People with jobs?

[Killuminati]

ladies, gentelman, friendly smokers, twirkers I present to you DJ Mannie Freee eee eeee eeeesh.

NO seriously, what kind of jobs do you guys have. Share away. Not sure if this thread has been done before. I work at a hospital and transmit insurance claims for the Anesthiesologist. Also do some follow up and sometimes register er patients. Need to go back to college.

[MeneerDijk]

I'm in school at the moment, but i work for a grocery store distribution center 16 hours a week for a little extra cash

[NERD]

I'm at school, work study jobs conflict with my schedule, so right now I'm just going to National Institute of Mental Health to be their guinea pig. It was that or dropping by the sperm bank.

[Shinigami]

I am a student, and I sell my photographs for money.

[CNagy]

I'm in school, I manage an automobile repair shop office, and soon I shall be a Godiva employee.

[Arvynia]

i graduated. I'm working two jobs - one as manager for a local design store/showroom and the other as a babysitter. I make 2x much more at my babbysitting job. XD

[NERD]

i graduated. I'm working two jobs - one as manager for a local design store/showroom and the other as a babysitter. I make 2x much more at my babbysitting job. XD

Because the parents know better than to tempt you into kidnapping with a low pay. Just kidding!

[Arvynia]

well, I dunno. I'm babbysitting two fairly young kids.

But psh. My manager job probably pays less than most average pay jobs. Whatever. I'm in it for the experience!

[harper]

I'm in school - as a teacher.

[stillbornsinger]

Two jobs...

1. Electronics Technician third class, US Navy.
I fix just about anything electronic on my ship, from radars, to sonar, to satallite communication, etc. My specialty is component level repair of circuit cards (replacing the actual components like resistors) and I troubleshoot and operate most of the systems I fix.

2. Producer (music)
In nearly every spare moment of mine I'm producing songs, over several different genres. I've released 1 CD (2 more comming) in Japan of a Japanese classical guitarest (Satoshi Kondo) and have recorded the better part of 100 or so hip hop "beatz"

I've yet to actually make any money from the producing gig. But hey, I enjoy it and its really fun having my own studio, even if I've paid for everything out of pocket.

[more cheerios]

Well, I have medical administration experience, but I'm just in school right now.

[Sardaukar]

I'm an office ninja.

[Zaysho]

I'm unemployed at the moment. I'm in high school and my daddy-o would rather me focus on my school work than anything else at the moment. I've got a teacher who might pay me to design a cover for his rap CD. Guess I'll see how that goes when we work out the details.

[Spaatz965]

Work for a Fortune/Global 500 company. Job title is Network/Infrastructure Delivery.

What that really means is a little project management, a little operating system/application integration engineering, a little infrastructure architecture, a little escalation support for infrastructure ops, plus a little of this and a little of that...all in the Messaging (email, instant messaging) and Collaborative tool space.

Love my job...I'm the generalist on the team, so I'm able to get my hands in at a lot of different levels with a lot of different technologies and platforms from strategy through implementation and support.

[Shamu]

I actually just lost my job a few weeks ago thanks to "downsizing", so right now I'm looking for another one, but I may start a job as a horse trainer again at a stable they're building a few miles away from me (it's huge, they're going to have about 150 horses just inside the barn).They interviewed me and want me to come back in a week or so when the barn is finished because they need an assistant trainer. I guess it pays to have spent my childhood/teenage summers doing nothing but eating, sleeping, and riding horses. It would also be nice, because I can take my daughter with me to work then if I needed too.
Wish me luck, they're gonna throw me on the least trained horses they've got to see what I can do as part of the hiring process:D!

[Monkey]

Still a student. Only one year left!

[raydude]

Aerospace Engineer

I write code and create databases that takes the data that comes down from satellites and turns them into data files or records in a database that a scientist can use. Right now I'm involved more or less in three NASA missions - Deep Impact, MESSENGER, and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

I grew up in Hawaii and I've always wanted to work in space or be involved with space missions. No one took me seriously but I held on to my dream and that's what I do now. So don't ever let anyone tell you what you can or cannot do. Most of all don't let ever listen to that inner voice that says "I'm not good enough."

