How many of you actually have jobs? JOB CHAT!!!

[Neu Leonstein]

I was at a central bank's financial markets department. Then I left for more study, but I'm starting to look for jobs now that I'm half-way through.

[Yaltabaoth]

I work as a photo-retoucher, and finished artist (which means I take the barely-intelligible messes the designers throw together and make it work on a printing press).

After almost 20 years it's getting a bit old.
I've been told by many people that I have an excellent radio voice (and a radio face on occasion too… ) so I'm thinking about trying out for voice-work as a change of pace.

[Vitaphone Racing]

I'm a messiah. I wander around and give people false hope.

That explains the Romo flag.

I really must get around to changing it

[Nazi Flower Power]

I quit my job in 2012. I have been selling art since then, but I don't really make enough money at it. I am going to be screwed if I don't figure out how to make more money, and it has already been long enough that it would be difficult to go back to a conventional day job.

Last summer, I applied for a couple of jobs, but even applying stressed me out so badly that I spent all my time crying. I am so much happier with my art. I didn't realize just how sick of my job I was until I quit, but when I finally did quit, it was incredible. I lost about 20lb., slept a lot better, had so much more energy... I felt like I was 20 again.

If I can't make enough to pay rent, maybe I will get my driver's license, buy a used van or RV, and just live in the van/RV and sell art from street corners or the back of the van to get money for food and clothes and art supplies. It would be rough if I had to let go of all my furniture because some of it has been in my family for 100 years, and I am the type of person to get attached to inanimate objects. I already have donated a lot of things or passed them on to other people so that I don't have to worry about finding space to keep them. It's easier to get rid of things a little at a time, and I feel better about it if I know someone else will be able to use them. Mostly, the things I still have are the ones that have a long history behind them.

Yet you can still afford Internet and a computer or phone to be on here, I don't want to put you down or anything but surely it would be better to get a small part time job that wont stress you out and do the artwork on the side until it makes enough you don't need the part time job?

I am renting a room in a shared apartment, and shared utilities (which includes internet) are part of the deal. Even if that was not the case, libraries have free internet.

And what makes you think there is a small part-time job readily available? I did try applying for a couple of part-time jobs last time I went job-hunting, but none of the employers responded. People can't always just decide, "I want to do X," and find a job that is what they are looking for.

The fact that it's been over a year since I had a day job is an issue for PT jobs as well as for FT. A lot of the low-level jobs that people usually rely on just to get by will not hire me because I am "over-qualified." There was a brief period of 2012 when I was both selling art and working for Labor Ready (doing day labor), but I stopped going to Labor Ready because it was less profitable than the art. Initially, Labor Ready was not enthusiastic about hiring me because they assumed that I would be too snotty and lazy to do blue collar work. That kind of prejudice is not unique to Labor Ready. Being female and only 150lb. makes it difficult to get physical jobs such as being a mover. That type of work actually appeals to me, and I wish I was strong enough to be good at it.

It's also worth mentioning that I have enough savings to live on for 2 to 5 years without working at all (even without the money from the art), and the art does bring in enough to cover my bills in the summer when I can go out and sell on the street. When my investment income and growth of my 401K from my old job is factored in, my net worth has not changed much in the last year. When I say I don't make enough from the art, I mean I have had to take some money out of savings to stay afloat, not that I am living in my parents' basement or mooching off welfare programs.

I could have been "responsible" and had a normal middle class career if I wanted, and I chose to walk away from it because it didn't make me happy. That sort of thing is more important if you are raising children, but I haven't found a husband, and I don't know if or when I ever will. So WTF am I supposed to be saving for? It isn't that important for myself, and I don't have anyone else dependent on me.

Honestly, there is a certain appeal to the thought of moving to a 3rd world country where the cost of living is lower and the money I already have will go further. I lived in China before, and the possibility of going back there has crossed my mind. I get nostalgic for China more than I do for any of my old jobs in the US.

[Luveria]

Last summer, I applied for a couple of jobs, but even applying stressed me out so badly that I spent all my time crying. I am so much happier with my art. I didn't realize just how sick of my job I was until I quit, but when I finally did quit, it was incredible. I lost about 20lb., slept a lot better, had so much more energy... I felt like I was 20 again.

