters. You never see the kind of blatant incivility one sees in some threads on the Fray, but I am sure the comments made to the profs at the bottom of the pecking order hurt very much. I have seen many retire early.
On the financial side, some academicians are lucky enough and good enough to have many outside consulting opportunites. They often pay some multiple of an academic salsry.
63. MsIvoryTower - June 22, 1999 - 5:15 PM PT
Oh that list is very controversial, IMO. For one thing, it's totally subjective based on how the author weights the various factors that make up the ranking.
For instance, it's clear that the author has an aversion to physical demands in an occupation or job, but to many individuals that's a real plus, not a minus. For a host of people, some of their strongest skills involve their bodies, so to them, ranking the physical demands as a negative in a job or occupation is a gross underestimation of its desirability.
Just one example of the problems with the ranking Irving posted.
64. MsIvoryTower - June 22, 1999 - 5:26 PM PT
ProfE
Agreed about the fact that a number of faculty go to seed, however, my take is that this is tolerated less and less in today's academic environment, particularly at public institutions. In Texas, for example, the legislature has instituted a mandatory review process for all tenured faculty, to occur every 5 years. Many states have pressured their public institutions to create ways to increase the productivity of their long-time tenured faculty. However, at both of the institutions I've been at (I know, I'm a babe) there have been that small percentage of colleagues who give everyone a bad name.
At my first institution, one of my female colleagues, who was tenured, remained on the faculty without taking a leave and went through law school. When she finished, she continued to hold a full faculty position at the college AND began full-time law practice. You tell me what got cut out of her workweek. This sucked, as far as I was concerned, because it wasted precious faculty resources, shortchanged the students, and ended up screwing the public (who ultimately funded this institution).
Yet another of my colleagues at my current institution spends so much of his time on consulting that he's rarely in his office more than 10 hours a week, AND what's worse (IMO), is a damn lousy teacher. In fact, his classes have a notoriously bad reputation in my department. Why? Because he plans them to have the minumum amount of input from him, he always assigns a topic for students to have to *present* to the class, thereby taking up about 10 weeks of sessions just with those presentations. Unethical, IMO. Just plain unethical.
I never could bring myself to do such a thing. Too much the economist.
65. ProfEmeritus - June 22, 1999 - 5:45 PM PT
MsIT
That review of tenured profs is a good innovation. In the last institution I worked at, there was an annual review of the productivity of all faculty BY COLLEAGUES. That procedure really showed up who was doing what.
66. MsIvoryTower - June 22, 1999 - 5:59 PM PT
ProfE
Yes, that's the system that is now in place here. The legislature mandated the review but left the how up to the university system. My system chose to do a full review process for all tenured faculty, that is, the standards/categories evaluated would be similar to those for the tenure process. The reviews are to be conducted by department colleagues, who then evaluate the faculty members work and ultimately recommend merit recognition, adequate performance, or areas to be developed further before the next review.
I suspect some of my colleagues will retire before going through the process that will surely illustrate their shortcomings. Personally, I think this is a very good procedure to be in place. If someone is doing their job, contributing to the department and the programs, then they should have no problem getting through the review, but for those who've been playing fast and loose with their position, this will stop them in their tracks.
67. ethiopianeunuch - June 23, 1999 - 12:36 AM PT
Jobs I have had
Walked around hanging brochures on doors age 13-16
worked at a restaurant 17-19
owned the same restaurant 19-39 present
Let me assure you that cooking merits every bit of a # as high as 172. Why so many people want to go into this business astounds me. I continue to do it because that is what I do. I work about 55-60 hours a week. If anyone ever has a question about this business please ask.
68. ethiopianeunuch - June 23, 1999 - 12:38 AM PT
Greystoke; I saw the Dead, Jerry band aprox. 137 times so I would imagine I may have stepped on your foot from time to time.:-)
69. pellenilsson - June 23, 1999 - 3:16 AM PT
I'm amazed at the variety of jobs some of you have had. I have had only one - telecommunications engineer - and only one employer, the major telephone operating company in Sweden. On the other hand I have worked in many interesting places.
In the late 1950's the traditional professions for a working class boy 'with a good head on him' were priest, teacher or engineer. I was quite interested in the humanities (I hope that is the right word for philisophy, etc.) but that meant becoming a teacher which I did not want. So off to engineering school and after my National Service (artillery) I landed a job with the telephone company and got married and was on my way to become a reasonably competent technocrat.