[Spaatz965]

I write code and create databases that takes the data that comes down from satellites and turns them into data files or records in a database that a scientist can use. Right now I'm involved more or less in three NASA missions - Deep Impact, MESSENGER, and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

Very cool! Was originally going to get into coding, but my first year pascal teacher failed me on a project due to a known (to her) bug in the pascal compiler we were using. Nothing wrong with the code, but one routine would run in random order. Must be great working on some of those projects. Very neat stuff indeed!

I grew up in Hawaii and I've always wanted to work in space or be involved with space missions. No one took me seriously but I held on to my dream and that's what I do now. So don't ever let anyone tell you what you can or cannot do. Most of all don't let ever listen to that inner voice that says "I'm not good enough."

Along those lines...I'd still be working as a security guard if my best friend hadn't convinced me to "go big or stay home." Nothing is out of reach if you're willing to work for it and at least make the attempt. Sometimes you have to go out on a limb...that's where the fruit is.

[Collapse]

I work in a warehouse. Not lifting heavy stuff, but much more of a lighter one.

[Spaatz965]

...I may start a job as a horse trainer again at a stable they're building a few miles away from me (it's huge, they're going to have about 150 horses just inside the barn).They interviewed me and want me to come back in a week or so when the barn is finished because they need an assistant trainer. I guess it pays to have spent my childhood/teenage summers doing nothing but eating, sleeping, and riding horses. It would also be nice, because I can take my daughter with me to work then if I needed too.
Wish me luck, they're gonna throw me on the least trained horses they've got to see what I can do as part of the hiring process:D!
Very nice! Good luck! Uncle used to raise horses and ride in competitions (so did my cousins). Getting close to a horse other than an old docile mare has always freaked me out. Sounds like you have an opportunity to get back to something you love...hope you get that job :)

[AgentOrange]

I work for a temp agency for the time being until I start getting paid by the Navy. Working for a temp agency basically means that you get pimped out to do jobs you wouldn't normally do. So to put it nicely, I'm a ho.

Stillborn, you gotta PM coming your way.

[setrict]

Self-employed computer/network consultant serving small businesses for the last 10 years. I keep trying to transition back to application development for some pet projects I've always wanted to do, but never can seem to get the time.

[Benaire]

I am a scientific glassblower I play with fire.

[Katiekoneko]

I dont have a job anymore
I used to be a photolab tech.
Back injury=no job..

Im looking for a new one

[Praetorian]

I fired myself from the supermarket. Now I want to sit on babies for a small fee, but I can't because I'm male and parents don't trust me because I'm male.

[NERD]

I fired myself from the supermarket. Now I want to sit on babies for a small fee, but I can't because I'm male and parents don't trust me because I'm male.

I don't disagree with the parents... Any megalomaniac Dutch person should be avoided like the plague :)

[El Jasma]

Full time student ( well not this semester, didn't have any cash )
Full time computer tech ( for a retailer that had the bright idea to give us the dumbest name and uniform that they could come up with. )

[Annie]

I'm take orders of the phone for a tattoo supply company. The worst part is, one of my biggest fears is the telephone. Yes, I want to kill myself at the end of the day.

[Shamu]

Very nice! Good luck! Uncle used to raise horses and ride in competitions (so did my cousins). Getting close to a horse other than an old docile mare has always freaked me out. Sounds like you have an opportunity to get back to something you love...hope you get that job :)
You should really try and ride again! The more you do it the easier it gets, especially if you get to know the horse you're riding.
And yeah, I'm really hoping I get this job! I was so obsessed with horses growing up, I spent most of my childhood in a barn or the show ring and didn't care about much else :p. It would be really nice if I get this job too, because then I can finally bring my horse down here to Texas. I miss her so much! My horses have always kept me sane.
Funny thing about this job is that I would be surrounded by a bunch of cowboys and I'm an english rider (show jumping, that kind of stuff) so I know I'd get alot of crap from them for that.
If you ever get a chance, get around horses again. They really are wonderful creatures :D.

[Pierrot le Fou]

I teach Japanese public school kids how not to kancho me

-and-

I am Az's agent (I receive 15% of all profits stemming from my arbitration with job offers and whatnot, which is currently 0 yen)

[Kusoyaro]

I work at this Parasuco deal and it sucks so bad. Snobby eurotrash polacks (no offense, i have many polish friends, including one named ogi...sweet) and morons with too much money come in and chew gum and laugh softly and smirk at each other, uuugh. I hate it so much i want to kill them all. So what i do is that i overcharge them in taxes, and keep the skim. HAHAHA FUCK YOU RICHBOY! I don't care. i do, really, but w/e.