The ideal life would be having an obnoxious income coming in without ever working. Then a person would be free to pursue any interests they have.

[Neu Leonstein]

-snip-

What kind of art do you do? Is there a way to apply some of the physical skills involved to work? Painting or decorating things, woodwork, that sort of thing? I have literally no clue about these things, but at the very least it'd be obvious that you'd bring the skillset required, right?

[Horizont]

I am a professional despot.

[Luveria]

I am a professional despot.

Where?

[Nazi Flower Power]

-snip-

What kind of art do you do? Is there a way to apply some of the physical skills involved to work? Painting or decorating things, woodwork, that sort of thing? I have literally no clue about these things, but at the very least it'd be obvious that you'd bring the skillset required, right?

Yeah, I do use traditional media more than digital, and those sorts of hands-on trades do appeal to me more than going back to office work.

Aside from what I already posted, I have also considered the possibility of learning a construction trade like carpentry or welding, which would open up more employment opportunities. I have a little bit of experience with welding and woodworking, but no formal certifications.

[Yaltabaoth]

What kind of art do you do? Is there a way to apply some of the physical skills involved to work? Painting or decorating things, woodwork, that sort of thing? I have literally no clue about these things, but at the very least it'd be obvious that you'd bring the skillset required, right?

Yeah, I do use traditional media more than digital, and those sorts of hands-on trades do appeal to me more than going back to office work.

Aside from what I already posted, I have also considered the possibility of learning a construction trade like carpentry or welding, which would open up more employment opportunities. I have a little bit of experience with welding and woodworking, but no formal certifications.

I imagine carpentry or welding could also potentially open up new artistic means of expression as an added bonus. Or expand them.

[The Capricorn Islands]

I'm a Political Science student but I still have time for a part time job so I'm looking every now and then. Have never had a job though, a couple of the local employers said a redhead in their workplace wouldn't work out.

[Nazi Flower Power]

Yeah, I do use traditional media more than digital, and those sorts of hands-on trades do appeal to me more than going back to office work.

Aside from what I already posted, I have also considered the possibility of learning a construction trade like carpentry or welding, which would open up more employment opportunities. I have a little bit of experience with welding and woodworking, but no formal certifications.

I imagine carpentry or welding could also potentially open up new artistic means of expression as an added bonus. Or expand them.

Yeah. That is why I have experience with them in the first place. I was introduced to them in college to use for art.

[Nazi Flower Power]

I'm a Political Science student but I still have time for a part time job so I'm looking every now and then. Have never had a job though, a couple of the local employers said a redhead in their workplace wouldn't work out.

What's wrong with redheads?

[Isles of the United Armed Forces]

I'm a Political Science student but I still have time for a part time job so I'm looking every now and then. Have never had a job though, a couple of the local employers said a redhead in their workplace wouldn't work out.

What's wrong with redheads?

My sisters a redhead

[Isles of the United Armed Forces]

I work as a photo-retoucher, and finished artist (which means I take the barely-intelligible messes the designers throw together and make it work on a printing press).

After almost 20 years it's getting a bit old.
I've been told by many people that I have an excellent radio voice (and a radio face on occasion too… ) so I'm thinking about trying out for voice-work as a change of pace.

So kind of like digital design and media production. That is something I used to do in my free time. One of my navy buddies has a local radio show and he says that it is hard at first because of how much it costs to run the whole thing, but once you get things going he says its a pretty cool job.

[Nazi Flower Power]

What's wrong with redheads?

My sisters a redhead

That's nice. I still don't get what it has to do with being a good fit for a job.

I have had an employer tell me my hair-color was an issue, but I don't think it's that common. It happened to me in Shanghai, and their problem was they didn't think I looked white enough. Red hair would have been no issue.

[Parhe]

I wouldn't really consider this a job, but more an excuse as to why I don't have a job after having graduated high school last year. Besides doing the majority of home chores I "work" anywhere from three to eight hours for my dad's small construction company most days. I wouldn't call it work since I don't get paid and since when I did move out of my house my dad begged me to come back so it isn't like I am doing this for the shelter or whatever. I am looking for another job before I go to university this fall(hopefully) in a local Korean restaurant or retail store, but I'm in no hurry. I'm happy where I am now and it isn't like I am being unproductive.

