Talkabout

21/03/2008 @ 19:30 Overseas said:

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Hi everyone,

My question is rather simple:

How did you or what made you choose what you are doing as your professionnal life ?

It could be interesting for me to know bits of your background on this topic as I try to change my own.
21/03/2008 @ 20:31 thorn said:

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I've had several professions.

My current profession (computer technician) I chose because I love technology. I love computers and I'm good at it.

Before this I was a Tour Guide in the town I lived in. Got to meet new people and show them why I loved where I lived.

Before that it was Social Work Assistant. I loved this job, but my husband was transferred and I had to quit. Being a military spouse meant that I had a chance to try new things and I enjoyed exploring new jobs.
21/03/2008 @ 23:22 nora said:

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I trained as a librarian because all I knew in my world was books - they are safe
22/03/2008 @ 08:24 Swon said:

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Dropped out of school at 15 with no qualifications.

Hsd jobs in printing and electro-mechanical engineering before getting into IT. Although it was called data processing back in the sixties.

Worked as a field service engineer on DP kit and computers (proper big ones) for 20 years until the job changed too much. Then I moved to software support on Unix systems and finally to where I am now which is software test with a bit of development thrown in.
22/03/2008 @ 09:20 roze said:

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This is a brilliant talkabout Overseas - i need some time to reflect on what informed my decisions over and above what i did - i will come back to this if that is OK. Rx
22/03/2008 @ 16:43 Wolfie said:

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I wish mine had been better thought out - perhaps with a bit of planning and some long term goals thrown in - but mine were nearly always defined by circumstance, luck and gut feel.... investment banking, dental receptionist, MBA in the US, investment banking, entrepreneur, finance director and back to entrepreneur...
22/03/2008 @ 17:04 Isabella said:

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Awesome Wolfie, you're one impressive gal! In South Africa I'm known as an advocate, in England a barrister. I specialise in criminal law, but I work for, what you'd call the Crown - so I prosecute. I love my job. It gives me a very deep sense of purpose, because I think of it as the victims, dead or alive, and the survivors of crime, trusting me to fight their battles for them where one cannot afford to lose, because the stakes are too high. I've never wanted to be anything else, or maybe I'd love to have been a famous performer/singer, but I settled for this and I've never looked back. Been doing it for 15 years.
22/03/2008 @ 19:39 luis said:

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i am an actor and so went to New York to be on Broadway - I was wanting to be with many dancers and singers and joined a stage school but ran out of money - very hard to get work as an actor although my mother thought I was very talented - so I became a taxi driver. One day I go on stage but now I have to work and meet lots of people.
27/03/2008 @ 00:33 benn said:

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Isabella and I have similar professions! I am a Paralegal which means that I can do everything that a lawer does except give legal advice and represent in court. I also work in the prosecutors office and find this position to be very rewarding.
27/03/2008 @ 11:29 roze said:

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I have been pondering this one for some time Overseas. I am not sure (other than once when i was in my early 20s) that i have made very conscious choices about what i wanted to do. Mostly, i have been spurred on by knowing that i am getting bored where i am and the absolute belief that i am unemployable. I cannot do employee (sort of did it for a few years) and i cannot do boss (and kind of had to do that for rather longer - badly). Mostly i get a buzz out of setting up new things, that are challenging the norm, providing some kind of social benefit, involve working together with talented people and that are high risk. Also i have always done something in my life that is voluntary which right now is helping out in my kids school one afternoon a week. I really get something from contributing without money getting in the way. So my advice - if it feels right leap - and don't spend too long looking before you do.
27/03/2008 @ 12:49 zorro said:

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I have been many things (to many people!!) but my staple is writer/journalist. I used to make up stories all the time when I was very small, could recite all of Roald Dahl's revolting Rhymes (I guess you think you know this story... your dont - the real one's much more gory!!.) and then later won my first writing competition at 12 so a passion for words is sort of in my blood. But I have also flown as a junior pilot in the Air Force, trained as a Zoologist and microbiolgist, worked in pharmaceuticals and am a qualified horse riding instructress so I like to be flexible and am always open to trying out new things. I take my hat of to Roze though, I wish some of the stuff I had done was a bit more conscious!
29/03/2008 @ 21:52 Overseas said:

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Thank you all for your interesting answers. For my part and until recently, nothing was never planned. All I did was to cope with my difficult life, going from one job to another without having much choice, except to quit because I was so bored. Now I can't go any further this way. It's a long time since I've overran my limits on this and as I simply can't live like this anymore, I sort of feel stuck in between two levels. The upper being the one I want to reach and the lower being the one I want to leave behind me.
29/03/2008 @ 23:50 cate said:

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Oh Roze I love your free spirit attitude to life and work .You have to be very adaptable and clever to make it and I'm sure you qualify on both counts. I had the bad luck to win a scholarship to uni . I say bad luck because I didn't really want to go I would have gone to college of arts . Parent expectations were very strong. My mum was very controlling like a lot of parents who pressure their kids into doing something they would have liked to have achieved. Living vicariously is very damaging. I have been on high alert with my kids making sure they choose what they do and provide the home environment that enables.
I think looking back from the perspective of many years working with children was very rewarding though often stressful . As a retiree I have chosen to do voluntary work with children in need and it does make life more meaningful. So parents beware - as parents we give life - but we don't own the life we give- it is theirs do with as they choose. Hugs Cate
30/03/2008 @ 10:42 Isabella said:

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Hi Cate. Very wise words. I have 3 small children and I'll remember your words as they get to that age. Thank you.

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