What's your job?

[413x]

Data engineer

Pros
Fairly in demand job
Easy to find jobs
Pay is decent (above average)

Cons
Not exciting/no passion for it
Won't change much


Only do it because science was the worst career choice ever and I fell into It (clever enough for it, easy to teach yourself)

Have and always will regret not doing engineering

I genuinely can't imagine how nice it must be to have a job you love. (especially if it pays well!)

 

[mrk]

WOW!!!! This all sounds like jobs people have in movies!!!!

But there is no ENHANCE!! and the computers don't bleep or bloop as they "compute"

 

[Gary*]

Building Maintenance.

Pros: Lots of varied work so no two days are the same and I learn new skills all the time.

Cons: Limited career progression, especially now I'm 30. I've often tried to get a trade but finding a company that will hire a 30 year old as an apprentice is rather difficult.

I've wanted to get into IT for a while but I don't really know where to start

 

[ivrytwr3]

WOW!!!! This all sounds like jobs people have in movies!!!!

But there is no ENHANCE!! and the computers don't bleep or bloop as they "compute"

Lol - no, not really, more like:

 

[Screenbeat]

People always have skewed visions of what other people do!!

I work hard (or think I do) My sister thinks I do nothing all day. I do like winding her up by telling her I just make it look easy!!?

 

[bakes0310]

I train battletoads to protect Earth and the universe from the forces of evil.

Pros:
- lots of travel, get to see the universe (Andromeda is beautiful at this time of the celestial calendar)
- satisfaction of watching my little toads grow to be legendary warriors <3

Cons:
- little job flexibility, you never know when the next existential threat to the universe will present itself
- once you are appointed to be Earth's battletoad guardian, it's a lifetime appointment

 

[inferno]

There aren’t even that many companies hiring at the moment as near all airlines have made some of their pilots redundant. I believe there is a very small amount of positions in cargo as they slightly expand due to PPE needed but they are few and far between and tend to be 747s.

Inferno you were/are in the sand pit if I remember right? Are you going to stay out there or try other places?

Sadly my A340 rating is nearly useless now and there aren’t many A330 operators hiring. As you say it’s going to be tough finding ways to fill the time lol

Yes I have been in the UAE since 2008, I will move back to London, after 12 years here I am over it. I was looking at other jobs last year, but ultimately I wouldn't have left unless I was kicked out because the money is too good. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise, lets see what happens next year, maybe my opinion will change

Try not to day trade our money away!


My ex colleagues are doing PPE runs on the old Virgin 340s, they were recruiting, but I'm not sure how long that will last! I think 320 is your best bet next year.

737 Skipper here. I don't expect to see the inside of the flight deck this year and will consider myself extremely lucky if I pick up a job next year. I got through Sept 11th (albeit training at the time) and 2008, but I think there's a good chance my career may not recover after this. I really haven't figured out what to do next.

I think it will be OK, if you are willing to relocate, with 737 PIC I think you will be fine, that rating USED to command the biggest salaries in China! I'm sure after '01 and '08 everyone thought it was game over, things will rebound soon, I hope so anyway!

I feel very bad for the people with kids to support, this is a very tough time.

 

[Screenbeat]

Battletoads thread was awesome!¡!

 

[Blinkz]

Yes I have been in the UAE since 2008, I will move back to London, after 12 years here I am over it. I was looking at other jobs last year, but ultimately I wouldn't have left unless I was kicked out because the money is too good. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise, lets see what happens next year, maybe my opinion will change

Try not to day trade our money away!


My ex colleagues are doing PPE runs on the old Virgin 340s, they were recruiting, but I'm not sure how long that will last! I think 320 is your best bet next year.

I’ve quite a few friends who are in the sandpit too and similarly have got stuck there due to the great money they are on. Most are also LHS now so when they look to come home there aren’t any decent options for LHS, or even RHS to compare to the money they’re on (even before covid!)

Yea I know quite a few Virgin bus drivers who followed the old 340s to them, sadly I was a little late to the party and so missed out. I’ve heard they are getting a few more 340s so you never know..

I’d agree with you that the A320 rating is prob the most useful at the moment. Sadly for me the last time I flew one was 7 years ago so my rating has well and truly expired. I’ll have to do a full CCQ to get it back (not cheap!), and then have the issue that I’ve not flown it for so long most airlines won’t give me a look in, even though I’ve 4000hrs on it!

I think it will be OK, if you are willing to relocate, with 737 PIC I think you will be fine, that rating USED to command the biggest salaries in China! I'm sure after '01 and '08 everyone thought it was game over, things will rebound soon, I hope so anyway!

I feel very bad for the people with kids to support, this is a very tough time.

China is a very strange place though. A lot of the amazing money is made up of safety bonuses that are easy to lose, plus the actual working environment isn’t great.

In January I just had my first child so yes indeed it’s a crap time to lose my job. My wife has also lost her job so we’ve no money coming in! Luckily saving should last a year and a half....am just hoping I either find a new job before then or I get my old job back!

 

[Semple]

I’m also in tech sales as a product SME at one of the large software/tech companies, specialising in some of their security products.