I also proofread for U of T press. it's awesome, cuz I get to read some amazing papers and textbooks, which i get a free copy of. It's the best job in the fucking universe, apart from the one where you win that lottery and become like God's friend and It gives you anything you need and shit...you know the one I mean.
Anyways, once at band camp I put a rusty nail carefully into my anus and then sat on a washing machine.

[Sock Full of Boiled Dimes]

I lost 2 jobs last year.

1 I only held for a month and the other a week and a half.

Granted they were fast food and apperently I'm not "fast food material".

[Kass]

I am Az's agent (I receive 15% of all profits stemming from my arbitration with job offers and whatnot, which is currently 0 yen)

I'd give you a raise, but 5% of nothing is still nothing. Maybe we should give Az a raise first.

I'm a Documentation Specialist and Information Resource Management Coordiantor. The first one means I write all those boring software manuals no-one ever reads for a government agency. The IRM coordinator receives all requests for software purchases and hardwre purchase and makes sure that justification is provided, then forwards them to the board that approves/disapproves them. When they are disapproved, I get to tell the people that "because Joe Blow in the next cubicle over has one" isn't sufficient justification.

I REALLY like the second job I took on as extra duties, because it is billable at a network administrator rate and got me a massive raise.

[Balain]

I work for a company that does two things. Seismic processing for oil companies and developing software for oil companies and other seismic companies

[ZPrime]

I work at a performance auto shop working on import cars
and in my spare time I am also a Software Engineer in the USAF (seriously though I work a 45 hour week and still manage to spend more time at the car shop throughout the week.)

I run the cellular access for all the big brass on base. I make sure they can get to their e-mail from a PDA wherever they go. I feel so important...especially since I'm supposed to be a computer programmer.

[Trump]

Engineer...

Think Office Space or Dilbert... that explains my job most of the time =/

[ruaidhri]

I had a great job with a generous company for 36 years. Then, I retired. I began my working career following a year and a half of college and four years in the U.S. Coast Guard. My work career is a lesson in what you can do without a degree. Yes, education is important but seeking a degree is not the only viable path to success.

At first, I worked 3:00 PM to 11:30 PM shift typing bills of lading and drinking beer. That’s right, I worked for a brewery and for quite a few years beer was available in the break rooms. Later, when the company stopped the on the job drinking they gave us 3 free cases to take home each month as compensation.

While at the brewery, I continued to take college courses that were specific to my job duties. For the first 13 years, I was in the office union. For many of those years, I was the chief steward of the union. At that time, the only way to move ahead was through seniority. Then, the brewery was purchased by a large corporation that infused it with great sums of money and top executive talent. New opportunities opened for those willing and able to meet the challenges. I went to night school and concentrated on making myself invaluable in my department. The courses I selected were always specific or closely related to my job. I didn’t bother with completing the core requirements for a degree.

At the same time, I uncovered the functions of my bosses’ jobs that they disliked and assumed those functions as part of my own. Sure, I worked harder but I was learning and they were appreciating. I was already at the highest union level job when I was promoted to a management position. There, I actively searched for opportunities to reduce costs and developed workable plans to achieve my objectives.

In the early 1980’s I recognized the potential of the personal computer in business. At first I used a small Apple computer I had purchased for myself. Working many evenings at home, I created my first electronic spreadsheets with that computer. I developed models that allowed me to examine various options simply by filling in the pertinent parameters. It wasn’t long before my department purchased a single IBM XT and placed it in a separate office for the department’s use. I monopolized the computer, which wasn’t hard because no other employee recognized its value. I developed and applied a mathematical algorithm to analyze various bids against each other and to select the best case scenario.

In my first five years in management, I negotiated over $20 million dollars in annual savings. During this time, I also went back to school and took a series of courses in sales and marketing to learn more precisely the game plans of the people on the other side of the bargaining table.

