What do you do for a living?

[chevy350]

Currently working as an Attractions Mechanic at a well known theme park.

 

[freeagent]

I make components that you see on city busses and highway coaches. Just started last month. I come from a background in metal manufacturing, but I switched sides for now. It is a global company, but the parts we make are just for North America.

 

[WhiteNoise]

I'm 52 and unemployed. I worked for Motorola Solutions in their Emergency 911 div. for 16 years and figured I would retire from there. I ran the warehouse. Then they decided to move out of California and left myself and the entire operations team without a job. So here I am, 52 looking for a new job and not finding anything. I have been in warehousing for the better part of 25 years, and 22 of those years have been in leadership. Warehousing is my bread and butter and I'm sure I will find something eventually. Still, unfortunately, I am overqualified for most jobs in my area considering they want more entry-level managers coming out of school. I base that on the salaries being offered.

I am lucky though to have a wife with a fantastic job. She can support us while I look for work. So these days I'm more a stay-at-home Dad than anything.

I'm no longer unemployed. I went through a series of interviews on the 30th and 31st and accepted their offer this morning. So I'm now Managing a warehouse for a Fire/Life safety company. They gave me the salary I requested and I'm pretty stoked.

 

[de.das.dude]

I'm no longer unemployed. I went through a series of interviews on the 30th and 31st and accepted their offer this morning. So I'm now Managing a warehouse for a Fire/Life safety company. They gave me the salary I requested and I'm pretty stoked.

congrats! please please try to put some of that away for emergencies (and computer parts ofcourse)

 

[AusWolf]

congrats! please please try to put some of that away for emergencies (and computer parts ofcourse)

Life without any savings is no life at all (I'm saying that from experience). You never know what life throws at you until it hits.

 

[_JP_]

I'm no longer unemployed. I went through a series of interviews on the 30th and 31st and accepted their offer this morning. So I'm now Managing a warehouse for a Fire/Life safety company. They gave me the salary I requested and I'm pretty stoked.

The part that it's so widespread, that employers don't want to hire experience and/or actually pay for it, knowing that they can get a highly motivated person with a ton of ability, just to save a few thousands down the year has been baffling me for these past 15 years I've been on the job market.

OnTopic: SysAdmin turned IT manager for the regional branch of a global company in a team of one, related to transportation. Ain't that fun or interesting, but it's something to hold on while the personal side of life shapes-up to something stable.

 

[AusWolf]

The part that it's so widespread, that employers don't want to hire experience and/or actually pay for it, knowing that they can get a highly motivated person with a ton of ability, just to save a few thousands down the year has beens baffling me for these past 15 years.

Quantity over quality is the corporate motto these days. It's cheaper. The consequences don't matter.

 

[_JP_]

Quantity over quality is the corporate motto these days. It's cheaper. The consequences don't matter.

Especially the consulting ones, speaking from experience. Had to run from that world, as fast as I could.
I don't know how anyone with any kind of integrity and a sense of professionalims makes it there. I didnt.
And you're especially right when you say "consequences don't matter".

 

[WhiteNoise]

The part that it's so widespread, that employers don't want to hire experience and/or actually pay for it, knowing that they can get a highly motivated person with a ton of ability, just to save a few thousands down the year has been baffling me for these past 15 years I've been on the job market.

That is the problem I have been running into—exactly that. I lucked out with this new job. The company owner had gone through two warehouse managers who, once on the job, didn't have the working knowledge to do what was needed. Both were inexperienced but willing to work for less. I walked in there, told him what I would do to solve his problems, (without giving away how I would do this) and when he asked what I would want in a salary, I told him. He didn't say anything about my asking price but I could tell he wasn't thrilled. On the other hand, he seemed very excited to have someone with my knowledge and experience working for him. I knew I had the job when he started talking to me as if I was already working there.

So to touch on what you stated, I think this owner finally realized that paying for the experience would prove more efficient in the long run.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

40Yo here, Sr. Manager of me/myself/and I here at a regional bank. Department of One.

