August 2006 Weddings
2Vermont
member
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Poll: Your Career
(1) What do you do for a living?
(2) Do you like it? If so, why?
(3) If you don't like it and could try something different, what would it be? Why?
And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this Rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.
Re: Poll: Your Career
I'm working on career change. And I'm guessing you're considering one given your posts in the last couple months.
Since I'm currently unemployed and a full time student for the new career, those questions don't fully apply to me.
But, I'll tell you I started out as a biologist, then was a computer trainer, and now I'm going into nursing. Part of the reason is the situation that my biology experience is not employable as a military spouse overseas. I needed a career that is more easily portable. And part of it is that I didn't really like teaching, although I got a ton out of having that job. It was never going to be a career for me, just a job.
Does that help?
(1) Employment attorney and, currently, stay-at-home mom.
(2) I like consulting with companies to create policies, address employee problems as they arise, etc. Litigation sucks all around. If companies would call me before making stupid decisions vis a vis employees, I could save them a boatload of money and wasted time.
(3) I'd be a writer or musician. I've always had a very strong artistic streak, and I excelled at both creative writing and music as a child and teenager. The only thing holding me back is my own insecurity. I suspect that when I'm lying on my deathbed, I'm going to seriously regret not pursuing these things, but I have two small children and reality tends to intervene.
1. I own and operate a private tutoring company that my husband and I started last year.
2. I love it. I love running my own business. I love learning more and more about all of the aspects of running a business. I love working with kids. I love being able to work with them one on one, so that I really get to see that moment of recognition when they finally "get" something. So rewarding. And I actually love working with my husband.
1) I'm a writer fora web retailer.
2) I do like it, because my boss, coworkers and the company as a whole are all awesome. However, I am getting a bit bored with the work itself. There's a chance I might be able to move departments soon, so we'll see.
3) I'm thinking of going to grad school for library science. I've always wanted to be a librarian and the more I look into it, the more I want to do it. Very few schools offer the program, though, so I may end up doing a distance learning program or move.
(1) I'm a beltway bandit.
(2) It has its ups and downs. I'm not in the career field I was trained in, or the one I first picked up, but I'm in an industry where you have to be flexible and follow the money.
(3) I'm not sure what else I would do. I'm trying to maximize my experience here because my company offers a lot of latitude with career and soul-searching. We're big enough you could probably go 180 degrees and stay with the company. I don't dislike the idea of being a beltway bandit; I do sometimes dislike what I do as said bandit.
1. Technical trainer
2. The job, I like. I work with great people and I help keep our guys in compliance with the FDA. My "managers" make me think very violent thoughts.
3. If I had it all to do over again I would either go into vetrinary medicine or animal behavior. My tolerance for animals seems to be much higher than my tolerance for people.
"My tolerance for animals seems to be much higher than my tolerance for people"
Ha. Agreed. I wonder how many tech trainers feel that way. I know most of my coworkers did. Cause + effect?
(1) Web Girl - currently for a college library
(2) Yes - its the best position to be in, for my own satisfaction and because of the economy. Its a lot different than doing webs stuff for a company or a "consulting firm". Not cut throat or work-aholic-y. The marketing dept. is usually the first place they make cuts too so screw that scene - I don't need to live in fear!
(3) Web stuff is not what I want for my life, but its not a bad gig. I wanna do more creative stuff but that can be explored in different ways and wont always be work-related anyways.
For my "Y2K" job I wanted to be a horse lesson instructor. I guess I could get into it whenever but the liability of it all freaks me out. Not the legal part (riders sign waivers) but I would over compensate and wanna only use certain horses and teach certain levels. If someone feel off I would blame myself for weeks. Plus being outside in the cold all winter is not something I crave.
Brooke: thats awesome - a lot of students are getting into library science these days. DON'T become a cataloging librarian. you'll wanna shoot yourself.
1. I'm a lawyer, but I currently clerk for a judge.
2. I really like clerking because I get to use my legal education, but I don't have to bill time. The longer I clerk, the less enthusiastic I am about moving into practice. I'm just so disgusted with some of the crap that comes into our courtroom, and I don't know that I want to be a part of that.
