What do you do for a living?

[WheatToast]

Originally Posted by Kätzchen

I hold several State Board certifications and licensures, in an variety of fields of interest; but currently, since about two years ago, my primary job is taking care of me.

ETA: both higher-Education degrees I have earned have not necessarily played an role in obtaining employment. Most of my prior work experience has been in some form or role in working with the public. I would say that in most cases, it's not what you know or what degree you have earned, but more like who you know (social capital, for example).

"Who you know"...exactly.
I've had many careers that always spun off from some other job I had before. Networking is the art of connecting good employees with good companies.
I was blessed to retire early, and now I work more than I did when I was employed full time, but I only choose fun clients, with whom I like spending time.
Right now, my business card says I'm a PR and marketing consultant. I work with restaurants and bakeries to help them maximize their profits without breaking their always meager advertising budgets.

If people are having trouble finding work in their specific field, sometimes it helps to get their foot in the door--any door--and keep moving forward. Even volunteer work in a field close to your chosen occupation will get your face known and help you make valuable connections.

[tantalizingfemme]

I was a director for many areas like IT, Performance Improvement, Licensure, and Accreditation among other things for 12 years at a Nonprofit. I resigned back in April. Best decision ever. Very toxic environment. I’m currently in graduate school so I can finally do what I’ve always wanted to do. I plan to be back working no later than November. I’m just looking for something now that is a straight 9-5 Monday thru Friday rather than being on call 24/7, even on vacation. I cannot wait to be doing something that I love and not just something I am good at.

[cinnamongrrl]

Currently I am owner and operator of my own green cleaning business. I have worked previously as a CNA/PCA with emphasis on dementia/Alzheimer’s patients.

I also have a small “from home” organic dog biscuit making business.

I have considered both nursing and social work as careers. I have an associate’s degree in Liberal Arts and at least 20 credits towards my bachelor’s. With my mother’s recent illness and passing, I’m leaning towards returning to health care. I would love to be like the comforting hospice nurses who were SO good to mom...and to us.

[Plaidandroses]

I will spend the next nine months trying to convince 22 children that reading and science are as fun as video games. Wish me luck! :-)

[CherylNYC]

I'm a scenic artist/sculptor. That means that I create scenery for the movies, tv and theatre that you watch. My specialty is in sculpture, so I can be called upon to make anything from an excellent copy of a classical sculpture, or an amalgam of several, to a convincing rock cliff for a stunt which involves pizza loving turtles and their careening vehicle. Faithful reproduction of the historic Copacabana palm trees? I'm your gal. Soft surfaces for stunt people to land on which look exactly like asphalt? Yup. I can do that. The work is hard and our days are long, but usually interesting.

I'm a professional sculptor. I still make my own art sometimes, but I need to set aside chunks of time off to do it. After ten intense hours of producing scenery my creative moment is usually over for the day. I really like what I do, and I'm good at it, but I'm much happier now that I've come to realize something really important about myself and my profession. I have an art career in order to finance my motorcycle adventures. Artists usually finance their art career with some other form of employ, but I'm doing it the other way around. It's weird, but I'm a lot happier now that I understand this important thing about myself.

[Andrea]

I am a paper pusher for the State of California. Years ago, before knowing what I wanted to do with my life and having tried a number of office jobs, I was working temp at a mortgage company and found I loved the part numbers have to work and the part detective work of processing mortgages.

After 20 plus years in the private world of mortgages, I went to work for the state underwriting mortgages for lower income borrowers. I have since moved agencies and now work with grant funds to provide housing for lower income borrowers.

In a few months, I will retire from the state and just might sign up to do some temp work at mortgage companies again. Or not!

[candy_coated_bitch]

I'm disabled so I don't have a "regular" job, but I'm an artist and currently working on a project funded by a grant I recently got! I feel this is a turning point in my career as an artist.

[WheatToast]

Originally Posted by CherylNYC

I'm a scenic artist/sculptor. That means that I create scenery for the movies, tv and theatre that you watch. My specialty is in sculpture, so I can be called upon to make anything from an excellent copy of a classical sculpture, or an amalgam of several, to a convincing rock cliff for a stunt which involves pizza loving turtles and their careening vehicle. Faithful reproduction of the historic Copacabana palm trees? I'm your gal. Soft surfaces for stunt people to land on which look exactly like asphalt? Yup. I can do that. The work is hard and our days are long, but usually interesting.

I'm a professional sculptor. I still make my own art sometimes, but I need to set aside chunks of time off to do it. After ten intense hours of producing scenery my creative moment is usually over for the day. I really like what I do, and I'm good at it, but I'm much happier now that I've come to realize something really important about myself and my profession. I have an art career in order to finance my motorcycle adventures. Artists usually finance their art career with some other form of employ, but I'm doing it the other way around. It's weird, but I'm a lot happier now that I understand this important thing about myself.

