As a teen I thought that the only way I would have a chance of keeping a job would be if I thought it was fun and I could get lost in it. The only thing that did that to me was sitting in photoshop/level editors. So I chose to get into game design since I didn't think I had any artistic or programming talent. I had a very sheltered upbringing.
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Hey gaf why did you choose your current profession?
- Thread starter Supast4r
- Start date
I moved due to family circumstances and had to leave my "career" track. I ended up in public service because i wanted security and i wanted at least the feeling of helping people and i didnt want to make make money ripping shit out of the earth or facilitate others to rip shit out of the earth, which around at that time was the other main options available
i was in finance after college, working at a hedge fund
hated it, after 5 years i learned how to code and now 4 years after that - i am a tech lead on a big project with 7 developers working with me at a risk analytics firm
by far the best move i could have made - i love what i do now
hated it, after 5 years i learned how to code and now 4 years after that - i am a tech lead on a big project with 7 developers working with me at a risk analytics firm
by far the best move i could have made - i love what i do now
Transistor
Banned
I'm good at it and it pays well
acheron_xl
Member
I needed a job and had relevant experience. Careers are for people with diplomas and degrees.
(Janitor)
(Janitor)
megatronium
Member
Went to school to be a videogame developer. Loved modeling but animation was too tedious for me.
Realized I was better at design and was proficient with Flash and Photoshop. eLearning came along and those skills were a perfect match.
Kept getting hired for eLearning jobs which led to training developer which led to instructional designer. My love for multimedia and technology made me a continuous learner. I picked up additional skills to stay up to speed (Premiere, Storyline, Illustrator, Captivate, etc.).
Now my title is Learning and Development Specialist.
Realized I was better at design and was proficient with Flash and Photoshop. eLearning came along and those skills were a perfect match.
Kept getting hired for eLearning jobs which led to training developer which led to instructional designer. My love for multimedia and technology made me a continuous learner. I picked up additional skills to stay up to speed (Premiere, Storyline, Illustrator, Captivate, etc.).
Now my title is Learning and Development Specialist.
I didn't really. Was pretty directionless in high school and continued similarly to university. Huge procrastinator. After two years I took some time off to figure out what I wanted to do. Never quite did but through nepotism essentially ended up in my current job which pays well but I'm ambivalent about otherwise. I'd like to switch to something that's either outdoors or involves traveling and minimal contact with a boss/office culture and is just me out there getting shit done and getting paid well to do so. My dad and my uncle both traveled the world for their jobs and they always made it sound so fun.
Panthalassic
Member
Wanted to be a veterinarian since I was a kid but I couldn't get into pre-vet school so I figured there were other ways to help animals so I became a conservationist. Now I work for the National Park Service equivalent of my country, so it worked out.
SolVanderlyn
Thanos acquires the fully powered Infinity Gauntlet in The Avengers: Infinity War, but loses when all the superheroes team up together to stop him.
I dislike the social facade of world weary adults and feel more connected to children than I do to people my age. Working with kids is my calling.
I've also been teaching/tutoring since my early 20's, so I kind of fell into it. Teaching is also the "go-to" profession when you don't know what the hell else to do with your degree.
I genuinely believe a good education is essential to creating a better world, and that it improves people's lives tremendously, and that learning is humanity's greatest pleasure, and like the idea of contributing to that. This doesn't make it any easier to go to work in the morning, nor does it make me hate the actual act of working any less, but the underlying sense of fulfillment comes later, so it's all good.
I've also been teaching/tutoring since my early 20's, so I kind of fell into it. Teaching is also the "go-to" profession when you don't know what the hell else to do with your degree.
I genuinely believe a good education is essential to creating a better world, and that it improves people's lives tremendously, and that learning is humanity's greatest pleasure, and like the idea of contributing to that. This doesn't make it any easier to go to work in the morning, nor does it make me hate the actual act of working any less, but the underlying sense of fulfillment comes later, so it's all good.
