UKC

Currently searching for inspiration

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: I won't become a professional troll, as you've had a slow response.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:


http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=1086


Chris

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: I'm a picture framer, served my apprenticeship as a plumber and then have been a picture framer for the last 30 years. Its a great job, really interesting and if you're into art you get to see an awful lot of different stuff.

In reply to jonathan shepherd:

I'm a male model. It's a dirty job, but somebody has to do it.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: I was an IT Project Manager for many years. Now I'm retired. Being retired is far more inspiring than working.

Al

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: I spent last friday experimenting on a fat bird's arse.

In reply to Chris Harris:

How did you stop the test tubes from falling over?

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

I'm a PA. Desk job, 9 to 5. My weekends are always free, I never take my work home, earn enough to be happy. No qualifications required. Work in an open office with lots of colleagues and have a lot of laughs. It's in elite sport so also interesting and challenging.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:
I develop new drugs, the job is very rewarding but quite a lot of work for not a lot of money.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:
*ahem* THIS WEEK I HAVE MOSTLY BEEN DIGGIN' 'OLES
*walks back into shed*

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

I am, at various times throughout the year:

-an outdoors instructor (freelance)
-farmer (mostly sheep)
-outdoor gear retailer
-wannabe writer
-gardener
-campsite warden/manager

I also faff around on a climbing website...

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: I design climbing walls. Pretty cool job really. I did graphics at college, 3D at uni and so it seems the ideal job. Pretty good when you see them built knowing you drew it and decided what went where.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: I'm an IT techy for a massive bank. We're treated like shit by management and the general public assume we're all on massive salaries / bonuses (we aren't). It's pretty unrewarding work and they're asking us to work every weekend between now and july. I wouldn't recommend it unless you have a wife and kids to support.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

Ghostwriter & copywriter.

Mick

In reply to Lord_ash2000:

that'd make a cool article - wasnt there a series of dream jobs on here a while back ?

I work in a uni doing some teaching some IT some other stuff

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

Chartered Accountant. And that's where the conversation normally ends.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

I work in drug development at the very early stages. Essentially I take the random ideas that are fed into our group from somewhere on high and try to develop them to a point where we can show that they have enough potential for development.

75% lab work or analysing data from the lab, 25% office based stuff.

Very rewarding, lots of fun, nice environment to work in. Money is ok. Regular hours, may occasionally take a small amount of work home (but it's generally my own fault if I do!). Location can be restrictive though...I am lucky enough to work in a small lab in Aberdeen but the majority of labs are in the south.

In reply to Axel Smeets: Chartered Certified Accountant.

"What's the difference between that and a Chartered Accountant? Oh, ok."

And that's where the conversation usually ends!

In reply to AlisonSmiles:



Really??????? They ask for nothing these days? Jeez, I spent years on my qualifications.

In reply to kathrync:
I am lucky enough to work in a small lab in Aberdeen but the majority of labs are in the south.


At the moment, I wouldn't put a lot of cash on most of them being here in 5 years time as I can see quite a few going.

In reply to Steve John B:

It's true! I tell people and they struggle to find words. I can almost see the cogs ticking whilst they're thinking "what else can I add to this conversation"!

In reply to Reach>Talent:

Yep. The company I work for is a certain well-known company that has recently announced closure of it's main UK operation in the SE... I know what you mean all too well and it may be that the smaller specialised labs like the one I work in are the ones that will survive. It's bad for both business and science in the UK, but it suits me personally. I don't particularly want to live in the SE again anyway Having said that, I don't really want to end up in the States either....

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

Electronic Design Engineer.

It's as much fun as it sounds!

In reply to kathrync:
I'm in the later stage process development and scale-up so I need the bigger sites, as I don't touch anything much before late phase2/3! Trying to move out of the South East looks like it'll require a change of career at this rate.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

Fund organisations to act on climate change (or related) issues.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

Creative industries development - some strategic marketing, some copywriting, some event management, some curating, some web stuff, some staring into space.

In reply to Reach>Talent:

Fair enough...I take things to in vivo POC, and then they get handed on to someone else. I don't even make it to phase I! Totally different worlds

In reply to Tall Clare:

Any pondering? ;oP

OP - I'm a bus driver. Don't contemplate it even for a minute. It's a horrible, horrible job.

