What do you do?

[Kathryn41 3,205]

My first 'career' was as a Museum professional working up from Curator of Collections (in charge of artifacts, their care and their records) to Curator (in charge of the whole Museum) working for a number of community (Municipal) museums in Ontario, my last as Curator of the Chatham Kent Museum. Then I burned out on Administrative stuff so left and set up my own Museum consulting business which I did for 2 years and left when income became too tight with clients not paying their bills in a timely way. Next I did a 180 degree shift and became Constituency Assistant for the MP representing our Riding. The riding boundaries had changed to incorporate our Muncipality so he set up a new office and I basically ran it with a part time assistant and some volunteers. I LOVED it! My job was acting as liaision between the constituents and the Federal government, assisting them with problems they had with any aspect of federal programmes or departments. I did the daily 'leg work' for the MP while he was in Ottawa. I miss that job! He was terrific to work for and I had so much respect for him as both an individual and as a politician - there are some good ones around. He was elected/re-elected for 5 terms and in the end resigned for health reasons.

Here I returned part time to the heritage field working as a costumed interpretor at an Antebellum Plantation until they decided to go with audio tours instead. Now I just work one day a month helping a friend set up her business at a monthly Antique Fair. I would like to do more but there really is nothing in my field locally, and in our own financial situation I need either to make very little or a lot of money to come out ahead with the IRS. I do still volunteer for a few of the local heritage groups and I help out another friend occasionally by doing costumed heritage bus tours for her business.

Edited April 17, 2009 by Kathryn41

[trailmix 77]

I can't tell you. It's a secret.

I'm on an undercover assignment now.

[Marilyn. 340]

my last job before I moved was working in the kitchen of a maximum security prison.... I got the job through a friend that worked at the prison..

but before that I was always a nanny, which is what I am now... I take care of 2 adorable boys...

[Sprailenes 47]

my last job before I moved was working in the kitchen of a maximum security prison.... I got the job through a friend that worked at the prison..

but before that I was always a nanny, which is what I am now... I take care of 2 adorable boys...

Whoa! Any cool stories to share???

[Marilyn. 340]

not sure if they are interesting ..lol

one of the girls that worked there saw one inmate get beat up by anther inmate.. he used one of the serving trays or something...

and one time we heard about a stabbing and when I was bringing the food up to the hospital ward I saw drops of blood on the pavement...

one day around lunch time one of the units called and said they were out of cheese, so they sent me up with some cheese... I walked in and went to the security guys who were sitting in their little cubicle behind protective glass and asked where I was supposed to bring the cheese and before they could answer I was surrounded by inmates so I just handed the cheese to the nearest inmate and left... the guards never left their cubicle

[Autumnchik 6]

I LOVE reading about everyone's careers. They sound so fascinating

I'm a clinical social worker (I probably have used the term psychotherapist in posts if I talked about my job because often, the term "social worker" makes people think I am going to come snatch their kids). I actually started out envisioning a totally different career path and have a bachelor's degree in Russian. Midway through my junior year in college, I realized I needed to be true to what I really wanted to do and decided to become a therapist (I had been influenced as a 17 year old starting college by people who said, oh you'll never make money doing anything in social services. I really did like Russian, studied it since 10th grade so I chose that as a major and enjoyed it, but never felt it was the exact right fit for me. I continued on and got my degree because I knew that, to practice therapy, I would need a master's or a doctorate degree, and if I had changed majors in undergrad., it would have meant another additional year of study and then I would still have to continue on. I was a sociology minor though, so a little bit related. I chose to go to school for social work because I liked the concept of viewing the person in their environment and looking at all facets of their life impacting on their functioning.

During grad. school, I did my internship on an inpatient behavioral health unit working with both the substance abuse ward and the mental health ward. I was offered a job as a therapist on the mental health unit where I did my internship, but I was 23 and itching to try something completely new and different, so I left the East Coast and took a job as a therapist in a school based mental health program in Lamont CA (outside of Bakersfield). I absolutely loved the work and realized that I had a passion for working with kids and teens. I provided services in the schools during the day, went to people's homes and also saw clients in my office. It was a rural area, lots of farms, population that I worked with was mainly Latino/Latina as well as families whose ancestors had moved out there from Oklahoma and Arkansas during the Depression. I am from CT though and, after 2 years there, felt that I wanted to be a little closer to home (at least on the same coast), but didn't want to return to the NE, so I visited a friend from grad. school in Atlanta and liked it so I stayed.