It's such a huge market, my sister used to work at a publishing house and did marketing for the romance novels and the numbers they did was crazy compared to other genres.
As for myself, I was a history major making $15 at a dead end job as a legal assistant, after 2 years figured I was working enough with lawyers that I could be one. Took the LSATs, got into a halfway decent law school and pulled the trigger. 5 years later I have a pretty sweet state job and outside of the student debt (which is manageable but annoying) I'm very happy with my professional choices in a salary/retirement planning sense (being a lawyer in general does kind of suck though as a day to day job)
Hephaestus
Member
I dropped out of highschool, drove to a random city and did construction, general labor work. Got into the trades. I love my job now and make alot more than my friends that went on to university and got degrees.
basically I used every job as a stepping stone to gain experience and a perspective on what I liked, disliked and what I could tolerate. Then adjusted my career path accordingly.
basically I used every job as a stepping stone to gain experience and a perspective on what I liked, disliked and what I could tolerate. Then adjusted my career path accordingly.
Finale Fireworker
Member
I went to school with the intention to teach. When I realized I didn't want to teach, I just finished my degree and didn't know what I was going to do. I got an opportunity at a specialty food company in their wholesale sales department. Based on the job title, and even the bulleted description, I had no idea what I would be doing in the job or what my responsibilities would be day to day. I showed up to work my first da and found out I had my own desk. I was that in the dark on what to expect.
I didn't pick this job and never would have. Like most people, I think, I just fell into it.
I didn't pick this job and never would have. Like most people, I think, I just fell into it.
ThatStupidLion
Member
Wanted to be an animator since i was a kid. Bam.
Ozzy Onya A2Z
Member
Was in IT sales then systems then executive management and always had a self learning ability/curiosity that one day had me up and say... you know what why do all this for a boss? I quit and never looked back as well as side stepped from IT distribution and manufacturing into web development and being an entrepreneur.
Love the never stop learning aspect of web development and fresh client businesses as well as controlling your own fate.
Love the never stop learning aspect of web development and fresh client businesses as well as controlling your own fate.
Was in a job that taught me good skills but was a painful environment to be in and I hated it.
Couldn't get games out of my head.
Took the skills I learned in job #1 and forged a path into games.
Heh
Couldn't get games out of my head.
Took the skills I learned in job #1 and forged a path into games.
Heh
Hoho for breakfast
Member
Well it could be worse I know, but it could also be better. I feel fortunate I guess to make what I do for having no degree, but I'm the only income in a large family so that doesn't help anything.
Why do you only make $10.50 an hour with a bachelors? Still looking for something better?
Indeed. It's insane seeing just how much romance dominates ebook sales, especially under Amazon's Kindle Unlimited program. From a business perspective it doesn't make any sense to write anything else.
If it was any other genre I'd agree, but romance readers are very picky. I've done it before, but the amount of readers I lost shifting from New Adult/Contemporary to romance with science-fiction elements was staggering. Evergreen niches like billionaires, bad boys and bdsm will always have a largest audience in Romance.
There's also the sad fact that sci-fi and fantasy authors don't make that much on Kindle (unless you have a publisher behind you, or you happen to be JK Rowling
)Every time I open up my fantasy project in Scrivener, I think...do I write something I love, or stick with a genre that's making me millions every year?
I already do
. Alien man-hunks, vampires and shifters were quite big in 2014-2016 and I rode that kink to the bank. It was a nice break from the usual shit and I had a lot of fun pulling ideas from Buffy, Star Wars and Firefly.Shame that niche has dried up.
Don't be silly. Everyone needs porn.
Forerunner
Member
It was first place to get back to me after I graduated. I applied for it in May of last year. I started going through the hiring process in August and started working in October. I never thought I'd see myself in corrections, but here I am. However, it's not all bad. I wanted to get into federal law enforcement so it worked out perfectly. It pays well, it is in my home town, and more importantly I have my foot in the door now. So now I have an easier time going to an agency I want (FBI, DEA, ATF, or USMS).