I'm the site manager for an airsoft company, run a number of busy sites including one based in a WW2 underground bunker and another in a disused hospital.
Great fun, not the hardest job in the world but I do work pretty much every weekend.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

Planning Engineer in the oil industry (boooooooo)

In reply to Reach>Talent:

But you get to try them first!

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

Project coordinator (subsea engineering). I have also been a tree planter and a commercial woodcutter.

In reply to TheAvenger:
They get really funny about uncontrolled drug trials, although I did hear of a rather funny incident with some chocolate flavoured methadone a few years back!

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

Professional Photographer - I love it - work my own hours and photograph some amazing things and has the great potential to take me abroad - but there is always the niggling feeling that anytime you are not working/shooting/earning you should be working/shooting/earning. Its a vicious circle.

But worth it when the clients pay!

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

Technically, I'm still a student.

But I've got a year off, so I'm a chef at 2 local restaurants!

Chris

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: Bits and pieces, but I've discovered that a) I hate admin, and am not much good at it, b) that doesn't include doing accounts, which I quite enjoy, c) I do like software development, but it is harder than we make it look!

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:
Software Engineer (no, I probably can't fix your computer).

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

I'm a lumberjack and I'm okay.

In reply to Clauso:

how often do you work ?

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: nominally i'm a free lance sound engineer but if works a little thin on the ground i do pretty much anything event related (rigging/lighting/install) or if desperate fall back on man with van/odd jobbing...

In reply to lithos:

Funny you should ask...

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

Joiner for 22 years, change of career 4 weeks ago though, now I'm an asbestos surveyor/analyst.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: Aircraft engineer

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

Mehanical Design Engineer.

In the good times, I get to create little bits of the future and get paid (washers) for it. In the bad times, I have to work for people who weren't listening when they were at school and couldn't manage their way out of a paper bag but are able to create a convincing business reputation (yes, washers again).

Nobody gives a damn about engineering in the UK. We are better at the sparks of innovation than the Germans but they are better at grinding away at the essential basics and making everything work right. This is a main reason they are always richer than us.

In reply to Tall Clare:

Renaissance woman!

Mick

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

I manage a team of project and programme managers, delivering a wide range of stuff, including libraries, leisure centres and theatres as well as a bit of more abstract strategic stuff for local government. The job is changing a bit and is becoming more about maximising private sector investment.

In reply to Axel Smeets and Steve John B:

Do you enjoy your jobs? I'm kinda considering it so it'd be good to hear what it's like from people that aren't getting paid to tell me about it if you see what I mean.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

Climate scientist; my training is meteorology, but I've done a lot of work on sea ice and currently work in oceanography. I would have made more money if I'd gone into operational meteorology (forecasting, largely), but as many of my old cohort are finding out it's a flat career pyramid and shift work gets old after a few years.

In previous 'careers' I have been an army officer, software analyst in the financial sector, and climbing instructor.

In reply to Ava Adore: I didn't have any quals when I got promoted to PA, much to the annoyance of my colleague who had spent years at college!

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: I'm a head of communications and outreach at a science lab. The communications is more immediately important; the outreach may be more important in the longer term, and is certainly more fun!

T.

In reply to Captain Fastrousers:








So is your username a result of some 'high spirited' mess activity?

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

I'm also involved in drug development. Pay is OK to Good, but the hours are great (the very occasional mental week accepted): Short working weeks and no core hours, means when the weather is good, and the shoes are in the car, I'm only 12 minutes away from the nearest crag.

I'm right in the middle of kathrync and mkean: I'm based in the North West and work from Lead Identification /Optimisation through to Phase I - and very ocasionally Phase II. So deal milligrams through to Kilos, and get to use science to answer questions some of which can be very random indeed.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

I'm a student of Marine Biology and Coastal Zone Management that is due to graduate in May.

I'm also a rock climbing instructor.

