Your Profession

[darklisruthven]

supply teacher to keep body and soul togther, sword dancer, re-enactor, actress by preference, and ebid/ fleabay seller to pay for more University.

[ChameleonSystems]

skool, college, polytech ---> qualified programmer/systems analyst, self employed IT consultant ever since. Natural progression to sell off all the accumulated gear plus other stuff on the web, as well as continuing said job. The recession has more or less killed the IT trade for me for a while, so more emphasis on the online trade now. I believe there is still a recession going on in the IT industry, no one wants to spend money. They still buy new cars, but do not maintain their office equipment or buy new systems.

So if anyone needs an experienced (30 years) Apple based IT support person, I am open to offers. I know Apple systems inside out.

[cornishmaid1961]

I think what's interesting is how fragmentary our career paths all are, and how many of us have done a wide variety of things. I only put the main building-blocks in my history, but if I'd gone into the sort of detail the rest of you had there'd be F1 journalism, yacht hand, Greek shop assistant and all sorts of other bits in there too. Yet my impression was that most people still tended to do one thing and stick to it, maybe with a change of employer or three along the way, then stop. Is this "a bit of this, a bit of that" more normal than I imagined (it's not like I've ever researched it!), or is it just the type of people who end up selling online?

I think the reason I've done so many things is because of having children. You have to fit whatever you can around them and school hours !
I feel sorry for the young people just starting out today in the jobs market. When we were young it was fairly easy to hop from job to job but now you are lucky to have one at all and have to hang onto it for all you're worth !

This is such an interesting thread, seeing what people on here have done in their lives, not that I'm at all nosey ! .

[cmjewels925]

My list would be a LOT shorter if I hadn't become too ill to continue cooking professionally.

Full Time
Chef
Dealer (casino not drugs)
Chef
Customer Service
Driving Instructor

Part Time
House Model
Fencing Coach
Bar Maid
Kiss-o-gram
Waitress
Artists Model
Stable Hand
Dancer

If I can get a drug regimen where I feel I'm safe to drive I may go back to teaching driving. Until then you're stuck with me.

[bykimbo]

...
Stable Hand
Dancer...

Just for a moment there my eyes/brain conflated those and I read "table dancer"!

[buttons-and-bows]

M&S sewing factory
Catering ( NHS)
Catering ( Mecca )
Then I started my own buisiness when we moved here in 1985
retired through ill health in 2006 ( new years day) emptied shop on NYD and then collaped and was in bed for 12 months, 12 months getting a bit better each day and then ill again in 2007 and been ill ever since, maybe I should have carried on working

[cornishmaid1961]

Just for a moment there my eyes/brain conflated those and I read "table dancer"!

No she can usually dance if she has a pole to hang onto ( usually from Warsaw ) but most of the time she's under the table !

[HerMajesty]

Degree Business Mgt.
Jobs: (short list)
Bred cattle on WY ranch
Tutor to Migrant Workers children
Nurse's Aide
Partner in Real Estate Firm
Development Dept at Retirement home
Prof artist (fine art/photography)
Now:
art/photography/bon-bons and ebid

[Gill]

My main profession has always been in accounts with various titles and it's no surprise that Assistant Accountant paid more money although the job was actually accounts assistant in my mind!

I've also been a barmaid, cleaner, decorator, gardener, dog walker, upholsterer and stained glass maker - the latter 2 coming from courses taken. I'm still working part time in accounts and I hate it, but am looking to be a full timer online seller, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE! Fingers crossed.

[TiasTreasures]

I think what's interesting is how fragmentary our career paths all are, and how many of us have done a wide variety of things. I only put the main building-blocks in my history, but if I'd gone into the sort of detail the rest of you had there'd be F1 journalism, yacht hand, Greek shop assistant and all sorts of other bits in there too. Yet my impression was that most people still tended to do one thing and stick to it, maybe with a change of employer or three along the way, then stop. Is this "a bit of this, a bit of that" more normal than I imagined (it's not like I've ever researched it!), or is it just the type of people who end up selling online?

That's what I've been noticing. What a variety! I don't think it's normal . . . a few people I know changed professions, and it was agonizing for them to take the chance. Maybe you're right . . . selling online is a new way to make a living, and the kind of people who are willing to take risks are the ones willing to give it a try?

Actually, I left out a couple of mine. Full disclosure: my first job was washing dishes in an Italian restaurant. My second was a gofer in a small local bank, and I made more money washing dishes. (blush . . . the rest of them sound more impressive, maybe that's why I forgot these two).