So far in the time I’ve been doing it I’ve never once stretched the truth on capabilities, would be easy to do initially but would soon fall flat if a customer asked for more details

Sometimes it’s even been the product devs who have done that, and then I get caught out with the customer when something we’ve said will work a certain way doesn’t...

From my experience it's quite a common thing for Sales to do. I wouldn't go as far to say they outright lie - i.e. it does something when it clearly doesn't. It's usually either a case of stretching the numbers a bit - where the product is perfectly capable of reaching those numbers in optimised tests, but in real world scenarios not so much. Budget constraints, or competitor costs can also pose a bit of a problem. I work in data protection/backup, and there's occasionally an underestimate as to how much data the customer intends to backup over the next 3-5 years. If there's quite a bit of growth, then customer would need to purchase one of the larger solutions, but that then tips them over the budget compared to the competitor. Which frankly is stupid IMO, because if they went with the competitor just because it's cheaper, they'll run into the same problem when running out of space.

 

[esmozz]

I feel very bad for the people with kids to support, this is a very tough time.

I'm in weekly contact with friends and ex-colleagues at both Emirates and FlyDubai. The stories coming out of the ME make me shudder to think of the hardship of being made redundant over there. So many lives ruined and that's only a small snapshot of whats going on across the wider world and many industries.

Technically, I'm still under furlough with one of the european Lo-Co's, but since I mostly used to fly people to and from Spain I can't see getting back to work until there is a working vaccine and a widespread vaccination program, and thats if my company still exists by then which is by no means certain.

China is a very strange place though. A lot of the amazing money is made up of safety bonuses that are easy to lose, plus the actual working environment isn’t great.

In January I just had my first child so yes indeed it’s a crap time to lose my job. My wife has also lost her job so we’ve no money coming in! Luckily saving should last a year and a half....am just hoping I either find a new job before then or I got my old job back!

We had our first in April last year - so I don't think China is for me. I've heard too many stories of what working life out there is actually like.

For me its just a waiting game now, I imagine in September we'll have a clearer idea of what the aviation world will look like.

 

[Ev0]

From my experience it's quite a common thing for Sales to do. I wouldn't go as far to say they outright lie - i.e. it does something when it clearly doesn't. It's usually either a case of stretching the numbers a bit - where the product is perfectly capable of reaching those numbers in optimised tests, but in real world scenarios not so much. Budget constraints, or competitor costs can also pose a bit of a problem. I work in data protection/backup, and there's occasionally an underestimate as to how much data the customer intends to backup over the next 3-5 years. If there's quite a bit of growth, then customer would need to purchase one of the larger solutions, but that then tips them over the budget compared to the competitor. Which frankly is stupid IMO, because if they went with the competitor just because it's cheaper, they'll run into the same problem when running out of space.

I guess I'm lucky/unlucky (as it's more work for me ) in that in my product area the sellers don't really get involved at that level when talking the performance, capacity etc, it's all left to us on the tech side.

But have seen it how you've described in other product areas for sure.

And working for a vendor who is now known for being cheap I can sympathise with that last point, luckily a lot of the time customers realise it can be a false economy going with someone else who appears cheaper at the start...

 

[Chrisc]

Data engineer

Pros
Fairly in demand job
Easy to find jobs
Pay is decent (above average)

Cons
Not exciting/no passion for it
Won't change much


Only do it because science was the worst career choice ever and I fell into It (clever enough for it, easy to teach yourself)

Have and always will regret not doing engineering

I genuinely can't imagine how nice it must be to have a job you love. (especially if it pays well!)

I agree mate, always wanted to get into IT, did it in school/College i was either told at interviews i was too over qualified or didnt have enough experience it was so frustrating, but this was a time that everybody was getting into IT. A few college friends dropped lucky but that was down to (its not what you know, its who you know) given 100% of my family are in construction it was really difficult for me as i literally had no guidance. I started working in a call center environment who had an IT department, i registered my interest and they seemed keen, then came the recession and I was let go. I fell into the freight forwarding industry and ive been doing this for 12yrs. I still crave a good IT job, although what field im not entirely sure. At the time i was in college i was creating websites, building PC's etc. . Networking interests me now, Cisco etc. . ive looked into the courses and they're rather expensive, which I dont mind, but if i pay out the money and I dont particularly enjoy it as much as i thought i would or dont end up getting a job which i think my age could be against me (33) then its a bit of a waste.

 

[413x]

I agree mate, always wanted to get into IT, did it in school/College i was either told at interviews i was too over qualified or didnt have enough experience it was so frustrating, but this was a time that everybody was getting into IT. A few college friends dropped lucky but that was down to (its not what you know, its who you know) given 100% of my family are in construction it was really difficult for me as i literally had no guidance. I started working in a call center environment who had an IT department, i registered my interest and they seemed keen, then came the recession and I was let go. I fell into the freight forwarding industry and ive been doing this for 12yrs. I still crave a good IT job, although what field im not entirely sure. At the time i was in college i was creating websites, building PC's etc. . Networking interests me now, Cisco etc. . ive looked into the courses and they're rather expensive, which I dont mind, but if i pay out the money and I dont particularly enjoy it as much as i thought i would or dont end up getting a job which i think my age could be against me (33) then its a bit of a waste.