I became very proficient with my succession of more powerful computers mastering all the Microsoft Office Professional software, especially Microsoft Access. I even taught evening software classes in the corporate office. Still, the vast majority of the other employees never really embraced the PC as a work tool other than for word processing and email. I swear to God that I even saw people using a hand calculator to enter numbers into a spreadsheet.

Senior management recognized my skills and my request to develop new mainframe software that would enable further negotiated cost savings. I was promoted to a newly created department position as a Systems Development Planner. I identified requirements, presented a proposal and received executive management approval for the purchase of a new mainframe system. I then managed the project team commissioned to identify available software vendors and to analyze their applications' functionality against company requirements. Next, I selected a system for implementation and managed its installation, training of employees and import of data from legacy systems. And finally, I resolved installation problems with Legal, Accounting, Information Systems, departmental employees and the software vendor.

When installation was complete, I was again promoted to a new position as an Operations Analyst. My functions in this, my last position with the company, was to develop a data mart for my department using information from the newly installed mainframe system. First, I designed tables for ODBC access to the mainframe data using Access as my SQL user database. I developed monthly benchmark metrics to effectively identify and measure costs and benefits associated with current activities. And, I developed database, spreadsheet and PowerPoint applications for quick and easy departmental analysis of the costs associated with potential future operations.

Then, my company was on the sales block once again. They wanted to thin the ranks of employees. They offered early retirement to employees 57 and older. As an incentive, they offered 5 years added to their retirement credit. I was 61 and planned to retire in a year so that was truly an offer I couldn’t refuse. There were many people that didn’t want me to leave but they couldn’t offer the incentive to others and refuse me. They did ask that I stay an added 6 months which was OK. I retired in July, 2002 and haven’t worked since.

Retirement? For me, it’s great. I actually receive more money retired than I did when I worked. I have money from the pension, the income earned on my 401K and Social Security. And, because none of it is earned income, I don’t pay any Social Security tax. In December, my wife is retiring from her job and her pension is better than mine. Life is good!

The lesson? Work smart, fill a need and make sure that your bosses know what you’re doing. Never stop learning and always seek innovative improvements that increase sales or reduce costs.

[Tssss..]

i'm a real estate agent, administrative assistant, and financial advisor for a small production company.

it sounds like more work than it really is....

[4letterwords]

I was a waitress at Bob Evans for a year and a half, but now I'm a waitress at a sushi bar.

I'm also a full time university student.

Someone kill me.

[GTARob]

I work as a 3d artist making games. I have worked on titles for Xbox, PS2, PC, Nintendo DS and the Nokia N-gage and Series 60 phones. The mobile market is really blowing up, and because cell phones are getting more powerfull you can really make some cool games using the oldschool techniques. My personal favorite right now is getting to hand animate the effects sprites for a shooter we are working on. Fun Fun.

I really do have a job I love.

[Spaatz965]

You should really try and ride again! The more you do it the easier it gets, especially if you get to know the horse you're riding.
And yeah, I'm really hoping I get this job! I was so obsessed with horses growing up, I spent most of my childhood in a barn or the show ring and didn't care about much else :p. It would be really nice if I get this job too, because then I can finally bring my horse down here to Texas. I miss her so much! My horses have always kept me sane.
Funny thing about this job is that I would be surrounded by a bunch of cowboys and I'm an english rider (show jumping, that kind of stuff) so I know I'd get alot of crap from them for that.
If you ever get a chance, get around horses again. They really are wonderful creatures :D.

Only got to ride occasionally. Was a seven hour drive to see grandparents/uncles in Pennsylvania. Uncle had three horses (trained western) at any given time, which he and his kids competed with. After he was laid off from the coal mine, he had to sell the horses...I haven't had the opportunity to ride since...was very neat when I did :)

Again, Good Luck on the job :)

[hapacheese]

<- Is curious what company GTARob works for.


I work in the corporate department of a game publishing company. It's hard to describe what it is I do unless you know the industry, but simply put, I publish games. I help design them, produce them, market them, and even determine (for the most part) our company's lineup of games.

It's hard work (65+ hours a week with 30%+ travel), but it pays pretty well considering my age and I get to travel all over the world.

[Arvynia]

wow, hapa, GTARob, ruadhri -- I feel so small.

Some jobs are very impressive sounding, some sound like fun, and I'm jealous of Hapa's Job. :X

[Scott]

I'm a senior at college now... I work in advanced tech support, repairing computers 25+ hours/wk for 8.25/hr.