3. If I stay in law, I'd like to be a permanent clerk for a federal judge, work for the federal government doing civil rights work, or get into non-profit management. I'd really like to get an M.A. in English and get into the publishing world. I'm planning to take a community college class next semester to make sure I actually want to go back to school, and then I'll hopefully get my degree once my H has a job and I can get discounted tuition. After reading American Wife, I'd also kind of like to get my M.L.S. and be a children's librarian...which is odd because I don't really like children.
Part of me wishes I'd become a vet, but that ship has definitely sailed. No way could I go back to school for that! If I won the lottery, I'd open a cat sanctuary and play with cats all day.
(1) What do you do for a living? - Administrative Assistant
(2) Do you like it? Love it
If so, why? (1) I work for wonderful people (2) My schedule isn't set, if I want to leave at 3 no problem (3) I have the option of working from home (4) Our Sales Meetings are usually at 4-Star AllInclusive Resorts (5) We have a diverse group of people. Over 20 countries are represented in my office of 60 people. Not only does this make the work environment interesting, planning an overseas trip is a snap. I have at least 10 people here who know as much about the world as MXlosi
(3) If you don't like it and could try something different, what would it be? Why? I would like to keep my job, but I am currently trying to figure out how to work in offices overseas for maybe a week at a time. I currently an eying the Dubai office.
(1) I am a bond trader in portfolio management and I also help the PMs manage everything.
(2) Yes and no. There are days when some things are exciting and upbeat, but those are rare. Our funds, public and private, all invest in commercial real estate debt. I buy the securities for these funds, but since the credit markets have run amuck, my job has become tedious with risk analyses in the last year. Prior to the "crash" in my sector, it was pretty cool. We bought hundreds of commercial mortgages in one deal and I was part of the team who would review both the real estate and the bond side of the transaction. The credit work was great since I could apply it for my own personal investments, which is what I wanted. Now, all I worry about is liquidity. B-O-R-I-N-G. Plus, the stress is just too much and I don't think I can take much more. The fact that bonuses will disappear also doesn't help keep me motivated during my daily grind.
(3) I thought about law school a long time ago and got distracted by the money that finance waved in my face during the good years. I am seriously re-considering it again. Unfortunately, I don't know if that is my passion or if I am just looking for something a bit more stable than finance. I also like to plan events and would love to be an event planner. Alas, my practical side keeps me from doing that since the pay is such a significant drop from my current income and I would probably work the same or more hours. Eek.
1) teach
2) right now I hate it. I've always loved it but I'm unhappy in my new job. mostly because i teach all girls
3)I've considered going into accounting (tax). Both of my parents are CPAs and i actually really enjoy it. Its my type of thinking.
(2) Do you like it? If so, why? I like my job but I want to work some place else. I hate the bookkeeping stuff.
(3) If you don't like it and could try something different, what would it be? Why? I'd get involved in politics and/or issue advocacy if I could do whatever I wanted.
(2) Do you like it? Most days, yes.
If so, why? Because I am part of the brainstorming and decision-making process in terms of what content we gather and how we present it. I am encouraged to try new things and if they don't work, it's OK.
What I don't like is managing other people. I prefer mentoring people. I also don't like that folks at the top of my organization don't seem to be all on one accord in terms of what our mission is and should be moving forward.
(3) If you don't like it and could try something different, what would it be? Why? Though I work in one of the few areas of my industry that is growing, I suspect at some point as it evolves it may move beyond what I am skilled at and interested in doing. So in the interim, I am considering enrolling in a jazz studies program to hone my vocal skills so that I can perform regularly with Jflute.
(2) Yes, I enjoy it. I like the type of work I do, and I'm happy with my office/employer. Attorney jobs vary a lot though, and I know I wouldn't be happy with all of them.
(3) I've thought about becoming a veterinarian, but I'm not willing to go back to school at this point in my life.
I also totally have a dream of training to be a vet tech when I retire, and donating some or all of my time to the animal rescue world.
(1) What do you do for a living?
I'm a researcher at a patent firm.
(2) Do you like it? If so, why?