It has been interesting working in a federal prison, it's a different world. Do I see myself making a career out of corrections? Fuck no. However, the experience I received here will be invaluable moving forward. Overall, I'm glad I landed the job because it's going to lead to better things.
It has been interesting working in a federal prison, it's a different world. Do I see myself making a career out of corrections? Fuck no. However, the experience I received here will be invaluable moving forward. Overall, I'm glad I landed the job because it's going to lead to better things.
mightynine
Member
I always liked media, got a gig in radio in college and have been in it ever since - almost 20 years (!).
However, right now, it's a bit stressful and with recent cutbacks, I probably have too much on my plate and getting paid too little. I'm really considering quitting - but I'm not sure where or what I would do. I'm under contract too, which is a blessing and a curse. I also have to take into account the need for health insurance, since I'm a diabetic.
It....kinda sucks, actually.
However, right now, it's a bit stressful and with recent cutbacks, I probably have too much on my plate and getting paid too little. I'm really considering quitting - but I'm not sure where or what I would do. I'm under contract too, which is a blessing and a curse. I also have to take into account the need for health insurance, since I'm a diabetic.
It....kinda sucks, actually.
Maximus P
Member
Started off my career as a IT engineer specialising in network systems. Hated it and now I'm in hotel management and currently the operations manager for a hotel owned by a big hotel brand.
The job is different every day and I love it. Although it is a pain in the ass traveling, but they always make an effort to accommodate and feed me well when I visit other hotels. I'm currently in Liverpool, Monday I'm in York and next week I'm back in Sheffield.
The job is different every day and I love it. Although it is a pain in the ass traveling, but they always make an effort to accommodate and feed me well when I visit other hotels. I'm currently in Liverpool, Monday I'm in York and next week I'm back in Sheffield.
Fancy Clown
Member
I'm a video editor. I've always loved film since I was a kid, and while I don't work on films currently I have a pretty cushy gig that has a lot flexibility to let me develop my skills.
The Elite
BOSS
Stumbled into it. I'm making it up as I go along.
No one has noticed yet.
Me for the past eight years.
SillyEskimo
Member
Sheer luck. I was at the right place at the right time. Well, to give myself some credit,I am pretty amazing in interviews.
TheLegendaryN
Member
I'm still in university. Studying Computer Science. I always wanted to make my own games, and therefore I needed to learn programming. And now I'm trying to take it to the next level.
Working on self-driving cars is a second dream of mine. If I'm too bad for both of those, I guess I'll have to be glad with some regular office software work or so.
Working on self-driving cars is a second dream of mine. If I'm too bad for both of those, I guess I'll have to be glad with some regular office software work or so.
Pagusas
Elden Member
Because its fun, pays really well and has lots of vacation and down time. I get to run around filming and creating videos for corporations.
I really was going to be a computer and electrical engineer, but the Film school at my university recruited me my sophomore year of college as I kept helping all the theater and Film students with their projects and had made a name for myself with the dean. I was allowed to transfer into the school and take a normally reserved spot. From there I shined, worked an internship with the local news paper, went to Hollywood for 2 summers, and really enjoyed all my classes (except art history, fuck art history).
Came out of school with a lot of prospects, went where the money was, and have enjoyed a good life ever sense.
So really it was luck of being in the right spot and getting noticed by (relatively) powerful people. Then taking the opportunities presented to me and making the best of them. I'm sure I would have been fine as an engineer, probably even made more money, but I like my life and job now so who cares, life is good
I really was going to be a computer and electrical engineer, but the Film school at my university recruited me my sophomore year of college as I kept helping all the theater and Film students with their projects and had made a name for myself with the dean. I was allowed to transfer into the school and take a normally reserved spot. From there I shined, worked an internship with the local news paper, went to Hollywood for 2 summers, and really enjoyed all my classes (except art history, fuck art history).
Came out of school with a lot of prospects, went where the money was, and have enjoyed a good life ever sense.