Plus I'm also currently on a work placement with IIED working on Climate Change adaption responses in Mozambique.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

I go around companies and sell them an idea I once had, for 25k a time.
Then I charge them around 5k a year so they can keep my idea.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

Electronics and computers, mostly.
Currently testing theatrical and architectural lighting controllers.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

I'm a water analyst - making sure the water in yorkshire is safe to drink, pay is average but loads of oportunity for topping it up with O/T though, and mainly 8-4

In reply to Mi|es:

Yeah I love my job. I have no complaints with any aspect of it. Personal message me if you like. Always happy to give advice

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: Mental Health Nurse

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

What do you do for a living?

As little as possible.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: I make beer.

In reply to Axel Smeets:

Forensic Accountant - basically a Chartered Accountant trying to imply there's a vague hint of CSI-ness about what I do (there isn't....)

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: electrical engineer. i like my job, not to keen on the company though!

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:
Supply teacher and builders labourer. One uses my brain and the other is good training!!!

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: Have worked as a camera trainee, DIT trainee and odd jobs in theaters (dads in that industry so i help on local get-ins and get outs) filmings fun but hard work, you meet a lot of people! Also work for a race horse yard! Not many jobs in that line of work tho tbh

In reply to Tall Clare:

ah... kind of like an astronomer then.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

code monkey

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: I work with Explosives.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

Not really sure, just drive around a lot and someone puts money in the bank every now and then.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: I'm in the Red Arrows and in my spare time I work as an underwear consultant and fitter for Kelly Brook.

The rest of the time I'm a fantasist.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

Work in IT in for a Tourist body. I spent a fair bit of time driving between offices in the Highlands which isn't too shabby.

Getting a bit bored though and I'm seriously considering qualifying to do Gaelic Development work (need to brush up on my Gaelic first) helping support new families who have are deciding whether to put their kids through Gaelic Medium Education.

I'm also going to try and get my Private Pilots license.


And I'll probably have changed my mind again by next week!

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

Live sound, graphics, video and lighting engineer, cameraman and pyrotechnician (as in fireworks, big ones (: )

There's a lot of crappy corporate dinners, award shows and conferences but enough good stuff and blowing sh*t up to keep me interested...

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

In the main I still get by on past glories; that and charging people to tell them the bleedin' obvious.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: Officially, software engineer for safety critical systems.

In practice, a thumb twiddler, getting paid by the customer (some of the worlds biggest engineering companies) to do nothing whilst they decide which bits of projects they want us to work on.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: I'm a professional people repellent.... :0)

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: I'm a silly student now but back home I used to work for a company doing corporate firework displays. Amazing few years

In reply to Chris Craggs:

It's got to be better than teaching!

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: Officially a geologist, technically an arctic geologist as I've never worked south of Lofoten.

Presently grinding ceramics for pocket money to fund the next stint away (2 years), much to the parents displeasure...

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

Another Chartered Accountant here...

Not that I actually do much chartered accountancy. Most of my work is in transformational work in bank finance, restructuring, mergers and takeovers.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

Teaching in FE. It used to be a good job but not now as most of the little shits do not want to learn.

May leave soon and take up painting full time.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

I'm a mechanical design engineer, I'm fortunate in that I'm able to do what I enjoy and am good at.

For the last decade I've been designing cameras for mobile phones. That's allowed me to fulfil my last professional ambition of designing a successful mass produced product, in fact bits of my designs are in about 1 billion cameras all over the world. Recently I've been looking at using the same technology but for different things that may change people's lives a little if we can get the ideas to work.

In engineering getting to do something worthwhile and interesting is about having a talent, working hard and most importantly, being in the right place at the right time.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:
pretty much bum around trying to get by in life doing as little work as possible while doing as much climbing and kayaking as possible on said small amounts of money.
it means im normally eating tesco value noodles instead of eating at nice places or eating nice food, but im cool with that!
im only a youngling anyways, i can handle it! :P

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

I help design and test new payment systems for a well known scheme. So think chip 'n' pin, contactless, stuff beyond that and all that gubbins.

Yes I do know what happens inside the chip on your credit card when you stick it in the machine and enter your PIN...

More interesting than I make it sound!

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:
Plumber! Dirty job but someone had to do it! Not realy top job love it!