It's not terribly fun, nor will it make me oodles of money, but it keeps the oodles of noodles flowing into my mouth.

[velessa]

I'm a supervisor at a horseback riding stable; I've been there for 10 1/2 years now. We rent out horses for people to ride on the trails and in lessons. Basically I manage a herd of 40-70 horses (depending on the time of the year, we get an extra 20-30 in the summer to use for horse camps) and tell everyone else what to do. It's much fun. ^_^

I also guide trail rides, but I don't do much of that anymore because my main job is to stay at the barn and make sure everything is safe and what needs to get done gets done. That's fine by me; my first few years all I did was guide rides, I got pretty burnt out on it. Now I just do it once in a while when someone else doesn't want to do it/isn't there to do it. Mostly what I do, besides taking care of the horses and the barn, is interview customers to assess their riding skills and assign them horses best suited to them. I train new workers and sometimes have to do lectures for Girl Scouts and other things as well. It's a fun job, it really only gets stressful when we get really busy or there's an emergency. Plus I get to ride any horse I want for free anytime I want.

I'll be sad to leave my job to go teach in Japan. Currently I'm looking for an English teaching job over there to make my degrees in Japanese and TESOL useful.

[Annorax]

I'm an online poker player. I don't make as much as I'd like.

[hapacheese]

Arvynia - Wouldn't trade it for anything in the world :) I'll be spending all of next week in Windsor at an English manor for an offsite meeting. It's stuff like that that makes the job interesting, you know?

[Life25Karma]

Full Time-College Student :)
Part-Time Slacker :D
Full Time Supervisor @ The Aquarium Gift Shop :mad:
(Sling Shot+Rocks = People Getting Ding'ed In The Skull For Putting Ish' Back In The Wrong Place)

....1 Red Bull & Vodka Mix Please.

[Stephy]

I don't exactly have a job yet... I will! I applied at some hospitals (hopefully I will get a call) and will soon put my CNA (certified nurse assistant) skills to the test. The job is to provide many types of care to elderly and sick individuals and to wash patients.

[Sock Full of Boiled Dimes]

I was a waitress at Bob Evans for a year and a half, but now I'm a waitress at a sushi bar.

I'm also a full time university student.

Someone kill me.

I would, but I'm sure father time is doing it for me.

Slloooowwwlllyyy....

[Marie]

I work for directory assistance.

[Dawgeth]

I work for a Harley Davidson Plant, I work help desk/pc repair overnight. During the day Im in college and have my own PC repair/PC Building business. Also, saving the start up to open a gaming store here in town, mebbe

[Psychochink]

I'm a Project Officer, not assigned to a specific major project. That means I do...stuff (i.e. whatever happens to need doing at the time). Meh, it's varied and it pays pretty well.

[Darkblade]

IT systems integration specialist and application developer. (long word for geek i suppose)
Only I dont fit the stereotypical "geek" image.. Im 5'11' and 230lbs, and its not fat. (Ill post a pic if the ladies request one)
Im the guy that gets a call when either:
1) someone has a really big project coming up involving thousands of computers or larger networked sites
2) someone really, REALLY screws up

So far I have been sent to Vancouver Canada, Ft. Knox Kentucky, Basel Switzerland, and Oropoko Namibia on private contracts. I looooooooove to travel.

[Idlethought]

School - Queensboro Community College studying Business Administration.
Current Courseload - Speech communication, business math, accounting, marketing.
Job#1 - General worker at Jim Dandy (dry)cleaners. I bust my ass there 3 days during the week after school and on sundays all day.
Job#2 - Waiter for Waiters Express. I'm a temp waiter meaning that I get sent to different places (hotels, country clubs, basically catering halls) and work there for a night or an entire day and then leave. I've never seen my employer, she just calls me for work and lately its been every weekend. I love it, free food, party every weekend, get to meet people

[Daisuke]

My cover story is that I am a Senior Network Administrator for a University. I suppossedly administer 100+ Windows Servers, 100+ Linux Servers and a handful of Sun SPARC's.... suppossedly...

[Star Market]

I'm a full time grad student until the end of Spring next year where after graduation I'll be beginning a job as a government employee for an intelligence organization; I technically work for them now, but they were nice enough to send me to grad school first.