Got a job as a therapist who would go to people's homes and provide 4-6 months of services. I did individual, couples, and family counseling, working with kids and adults. Most of our families were referred by Dept. of Families and Children's Services and the focus was on preventing removal of the kids from the home or helping the parents improve functioning so kids could return home. I also did assessments for the court after children were removed from a home ... making recommendations for what was in the child's best interest and things that needed to happen. These were 20 page reports. After a year or so, I was promoted to Lead Therapist, then shortly therafter, was promoted to In-Home therapy supervisor. I still saw a few clients, but was supervising the other therapists. Then, I was promoted to the director of the regional office. That was hell, because the company I worked for was going through a very messy financial situation and could not afford to hire a replacement for my previous position, so I was seeing clients, supervising all the therapists, as well as doing all the duties of a director. I remember when I was writing a grant, I ended up sleeping in the office. It was such craziness. Also, the main office who was responsible for payroll ... well, paychecks were bouncing and staff was understandably very upset. And the worst was that I had no control over payroll .. and my checks were bouncing too! Looking back, I think that I was flattered that I had been promoted at such a young age (I was 26 when I became supervisor) ... but after 4 months of hell as the director, I came to my senses and realized that I had to leave.

So I became a school social worker. I covered all grades and schools in the county, but especially loved the alternative school and spent a lot of time doing counseling there. I was also working on the side for a friend's company as an independent contractor, doing clinical assessments (domestic violence, substance abuse, etc.).

Decided to move to NH because I found a job that allowed me to repay my student loans by working there. I now work for a private nonprofit. We basically cover most things except for chronically mentally ill (local mental health center has more services) and sexual perps. We see a lot of trauma issues - domestic violence (survivors and batterers), sexual abuse, physical child abuse, etc. PTSD, anxiety, depression, bipolar, ADHD, some DID. I work with kids from about 2 all the way up to adults in their 80s and 90s. I am the only LICSW at the agency and Medicare only reimburses social workers or psychologists, so I get all the Medicare clients (as well as a few other insurances). Love the job!

Wow! I just realized I wrote a book! Sorry if this bores anyone

[JillA 2]

Some very interesting jobs! Nice to hear everyone's stories. Well today I applied for 4 jobs, one at Jenny Craig! That's the only company I recognized, so we shall see what happens! Oh and I found a job posting at ICE, but you have to be a US citizen to apply. I wouldn't mind working at ICE!

Edited April 17, 2009 by JillA

[SapphireDreams 71]

Some very interesting jobs! Nice to hear everyone's stories. Well today I applied for 4 jobs, one at Jenny Craig! That's the only company I recognized, so we shall see what happens! Oh and I found a job posting at ICE, but you have to be a US citizen to apply. I wouldn't mind working at ICE!

Good Luck Jill! I'm sure you'll find something soon.

I'm going to be nervous about finding a new job. I really hope the economy picks up a bit soon, for everyone's sake!

[JillA 2]

Some very interesting jobs! Nice to hear everyone's stories. Well today I applied for 4 jobs, one at Jenny Craig! That's the only company I recognized, so we shall see what happens! Oh and I found a job posting at ICE, but you have to be a US citizen to apply. I wouldn't mind working at ICE!

Good Luck Jill! I'm sure you'll find something soon.

I'm going to be nervous about finding a new job. I really hope the economy picks up a bit soon, for everyone's sake!

Thanks, tell me about it! A year ago when I started this whole process, I had a job lined up at our Philly office! It was a done deal, they were just waiting for me to arrive and be legal! Then the week I move here, they implement a hiring freeze due to the slow times. The freeze is still on, and then a month ago implemented a new rule called the "no family" rule, meaning spouses, siblings, etc cannot work together! My husband works there but a totally different dept, floor, I would never even see him (which is good, I don't want to work with him that's for sure). But the rule is the rule so it bites, 2 strikes against me and my plan of working there didn't pan out.