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

Commercial and financial litigation solicitor. Interesting, intellectually stimulating work and the pay's reasonable, but I work long-ish hours during the week which means it's crap for getting out climbing after work in the summer.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

Science, You get; unrivaled freedom to manage your own time, you are making things and solving puzzles, the people around you genuinely enjoy and care about what they do. After you've done it for a while you can look at bits of human knowledge and think, that was me, I discovered that.

The only downside is the pay, salary maxes out at 40-45k a year unless you take up administrative work, or get a professorship. (For a lot of people this sounds like loads, but the good bits of science (in my opinion) require a 2:1 degree (from a good uni) and a PhD)

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

I'm chief mechanical engineer in a cinema film laboratory. It's alright, my job ranges from product fault finding, repairs, managing the maintenance department, design and build of modifications and new machinery installations. Not worth getting into now digital is getting more popular.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

I'm a paper boy.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

Officially I'm an Aircraft Technician (Avionics), in reality I'm one of those guys in a high viz vest waving his hands at jets and pumping fuel into em.

It sounds an awful lot cooler than it actually is.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

I'm a professional Agrologist which is a bizzarre Canadian designation for someone in Agriculture. (The word doesn't even exist in the English Language)

Essentially I'm a consultant.

In reply to clochette:

Your work is sublime... As it happens, I'm also a sculptor. I sculpt psychics. It's a wonderful feeling creating something beautiful from a piece of matter that is no longer living. My medium is Doris Stokes.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: Crikey - there's some very cool jobs out there!

I have a joint hospital / university job outside of the UK (and hence the NHS). Basically I have fallen on my feet and am profoundly grateful.

Plus points: pay (comparable) & conditions (way better) than equivalent post in UK; quality of lifestyle better than I could get in same post in UK; clinical (i.e. patient contact) time sustainable. Mostly excellent colleagues. Enthusiastic students always challenging preconceptions. Mostly lovely patients and families.

Downsides: on call 24/7 every other week - not able to be more than 20mins from the hospital - hampers opportunities to get outdoors, even here. Whilst I love the teaching component of the job the endless pressure to churn out research gets oppressive. Also a long way to Torridon: although the mountains here are pretty big they aren't always friendly! Also range of cultural experiences in NZ always less than in UK / Europe although an iPlayer proxy goes a long way

Thinking about it there isn't anywhere I can think of in the UK where I could have a job like mine and still be close to the hills rather than stuck in a big city.

Hope you have found some inspiration. The pyrotechnic engineers sound like they are having the biggest laugh!

b

In reply to Toby S:

Toby, I refer you to my comment above; Doris may well be in a position to put you in touch with a suitable Gaelic medium... Wee Jimmy Krankie, maybe?

I'll have a word and will get back to you via ouija-mail.

In reply to Clauso: I've heard about your type... always hitting the Happy Medium. Poor fellow.
b

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: onsight saftey railing specialist. i also freelance to recycle companys.

desighner http://www.fibreglasshandrailing.co.uk/?gclid=CN7F453vs6cCFYEc4QodcHqHAQ

Lots of interesting replies..

In reply to wilton warrior:

Surely proof-reader too, no?

im a full time student studying electronic engineering working in a petrol station part time. Third job is as a trainee climbing instructor and a nordic walking instructor for my own company which is what i want to do when i graduate :-p

In reply to Fraser: :0)) no, to tired for that,

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

I´m a biologist leading a small university research group working on intercellular signalling pathways.

Pay´s OK, work is extremely rewarding (interesting people who do care about their work, as someone else said further up the thread, wouldn´t change it for anything else).

Downsides are the short term contracts and the associated job insecurity before you get a professorship, plus the 60-70 hour weeks. I am 42 with 3 kids, really could do with a permanent position sometime soon.


Christian

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: design and make bespoke furniture-not much money in it, but consider myself fortunate to get paid for doing something I love, producing work that people actually want.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: Software Engineer. Yup - I'm a professional geek.

In reply to mp3ferret:

Army! And is great, although probably not quite as great as it was before all the cuts and stuff.

Before that, in order:

Dogs Body in Hotel.