Graduated in the great recession, nice degree in Neurology but no one was hiring and I was done with school.

Got a job at a computer store (yes, that one) by lying on my resume and saying I had more work experience than I actually did. Then the GF got pregnant and I realized working wild ass shifts was no way for a family man to live, so I went over to a banker position at a national bank to get Sundays and Federal Holidays off.

The Bank was a shady one (yep, that one) so I went to work at a call center for a smaller regional bank. Both managers left and I applied for one of the roles and then I got it.

Did that for a while, then the VP of HR approached me and asked me to apply for a Sr. manager position that was opening up, so I did. And then I got that job too.

Been doing the Sr. Manager thing for a few years now and we'll see what happens next.

My guiding light is to earn as much money as possible while also doing as little work as possible being efficient and ensuring that I stay inside a 40 hour work week at all costs. Here I am.

 

[Gunbound]

Life without any savings is no life at all (I'm saying that from experience). You never know what life throws at you until it hits.

I got maximum life insurance policy, I'm ready

 

[AusWolf]

That is the problem I have been running into—exactly that. I lucked out with this new job. The company owner had gone through two warehouse managers who, once on the job, didn't have the working knowledge to do what was needed. Both were inexperienced but willing to work for less. I walked in there, told him what I would do to solve his problems, (without giving away how I would do this) and when he asked what I would want in a salary, I told him. He didn't say anything about my asking price but I could tell he wasn't thrilled. On the other hand, he seemed very excited to have someone with my knowledge and experience working for him. I knew I had the job when he started talking to me as if I was already working there.

So to touch on what you stated, I think this owner finally realized that paying for the experience would prove more efficient in the long run.

It's very rare for a company boss to favour talent and experience vs a low salary. Be glad to have that boss.

I wish I was in a position to argue for my salary.

I got maximum life insurance policy, I'm ready

That's cool as long as it pays for literally everything. I'd still have around 2-3x my monthly salary saved, just in case.

Personally, I'm saving for an early retirement and getting the hell out to a cheaper place to live. I don't want to work a second longer than I absolutely have to.

 

[Crazybc]

I'm a group leader at a major automotive parts warehouse for one of the big automotive manufacturers in North America. I do just about everything from clerking to picking parts with various pieces of equipment. Been doing this for 16 years now. Good job I like it.

 

[Kovoet]

I'm in London running a cycle shop and it's getting harder in Retail now. But you get to an age where it's to old to change.

 

[neurotix]

When I was young, I was a delivery driver. Before Google Maps. We used a paper map. I also had a flash light because people didn't turn on their outside lights at night, so I sometimes had to drive up and down the block with a flashlight on people's houses to find the right one, like a burglar.

I went to school twice for systems administration, and dropped out twice. The first time was because I was under 25 and they use your parents income to determine eligibility for grants, and I was unwilling to take out loans. Second time I could have continued going, but did not once I realized I would probably need a Comp Sci bachelor's to get a job and I am terrible at math and programming, I am a hardware guy (though I know networking and routers and stuff too).

Now, the answer is that I am on disability for mental illness originally, since 2011. Since 2015 I have developed numerous pain issues with my neck, my hips and my low back. Moving to IL from Madison in 2021 was the best choice I could have made as they are actually addressing my problems here, in the last year and a half I have had a low back surgery as well as two hip surgeries. I have done tons of physical therapy, I have also had more extremely painful steroid and lidocaine injections than I can remember. So the short answer is that I am disabled, probably permanently. Oh and on top of all the surgeries and injections, I also have fibromyalgia and chronic pain syndrome.

 

[ShrimpBrime]

When I was young, I was a delivery driver. Before Google Maps. We used a paper map. I also had a flash light because people didn't turn on their outside lights at night, so I sometimes had to drive up and down the block with a flashlight on people's houses to find the right one, like a burglar.