[SapphireDreams 71]

Some very interesting jobs! Nice to hear everyone's stories. Well today I applied for 4 jobs, one at Jenny Craig! That's the only company I recognized, so we shall see what happens! Oh and I found a job posting at ICE, but you have to be a US citizen to apply. I wouldn't mind working at ICE!

Good Luck Jill! I'm sure you'll find something soon.

I'm going to be nervous about finding a new job. I really hope the economy picks up a bit soon, for everyone's sake!

Thanks, tell me about it! A year ago when I started this whole process, I had a job lined up at our Philly office! It was a done deal, they were just waiting for me to arrive and be legal! Then the week I move here, they implement a hiring freeze due to the slow times. The freeze is still on, and then a month ago implemented a new rule called the "no family" rule, meaning spouses, siblings, etc cannot work together! My husband works there but a totally different dept, floor, I would never even see him (which is good, I don't want to work with him that's for sure). But the rule is the rule so it bites, 2 strikes against me and my plan of working there didn't pan out.

That would've been sweet. Oh well, it was probably meant to be. My company has a NYC office, well our "sister" company but they also have a hiring freeze right now.... but if they lift it by the time I'm legal I could get lucky...although I'm not even really sold on the idea of staying with the same company. I'm looking forward to a change, sometimes change is for the best!

[Cassie 8]

Before I came to the US, I worked in various historic sites and museums doing all sorts of stuff, from research to exhibits to co-ordinating events to pretending to being a resident of a French fortress in 1744. Had loads of fun, miss it terribly, terribly, terribly.

I have had a couple of jobs since moving here, the two main ones was a stint in medical records for a home health care company, and my current job as a project co-ordinator for a division in an environmental engineering firm. I try not to focus on the fact that I help to manage projects worth millions of dollars!

[jonesg111 0]

I currently work as a site supervisor for a home builder. Basically what I do is make sure that the houses get built on time and to the specifications that they have.

I'm a bit nervous of moving to the states later on this year and hope to find in the same line of work. I've been in the home building industry for 14 yrs now.

My dream job would be working as a police officer and I did apply with the RCMP a few years ago, but I'm deaf on one ear! Oh well!

[minnew 4]

I graduated from college with a Bachelor of Social Work and I am currently licenced as an LSW in ND. That being said I am currently not practicing as an LSW, rather working in Canada until the big move!

After college I worked in ND for 1 year on OPT on the student visa. I worked at a psychosocial rehabilitation center for persons with severe mental illness, and also worked full time for the state of ND at a Transitional Living Home for persons with severe mental illness. I absolutely loved my jobs in ND, the clients and my coworkers were amazing to work with.

Currently, now that I am back in Canada I work for the Goverment of Saskatchewan/Social Services as a Youth Facility Worker. I work with kids between the ages of 9-15 at a "stabilization" facility. The issues that kids/teens come in with vary greatly from parent/teen conflict, neglect, abuse to prostitution and IV drug use.

I am undecided as far as what field I want to work in once I move to NE, I really enjoyed working with persons with mental illness. But I realize to advance in that field, I would need to consider getting my Masters Degree in Social Work. I am still undecided about that venture as well. I would like to explore working as an LSW in Child & Family Services and I think my current job has been great experience to that affect.

As posted in another thread it is really unfortunate that my field of work will not be comparable to what SK pays in NE, but I guess thats the tradeoff for love. LOL.

Great to hear about everyone else's jobs as well!

Edited April 18, 2009 by minnew

[Hugglebuggles 60]

I prefer the use of visual aids!

Ok so it's not a great job. But it works for me. I'm a full time student and it allows some flexibility. Maybe one day soon i'll have a grown-up job or a "career"... But I'm just a baby! 21. Reading about some of your career experiences is making me feel really young. I haven't done anything in life! I hope when i'm grown up I have the courage to switch careers and change things when I get bored

[Emancipation 2]

Wow! I just realized I wrote a book! Sorry if this bores anyone

No way.. loved reading it.. what a lifetime of faces & circumstances & experiences!