Trainee Manager at Comet.

Engineering Apprentice (building tanks and stuff).

Student.

Gary, very sadly no longer in Germany.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

Software developer - have written software for everything from tracking chickens to managing Apache helicopters!

Currently working for a company that mainly supplies local government systems. People I work with are mainly great, but the company sucks!

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: Im a part time Fireman, a part time Surgeon, and a part time Astronaut

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

Cop - somedays its the greatest job in the world, somedays the worst.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

Chocolate importer, previously worked in TV subtitling.

Both sound vaguely interesting, but really just Meh.

In reply to Removed User:

are you on TV now?


(if you have no idea what i'm talking about i'm sorry, but some scottish comedy fans may chuckle a bit)

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

Offshore Surveyor

Currently working on construction and positioning for oil and gas installations around the world. Im on a few weeks on, few weeks off basis. I see a lot of airports and docks...and sea, quite a lot of sea.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

Sell radioactivity detection instruments and software worldwide. Lots of travel, lots of flexibility. Just back from 6 weeks in California. Usually manage to climb a little when away on business.

Deal with mostly good people, have no "boss" in the traditional sense and manage my own activities entirely.

Could be alot worse.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

Work in a University. The best bit in my contract is where it says "There are no working hours as such, you are expected to fulfil your duties as and when suits you."

I work 2 or 3 from home in Sheffield and 2 or 3 days at work.

Absolutely love it, not just because its chilled but because I get to use my brain in subjects I'm interested in.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

Let's keep the thread going!

I work in water resources planning, the hours are long, the people I work with are extremely dedicated and the pay's not good! I top up my income as an RAF reservist which is paid not brilliantly but fun, challenging and rewarding.

Being long in the tooth, my other jobs have includes working in Social Services as a researcher in Mental Health/community care and as a counsellor, an insurance clerk and a business systems analyst which paid fairly well but was not particularly rewarding - I stayed for 15 years!

If I had my time again, well I could be an opera singer (I can't really sing), dedicate my life to mountaineering and climbing, geologist...new thread needed.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: I work as a careers adviser. It's a fun job with lots variety. It has it's good sides and bad though.

Good side is feeling like I am helping people through difficult times and helping people to make well informed decisions!

Bad side is people thinking that I can ask them a few questions and magically know what they should do with their life! I don't have a crystal ball and if I did I doubt I would be a careers adviser. I would be climbing and travelling the world living on my substantial lottery winnings!

That aside, I do enjoy my job although I wish I could do less of it but get paid more. One can only dream!

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

Emergency nurse. You can travel all over the world and help mend people. Good crack.

D

In reply to Dauphin:

hats off. my wife does that and can be terrifying what you guys call a normal 'day' at work.

im a former liason consultant for several fcuked up organisations in several fcuked up countries. now just private stuff consulting consultants as it were, dabbling in guiding, SAR and product development. love it all.

friends call me and the wife 'mr and mrs smith'. but my wifes hotter

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

Unbelievably, in this whole thread there is only one reference to freelance work!

I know ... it's shocking, stunning. Given that the future for the vast majority of so-called graduates of the 21st century will have to be freelance.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: Work in a Press Shop making car parts using big power presses, forked-lift trucks and 50ft gantry cranes, been at it for 15yrs now-used to love it until I found out how dangerous it could be first hand. I now walk through the door with less body parts than when I started the job! Originally trained/was graphic designer & systems imaging technician for news international, used to see things no-one ever gets to see via Reuters ISDN etc-fascinating job, still miss it...

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

I'm an architect, have been qualified for about ten years and it took me ten years to fully qualify. I love my job, but still get annoyed by sensationalist headlines in the tabloids like the school fees and how rich architects are....I wish!

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

I work on the LHC at CERN (well, I work for the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, on a CERN experiment). Nominally, 50% of my time is involved in data management and helping to run the large UK computing centre for processing of LHC data, the other 50% is spent working on physics analysis of that data. My particular interest is searches for new physics in events which have an electron and positron in the final decay products. Things like new forces of nature, extra dimensions of space-time, composite structure of particles currently considered fundamental, and a whole world of crazy stuff like that could lead to what I'm looking for.