So really it was luck of being in the right spot and getting noticed by (relatively) powerful people. Then taking the opportunities presented to me and making the best of them. I'm sure I would have been fine as an engineer, probably even made more money, but I like my life and job now so who cares, life is good
At age 4 I started copying Atari BASIC programs from a booklet with examples into my Atari computer, and then running them.
Even though I didn't understand the slightest shit about what I was typing, I developed a fascination about computers and coding programs. As a 4 year old kid, this stuff felt like having magic powers or some kind of sorcery, also, I did not know of some kids besides me doing that stuff, so I felt pretty unique.
Also, add videogames to the mix.
So yeah, I eventually became a programmer, been doing so professionally for 8 years.
I still get a weird feeling of self fulfillment and happiness after completing a coding task, that's how I know I made the correct career choice.
Even though I didn't understand the slightest shit about what I was typing, I developed a fascination about computers and coding programs. As a 4 year old kid, this stuff felt like having magic powers or some kind of sorcery, also, I did not know of some kids besides me doing that stuff, so I felt pretty unique.
Also, add videogames to the mix.
So yeah, I eventually became a programmer, been doing so professionally for 8 years.
I still get a weird feeling of self fulfillment and happiness after completing a coding task, that's how I know I made the correct career choice.
PuppetSlave
Member
Well at first I studied to be an engineer but quickly realized it was not for me during the first year(also had some personal family stuff at the time that got me a bit depressed), but I really liked an programmer course that was part of the curriculum and switched to an computer science education instead.
Learned I really like the problem solving aspect of software development and I am still at the same job that hired me after graduation. Worked here ten years now and really like my job and the people I work with. I really lucked out I think.
Learned I really like the problem solving aspect of software development and I am still at the same job that hired me after graduation. Worked here ten years now and really like my job and the people I work with. I really lucked out I think.
navii
My fantasy is that my girlfriend was actually a young high school girl.
I dropped out of high school and had a dead end clerical office job. I heard a friend who also dropped out of high school who got into Graphic Design. So I thought I could do it too since I was good with computers (this was at the start of the internet era). At my work I started messing around with design software and created some labels for the products we were selling in supermarkets. The labels were not half bad so we decided to use them. That was my start, but to be truly hireable I had to go back and study for 4 years to get a graphic design qualification. That finished 10 years ago.
I mostly enjoy my job now, working as an office clerk would have me committing suicide if I did it for any longer. I need to feel like I am contributing to something great to feel satisfied.
I also did it for the money.
I mostly enjoy my job now, working as an office clerk would have me committing suicide if I did it for any longer. I need to feel like I am contributing to something great to feel satisfied.
I also did it for the money.
Stumbled into it. I'm making it up as I go along.
No one has noticed yet.
oh despite years of college, training, internships , almost a decade of professional work experience
this is still basically me
I enjoyed the blow off radio class in high school A LOT so I got an Associate's in broadcasting. Got a part time job at a talk station. Just went full time about a month ago, and I don't think I'm in love anymore. Certain aspects of the morning shift I work have made me stressed and always exhausted from waking up before the crack of dawn. This week has been particularly bad and makes me doubt my choice since I'm only 22.
During my college run, I also fell in love with computers and made my own gaming PC. I think I want to try something related to computers but have no idea where to start or what to do. I've dabbled in HTML a little bit but have trouble with CSS. I have a book on JavaScript, but I just have no idea what I want to do anymore.
Just want to make more than 11 bucks an hour, work later than 4AM and be more computer involved I guess.
During my college run, I also fell in love with computers and made my own gaming PC. I think I want to try something related to computers but have no idea where to start or what to do. I've dabbled in HTML a little bit but have trouble with CSS. I have a book on JavaScript, but I just have no idea what I want to do anymore.
Just want to make more than 11 bucks an hour, work later than 4AM and be more computer involved I guess.
Phoenix RISING
Banned
This.
If I had chosen my profession, I would have finished my PhD in English and be a professor making almost half of what I'm making now.
I am one of those so-called rare Humanities majors who "made it."
megatronium
Member
Invest in Lynda.com.