The company had a small consulting subsidiary which did work in developing countries, usually on behalf of Swedish aid. My wife and I thought it would exciting to work abroad for a while and when a suitable job popped up in 1973(there is a great deal of specialisation within telecoms) we packed our bags and went off to Beirut for two years which could have become three but for the civil war. Since then we have lived in Algeria, Yemen and Jordan (two periods) and I have done may short-term missions too.
When we came home from Jordan the first time in 1988 I was given a management position in the consulting company. I soon found out that I didn't enjoy that - too much day-to-day adminstrative work. So when we re-organised in 1991 I took the opportunity to opt out of that race and go back to field work. The first few years of the 90's were exciting because of the many opportunities that opened up in Central and Eastern Europe.
70. pellenilsson - June 23, 1999 - 3:26 AM PT
I had kept up my interest in the humanities so when I gave up the management race I thought I'd give myself a break by doing the basic course in the History of Ideas. I went down to half time with the right and duty to work full time if required. With my travelling it took me two terms for that course but I found I liked the subject and I also liked the university atmosphere. It was good for me to meet young people and to be challenged by them. On the job I had become an Authority, a guy who had been everywhere and done everything.
So I continued and I like to say that I now have a Master's but that is not true. I have a Master's thesis with good grades but I need more credits to get the exam. They will come, not this year though.
So on the whole I'm quite satisfied with my choice of profession and the way I have used it. Telecom is an exciting business and grows ever more so. When I look back I find that those decisions in 1973 and 1991 were the most important in my life. And marrying my wife, which I don't say just because it's something one is expected to say.
71. bubbaette - June 23, 1999 - 5:27 AM PT
My Jobs
Babysitter
Tastee Freeze Counter Girl
Cashier
Bread Factory Worker
Shoe Factory Worker
Furniture Factory Worker
Waitress
Cashier
In College:
Fabric Mill Lawn Crew
Fabric Mill Worker
Wendy's Counter Girl
Apartment Cleaner
Ice Cream Scooper
Cook for Health Club/Gym Snack Bar
Grafting grape roots and vines
Tree Planter
Library Assistant
Window Washer
Manpower -- Baby Formula Factory, Printing Factory Worker, Gasket bearing and bushing inspector
House painter
Nanny
Since College:
Cashier
Reporter
Political Fundraiser
Legislative Assistant
Policy Analyst/Regulation Drafter
Program Director (a cross between 11 and 30 on Irv's list)
72. Raskolnikov - June 23, 1999 - 7:49 AM PT
Jobs:
Paperboy
Short Order Cook
Busboy
Lifeguard
Public Pool Swimming Instructor
Dormitory Food Service Worker
Private Swimming Instructor
Lifeguard (for the University)
Academic Tutor
Research Assistant for the UK House of Commons
Clerk at a video store
Clerk at an electronics store
Manager of an electronics store
Manager of a bigger electronics store
Data Analyst for the EPA(internship in Grad school)
Teaching Assistant (for a Quant course and a Policy Analysis course)
Peer Advisor
Management Consultant
73. Jenerator - June 23, 1999 - 8:03 AM PT
Ethiopian,
What kind of restaurant do you own?
My very first job was at the age of 8. My friends and I decided to polish the copper mail slots on all of the neighborhood doors for $5 a piece. We thought we'd be rich, but the slots took about two and a half hours each to clean, so we lost our economic interest after a couple of weeks.
Pre college jobs:
day care
fast food
retail
waitressing
college jobs:
retail
marketing
insurance
public relations
post college:
public relations/media relations
74. CHristipEtERS - June 23, 1999 - 8:10 AM PT
shoot! It never occurred to me to include all the jobs I had as a kid. I only listed my jobs as an adult that actually completely supported me and what family I had at the time.
oh well.
Cal Gal Message #43 - sort of. Thst's just part of my job. I also perform test and failure analysis on devices both in the qualification phase of their life and when I get any returns from customers. In addition there is the design of test interface circuit boards for each product.
Yep, it *is* the variety which makes this job fun.
I still had more fun teaching riding lessons, though.