It's okay, but it's very boring. Patents are horrible and the people in the business are soulless a-holes. It was horrible a few months ago (as you ladies know), but I got switched around a bit, so I am feeling a bit better.
(3) If you don't like it and could try something different, what would it be? Why?
I am in school to eventually teach (maybe even for next school year--cross your fingers). That's my realistic dream. My unrealistic dream is to work for a non-profit and save the world with my liberal idealism.
(1) What do you do for a living? I'm an accountant for a mortgage company
(2) Do you like it? If so, why? Yes and no, accounting is very repetitive month after month, but I enjoy the special projects and stuff.
(3) If you don't like it and could try something different, what would it be? Why? I've always wanted to be in some kind of law enforcement, like the FBI or something. I think I missed my calling.
1. Associate Dir. of Foundation Relations at a cancer research center. I help match up scientific research programs with foundations that might support them. I do a lot of science writing and "translating" of science for a lay audience.
2. I love it. I got my Ph.D. in 2003 and was planning to work in biomedical research, but grew tired of working at the bench. In 2007 I left the lab and began a job in science admin, and transitioned to this position in June. I can use my background and continue learning about cutting edge scientific advances. I get to share my love of research and get others excited about it - and help fund life saving research here.
3. Possibly accounting or pharmacy. Accounting because that nerdy analytical person in me finds it satisfying to crunch numbers. Pharmacy because the training is relatively brief, the hours are human and the salary is great. I think I might get bored, but I also would have been making 6 figs at 25 years old. Now I'm 34 and still not making that.
I am a runner, knitter, scientist, DE-IVF veteran, and stage III colon cancer survivor.
(1) What do you do for a living? I am a Quality Engineer in a machine shop, I make sure we make parts correct, fondle customers when they get upset, work with vendors, etc
(2) Do you like it? If so, why? Usually, I get to do all the special projects and I work with our customers a lot so that is cool, I don't like having to deal with stupid stuff our stupid employees do.
(3) If you don't like it and could try something different, what would it be? Why? I would be a Chemical or Materials Engineer (like at the PhD) level or Physicist (now I am suddenly in italics and can not fix it) because the cutting edge stuff in those fields is really cool to me - the only problem is I would need to become smarter to do that stuff.
2. Eh. Depends on the day. It keeps me busy and its pretty interesting most days, but I dont love it. Its certianly not something I ever saw myself doing! People get sucked into it though becuase when the market is good money is good. Unfortunately the market is horrible right now, so its pretty miserable here, and lay-off are kind of the 10,000 pound elephant in the room at all times.
3. I really dont know, which is sad. You would think at 25 I would have figured out what I want to do with the rest of my life, but nope! Right now I am just focusing on getting my degree then I will go from there. If money wasnt an object I really wanted to be a dog trainer for seeing eye, hearing and assistance dogs. There is actually a college that you can attend and earn a bachelor's in animal behavior while learning to train the dogs.But it is $$$$$$$ and when you get out, there is NO $$$$$$ in the work. When I win the lotto I am going to do that
Am I too late? I've bene busy all morning.
1. I'm a journalist in a dying industry.
2. at it's core, i love journalism. and eventhough the newspaper industry is in the toilet, i believe the values or journalism more than ever. being a voice for the voiceless, being a watchdog of government, holding powerful people accountable and all that jazz. so when i'm out in the street talking to people, learning something new every day and writing about fascinating things, i'm happy as a clam.
but all the BS -- dwindlng resources, staff cuts, an obessession with the bottom line while pure journalism takes a backseat -- yeah, that shyt is really upsetting. while my job itself is secure, the indurstry is not. and it's not what it used to be.
3. i'd like a job where i can "do good" in an industry i believe in and at a place that functions properly. i'm just not sure what that is right now. changing careers after a decade in the biz is scary, but i'm considering it. just not sure what i want to be when i grow up, i guess.
1. Teacher (high school)
2. Most days
I really like my subject because it is very practical. For instance, right now I am teaching them how to create and adjust a budget, write checks, balance a checkbook, etc.
3. I would love to be a stay at home mom. My mom stayed at home until we went into middle school and she did so much with us. It was nice.