What an interesting job! Have you experimented with polymer clays for smaller jobs? You can use dryer lint mixed with Fimo to create craggy little rocks or cliffs.
I'd love to see pics of some of your creations.

[JDeere]

Ive mainly had manufacturing jobs with a few office/admin jobs in between.

Right now I'm awaiting to see if i get hired to fix computers.

[CherylNYC]

Originally Posted by WheatToast

What an interesting job! Have you experimented with polymer clays for smaller jobs? You can use dryer lint mixed with Fimo to create craggy little rocks or cliffs.
I'd love to see pics of some of your creations.

Yes, I've used Fimo and Sculpey for some of our projects. I haven't tried the dryer lint trick. Thanks for the tip. Are you making cliffs for model trains?

If you use Fimo and its ilk I hope you have a dedicated toaster oven for baking your projects. That stuff is super toxic and it's terrible to cook it in the oven you use for your food. I sometimes cook my projects with a heat gun and work outside when I'm using those polymer clays. One of the drawbacks to my job is that so many of the materials we use regularly are shockingly toxic.

[WheatToast]

Originally Posted by CherylNYC

I'm a scenic artist/sculptor. That means that I create scenery for the movies, tv and theatre that you watch. My specialty is in sculpture, so I can be called upon to make anything from an excellent copy of a classical sculpture, or an amalgam of several, to a convincing rock cliff for a stunt which involves pizza loving turtles and their careening vehicle. Faithful reproduction of the historic Copacabana palm trees? I'm your gal. Soft surfaces for stunt people to land on which look exactly like asphalt? Yup. I can do that. The work is hard and our days are long, but usually interesting.

I'm a professional sculptor. I still make my own art sometimes, but I need to set aside chunks of time off to do it. After ten intense hours of producing scenery my creative moment is usually over for the day. I really like what I do, and I'm good at it, but I'm much happier now that I've come to realize something really important about myself and my profession. I have an art career in order to finance my motorcycle adventures. Artists usually finance their art career with some other form of employ, but I'm doing it the other way around. It's weird, but I'm a lot happier now that I understand this important thing about myself.

Hi Cheryl!
I thought about making this a private message, but others may want to know about a new product I've discovered.
Have you heard of or used Thibra?
It's a versatile, thermoplastic sheeting you can turn into anything as long as you have a heat gun.

A friend of mine gave me a sheet to mess with, but I'm waiting for the midterm election results to see if Good Toast or Bad Toast gets to try it out first.

Check it out!

http://www.thibra.com/

[rustedrims]

I work for a major laundry company. I run the paint booth. We paint with power. Kinda interesting how things are done. Been working for the same company for 35 years. For many years I ran weld machines. I liked doing that. As things change over the years so did my job. I lost it because we were outdated and new models were being made. very physical and easy to get hurt bad if we weren't careful. Now I have a thinking job and not so much physical. I like it and am around good people mostly. The horrible thing about the job is that the paint powder says right on the Barrell that contents may have cancer causing contents. Thing is I breathe that stuff every night and eat it on my ham sandwich. We try to be as careful as we can. Going to try to stick it out and retire in around a year. November 1st is 3 years I have been in that Dept. Yeah it is stupid to stay there.

[CherylNYC]

Originally Posted by WheatToast

Hi Cheryl!
I thought about making this a private message, but others may want to know about a new product I've discovered.
Have you heard of or used Thibra?
It's a versatile, thermoplastic sheeting you can turn into anything as long as you have a heat gun.

A friend of mine gave me a sheet to mess with, but I'm waiting for the midterm election results to see if Good Toast or Bad Toast gets to try it out first.

Check it out!

http://www.thibra.com/

Ah, yes. I've been using those amazing thermoplastics for specialty pieces. They're wonderful. Thanks for the tip.

[tantalizingfemme]

Originally Posted by tantalizingfemme

I was a director for many areas like IT, Performance Improvement, Licensure, and Accreditation among other things for 12 years at a Nonprofit. I resigned back in April. Best decision ever. Very toxic environment. I’m currently in graduate school so I can finally do what I’ve always wanted to do. I plan to be back working no later than November. I’m just looking for something now that is a straight 9-5 Monday thru Friday rather than being on call 24/7, even on vacation. I cannot wait to be doing something that I love and not just something I am good at.

Well, November is here and I am starting a new position next week. I will be the Director of Compliance and Risk Management for a non-profit. I have enjoyed my time off but am ready to challenge my brain beyond school.