Poll of Profession / Industry ?

[Admin]

A couple of reasons for posting this poll. One is - we have polled on various demographics in the past, such as age and income, but I do not recall a poll specifically aimed at the professions and industry we work in. My first stab at developing the list was to use the SIC (Standardized Industrial Classification) code, but there were WAAAYYYYY too many options. I then pared it down to a more manageable size, but it probably lacks sufficient resolution in some areas. In that instance, please post your industry/profession in a post.

I set the poll so that you may vote for two options.

Let's see what y'all do with the majority of your time ... besides spending time on RWD, of course.

- Dan

[Vaughn]

I voted twice, the second choice being "Other". Since I was about 12, I had frequent
exposure to the world of antiques, thanks to my late father. As much as time allows,
I've remained active dealng in 19th century lithographed tin advertising. Other specialties
of mine have been 19th c. cobalt decorated stoneware, and 17-19th c. English pewter.
Nearly everything I procure is identifiable by maker, hence its market value is higher.
My "hobby" certainly would not have qualified us K-1 wise with respect to poverty guidelines,
yet it's been a lifelong habit I've been reluctant to let go.

Elvira laughs how Americans will shell out serious fresh money for old used stuff, yet she's
grown to appreciate the fine craftsmanship of days gone by. Here's one of my first purchases
from the early 1960's, a small tin made by the three Somers Brothers in Brooklyn about 1880.
Their site was later covered over by what we knew as the Dodgers' Ebbetts Field.

[Lily]

Dan, some RW with fluent English often have majored in Roman philology..how about a Linguist option on the poll?

[SANDRO43]

Dan, some RW with fluent English often have majored in Roman philology..how about a Linguist option on the poll?

Lily, a "linguist" by training would either be engaged professionally in teaching (already listed there) or in translating/interpreting. I have an MA in Foreign Literatures & Languages (majored in English, minored in French), and did the latter for a while before entering a totally-unrelated field (computers with IBM).

BTW, it's "Romance" philology, doesn't it sound "romantic" ? I had to take Germanic philology, instead .

[Simoni]

Elvira laughs how Americans will shell out serious fresh money for old used stuff, yet she's
grown to appreciate the fine craftsmanship of days gone by.

Same here with Marina.  My house is filled with antiques; she wanted to get "new" stuff.  So we did...at least a few pieces.  But she has come to appreciate antiques as others brag about them as they visit our house.

Poll-- lot's of tech people here :-)

[I/O]

I had to take Germanic philology, instead .

I didn't have a choice, it was friggen well bred into me. Some kids have the right to hate their parents.

I/O

[jb]

I am an engineer by training and have made my living as such in the oil and gas fields of the world.  After retiring from one of the "Big Oil" construction companies, I settled down to enjoy the fruits of my labor.  That lasted about 3 months before the wife said; "Honey, you need go go find something to do".   I did do that.  I contracted as a Safety Engineer for Oxy Chemical for a while, (extremely boring work), then a friend in the same situation suggested I set up a consulting business and go back to what I did for 30 years.  So now I work specific programs lasting 30-45 days each for more money than I dreamed I'd ever be worth.  It's funny how the same companies who used to try to beat me up during salary negotiations now seem to think my outrageous fees are quite reasonable.   Go figure.

[KenC]

I am an engineer by training and have made my living as such in the oil and gas fields of the world.  After retiring from one of the "Big Oil" construction companies, I settled down to enjoy the fruits of my labor.  That lasted about 3 months before the wife said; "Honey, you need go go find something to do".   I did do that.  I contracted as a Safety Engineer for Oxy Chemical for a while, (extremely boring work), then a friend in the same situation suggested I set up a consulting business and go back to what I did for 30 years.  So now I work specific programs lasting 30-45 days each for more money than I dreamed I'd ever be worth.  It's funny how the same companies who used to try to beat me up during salary negotiations now seem to think my outrageous fees are quite reasonable.   Go figure.

jb,
Those companies are will to pay a premium just not to have to put up with you "full time!"
KenC

[jb]

Yeah,,, that too, Ken.   However, they also seem to like the improved quality of contractor work that happens while I'm on site.   Today's contractors seem to be little more than semi-educated "button pushers", there's very little in the way of formal geophysical engineering training in the field these days.  So I guess it's an even trade, their money for my experience. 

[Lily]

Lily, a "linguist" by training would either be engaged professionally in teaching (already listed there) or in translating/interpreting. I have an MA in Foreign Literatures & Languages (majored in English, minored in French), and did the latter for a while before entering a totally-unrelated field (computers with IBM).

BTW, it's "Romance" philology, doesn't it sound "romantic" ? I had to take Germanic philology, instead .