But I'm sacking that all in and starting Army Officer training in May. I like change.

In reply to James Jackson:

'sacking that all in'?

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

I'm a Mobile Scheme Manager for sheltered housing. Great job and after some of the others I've had it's much more relaxed and I meet lovely people mainly. But not for much longer, I fully retire in the middle of this coming April. Yipee only about a month to go!

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

I work for a national scientific service. I play with big magnets every day and drink vast amounts of tea.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

I work in BBC Research and Development. I work on video analysis for novel production tools,. but my background is in audio, so I stick my oar in there whenever I can.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: I'm a software developer. I enjoy bits of it, but the bits I enjoy seem to come less and less frequently, and generally it sucks my will to live on a daily basis. I can't afford to retrain (debts to pay), but am studying for a maths degree part time and hope to become an oceanographer one day (dropped out of an oceanography course at uni when young and stupid).

I'd only recommend it if you have a genuine interest in computers and programming - I don't, I fell into it as was desperate for a job when penniless and without a degree.

Feeling very envious of those on here who love their job, trying to use it as motivation for achieving my goal rather than feeling depressed about 10+ years doing a job I don't like...

Good luck in finding one you love

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

I'm a researcher looking at a topic which happens to be my sporting passion. I also teach undergrads 1 day a week and do a bit of visiting lecturing and consulting. I love pretty much everything about my job - it's challenging and scary at times but totally rewarding. I spent many years doing jobs that I hated, thinking there was something wrong with me for being unable to cope with 'normal' jobs and often having 10+ different jobs in a year. It's worth striving until you find something you love - it's the thing you'll be spending most of your one go at this precious life doing after all.

In reply to Tim Chappell:

Aye modeling blouses, ya big tit. LOL

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: Work as a FITNESS INSTRUCTOR(not a Personal Trainer) Was formerly in Royal Marines so have always been 'keen',i do still enjoy my job 90+% and very rarely do i wish i were doing something else.My only sugestion to anybody coming into my industry is not mix business with pleasure/dont train where you work!

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

Work on a big yellow taxi.
Otherwise known as being an EMT with West Mids Ambulance service.

Oh, and run an ad sales business from home too, but I want to give that up as soon as financially possible. The "day" job is far more fun!

In reply to Caralynr:
I have officially retired but have a part time job cleaning the lavatories in my home village.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: I work in a supermarket in a non managerial capacity so it is low paid. I enjoy my job, especially customer contact. I am always busy so the time goes quick. My job is safe. I intend to retire before i am 60

In reply to icnoble:

22 years in the Army, now a stay at home dad for our 1 year old daughter Daisy and the other 2 that are apparently in the pipeline!

Other half an Officer in the Navy, she has 7 years to do then we will both work part time doing something we like, till then, I am just growing more grey hairs!

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:
I work as a care assistant/ support worker for people with various ability's and disability's. So mainly that involves drinking tea and taking them out shopping, movies, holidays... basically trying to get them to live as normal life as possible.

Down side is some of them have some serious behavioural issues. Which is really not fun.... and they all have epilepsy. so im looking after them when they have seizures too.

And i can honestly say that no amount of bodily fluids in any mix or amounts will ever bother me again.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: Engineer in the Army.

In reply to Ben Watts:

Desk Officer for the Royal Navy (Incl. RM)

BZ

In reply to Ben Watts:

Press Photographer on a local paper in Cornwall.

I probably clock about 16hrs a week, but live happily off of it and leaves lots of time to climb although I generally stay in bed.

Highlights are when a decent big story breaks, few and far between around here and doing the football is always a laugh. Low points are that it is a bit of a dead end as far as photography goes - although photography itself is a bit of a dead end really!

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

manager for local authority.. in youth offending

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: Train driver.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: Dry stone waller

Management Consultant - on the plus side it's interesting, well paid and varied, on the downside i'm away from home too much

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: Cleaner THE most uninspiring job.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

Currently Un-employed but I have a Degree in Product Innovation, which means sod all.

but I'm trying to set up freelance just need to need to build up a portfolio and clients, i dabble in graphics but is a product designer at heart.