75. CHristipEtERS - June 23, 1999 - 8:13 AM PT
(yes, I *am* whining about not being able to do the job that I dreamed of doing all my life. I'll try not to do it very much. It's the one self-pity bit from my disabling injuries which I have not successfully rooted from my psyche. I'm working on it, though.)
76. MsIvoryTower - June 23, 1999 - 8:17 AM PT
Will someone tell me of what simply listing one's total range of jobs held over the course of their working lives has to with this topic?
Are jobs occupations? Does a list of jobs give me (the reader) a clue about your training to do your present job (occupation), or the connections between your past work and your current work?
I'm at a loss.
77. Raskolnikov - June 23, 1999 - 8:20 AM PT
Ms: I dunno, it sounded like fun.
78. theDiva - June 23, 1999 - 8:28 AM PT
Hmmm....what do I like about my present occupation (geekocrat)?
This is serious now, guys.
I have a very large and rather swell office with a comfy leather chair and one whole wall of windows. I have a great view (from my conference table) of our beautiful lake which has become the habitat for a large variety of wildlife.
My employer allows me to purchase all kinds of neat hardware and software which helps me accomplish my job. I spend my days listening to jazz and doing (generally) stimulating and useful work which contributes to the growth of my community and improving the quality of life for my neighbors and the community.
I don't earn a whole lot of money, the pay is quite piddly, actually, but I have retirement and health insurance, tons of paid annual and sick leave, and the felxibility to come and go as I need to as long as the work is done.
I have interesting and charming (mostly) co-workers who are frequently helpful to me and whose company I enjoy.
I am very blessed.
79. CHristipEtERS - June 23, 1999 - 8:31 AM PT
MsIt -
I think I started it in Message #20.
Sorry.
I would like to point out, however, that I did *not* simply list all the jobs I have had in my life. (I didn't list them *all* by a long shot.) Everything I listed was something I did as an adult to support myself. Also, with the exception of waitressing, each one I listed was something that, at the time, I was making a career of and intended to do all my life, but life just didn't work out that way.
My original intent in that post was really to illustrate my somewhat self-mocking "I still haven't decided to do when I grow up".
I obviously did a poor job of it the posts following mine include a lot of lists.
80. PsychProf - June 23, 1999 - 8:32 AM PT
great thread
81. DocBrown - June 23, 1999 - 8:41 AM PT
Holy Toledo! What an interesting variety of careers we have here!
pellenilsson, I identify with you on several levels. While I know my geeky academic choices were wise career moves I sometimes wish I had more of a liberal background, especially to enhance my interpersonal communications. In fact that is the reason I drop by The Fray, to superficially fill in some of those gaps. I get to enjoy the varied communication styles while practicing my own.
Your travel opportunities also sound very exciting. But tell me, does it bother you at all to spend so much time seperated from your possessions (home, car, furniture, etc.)? I would find that distressing.
82. CHristipEtERS - June 23, 1999 - 8:43 AM PT
The career I had the longest was in the horse business. Some of the other occupations I had were almost careers, but mostly filled in cash for my horse business.
I owned six school horses, four broodmares (two of whom are included in the school horser count), two show horses, ten acres of land, a saggy barn, an arena with a wobbly fence. All of this was, of course slated for eventual improvement. I LOVED every aspect of my life.
First, I had to care for the animals, of course. Every feeding and every grooming included an opportunity to look over each horse for any nicks, cuts, and or signs of illness. Every time I mucked out a stall, changes in quantity or appearance of manure or wet bedding would also indicate any subtle signs that an animal was not feeling well. While the school horses certainly got enough exercise during the lessons, I also rode each one at least once a week to correct any bad habits they might be trying to get away with.
Naturally, I had to compete in horse shows. This was the best way to make a reputation and attract more students. Even more important was taking students to competitions. Nothing would attract more business that hauling seven or eight kids to a show and having them sweep their events. I competed mainly in Dressage and Hunter events, although I would also go to small local shows for Western and English Pleasure, Western Riding, and Trail. I also competed in Competitive Trail Rides.
continued...
83. judithathome - June 23, 1999 - 8:44 AM PT
MsIT:
I think my "job" is the absolute best...I shop for bargains in antiques and resell them at a good price to people who decide they can't live without them. Outcome: happiness for all.