Same with me, I majored in German philology, too.

[KenC]

Yeah,,, that too, Ken.   However, they also seem to like the improved quality of contractor work that happens while I'm on site.   Today's contractors seem to be little more than semi-educated "button pushers", there's very little in the way of formal geophysical engineering training in the field these days.  So I guess it's an even trade, their money for my experience. 

jb,
You know I was just busting your chops!

My Dad had a long and successful career as an executive at Chrysler.  He was always paid well but nothing close to what Chrysler paid him as a consultant after he retired.  He, like you, was result driven and the company knew they would get the results they needed with no questions asked about the price needed to be paid.  He once spent 3 months in Italy (with my Mom) coordinating a joint venture with Maserati.  Talk about a vacation of a lifetime, and all very well paid too.
KenC

[SANDRO43]

He once spent 3 months in Italy (with my Mom) coordinating a joint venture with Masaratti.

Illiterate , you'll be writing FERARRI, next .

[USCFAN]

I currently have small freight company hauling mostly building materials around Colorado. However, with the construction business going into the tank, I am looking at moving on to something else. So if anybody knows of any openings ... even outside the US

Most of my background has been in some sort of management capacity in the service or retail field ...

[ScottinCrimea]

I also checked two.  I worked for years practicing medicine, but about a dozen years ago I was with a medical informatics company for awhile and came up with an idea for a product.  I later returned to my medical practice.  Now that I am back in the US I've discovered that my little idea has spawned a large company employing thousands and generating millions in revenue.  So now I'm back working for them as a trainer/consultant.  Wait until they hear about a couple of other little ideas I have.  

[ConnerVT]

 He once spent 3 months in Italy (with my Mom) coordinating a joint venture with Masaratti.  

Illiterate , you'll be writing FERARRI, next .

No, I'm sure he meant "Masaratti".  It is a cheap Chinese knock-off of the luxury sports car.  They don't go as fast, due to being much heavier from the lead paint...   

[BillyB]

I won't be surprised if in this poll there are a lot of men in the construction and engineering fields which are usually male dominated.  And when you do see a woman in the construction field, she's a manly girl and pretty rough looking.

[Muj]

Billy,

You're right about engineering, especially hi tech as far as the type of women.

[Ste]

I;m in IT, and I work in the Sun sphere of things, specifically LDAP. I too am a contractor, and really get paid obscene amounts of cash for which I am eternally grateful. Thank u the Great British Taxpayer...

But I really want to be......A Lumberjack! I cut down trees....

[SANDRO43]

No, I'm sure he meant "Masaratti".  It is a cheap Chinese knock-off of the luxury sports car.  They don't go as fast

Oh, you mean THIS type, not rated in horse-power .

[SANDRO43]

But I really want to be......A Lumberjack! I cut down trees....

Ste, does your fiancée know about these, er, leanings of yours ?


[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zey8567bcg[/youtube]

[2tallbill]

I voted twice as well, I sell cool windows. Teak, mahogany, fir, copper, etc.
If you want a 50' wall of glass that disappears in a pocket electrically then
I am your guy. I selected construction and other.

Bill

[Bruce]

I see all professions represented with the computer geeks, businessmen and engineers leading the way.  I am suprised there are not more in the financial industry - but I believe they would have to vote in the "other" category.  As you get on in life I suppose your category becomes more obscure.  For example, I suppose many of the engineers morph into management or executive choices over time.  I suspect the number of computer geeks would go way down if it was a married poll.  Nothing against the computer specialists out there, but many of them due to financial constraints tend to look, write and never make the trip over.  Ok, now all you married high tech computer guys come out of the woodwork and scream at me.............

[AnastassiaAsh]

Well, i won't 'scream' at you, but say that I loooove computer geeks. My late husband Lance worked as a Microsoft testing software engineer and now my husband Tim is a computer programmer at www.enertia-software.com

I would say because of this profession their character is about 85% the same. Other than some uniqueness of course of each man, both of them are alike in very many ways. I am so blessed with this.

Had no problems with them visiting me. Vice versa actually. Very smart, educated, eloquent, masters of written expression of thoughts, absolutely beautiful and very long letters, knew what they wanted, came relatively quick, confident...

So I voted  - IT for my husband, as i understood most would want to know professions among men on this board...

[timothe]

IT was the closest category for me because I sell software to schools.  But I'm not an IT guy.  I'm geeky for completely different reasons.

[Sort]

Construction Sheet metalworker, cooper roofs and tin roofs.
Have had this profession for 16 years and have no regrets about it.
It's a free job and i do as i please as long as i do a good job, good job means a roof that is good for 40-50 years if it's in sheet metal.
A cooper roof will last for 100 years at least.