Your once and future career aspirations?

[Glorious Brittania]

Like ideology and hair, I've always found that what I want to be when I grow up is a constantly changing phenomenon. After a brief stint as a six year old of wanting to be an ice-cream van, my first serious career thoughts came when I was about 10, when I wanted to be an author or a chef. I changed my mind on the latter when I realised I had no co-ordination, and to sounded like too much hard work; and I simply wasn't good enough at long writing things to be the former.

Then, I wanted to be an archaeologist at around 14, partly because I've always loved history, partly due to my mum being one, but mostly because of Indiana Jones and this god-awful yet enjoyable program called Bonekickers.

Now, frankly, I have no idea. I'd like some job in government or politics, just not on the front lines, as it were. I suppose the dream role would be being some kind of highly paid speech writer, as if such a thing could happen. I just have no idea how to get there.

So, if you have a job now, what is it? And what have you always wanted to do or be?

[Divair]

What I wanted to be: Entrepreneur.
What I want to be: Entrepreneur.
What I am: Entrepreneur.

[Pope Joan]

I wanted to be a fireman, and, since I was 9, an astronaut. I built rockets, my friends and I made our own refracting telescope (excellent resolution), we got the NASA newsletter.

I was a lawyer and a pastor and now I'm an adjunct faculty for SUNY.

None of my jobs have been remarkably rewarding. That's because if it's fun, they don't have to pay you. Paid work by definition cannot be fun.

[Samuraikoku]

I've always wanted to be a lawyer. Now I'm one step away, but it's the hardest: Actually getting a job.

[Glorious Brittania]

I wanted to be a fireman, and, since I was 9, an astronaut. I built rockets, my friends and I made our own refracting telescope (excellent resolution), we got the NASA newsletter.

I was a lawyer and a pastor and now I'm an adjunct faculty for SUNY.

None of my jobs have been remarkably rewarding. That's because if it's fun, they don't have to pay you. Paid work by definition cannot be fun.

But what about being a clow-
Oh. Yeah.

[Pope Joan]

I wanted to be a fireman, and, since I was 9, an astronaut. I built rockets, my friends and I made our own refracting telescope (excellent resolution), we got the NASA newsletter.

I was a lawyer and a pastor and now I'm an adjunct faculty for SUNY.

None of my jobs have been remarkably rewarding. That's because if it's fun, they don't have to pay you. Paid work by definition cannot be fun.

But what about being a clow-
Oh. Yeah.

LG does seem to enjoy that career, although it seems to involve pranks of the breaking-your-bones kind or the submerging-you-in-concrete kind, which I should not find amusing.

[Nadkor]

I used to want to be a solicitor, but I changed my mind.

I'm going to be a barrister instead.

[Czechanada]

Lawyer, journalist, or criminologist.

[Glorious Brittania]

I used to want to be a solicitor, but I changed my mind.

I'm going to be a barrister instead.

I've never understood the difference between the two

[Nazi Flower Power]

I've worked as a receptionist, in a print shop, as an English teacher, and at a data entry job processing enrollment applications for student health insurance. A couple months ago, I quit the job at the insurance company and have been more or less out of work since. I worked a 10 hour shift taking down bleachers in a circus tent, spent an afternoon loading a truck, and spent a lot of time sitting around the temp agency when they didn't have work. The last few days I have tried selling my art on the street, and it looks like I am going to be doing that for a while. It went well today, and I do love art. The prospect of being my own boss has a certain appeal, too.

[Nazi Flower Power]

I've always wanted to be a lawyer. Now I'm one step away, but it's the hardest: Actually getting a job.

Yeah, that part is very difficult.

[Lackadaisical2]

Future: Drunk asshole who posts on internet forums.

[Astrolinium]

When I was little I wanted to be a train engineer.
Then I wanted to be president.
For a long time, I had no clue what I wanted to do.
Now I'm reasonably certain I would like to be a composer and a music educator (specifically, a high school band director).

