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What's your Career?

I have been working in Alaska for 18 years as an inspector in the oil patch. Started out doing industrail X-Ray of pipe line welds and a now work on the trans Alaska pipeline as a project inspector. Got a bunch of certs and try to stay on top of BP and hold there feet to my little part of the fire.

Just moved out of Alaska and am flying back and forth to Oregon every month or so. Sucks being away from home but I get two weeks off every month so it's worth it.
 
"IT Specialist" for a Federal agency. I work at a location stationed on a university campus. I handle all the IT needs for the particular group of researchers I work with. I also handle all of the Fed-related IT demands for another forty-five or so other Federal employees in labs in the same location ran by different units.

I'm a non-degreed slacker. I graduated high school in 1996, took a few semesters of classes, got offered a lucrative job during the dot-com boom, then got dot-com busted and ended up back where I started with real life firmly underway and no time to go back to school.

In my spare time I build things with metal every so often. I mess with cars, motorcycles, guns, photography, playing bass, computers...I stay pretty busy.
 
I'm firmly entrenched in the automotive industry. Didn't plan that...

I went to USC as a pre-med for 2 years until I got married. That ended schooling...it was never a good fit anyways.

So, I started working retail automotive for Pep Boys, since I've been a "car nut" since day one.

After marriage I started the process of applying for the LA County Sheriff's Dept. That was the job I had always wanted and dreamed of doing. Plan A was to eventually become a sniper for SWAT. Plan B was more family oriented- get my time in and transfer to a small town, the whole "small town Sheriff" thing. Life has a way of changing plans. I was halfway through the application/testing process when I found out my wife was pregnant. I withdrew my application, much to my wife's relief. I'm still what my wife calls a "frustrated cop"...

So...Iwas still working for Pep Boys, now a Manager working 65+ hours a week, split days off...dealing with buckets of corporate BS..and the sweet call of the Automotive Dealership world beckons me, with it's M-F 8-5 Holidays and weekends off...And I move on to the Dealership world.

I have worked for Dodge, Jeep, Chevrolet, and now Ford as a service writer, shop foreman, service manager, parts counterperson, and currently, Parts Manager.

I have tried my hand at opening a one-man fabrication and restoration shop, but I'm a much better fabricator than I am a marketing person. So, it looks like Parts Manager it is.

Whew...that's a long answer for a simple question! In case you missed it- I'm a Parts Manager at a Ford Dealership.
 
Hospital Finance - i work with hospitals that our organization manages throughout NC and SC. Gets me out of the office from time to time, so that's good, otherwise I might go crazy looking at four walls every day.

but I'm studying for my next job, which will be to hold a fishing rod four hours a day, and a golf club the other four. Right now, can't make it on the pay.:shrug:
 
Started working at age 12 as a tractor driver during the summers in tobacco fields. Guy thought I was too young til I asked him what he thought of the guy plowing fields behind is friends house yesterday. He said the guy was great the way he could pop the disc which made the tractor pull a wheelie, hit the inside brake spinning the tractor in place, then throw the disc down to stop the spin and be headed back in the opposite direction. When I told him it was me, he just said he would pick me up Monday at 6am. Also did plowing for neighboring farms in the spinrg/fall.

By age 13, I had bought my own TV and Canoe. The canoe I still have 33 years later and enjoy from time to time to this day.

While at Clemson, co-oped with NAVELEX. They were one of several gov agencies that did communications installations for the Navy. Graduated in 88 and with a computer engineering thank-the-lordie degreee. Been working with them ever since. Last 13 years I've been the Production Manager for a Navy communications system. Unfortunately, over the years, we've grown from a 250 person organization to well over 2,500 today. When counting contractors, we are now pushing 6,000 folks. Liked it much better when I knew most of the folks I dealt with. Now most of them are nothing more than a email address, not a person. I'll just have to put up with it for another 9 years and 50 weeks.
 
Manhattan said:
I know - who know this was even an option.
Click to expand...

I did.;)

I own an agency that focuses on the visual side of branding. My group creates the strategy, identity and packaging for retail hardgoods. We also dabble in trade and media.:)

Mike
 
I have a degree in english literature so I went to work in the woods with an independent consulting forester :crazy: appraising timber mostly for private landowners for low pay and no benefits. I loved being in the woods in spite of the briars, bees, yellow jackets, wasps, hornets, spiders, ticks, deer flies, mosquitos, poisen ivy, itchweed......I love a good swamp!

After a couple of other jobs I started my own painting and wallpaper business about 15 years ago. "Retired" from that a few years ago with arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, ruptured disc, bone spurs on my upper vertebrae....Surgery on my back and both hands, soon (likely) to have another surgery on my left elbow for a pinched nerve.

Nowadays I spend my time trying to keep the Jeeps running :angry:
 
We need to start a thread/directory listing our professions, including address, website, telephone number, etc, for the purpose of using the services of fellow Scrambler owners (we do it in Rotary and it's good for business). Not sure how to legally list 'male escort' tho...
 
Greatest job on earth...

