Who's got a fun job?

In My Humble Opinion
1

I’m a recent university grad with a degree in chemical engineering. I’ve been working for about a year now for a large oil and gas company. The job doesn’t interest at all though and is in no way fun. In fact, the whole thought of being an engineer for the rest of my working life is very unappealing. While the money is good it’s not enough. I’d rather be doing something I can get enjoyment out of for less money than vice versa.

I’m thinking of going back to school to do something else but I’m stuck as to what to do. I like technical/scientific things and am pretty good on the computer, although I couldn’t see myself programming all day long.

So what I’m asking all of you is…who’s got a cool job? One that doesn’t seem like work at all? One that’s interesting and diverse? I’m open to any ideas and I figured this is the best place to gather them.

2

If you’ve got the energy and money to go back to school and get another degree by all means do so.

I’m a programmer - I do mainly backend data-processing type work for a Big Internet Company. It’s not very exciting, but it’s fun, in that I derive a great deal of satisfaction from the problems I solve.

(What? Are you telling me increasing the lookup speed of my Berkeley DB abstraction layer by 9% isn’t supposed to be fun?!)

And I really like my co-workers, which is a great thing.

3

Yep, that’s engineering in a nutshell. It’s good you’re awakening now because once your romantic view rubs off, you realize what a waste of a major it was! Luckily, Chem E’s are more in demand than MEs.

Computers are one avenue, and perhaps the shortest route. If medicine interests you, you might also consider pharmacy or physical therapy (PT) as possibilities. With your Chem E background, maybe pharmaceutical research might be of interest. Still, I hear you may have to move a round a bit to find the type of research you like.

Many engineers go for an MBA or become CPAs, but bean counting seems equally boring!

Good luck! :slight_smile:

  • Jinx
4

I have a fun job, but you won’t want it 'cause you can’t live on it.
Eight bucks an hour doesn’t go very far in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Anyway, I’m a “kennel concierge” and what I do is pretty much what that title implies: trying to make the dog’s stay at the shelter as enjoyable as possible, doing training and dog play, bringing in special treats and toys, going for walks, doing some grooming, helping find them a new partner for life worthy of the full glory of their dogdom.

5

I work as a locksmith.How cool is that?

Locked keys in a car… I can get in that… a house buisness or a safe? Loads of fun. I have some of the best co-workers around. I could be digging ditches with them and still be happy.

My job allows me to meet many different people every day. I enjoy mechanical things and I am doing different things every day.

6

I film and edit porn videos.

7

I do! I do!

I work in a museum, and I’ve never been happier.

I give tours of the museum to school kids, and without bragging, I can say I’m very good at it. I try to make history fun for kids. Rather than a dry recitation of dates and names, I try to keep them interested by talking about how people went to the bathroom (kids seem to love the grosser aspects of life in the past), and what their lives would have been like if they’d lived “back then.”

I also work with cleaning and numbering artifacts, which means I get to play with all of the old toys, and examine objects in ways that the general public never gets to, which totally suits a Curious George, such as myself.

I design exhibits, which allows me to express creative side, and I get to read old diaries. Not to mention that there’s something a bit awe-inspiring about holding a letter written by George Washington or Queen Victoria.

For the last fifty years, there was little to no organization in the way artifacts were recorded, so there’s also a fair deal of detective work involved.

There’s also satisfaction in knowing that in one hundred and fifty years, my work will still mean something. In the future, my records will be very important. I make sure vital information is not lost to the generations to come.

I could not ask for better co-workers. They’re polite, pleasant and always thank me when I do something for them. My boss leaves out artifacts and books in the office which she thinks might interest me. The curator runs down to the coffee shop in the afternoon and brings me tea.

In short, I love my job. The pay is crappy, but it’s definately made up in the fact that I’m actually happy to get up and go to work in the morning.

8

Things have changed since Sept 11th, but this is still the coolest job I can imagine.

I never sit behind a desk, the view out my window always changes, I work with intelligent, interesting people, and I get paid well to work relatively few days a month.

Getting here would take several years starting from scratch, but if flying interests you at all you might think about doing the Guard or Reserve. If you are under 27 and in good health, you might be able to find a unit near you that would be willing to send you through pilot training. It would be a one-year break from engineering (working hard but having the best time of your life) after which you can work your regular job and fly part-time.

If the military is not for you, you can always take a flying lesson. Of course, then you are paying to fly, rather than the other way around!

9

I keep meaning to ask, next time I’m in Sydney can I have a tour of the offices? :smiley:

As for me, I’m trying to get into Nursing which from what I’ve seen is a very sasisfying job. I had a job interview last week and if I get it, the other people working there seemed really nice.

10

Satisfying. Eh, you know what I meant.

11

I’m helping my department (Computer Engineering/Computer Science) set up a brand-spankin’ new Computer-Human Interaction Lab. I’ll get to play with PDA’s, cell phones, and computer and console games all day long. How cool is that?

12

Sure! You’ll get to see a few computer desks, some lighting equipment, and a fridge. I’m sure you’ll be quite titillated!

13

(*TVGuy gathers up ideas for a career change)

DON’T get in to Broadcasting. Turst me on this one. :frowning:

14

and go to bed when you screw up the most BASIC coding…

Bye

15

Me! It’s just a free-lance sideline, but it is fun. I am a “living historian.” I visit schools in the character of a famous historical figure (no prizes for guessing which one) and tell the kids all about “my” fascinating life. Not just a lecture, either: interactive from the moment I enter. We play games, I tell stories, and the kids get to ask “me” questions, which I answer in character (using historical facts or the best educated guess). And at the end of the presentation, when I 'fess up and doff my wig and beard, I am always rewarded by delighted laughter and applause.

16

Who’s got a fun job?

Me

17

I have a fun job, and I’m a software engineer.

What makes it fun for me is that I write code for maps - and I love maps.

I’m good at problem solving and coding, and I like it, but I agree, writing code in and of itself isn’t fun enough to make a job fun.

I’ve also heard a rumor that I work for a map company that Cecil Adams once worked for…

18

…well for me, anyway.

I used to be a programmer, who played chess, computer games and roleplayed on my spare time.

Now I’m Head of Chess at an English private school.
I also run the roleplaying society, and teach computer strategy games. :cool:

Perfect! :smiley:

19

I have a fun job…I work at a Soil & Water Conservation District as the only employee for a board of 7 supervisors. I have a B.S. in Earth Sciences and this is the only job I’ve heard of that I can use my degree without more college (which I tried and despised).

I have so much to do that if I get tired of doing one thing, I can always do something else! It’s great!:smiley:

20

I get fly around in a helicopter all summer long taking infrared video of forest fires. I’ve seen some pretty cool stuff. Uhhhh, make that hot stuff.