I'm 34.

Id also prefer a bit more of a practical job, but feel in too late to change. And it's too expensive.
It might be easier to change if I was paid less.

I'm on 38. And I'd say I've done 4-5 years relavent work. But that could easily be accelerated

Id say its not to late . If you have the aptitude for it. Get a junior role. I'm not sure about hardware jobs but the pure software you can learn very quickly.

I only know the data world. Basically if you get yourself your own powerBI and sql server environment, a personal project and a junior job in it, you'd be on a salary like mine before 40.

Probably earlier

Its not stellar money. But that's all relative
However you may be paid more than that anyway in the freight job. No idea!

 

[Chrisc]

I will apply for some jobs but the market is so flooded with pilots I don't think there will be many available. 787 is nice to fly with the hud, climb rate is really bad and its difficult to do nice landings, super fuel efficient though! 777 is a beast, very stable and lovely to land.

Just out of interest, how is it hard to do nice landings? im a bit of an Aviation nerd so would love to hear the answer.

 

[Chrisc]

I'm 34.

Id also prefer a bit more of a practical job, but feel in too late to change. And it's too expensive.
It might be easier to change if I was paid less.

I'm on 38. And I'd say I've done 4-5 years relavent work. But that could easily be accelerated

Id say its not to late . If you have the aptitude for it. Get a junior role. I'm not sure about hardware jobs but the pure software you can learn very quickly.

I only know the data world. Basically if you get yourself your own powerBI and sql server environment, a personal project and a junior job in it, you'd be on a salary like mine before 40.

Probably earlier

Its not stellar money. But that's all relative
However you may be paid more than that anyway!

exactly, im on 32 which where i live is well above average so i do ok. im still middle management which should be earning more 34/35 but im at a small company. Within the coming months ill be top dog due to redundancies albeit being paid the same (i guess i just need to count myself lucky i have a job) if i excel in that, then i can request 40k at least. The problem you have in this industry is that if i end up with the title of Branch manager, and it doesnt quite work out, nobody will touch you for general operations roles in the future as they know they wont get the service out of you. My aim was to get to get to senior management and stay there but im practically there now and i still have 30yrs of my working life left. The problem i have is that for me to move industry i would literally need to be pushed out as learning another career while doing this would probably kill me, its long and stressful hours as it is.

 

[DailyGeek]

I'm an Anatomical Pathology Technologist.

I work in an NHS mortuary and look after the dead and work on post mortems, being responsible for evisceration and reconstruction. That's cutting open bodies, removing the organs and brain and the stitching everything back up at the end of the examination.

Pros - It's fascinating. Get to do and see things 99% of people wouldn't ever see, many wouldn't want to obviously. I have a unique set of skills and get to do some pretty amazing things on a regular basis.
It keeps me sharp (pardon the pun) and quite comfortable with death and mortality and helps me appreciate life.

Cons - my pay is absolutely dreadful (circa 21k) I work with some very bullying, unsociable people and I obviously see stuff that would give many people nightmares. I've dealt with the most gruesome things you can imagine, murders, fires, suicides, children, decomposition and much more. I'm hardened to it, but also feel it should pay more.
Oh also, pandemics suck.

 

[neodude]

Air Traffic Controller.

Pros
- Well Paid
- Lots of time off (Adding in my annual leave and normal days off I work less than 6 months of the year)
- No taking work home
- If you're a plane spotter, it's the best seat in the house

Cons
- Has it's stressful moments
- Random Drink/Drug tests
- Need to pass a medical every year
- Could end up in court if I make a mistake

 

[Blinkz]

Just out of interest, how is it hard to do nice landings? im a bit of an Aviation nerd so would love to hear the answer.

Since there’s a few pilots here I thought I’d give my opinion whilst we wait for inferno!

I actually think that’s a fairly tough question to answer. I wouldn’t say it’s hard, but it also certainly isn’t easy. There are lots of things which you have to take into account to try and pull off a greaser and some of them we can control and some of them we can’t! The aircraft type can play a part. Airbus have a fly by wire system which doesn’t allow for quite the same feel as a classic airliner, also some types have known idiosyncrasies. The A340 for example is hard to do a completely soft landing as it has a center gear which hangs a different way to the left and right mains and it is easy to initially grease the touchdown but the center gear always bangs down!

I’d probably say that the largest factor is the weather. If it’s blowing gale, especially across the runway then you actually don’t want a greaser. If it’s on the max crosswind limit of the aircraft then a solid landing in the right place is better then gently putting it down. Whilst trying to be gentle the wind can blow you towards the sides of the runway which certainly isn’t what you want!

The slightly boring answer is that a good landing is a stable approach, on speed, in the touch down zone. The classic answer is a good landing is where everyone survives.....a great landing is one where you can use the aircraft again

 

[Unluckyalf]

Photocopier fixer-upper

Pros
I get to travel in the Australian Outback to get to remote communities, on roads not accessible to most people.

Cons
I have to fix photocopiers