I went to school twice for systems administration, and dropped out twice. The first time was because I was under 25 and they use your parents income to determine eligibility for grants, and I was unwilling to take out loans. Second time I could have continued going, but did not once I realized I would probably need a Comp Sci bachelor's to get a job and I am terrible at math and programming, I am a hardware guy (though I know networking and routers and stuff too).

Now, the answer is that I am on disability for mental illness originally, since 2011. Since 2015 I have developed numerous pain issues with my neck, my hips and my low back. Moving to IL from Madison in 2021 was the best choice I could have made as they are actually addressing my problems here, in the last year and a half I have had a low back surgery as well as two hip surgeries. I have done tons of physical therapy, I have also had more extremely painful steroid and lidocaine injections than I can remember. So the short answer is that I am disabled, probably permanently. Oh and on top of all the surgeries and injections, I also have fibromyalgia and chronic pain syndrome.

My in law has fibromyalgia also. She's 80. The Oxycodone really doesn't do well for her dementia at all. But does ok for the pain at least.

Wish you the best with pain management. And that's all anyone can do or say really.

 

[neurotix]

Thanks Shrimp. Yeah I can't do much besides keep staying in the fight if you know what I mean.

 

[Cvrk]

Got fired from Orange by the team leader who got hired in the same day as me.

Super long story. I just wasn't compatible with him. This isn't about woke culture. It's about being a decent human, and not a borderline sex offender.
During the training period, which was hard, simply because this huge company, on the department where I was posted had little in terms of procedures. The attitude of this team leader was apoling.

Frazes like :

"bring her here on put her on the table" - when a female colleague past by our office, suggesting that he wanted to have sex with her right there

Constant sex jokes about young female colleagues. Most of them are looked at like sex objects. C'mon men make jokes, men like women. But as a team leader, or any person...you keep that yo yourself.

"you never smoked with us. I only give feedback when we go out for a smoke"
" snitches will be eliminated from the team"
"I can't believe you guys accept to work here for this money" -- shaming us directly cuz we are fools to work at Orange. I supposed he had a bigger salary.

I did not put up with this guy. There was one feedback, for my activity, that I messed up a few tickets and I should improve...but no need, because you are not a team player so I will fire you.

And yeah. I am out. Tomorrow morning at 4AM I go deliver bread.

 

[BlaezaLite]

Unable to work due to agoraphobia and other mental health problems.

 

[1freedude]

@Cvrk I want to say congrats. It takes courage to stand alone when morals are involved. Maybe not the exact outcome you wanted, but seems like it was toxic environment

Sounds like you will be driving a truck or van? Get some sleep

 

[FoulOnWhite]

Full time carer for partner for last 15 odd years.

 

[[crs]]

I'm 42 and used to sell and repair phone, PC's and Laptops. It used to just me and the owner, about 7+ years ago (maybe closer to 10+ years, time goes by way too fast) before e-cigs became a big thing we got some in on sale or return and it took off over the following few years. The owner opened another 2 e-cigs shops and I continued to do repairs and sales until COVID hit, after the first wave and during the 2nd lockdown he got me a van and I delivered e-cigs products to customers houses. We totally quit all IT repairs & call outs when he got the warehouse. I now deliver to our shops every day and hang out in the warehouse.


I never thought I would progress from IT to warehouse staff lol. I've no real complaints as he has been an excellent boss and looked after me real well over the very many years I've worked with him.

 

[ShrimpBrime]

Some Engine diagnostics. Yesterday.

For reference, the PSI should read 350 or higher on this engine.

http://imgur.com/ae5wJi4

 

[68Olds]

Some Engine diagnostics. Yesterday.

For reference, the PSI should read 350 or higher on this engine.

http://imgur.com/ae5wJi4

That right there is what you call in the most technical of terms... Broken. lol

 

[Jetster]

Retired, my resume is just a list of things I don't want to do. Last 15 years was in law enforcement. I've done tech work on the side 30 years.
It's really interesting to read this posts, thanks to everyone for sharing
Jobs I've had - Truck driver, framer, marine mechanic
Oh and I'm also a remote assistant coach for the Oregon Ducks