What have you done for work in your life?

Garydavid

Garydavid

Member
Location
Massachusetts
I thought it would be interesting to learn what others have done or are doing for work. I am a glazier, working with glass and mirrors cutting and shaping them along with building aluminium structure's. This is one present project that is ongoing. The lights and entire roof are being removed to be refinished and the lights removed due to leakage problems. We did this job about 15 years ago and I am doing it once again. That's a sure sign of age when your around long enough to do something like this once again. This is the basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, ma.
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I calculated that I have worked for 12 employers over the years, starting with a part time job in high school. I worked in a machine shop, auto shops, marine engine shop, sold auto parts, was a service manager in a couple of auto shops, and was a district manager for an auto manufacturer.
I also spent 2 years in the Navy as a petty officer. I retired 22 years ago, working was taking up too much of my time..
 
Somewhere around age 10 I worked for a mom & pop grocery store stocking shelves & cleaning the butcher block & meat cases. !6 to 18 worked as an apprentoce butcher. 19 to 27 US Navy made it to 1st. class jet engine mechanic. 28 to 29 Bored out of my mind working for U S post office. 30 to 33 odd jobs lumber company & tractor trailer driver.


33 to 34 swept floors & ran for parts. 35 same company started mechanic training for cars, trucks & heavy equipment. Made journeyman mechanic. 40 bid 1st. line supervisor job got it. 41 to 54 rose to dept. manager. Company downsizing manament @ 54 was offered a retirement package that was to good to pass up. Had planned to retire @ 55 but the package offered was way more than I would have if I stayed.


Since then no work for a pay check. The few things on our bucket list not done. Hi Line in Costa Rica & Tour Australia on a Harley.
 
Hi John. That's one interesting list. I have just a hint of the responsibility and knowledge you must need to be a usaf bomber pilot. I had taken up piloting when I got out of highschool and did get my students pilot license but couldn't afford the price increases at the time. But still love aviation. I was never a teacher but do love photography. Used to develop my own color film and prints. Now it's all digital, no more developer and fixer. Used to love those smells in that darkroom. So what type of photography did you or do you do?
 
Geez what a work history. Well you did very well for yourself working to the top like that and securing a retirement. There are so many that cannot say the same. Nice work.
 
I have had many jobs in my life; factory worker, hospitality services, bank employee, media services in a university, library assistant, student services in a college and university, housekeeper, housewife.:eek:
 
I was a practical nurse. I loved the job back in the 70's and 80's. I also worked for the public health the last few years leading to my retirement. Since that time the medical profession has changed and not for the better. In today's world I'd probably choose a different line of work.
 
So you were an LPN. That's can be tough work. Well you've helped many people along the way I'm sure. What became so different that you would rather chosen a different profession?
 
I got my Bachelor's Degree in Social Work rather later in life, in 1984 at age 30. I spent most of my career working in various jobs with people with disabilities. I very much enjoyed the work, and am still in contact with some of the people I worked with over the years. Even though I retired in 2016.
 
I started out mowing neighborhood lawns in my early teen years. Then, in high school, I worked weekends at a local gas station. When I graduated, I felt the draft board breathing down my neck...Vietnam....so I joined the USAF, and got an excellent education in electronics. After 7 years, I got out, worked at a car dealership for about 6 months, selling cars, while sending out resumes for a real job. Finally, I got a series of interviews with IBM, and embarked on a career of fixing data processing equipment (punched card machines), and ultimately the largest and most sophisticated mainframe computers, until I retired in 2001. Since then, I've enjoyed retirement.
 
Worked for a savings and loan, married a soldier and lived all over and worked in offices when I could. In Germany I worked for the Army and got seriously interested in law. When we came back, I worked for lawyers as a paralegal; I liked legal research and appeals the best.
 
I was a senior electronics technician helping to design and build experimental rigs for the university Atomic & Molecular physics (ATMOL) dept. Then I got a job as a mainframe engineer with IBM working both in the south of England and Germany. Moved into software development, then training and back into software, working for customers across the UK and Europe. Took early retirement after a big reduction in staff at Big Blue and worked as a school janitor / maintenance man for a couple of years before quitting work at 56 and heading back north. I had thought about a part time job, but I was far too busy!

As a student, I had worked as a bin man (garbage collector) and a postman. Those jobs were a real education in human nature.
 
After graduating high school, I spent the next ten years in university with the determination to achieve a Doctorate in Psychology. Since I am not a genius, I had to work to avoid student loan debt. I play by ear, sing a little, so I sang in small clubs for awhile, but, ultimately, it was my ability to belly dance which paid the bills. I worked in posh men’s clubs all over Montreal.

Between work and university, I don’t think I had a good nights sleep in a decade, but it was so worth it! Now I work mostly with people suffering from severe PTSD. I have it also, so I understand their struggles very well. A life of service helps keep me sane. Many of my clients are vets. A vet saved me from the street when I was a teen, now I pay it forward.
 
I have a Bachelor's Degree in M.E. Worked for DuPont, but decided to switch careers and went to ATP flight school to become a pilot. I started with Air Wisconsin and later was recruited by United Airlines. Retired as a Senior Captain.
 
I have associates degree from Vermont College '75
My 1st job was working at a company where I delivered searches to local law firms
My 2nd was working in the mail room at a local law firm.I learned the in/outs how the firm operates.At one time I thought I would follow in my dad's footsteps since he was a lawyer,decided against it
My last job was the longest,27 yrs working part time in local hospital as pharm tech.My job was delivering narcotics to all the nursing floors/specality units.There was a lot of walking/bending and paper work.I had enough took early retirement in 2011
 
I had a low level office jobs, then stayed home for a few years to raise my daughter. Went back to work in an office for a while, but hated it. I went back to school and got a teaching certificate. Started out teaching high school, moved down to elementary. At the end of my career, I was teaching the children of the high schoolers I'd taught. Teaching was difficult, but rewarding, too. I hear about some former students from time to time, and I'm usually not surprised how they turned out. A few had sad endings, and one that I know of became a preacher. He was a funny, bright, enjoyable kid in fifth grade. Once when I had laryngitis, he took over the lesson (it was spelling) and did a creditable and funny job of imitating me, right down to wearing my reading glasses. LOL! Another kid was a talented football player, and went on to play for Oklahoma University, I think. But he didn't have much of a work ethic, and it showed once he started playing with other talented players. I don't think he graduated, and he didn't make the pros. I heard that he drowned on a lake outing with friends. I've no doubt alcohol was involved. Such a waste. His brother, who was much sweeter and kinder, played a few years in the Canadian football league, I think. Oh well, time to exit Memory Lane.
 

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