[Yaltabaoth]

I work as a photo-retoucher, and finished artist (which means I take the barely-intelligible messes the designers throw together and make it work on a printing press).

After almost 20 years it's getting a bit old.
I've been told by many people that I have an excellent radio voice (and a radio face on occasion too… ) so I'm thinking about trying out for voice-work as a change of pace.

So kind of like digital design and media production. That is something I used to do in my free time. One of my navy buddies has a local radio show and he says that it is hard at first because of how much it costs to run the whole thing, but once you get things going he says its a pretty cool job.

Kind of, except where it's not.

My particular job is somewhat hard to describe because I have two specialities, but I don't have the fundamental: I can't design to save myself.

I'm kinda like an idiot-savant within the design industry - I do two particular (and contrasting) things really well, but just can't grasp the "design" part.

The finished art aspect is very technical, dealing with separation of printing colours (cyan, magenta, yellow, black, and a whole holy host of "special" inks) and glosses and embosses and cut-out bits and… I'm the guy who gets all of those bits right.
If I get it wrong, we cop the bill for the re-print. Do that too many times and you go broke (or more accurately I get fired first). So I have to be very precise and systematic with everything we make for print.

The retouching side is different, and about as close to "creative" as I get anywhere.
Unlike the finished art which has many rules, retouching is practically free-form.
There's an extensive set of tools, and an almost innumerable number of ways to combine them.

So retouching is creative (for me at least) in that I have to evaluate the best way to achieve an outcome and then complete the final composite/edit to a photo-realistic level.
And it's that last 5%, that final detail pass that finishes the little details that really makes an image, and it's that 5% that you never get to do because budget.

I love the satisfaction of getting a tricky challenge and getting it right.
I hate the expectation that I'm also a fine artist and can just create any image out of a few poorly-chosen happy-snaps and a few hours of "Photoshop" (as though it isn't a complex program, but merely a button I press a required number of times to transform the original into the finished).

…why yes, I did have a crappy day at work today, why do you ask?

Also wasn't thinking radio itself, more scripted work - "radio voice" means not-unpleasant-to-listen-to, as I understand the phrase.

[Isles of the United Armed Forces]

Also wasn't thinking radio itself, more scripted work - "radio voice" means not-unpleasant-to-listen-to, as I understand the phrase.

On see I was thinking of actual like talk radio show.

[Fionnuala_Saoirse]

Doctor.

I've put my finger up at least 8 bums this week. Beat that.

[Nadkor]

I have a job. Of course I do, I'm nearly 28. It's tenuously related to my education.

I negotiate derivative, securities, repo, and commodities OTC trading master agreements and related appendices/annexes for and with a variety of well known international financial organisations.

I've pretty much sold my soul to banks, hedge funds, and international finance, and don't get paid anywhere near enough for it.

[Dyakovo]

I know most of you are kids on here but there seems to be a lot of teenagers on here as well if not adults, but how many of you have a job? What kind of job is it? What do you do at your job? Or if you are still in school and not old enough to get a job what would you like to have as your first job?

I am a Navy (SWCC) Gunner's Mate, We are built mentally, physically, and stubbornly tough. If you would like to see what my job is all about check this out-> This Is what I live for!

After telling me what job you have post a link to the website if your job has one, I would love to see what you do.

I will allow this to turn in to a job discussion thread between every one to serve as inspiration for people searching or just to share over all Ideas on each others jobs.

I am currently in between jobs, but I am a truck driver. My last job entailed bringing fresh produce to distribution warehouses.

[Nadkor]

Doctor.

I've put my finger up at least 8 bums this week. Beat that.

Swap?

Not for the bums bit.

[Fionnuala_Saoirse]

Doctor.

I've put my finger up at least 8 bums this week. Beat that.

Swap?

Not for the bums bit.

Not interested in the bum play? Hmmmm there's always the 5 minutes of squeezing a cock every time you want to put a catheter in to make up for it.

I'll take your law skills and you can take my lack of med skills

[Greater-London]

Go to university and work part time in a bar.