# Post your occupation... here! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 26, 2000, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-occupation-here/26942 "2000-07-26T18:02:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2000, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-occupation-here/26942/62 "2000-07-26T21:09:49Z")
I’m a patent agent and a law student. I write patent applications and argue with the Patent and Trademark Office about whether my clients’ inventions are patentable. I also pitch in whenever one of the lawyers in my firm needs a scientist of some type (I’ve helped interview scientist witnesses, looked over patents for business deals, etc.) I have a PhD in Materials Engineering, but I discovered while getting it that I don’t want to do research. So now I only get involved with projects after the experiments have started to work. I’m the only techie I know who approves of [amazon.com](http://amazon.com)’s one-click patent. Of course, I’m also the only techie I know who has actually _read_ [amazon.com](http://amazon.com)’s one-click patent (and the opinion that granted their injunction against Barnes & Noble), instead of just blowing smoke about it. -Elizabeth ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2000, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-occupation-here/26942/63 "2000-07-26T21:10:40Z")
Director of Project Engineering Pretty, isn’t it? It means that I’m a drafter with enough specialized skills that they have to pay me better and give me a fancy title. ---
**Author:** ![Niggle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Niggle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Niggle)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2000, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-occupation-here/26942/64 "2000-07-26T21:12:55Z")
Title: 3D Environmental Modeler and Texture Artist. I make environments for video games. This means I sit in front of a nice computer playing with very expensive software for 12 hours a day. Currently, I’m working on a martial arts game – more details I can not give =(. Any questions? -niggle ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2000, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-occupation-here/26942/65 "2000-07-26T21:16:23Z")
I just graduated college this year. Now I am an administrative assistant/network administrator for a major nonprofit constitutional liberties organization. I figure I’ll be here perhaps a year, so it’s not going to be a career. I’d like to be a linguist, so I might apply for a position with the NSA soon. MR ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2000, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-occupation-here/26942/66 "2000-07-26T21:19:26Z")
E-business anaylist at Very Big Bank/Financial Institution. Long version of what I do: I work with selected teams from departments within the Wholesale bank to leverage there customer base into a new Wholesale Banking portal/channel directed at medium to large sized corporate customers. Hey! You in the back! Wake up! Short version: I am a project manager. I figure out what people need to do in which order and then I make sure other people do it. ---
**Author:** ![Modian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Modian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Modian)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2000, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-occupation-here/26942/67 "2000-07-26T21:25:22Z")
Programmer. I live off a Sprite and nicotine diet, and dwell in a darkened office all day writing code that eventually turns into the software everyone uses. Maybe in a couple years, I can start my own startup and be CEO of a company looking for energetic people like Mr. Bill. 😉 Well, thats my goal anyway, my own software company before I’m 30. ---
**Author:** ![Drum\_God](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drum_god/32/44_2.png) [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2000, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-occupation-here/26942/68 "2000-07-26T21:59:12Z")
School Band Director I save the world each and every day. No, really. This past weekend, I attended a meeting with the band director of Columbine High School in Colorado. Among other things, he said that a friend of his said that the tragedy there was all his fault: if the kids had been in band, none of that would have happened. I tell the other faculty at school: I do more dropout prevention before nine AM than you do all day. And I mean it. ---
**Author:** ![Merlot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3e96dc/32.png) [@Merlot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merlot)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2000, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-occupation-here/26942/69 "2000-07-26T21:59:37Z")
I’m a librarian at a 2-year college. ---
**Author:** ![Alpine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpine/32/17813_2.png) [@Alpine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpine)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2000, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-occupation-here/26942/70 "2000-07-26T22:02:37Z")
**GIS Coordinator** for a small county. GIS - Geographic Information Systems = computers + (maps + databases) Actually, what I’m doing now is trying to drag the county into at least the late '90s in the technology area. Network going up this year! Woo hoo! In the meantime, I’m correcting all our computer map data (lots of tedium in AutoCAD), making pretty maps in ArcView, creating web pages here and there, teaching myself to code, and helping people with computer issues. Someday… I dream of an interactive mapping web presence… sigh. ---
**Author:** ![billyt123](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@billyt123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billyt123)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2000, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-occupation-here/26942/71 "2000-07-26T22:09:10Z")
Paint Repair Technician. I drive around to used car dealerships and repaint hoods and fenders to hide chips in the original paint from buyers. Yeah, I help them screw you… I just graduated from school with a poli sci degree, got a job as a legislative aid for a state rep here, then left to pursue more money and a more independent work environment. ---
**Author:** ![Occam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Occam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Occam)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2000, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-occupation-here/26942/72 "2000-07-26T22:27:08Z")
I’m a University student. Double majoring in Computer Science and Underwater Basket Weaving (the former, just in case the later falls through), however being an embarrassment to my friends and family is a full time job and usually eats up all my free time. ---
**Author:** ![jazzmine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jazzmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jazzmine)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2000, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-occupation-here/26942/73 "2000-07-26T22:32:15Z")
Director, QA This means they pay me a lot to work from my home office. I mostly sit on my high horse and say “your software sucks” Great job. trisha ---