Me > James Bond

[stillbornsinger]

I work for a Harley Davidson Plant, I work help desk/pc repair overnight. During the day Im in college and have my own PC repair/PC Building business. Also, saving the start up to open a gaming store here in town, mebbe

So... what kinda deal can you cut me on a new XB12R? :D

[co_delphi]

I work in the callcenter for a large bank in the US. On a daily basis I get to talk to people far less intelligent than me but with far more money and listen to them bitch and moan about $5 they can't find.

Good advice for anyone calling to their bank to complain.... We have heard it before, we have all your financial data in front of us, your lies do not work on us.

[General_Failure]

I'm a weapons troop in the AirForce*twirls finger* yay, I'm retarded...

Last 5 years I've spent working on the F-15/c/d/e and F-22 weapon systems in a tiny 90 year old building, got to the point of going insane from looking at the same mugs every day, and begged to get the fuck out... Oh yay, I got my wish! Kicked me to thunder...... A-10's now... Someone had it out for me, aka no names mentioned, and I kinda punched an NCO in the mouth for threatening to shove a rocket up my ass first week on the job for something I didn't know.......Sooooo I work in support now off the flightline, and have gained like 900000000 pounds cause of being lazy \./(honestly it was 10 pounds, but it feels like more), and I'm making it a point to be a slug for the military now, weather they like it or not >.<

[Idlethought]

woohoo i quit my cleaners job so i wont be AS tired during the week!

[Matadon]

My cover story is that I am a Senior Network Administrator for a University. I suppossedly administer 100+ Windows Servers, 100+ Linux Servers and a handful of Sun SPARC's.... suppossedly...

Nice; I do the same thing, but for a small company, and changed jobs a year ago, so the number of servers I have dominion over got cut by an order of magnitude or two. At least I don't need to deal with Windows anymore, though, and my present job is dead simple -- namely, 'keep the Linux boxes running'.

Like I said, not a hard job.

I feel sorry for you having to run the Windows boxen. Those things are a PITA unless you shell out Big Bucks to Redmond. I assume you've got some Windows experts for that side of the farm.

[Jon885]

i'm still looking. i can't really get higher than minimum wage because i only have a highschool diploma. i put in a app. to a grocery store 3 weeks ago and still haven't gotten a call back. maybe i'll get a call.

[Katiekoneko]

3 weeks?
its doubtful they will.
Im in the same boat..its been 2 weeks and no call.-at a grocery store. (Ive even worked at one before and have like 6 years cash experience..blah)
Im going back again to drop one off but I am assuming they already hired someone.
I hope you get a callback too!!

[Jon885]

Thanks Katie. I probably won't get a call back but you never know. Maybe I should consider calling them.

[Flare™]

I'm a Wireless Data Technical Support Coordinator for a large cellular phone company...

...

......

Ok... It's Verizon Wireless. NO, you can't have a hookup on a phone damn it!

[Katiekoneko]

Thanks Katie. I probably won't get a call back but you never know. Maybe I should consider calling them.

Maybe ya!
Or hand in another resume to them
either or

shows you're interested

[KKF]

I had a great job with a generous company for 36 years. Then, I retired. I began my working career following a year and a half of college and four years in the U.S. Coast Guard. My work career is a lesson in what you can do without a degree. Yes, education is important but seeking a degree is not the only viable path to success.

At first, I worked 3:00 PM to 11:30 PM shift typing bills of lading and drinking beer. That’s right, I worked for a brewery and for quite a few years beer was available in the break rooms. Later, when the company stopped the on the job drinking they gave us 3 free cases to take home each month as compensation.

While at the brewery, I continued to take college courses that were specific to my job duties. For the first 13 years, I was in the office union. For many of those years, I was the chief steward of the union. At that time, the only way to move ahead was through seniority. Then, the brewery was purchased by a large corporation that infused it with great sums of money and top executive talent. New opportunities opened for those willing and able to meet the challenges. I went to night school and concentrated on making myself invaluable in my department. The courses I selected were always specific or closely related to my job. I didn’t bother with completing the core requirements for a degree.