Also i am preparing to start my Maters in September, in Design Management... which will be fun

In reply to James Jackson:

Good luck with the Officer training.

I loved it at Sandhurst but not everyone does!

Be ready for the period when you just don,t want to be threre, everyone has it, get through that and life is good.

Gary.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: Systems Analyst. I sit and write code/manage our database servers/generally play with computers all day.

I'm looking to get my ML(s) done this year, may do a bit of that freelance as well once I've done the assessment, who knows.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

Started 20 odd years ago in a steel fabrication shop, making tea and sweeping up. Ended up as a duct fitter, then refrigeration engineer, then designer and project managaer. Jacked in that job and decided to go into sales for an easy life. Hated it. Had three jobs and hated my last boss so much I jacked it in and set up on my own 7 years ago.

My business has been very much getting projects (all still associated with air con, heating and vent) that my clients simply cannot do for one reason or another and they ask me. This can be anything from surveys, design work, CAD, estimating, project management but the best jobs involve lots of chin scratching and "hmm how shall we do that?".

Last 3 years or so I've getting into energy management and now work for a load of new clients (the recession wiped out most of my orginal customer base) including a couple of blue chip companies helping them reduce running costs and also helping them replace old knackered systems.

The absolute best thing and the reason I will never work of some else is I control what I do. I tend to try and find interesting or challenging jobs rather than looking at the money and I can always have a go at something I've never tried or I think may be a good opportunity.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

I train bears.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: I work in a specialist computer shop selling and repairing Acorn/RISC OS computer kit. We're the only Acorn dealer witha shopfront left in the world, and have a worldwide (but sadly declining) customer base. I also do some (simple) web design and programming too. It can be interestig and fun as there's always something new coming in. When there's no customers and no other work to catch up with it can be boring (hence posting on UKC!).

My previous job was as a primary school teacher. Belive it or not I couldn't get full-time work at the time so packed it in to do my current work.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:
I make and design climbing equipment. I´m either mistreating lumps of metal or looking at bits of metal trying to make them do things they don´t want to!

Jim

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: I'm a mastering engineer. I listen to music on enormous loudspeakers and fiddle with it until it sounds awesome. My ears are my money-makers baby! I started as an engineer and editor at a classical record company, went on to manage a recording studio, spent a few years as a freelance producer/composer (including some climbing film music!) before taking this job. I feel very fortunate, but worry what would happen if I damaged my ears one day.......teaching yoga maybe...?

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: I'm an overhead linesman, work all over the uk refurbishing the transmission lines & towers mainly for the national grid which have been up for over 40 years!

In reply to Denni: Good Effort mate,i'm envious.Ex-Bootneck.Ee

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:
In the past I have been:
A beer salesman
Gardener
Barman
Rental car driver

Now I am a lecturer working mainly with A level and some degree level whilst writing my PhD in Upland fluvial Systems

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

I'm a professional adventurer

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: Well I have been a postman, a researcher, worked with teenage parents and now I do something totally different

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

I design and build climbing walls.

In reply to grhgrant:
I'm a taxidermist and have been for about 10 years. Bit slow at moment but most recent work with pets. Cats seem most popular but can be difficult to get the expression right.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: I work as an Aircraft Technician, currently on the Queens flight!

In reply to fozmeister:

number one and three not the same?

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

Contract management for an energy company working with councils, social housing providers and installers to make homes more energy efficient, particularly in areas of high fuel poverty. I love the field because I get to work with passionate people and it really makes a difference to people's lives but unfortunately there's a lot less fluffy environmental stuff and a lot more boring financial and contractual stuff than I'd like.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

1998 - 2005; Outdoor Pursuits Instructor - Got to work in some beautiful places with some nice people. Best bit was getting to develop my skills in a range of sports, worse bit was a feeling that the number of jobs with okay pay was decreasing and the number of jobs with poor pay was increasing.