I can thank my parents for my background in antiques; they taught me to always appreciate the quality in an object. And I credit my husband with exposing me to things in our travels and various places we've lived in foreign countries. (This includes Maine, which I always thought was a foreign country.)
The hours are my own; it's fun to go on "the hunt" for items; the pay is fair; and I like my boss a lot!
84. DocBrown - June 23, 1999 - 8:53 AM PT
Judithathome: yours *does* sound like a dream job, except it has one drawback.
While you are on the job I'll bet you have to drive a minivan, SUV, or pickup truck. That takes the fun out of driving!
One Sunday my wife wanted to go antiquing and I wanted to go for a drive in a 2-seater sportscar. We tried to do both, and ended up doing neither very well. From then on we have done our bargain hunting in the minivan.
85. CHristipEtERS - June 23, 1999 - 8:54 AM PT
continuing...
Both competing and coaching students for competition required keeping up with the Show Rules of the various breeds organizations and AHSA. I also judged some small unrated local shows and put on Clinics.
The Teaching aspect required good communication skills, some knowledge of cildhood development and a bit of psychology. I had always planned on setting up a Riding Therapy program as the CHEF Center in Michigan had impressed me. However, I started earlier than planned and kind of fell into it. I had a Mom come to me whose husband had purchased a horse the year before. Her 15 year old son who was deaf and severly ADD wanted to ride, but was getting hurt and she was having trouble finding an instructor who would take him on. I agreed to try. When I mentioned this to an adult student of mine, it turned out she was an interpreter for the Michigan School for the Deaf. So she started trading lessons in AMASLAN for riding lessons and I started picking up more deaf students.
Then a couple came to me who had a foster daughter who had been taken away from her birth parents because of physical and sexual abuse. The kid had behavior problems, but was horse crazy. The wanted to use the lessons as a carrot-stick to improve her behavior. It succeeded better than anyone expected and I picked up students from three group homes.
continued...
86. CHristipEtERS - June 23, 1999 - 9:01 AM PT
It seems that horseback riding lessons have all the benefit of any program working with animals where the kids do not feel threatened, plus any program designed to build self-esteem as my lessons were designed to always end with a success. However, there was an additional element which their therapists and I feel was the "kicker". These were all kids who were put in positions of powerlessness by their caregivers and by the system which kicked them from one foster situation to another. When riding a horse, each kid was personally in charge of 1000-1200+ pounds of muscle and it was a terrific power-trip!
In addition to my lessons business and the showing, as I said, I also did some breeding and became fascinated with genetics. I read everything I could in addition to the courses I took in my Equestian Science program.
That's it - the best job/career I ever had, and the one I wish I still had.
87. ProfEmeritus - June 23, 1999 - 9:01 AM PT
It took me about 20 post-PhD years to work myself into my ideal position. I spent the first 13 years as a strict academic, spending half time on teaching, half time on research and 20% on administration.* That combination launched me into the next phase of my career in which I became director of research in a center devoted to international studies. In that position my work was about one-third administration, one-third raising money for research and one-third research. The beauty of that job was that we worked in many countries and I could visit them as I felt it was necessary.
*I realize that this adds up to 120% of my time;i.e., I worked sixty hour weeks. Continued
88. judithathome - June 23, 1999 - 9:10 AM PT
Doc Brown:
Strangly enough, I do my hunting in a Jaguar...I buy mostly "smalls", little lady-like things for the boudoir.
I seldom sell furniture items unless I find a really good deal that I can make a lot on resale. If that happens, I have the sellers hold it for me and I return in my husbands truck.
I can tell you this about a 4 door Jaguar, tho: you CAN place a rusty garden plow in the back seat without any problem, so long as you cover the seat with a blanket. :-)
89. ProfEmeritus - June 23, 1999 - 9:26 AM PT
In my early academic career I had the great advantage of helping to launch the newly emerging field of development economics. This allowed me to get in field work in developing countries very early in the evolution of that field, and even to get a head start on consulting and perhaps more important in obtaining Foundation support.