At the same time, I uncovered the functions of my bosses’ jobs that they disliked and assumed those functions as part of my own. Sure, I worked harder but I was learning and they were appreciating. I was already at the highest union level job when I was promoted to a management position. There, I actively searched for opportunities to reduce costs and developed workable plans to achieve my objectives.

In the early 1980’s I recognized the potential of the personal computer in business. At first I used a small Apple computer I had purchased for myself. Working many evenings at home, I created my first electronic spreadsheets with that computer. I developed models that allowed me to examine various options simply by filling in the pertinent parameters. It wasn’t long before my department purchased a single IBM XT and placed it in a separate office for the department’s use. I monopolized the computer, which wasn’t hard because no other employee recognized its value. I developed and applied a mathematical algorithm to analyze various bids against each other and to select the best case scenario.

In my first five years in management, I negotiated over $20 million dollars in annual savings. During this time, I also went back to school and took a series of courses in sales and marketing to learn more precisely the game plans of the people on the other side of the bargaining table.

I became very proficient with my succession of more powerful computers mastering all the Microsoft Office Professional software, especially Microsoft Access. I even taught evening software classes in the corporate office. Still, the vast majority of the other employees never really embraced the PC as a work tool other than for word processing and email. I swear to God that I even saw people using a hand calculator to enter numbers into a spreadsheet.

Senior management recognized my skills and my request to develop new mainframe software that would enable further negotiated cost savings. I was promoted to a newly created department position as a Systems Development Planner. I identified requirements, presented a proposal and received executive management approval for the purchase of a new mainframe system. I then managed the project team commissioned to identify available software vendors and to analyze their applications' functionality against company requirements. Next, I selected a system for implementation and managed its installation, training of employees and import of data from legacy systems. And finally, I resolved installation problems with Legal, Accounting, Information Systems, departmental employees and the software vendor.

When installation was complete, I was again promoted to a new position as an Operations Analyst. My functions in this, my last position with the company, was to develop a data mart for my department using information from the newly installed mainframe system. First, I designed tables for ODBC access to the mainframe data using Access as my SQL user database. I developed monthly benchmark metrics to effectively identify and measure costs and benefits associated with current activities. And, I developed database, spreadsheet and PowerPoint applications for quick and easy departmental analysis of the costs associated with potential future operations.

Then, my company was on the sales block once again. They wanted to thin the ranks of employees. They offered early retirement to employees 57 and older. As an incentive, they offered 5 years added to their retirement credit. I was 61 and planned to retire in a year so that was truly an offer I couldn’t refuse. There were many people that didn’t want me to leave but they couldn’t offer the incentive to others and refuse me. They did ask that I stay an added 6 months which was OK. I retired in July, 2002 and haven’t worked since.

Retirement? For me, it’s great. I actually receive more money retired than I did when I worked. I have money from the pension, the income earned on my 401K and Social Security. And, because none of it is earned income, I don’t pay any Social Security tax. In December, my wife is retiring from her job and her pension is better than mine. Life is good!

The lesson? Work smart, fill a need and make sure that your bosses know what you’re doing. Never stop learning and always seek innovative improvements that increase sales or reduce costs.


Not to be intruisive into your finanicial life, but would you mind telling me how much you put aside for retirement, your childrens college fund, etc. I always love hearing about others experiences in this aspect since I really do want to retire early in life. So if you don't mind would you go more in depth? And if don't want it public pm me? Thanks :)

[eringi]

While going to school, I work three days a week teaching English to Japanese three-year-olds. My job rocks... because kids (especially when they're three and don't really have interest in learning English) say the craziest things, as we all know... My job just ends up being glorified babysitting and parents use me as translation service. Ha-ha-ha.

[MFDub]

Marketing and Communications Intern. Basically, I get paid to write. Sweet gig...

[Yoonafkenenen]

I'm typical LA bastard. I wait tables during the day and go out on acting auditions during...the...rest of the day. Incidentally, I work at CPK in the valley....which is pretty harsh. I'm not originally from here, so I'm completely unused to the level of assholery people can manage up here. It's really...quite impressive. I've seen a lady scream at the manager because she didn't like her seat. I've seen people do the same because they didn't like the expression someone made when they dropped off their appetizers.

These aren't exaggerations, but they are the worst case scenarios. The acting thing is fun, but nobody wants me. As you may know, it's not based on skill as much as it's based on...you looking like what they want.