2005 - Present; Recovery Practitioner (kind of Recovery Nurse). Pleasant job, reasonable hours (!), can forget work as soon as I walk out the door, good job for a weekend warrior.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

I teach EFL (English as a Foreign Language), currently in Indonesia. About to sign a contract to work in Jakarta starting October but going to do a spell back in the UK at a summer school first. I love my job. I work long hours and it's hard work but there's no other job I'd rather be doing. Am excited about my October-starting job as it will open up a lot of opportunities for more training and getting more qualifications (and therefore eventually more money too!). I've heard it's a crap industry to be in in the UK though, for the majority. I don't plan to come back to the UK to settle until I'm qualified and experienced enough to get one of the few well-paid jobs in my field.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

PS Have enjoyed reading the variety of jobs that people on these boards have. Quite a mixture!!

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

I like my occupation less at around the o'clock of the daily black out, mind... (A different time every day, but pretty much every day the sodding electricity is off for anywhere from 20 minutes to 7 hours). Like now: nearly 1900 and 15 mins so far. Deep joy.... :-|

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:
Veterinary Anaesthetist

i.e. I get to play with interesting physiology in patients from
30g - 2.5 tonnes whilst trying to explain to students that they really can
do dose calculations in their head and do not always need a calculator.

also drink lots of tea.

In reply to Removed User:

I fully intend to enjoy the experience. I'm sure it'll be hard, and with the odd 'oh shit' moments, but those things are there to be embraced. I can't wait!

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

I'm a network engineer. An IT guy basically part of a team in charge of a national network for a big public org. Good team of guys and when we get a good problem in it's quite interesting. However the normal bread and butter stuff can be quite dull. As can the paperwork. Working in the IT industry has dampened my passion for computers quite a bit tho. I would like for work in the outdoors, but I worry that I'd end up hating it after long enough. I'm always intensely jealous of people who love their job that they've been doing for the past 40 years. Still it pays ok and it's a nice place to work.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

Detective in a Child Protection Unit for the last 12 years,about to retire after 30 years service.

Great varied career, I have changed my work / role several times,but not my employer.

Good pay / conditions, not sure about the future.

It has its good / bad days.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna: Master butcher and charcutier,in the past I've been a climbing guide a cabinet maker,Gardner,professional clothes ironer,kayak instructor,worked with various charities.Working as a climbing guide and professional ironer were the most profitable,but working as a butcher/charcutier and charity worker were the most rewarding.Although I've just returned from arranging a stage as a night baker in France,now I think this could be the way forward!

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

Currently working a million hours per week on a high-speed canning line in a Brewery. Good money, but 12hr shifts aren't my best friend!
Previously worked as overseas co-ordinator in a volunteer travel company, interpreter/project leader on a building project in Honduras, TEFL teacher in Peru, commercial gas contract drawer-upper, civil servant at British Library, cards specialist at a leading telephone bank, bookies settler, racehorse dope tester assistant/photo finish runner, chicken schnitzel preparer, kitchen porter and Little Chef waiter, to name but a few.

Approaching my 40's & still don't have a clue what I'd really like to do.
Teaching was great fun, especially in Latin America!

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:
I have been a Deep Hole Stimulator offshore for the last 3 years and I was a Joiner for 8 years before that. Loved being a Joiner but hated the long hours I was doing to make money. Love the new job as the time off is wonderful

In reply to Dopey_172:

Sounds like a dirty job.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:
I'm a nuclear engineer. I lead a team of 13 other engineers who analyse the thermal hydraulic properties of water flowing through reactors to ensure performance is acceptable.

I am a London fire fighter . . . .


Life saver & heart breaker lol . . .

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

I adjust children's heads. And if I'm lucky, their parent's too.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

I work in pest control, when you think about it similar job security as undertakers with the way society is going theses days.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:

Pathologist: more specifically consultant histopathologist with interest in gastrointestinal neoplasia, breast disease, and fatal road traffic collisions. On the whole I dont take my work home.

In reply to Lupine Lacuna:
Manage a sftwr team. Developing diagnostics sftwr for the automotive indusrty.. Get to work on some really nice vehicles. But get to work on some crap ones as well.

In reply to DANNYdjb:

"Manage a sftwr team".

Has your software got an automatic vowel removing function?

In reply to MJ:

I write the word so many times in one week, i have calculated that by doing this i get on average an extra hour of fun time.