I'm currently a student in high school and am very much on track to be able to do at least something with music in the future.

[Zeppy]

Scientist and physician.

Gave up on the physician idea because I hated it after shadowing a doctor and spending some time in a hospital/clinic.

I would like to be in academic research, preferably in chemical biology. Greatest feeling would be seeing myself published in a journal and being a professor.

If not, I hope I can get a job in the pharmaceutical or biotech industries.

I'm an undergrad with some research experience already, so I'm on the right track.

[Samuraikoku]

I've always wanted to be a lawyer. Now I'm one step away, but it's the hardest: Actually getting a job.

Yeah, that part is very difficult.

It's taking me a year and a half, and counting. Very few interviews, and no answer after.

[Zeppy]

It's taking me a year and a half, and counting. Very few interviews, and no answer after.

Become a prostitute lawyer.

[EnragedMaldivians]

Become a diplomat and hopefully one day receive an ambassador level position to represent my country in some other country that is not a shithole.

[Divair]

It's taking me a year and a half, and counting. Very few interviews, and no answer after.

Become a prostitute lawyer.

How does that work?

[Nadkor]

I used to want to be a solicitor, but I changed my mind.

I'm going to be a barrister instead.

I've never understood the difference between the two

The classical distinction is that a solicitor deals directly with the public usually in an office and does stuff like conveyancing, contracts, wills, etc., whereas a barrister acts on the instruction of a solicitor and does the actual courtroom stuff.

The Foreign Office (no idea why, but they have a good description of the difference) says:

What is the difference between a barrister and a solicitor?

The legal profession in Britain is divided into two branches: barristers (called ‘advocates’ in Scotland) and solicitors.

Solicitors undertake legal business for individual and corporate clients, while barristers advise on legal problems submitted through solicitors and present cases in higher courts. Certain functions are common to both – for example, the presentation of cases in lower courts.

Barristers must pass professional examinations before being called to the Bar (Barristers are known collectively as the Bar), and they must then serve an apprenticeship with a qualified barrister for one year.

Solicitors must also pass professional examinations and serve a two-year period of apprenticeship, called ‘articles’, in a solicitor’s office. Once qualified in this way, a newly admitted solicitor is supervised for three years.

And Wiki:

A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions. They can be contrasted with solicitors – the other class of lawyer in split professions – who have more direct access with clients, and may do transactional-type legal work. Barristers are rarely hired by clients directly but instead are retained (or instructed) by solicitors to act on behalf of clients.

..

Essentially, barristers are the lawyers who represent litigants as their advocate before the courts of that jurisdiction. They speak in court and present the case before a judge or jury. In some jurisdictions they undertake additional training in order to hone their skills with evidence law, ethics, and court practice and procedure. In contrast, solicitors generally engage in preparatory work and advice, such as drafting and reviewing legal documents, dealing with and receiving instructions from the client, preparing evidence, and managing the day-to-day administration of a matter. Solicitors can provide a crucial support role to a barrister when in court, be it in managing large volumes of documents in the case or even negotiating settlements outside the courtroom while the trial continues inside.

[Zeppy]

How does that work?

I forgot to put the slash.

"become a prostitute/lawyer."

im lazy and all that jazz.

[Bafuria]

For some reason I wanted to be a Parking enforcement officer when I was ~8 years old.

Today I'm leaning towards EMT or Journalism.

[Zottistan]

What I wanted to be: Working with the EU.
What I want to be: Either a psychiatrist or a chemist of some sort.
What I am: A student.

[Wikkiwallana]

I would like to work in research and development of polymers, preferably plastics.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

What I wanted to be: Bestselling novelist.
What I currently want to be: Writer for film and/or television.
What I am: Disabled, using the opportunity to work on my writing.

[Divair]

How does that work?

I forgot to put the slash.

"become a prostitute/lawyer."

im lazy and all that jazz.

Oh. I thought the lawyer would strip on a pole while presenting the evidence to the jury.