I have the greatest job on Earth...well, at least in my humble opinion. US Army. 13 years of doing what I can to help America stay on top....And counting. I have done all sorts of odd jobs over the years to offset the income. I swing a pretty mean hammer, I can wrench, a little welding doesn't scare me either. But I made the mistake of getting out of the Army in 2002 for 5+ years. Came back in in late 07 and am kind of starting over....ish. But I can easily say that I am a much better Soldier than I was a civilian. The only job I can think of I would enjoy more is the one my girlfriend used to do...
I really don't remember my highschool counselor mentioning that one could have a career as a professional Bra Fitter!?!?:thumbsup:
 
Graduated from Mississippi State in 2005 with a degree in accounting. Upon graduation I went straight back to the commercial construction industry. I work for a small, familey owned general contractor, the people who gave me my first job at age 15 digging foundations:thumbsup: They don't let me get dirty anymore, though:banghead: I am a Project Manager/Estimator - which means I take a set of plans, figure up how much money its going to cost to do a job, then run the job if i get it:ZZZ: Its better then being an accountant in that I spend alot of time out of the office visiting jobsites etc:D
 
I graduated college in '95 with a double major in History and Biology. Planned to continue on to PhD in Archaeology...but couldn't find the money. So, I entered the environmental field. I have worked HazMat Emergency Response, Investigation/Remediation, Compliance...you name it, I have dabbled in it. Currently, I am a Senior Environmental Scientist...basically overseeing the remediation of some relatively large remediation projects...
 
Aircraft mechanic for USAirways...but due to cutbacks & alot of our work going to South America :angry:, I've been laid-off since December 2002! I'll have 20 years there next month & still can't hold my home station! :(

Wife & I switched roles in 03, this stay-at-home with the kids business is the toughest job I've ever had! :eek:

* EDIT* I finally got a position back @ home base! :thumbsup: Not turning wrenches as before, but writing/editing maintenance paperwork...pays the same & no weekends or shiftwork! ;)
 
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I work in a chemical plant owned by Dow Chemical. We make Nitromethane, so that all the Top-Fuel Dragsters and Funny Cars will have something to run on. Plus we make a bunch more products and ingrediants too!:)
 
I'm an attorney in Florida--currently in central Florida--Orlando. I graduated from undergrad and law school in northeast Ohio mid '80's and got a job offer in Florida. Came down and have never moved back--over 22 years. Prosecuted for a number of years and now my practice primarily consists of criminal law and general trial practice.

Legal advisor for the Orlando Jeep Club, too.

My client of all people introduced me to Jeeps--bought a CJ5 and restored it Sublime Green-- 3 years ago.
 
This is awesome! Since everyone has pretty much told their whole career I guess that I will elaborate on mine instead of just saying that I was a Career Firefighter.

In High School I volunteered as a firefighter and worked at a service station. After school I went striaght into the workforce in Powerline construction as a grunt and lineman and then a weldor. When I was old enough I followed in the family footsteps in Law Enforcement. I worked my way up from a jailer to street patrol then into investigation, with my first love, as an Arson Investigator / Arson K-9 handler. After many years of that I was tired of the Political BS and decided to become a nozzle jockey where I am today, riding the fire truck as a Firefighter/EMT. Along with my job now I'm also an Instructor in the Fire Service teaching swift water and high angle rescue as well as firefighting tactics. I love my job now and wouldn't trade it for anything. I still continue to weld on the side and also install lighting and equipment on cop cars, love the extra money.
 
Farm Boy - Washington State
Navy - Two 1/2 Tours Nam - Now my "Ole" body is paying for that part of my misspent youth.
Police Officer 12 Years
College - CWSU
Business World - Upper Management

God called me to the ministry 17 years ago. I am Captain Jack Smith, Pastor, The Salvation Army in Juneau, Alaska. Best vocation I have ever had.

4 years will be retiring to my home just outside Yakima, Washington.
 
Career Naval Aviator. 26 years. 57 countries and the most foriegn place of all, Washington, DC :shrug:

Although that male escort thing sounds interesting as retirement is around the corner... Is there a school for that? (apologies to Bill Murray) Maybe I'll just work for the World Top guy. He has a cool hobby!


\And CAPT Jack; Go on ya, brother!
 
i build elevators...i put new elevators in old buildings. It's an ok job but it's got it's ups and downs (sorry i couldn't help myself)
 
NeedAn8,

See you're in Pensacola. I am a 68 graduate of NCTC - Corry Field. Was a CT. Played football for NAS in 67. Loved Pensacola.
 
Well this could be a long story so im gonna try and give yall the short version.
Started working at a horse farm at 14 did that and what ever ood jobs I could find to support my dirtbike and guitar habits. By 16 was doing oil changes and tuneups for the neighbors and family. I was too poor to pay anybody to fix anything so I just learned. Worked for my dads construction company on the coast of NC every summer till i got out of school. Decided I was gonna be a rock star so me and my band toured up and down the east coast for about a year. Details are still fuzzy but man that was fun!:smokin: Got back home and sobered up got a job in a bodyshop then went to auto mechanic. Spent the better part of a decade as an ASE mechanic at various shops. Even ran my own for awhile. Tried my hand at industrial maintance ,went to forklift tech for a while then back to industriall maint. Started getting into robotics and controls and never looked back. Been a maint tech supervisor for one the largest glass manufactures in the country the last 5 years. I hate 2nd shift but I like my joib and it pays for Jeep parts!!!
I spent my whole adult working life cussing engineers and now Im trying to finish a degree to become one.:banghead:
 
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