**Author:** ![Gr8Kat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gr8kat/32/18668_2.png) [@Gr8Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gr8Kat)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2000, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-occupation-here/26942/74 "2000-07-26T22:46:00Z")
Board Review Specialist/Own Motion Assistant Basically, I’m a legal secretary for the State of Oregon’s Workers’ Compensation Board in both its “Board Review” and “Own Motion” Sections. I do secretary stuff. No big whoop 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2000, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-occupation-here/26942/75 "2000-07-26T22:46:48Z")
Ummm, network consultant/web designer. Current contract: Large commercial construction company with three offices. They build Wal\*Marts, Home Depots and other large retail buildings. Even though I am a contractor essentially they call me Information Systems Manager to the outside world. I manage three NT servers locally – one is Terminal Server, 40 local workstations along with their phone systems. In addition, I design and update their websites as they have several companies within the main company. Side note: The project I have enjoyed the most working on with them was coordinating all the networking and telecomm for their new office building. I liked being out on the jobsite dealing with electrical, cabling and even the telecomm people. I would do it again if I get the chance. ---
**Author:** ![tygre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@tygre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tygre)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2000, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-occupation-here/26942/76 "2000-07-26T22:55:37Z")
I do a lot of different things, mostly from home. Thank God for telecommuting!! I work part time as a sales rep for a women’s accessories company - I design displays and make sure our products have the best spots in the stores. Very flexible and easy work, plus my boss is two states away. 🙂 I also do a lot of volunteer work. I am a volunteer breastfeeding counselor and help moms learn how to feed their babies, pump milk while they’re at work, etc. I got a lot of help from the group I work with when my son was a baby so now I’m trying to give back to them. I also am on the board of my son’s co-op preschool, which is really neat. Parents help teach at the school and are very involved with the curriculum. I write and edit our newsletters too. I also administrate the ISP my hubby and I founded 5 years ago. Mainly this means I do the harassing of customers who are causing us trouble, but I do tech support as well. Plus I’m going back to college part time this fall to get my degree in sociology. I’m hoping to graduate in 2.5 to 3 years. I studied geology and history previously, but ran out of funds and then got married. Now that I have some money again, it’s time to go back to school! Oh yes, and I’m a stay-at-mom to two wonderful little ones! 🙂 –tygre ---
**Author:** ![Osip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4491bb/32.png) [@Osip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osip)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2000, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-occupation-here/26942/77 "2000-07-26T22:58:03Z")
I am a locksmith and security Tech by trade. Osip ---
**Author:** ![Rodd\_Hill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ab097/32.png) [@Rodd\_Hill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodd_Hill)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2000, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-occupation-here/26942/78 "2000-07-26T23:03:09Z")
**Cultural Resource Management Officer (Collections)** with **Parks Canada** (those wonderful people who bring you Banff National Park, etc.) I am in charge of maintaining the collection of artifacts and historic documents at two National Historic Sites–one the oldest lighthouse (1860) on the west coast of Canada, the other a 105-year old British coast artillery fort. Because our staff is so small (numerically that is!), I wind up doing a lot of other hands-on stuff: painting historic buildings, moving large heavy objects around (artillery pieces, etc.), and interviewing old soldiers who served in this area. On a _really_ good day, I get to (blank) fire historic weapons. I love my job. I work in one of the most beautiful cities in Canada, the climate is the mildest in the country, and I work with a small, dedicated group of employees who really believe in what we’re doing. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2000, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-occupation-here/26942/79 "2000-07-26T23:44:50Z")
Lots of computer folk here - not a big surprise, though. I explore for new oil & gas reserves. Most of my work is done on a computer, but I’ll spend tomorrow wrestling with some old paper data. I’ve been in the business for twenty years and was independent for ten, until I took a full time job with a former client. Having your own company is fun when things are rocking along, but working less for a steady income appeals to me now. And I have a great work situation. Of course, things change… Some folks that do what I do like to get out in the field, but I’m really an air conditioning kind of guy. ---
**Author:** ![ultress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/7c8e57/32.png) [@ultress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultress)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2000, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-occupation-here/26942/80 "2000-07-26T23:53:47Z")
Technical Aide at a nuclear power plant. Big name for a job that consists mainly of database entry, explaining to programmers what types of information we need to meet NRC/government standards, some work inside containment but not much if I can help it. Lots of cross-training in different areas, so no real job description. Every year we trade off positions. I’ve been in the Training Section 10 of the 15 years I’ve been with the company. We have four nuclear plants and numerous fossil plants. Thus far our plants are in North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida. ---
**Author:** ![pipefitter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/97f17d/32.png) [@pipefitter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pipefitter)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2000, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-occupation-here/26942/81 "2000-07-26T23:54:36Z")
I’m a \. What I do is help build all of those fancy machines that displace automotive workers. I pipe all hydraulic, pneumatic, water, and lube lines needed to go on an automotive assembly line. I’m just waiting to get my jorneyman’s card so I can get into an auto company and start making the big money…any help would be appreciated to get to the Big 3!! 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-occupation-here/26942.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-occupation-here/26942.md?page=5)