After the twenty years of preparation I was able to dictate my terms in accepting my next university appointmant. I negotiated for and got a position where I was able to make my own decisions on how to allocate my time among teaching, research and administration, all three which I enjoyed and strived to do well. I was also allowed to spend 20% of the academic year and summers in consulting activities. Probably most important of all, I was given the opportunity to request leaves of absence as frequently as I desired them. The proviso was that I would do consulting related to my research and teaching. None of my requests were turned down, and I succeeded in spending almost one-half of my time doing research and consulting in developing countries.
This combination of activities gave me great satisfaction. I especially enjoyed the freedom to make my life as productive as possible. I was heavily involved with PhD students, and known as a good teacher. I often arranged for them to work abroad with me. I add this to indicate that I always thought teaching was a prime function of an academician, and that other activites such as research should strengthen teaching. I also learned that there are many ways to transmit knowledge, often as much by example as through words.
90. ProfEmeritus - June 23, 1999 - 9:27 AM PT
In my early academic career I had the great advantage of helping to launch the newly emerging field of development economics. This allowed me to get in field work in developing countries very early in the evolution of that field, and even to get a head start on consulting and perhaps more important in obtaining Foundation support.
After the twenty years of preparation I was able to dictate my terms in accepting my next university appointmant. I negotiated for and got a position where I was able to make my own decisions on how to allocate my time among teaching, research and administration, all three which I enjoyed and strived to do well. I was also allowed to spend 20% of the academic year and summers in consulting activities. Probably most important of all, I was given the opportunity to request leaves of absence as frequently as I desired them. The proviso was that I would do consulting related to my research and teaching. None of my requests were turned down, and I succeeded in spending almost one-half of my time doing research and consulting in developing countries.
This combination of activities gave me great satisfaction. I especially enjoyed the freedom to make my life as productive as possible. I was heavily involved with PhD students, and known as a good teacher. I often arranged for them to work abroad with me. I add this to indicate that I always thought teaching was a prime function of an academician, and that other activites such as research should strengthen teaching. I also learned that there are many ways to transmit knowledge, often as much by example as through words.
91. ProfEmeritus - June 23, 1999 - 9:29 AM PT
Sorry for that long double post; it was done without my involvement.
92. DocBrown - June 23, 1999 - 9:30 AM PT
Judithathome:
A Jag? XJ-6 I presume? That would make it a bit more fun.
Okay, you have a dream job. Congratulations! At least one of us looks at your job with envy.
I still think I'd rather be an astronaut, but that's something I shall never outgrow. I hope.
93. CHristipEtERS - June 23, 1999 - 9:33 AM PT
My father had his dream job. He went hunting, fishing, and traveling, wrote about it and got paid. Heck, half the time the trip was paid for, too.
94. PsychProf - June 23, 1999 - 10:07 AM PT
ProfE...it was a pleasure to read it twice.
95. judithathome - June 23, 1999 - 10:16 AM PT
Doc Brown:
You presume correctly...so far, no electronics problems; keep your fingers crossed.
Lest you think I acquired this car through hard work or stumbling upon a mint condition 16th century bronze helmet, let me give credit where it is due: it was an 18th wedding anniversary present from my husband.
96. DocBrown - June 23, 1999 - 11:08 AM PT
Good for you, judithathome! What year XJ-6 is it? If it is a recent one you should not have to worry about electrical problems. Jaguar cleaned up its act through the 90s, as did other British marques. Since Ford took over their cars have been pretty reliable.
But if it was built in the 80s, then you may occasionally get the same sort of Lucas electrical gremlins I get in my DeLorean.
Either way, it's not a bad way to spend a work day!
97. Ronski - June 23, 1999 - 11:18 AM PT
judith,
If it was from the 80s, you probably couldn't have gotten it out of the driveway.
BTW, I love the way the British pronounce jaguar: JAG - yew - wuh.
98. CHristipEtERS - June 23, 1999 - 11:20 AM PT
har-uumph!
ok, so no one is interested Equestrians...
buncha GEEKS!
99. Ronski - June 23, 1999 - 11:23 AM PT
(Christi: Every horse I've ever ridden has immediately headed for the nearest low-slung branch.)
100. incognito - June 23, 1999 - 11:28 AM PT
one of the most interesting jobs i ever had was as an intern in a hospital's operating rooms. i was the first person there in the morning, setting up the rooms with the necessary equipment, then cleaned them after each operation, then cleaned up at the end of the day. it paid minimum wage but i got to see things i would never have been able to see in my life.