What do you do?

[JillA 2]

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

I heard Timmy's is a great employer! Good benefits and all that!

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!

Same here Autumn!

[Flames9_RN 358]

Back in Canada I was in the cdn Armed Forces. Started in the reserves while in High school, then transferred over to the Regular Force navy,, working in the operations room,working with various electronics gear, did that for 7 or 8 years, then applied for and was selected to become a Airborne Electronics Sensor operator in the Air force. Flew on the CP 140 Aurora (P3C) Awesome job, nothing like being down at 100 ft above the ocean,lol with everyone eyes fixed at the altitude meter,lol needless to say, one doesn't turn that low, just straight and fast,lol not so bad in the days, different story at night. Was an awesome job, miss it a lot. During my career, I guess my highlites were doing UN peacekeeping in Croatia in 1993 and being selected to become an AESop as it is a very difficult trade to get accepted into. Back then you had to be in the Forces to be selected, but just this past year,they opened it up to new recruits as well. Been here since DEC 2004, and I haven't really worked. ref'd hockey for 1 winter and then did a bit of yard work for a few people, but 1 of them I was more like a companion, just watched TV and got paid for it,lol She would take me out to lunch to some pretty cool places, almost felt bad taking her $$$, but they were loaded. 16 days and I will have completed my RN program!! Then i guess I should get a job, but I'm not that concerned,still have to pass the big national standard exam--NCLEX,which will write in July.

Edited April 18, 2009 by flames9

[to_hope 0]

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...

I was a nanny too! I cared for three children: when I started the little girl was 18 months and she had 6 week old b/g twin siblings. I was with the family until last January (minus a 4 month break for my last semester of university)- the twins just turned two yesterday! I miss them so much. Their mom and I email almost every day- you really become close with a woman when you love her children!

[coldwatersurf 5]

Wow everyone has interesting cool jobs. Im wondering why we gave them up.lol

After college I started working as a server at a hotel in my town to make extra money. About 5 months of waiting tables I was promoted to restaurant supervisor and shortly after that manager, and then I went on to be the assistant to the events planner. You'd think that would be great right? Wrong.

I know what you mean. I work for an Events production company. We would take care of the technical part of the event - ie: lights, sounds, video, stages, decor, furniture, fabrics. So there were no weekends for me. I got tired of it after 1 year and demanded I take more responsibilities in the office versus on site. I hated site work and all the events always happens from Thursday - Sunday then I was back in the office on Monday no matter what since I was first contact @ the office. We handled all types of events from fashion shows, festivals, to corporate events to weddings to high school dances and even movie sets.

But, now I love my job since I demanded for what I wanted and got it. I've been in the industry for 5 years and 3 with the company i'm currently with - and leaving next weekend. *cry* I basically took care of everything in the company and have done all the positions - I currently take care of all equipment rentals, sales, repairs, shipping, cross rentals for events. I've done staff recruitment and schedules, webpage and e-newsletter maintenance, and all of the administration part of the company. Lets just say when I started @ the company. it was male dominated and I asked for the policies and procedures book and the 2 guys there didnt know what that was.

So for anyone having a wedding or parties and you need input in your lighting (and sound and decor), you are welcome to ask me any questions. I'm very knowledgeable in many equipment and I'm able to send you all the info via web. lol. I just love this and dont want anything back. I just know I probably wont get to do it where I'm going.

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.

That job is wayyy cooler than mine.

[tysalanna 0]

I am still living in Canada and haven't got to the US yet. I have taught piano for over ten years out of my home. I have always been a stay at home Mom; however, I had a huge life changing event 3 years ago where my ex tried to kill me and guess what I was forced into being a single parent, which was a very good thing. I went back to college and got a certificate for Substitute Teaching and also did my Adminstrative Assisstant Certificate. It was brutal because I went to school full-time and part-time, but walked away employable. Now I am currently working for a Collision Repair shop. It is a great job. I make $36,000 a year. My duties include doing all the financial paperwork and books which include payroll, accounts receivable and payable, etc. I am also the glorified secretary that answers phones, files, etc.

I married my handsome American husband in December. We hope to file our paper work in two weeks. I am very nervous after reading on the forum that so many people have found it difficult to get a job and also a job in their field.

Tysalanna

[beans 7]

Some of you guys have very awesome and inspiring careers. You all have given a whole new list of "when I grow up I want to be" options lol.

So, I am a guest services supervisor for a hotel. Some days I like my job, most days I don't. I've gone to two seperate universities and have yet to complete a degree (I have motivation issues.lol)

I found a program at the University of Maine that really interests me 'Public Management', I've always wanted to be a cop (public service/civil servants run in the family) or work in government in general. My fiance is a retired combat vet and I really admire all he's done and I wish I could do it too but I don't think I could hack it.

[carslo 0]

I am a School and Student Support Worker at an elementary school in Vancouver - I have been in the same school for 18 years. I work with mentally and physically challenged students, mostly those with ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorders. I love my job! I have also managed group homes for mentally and medically challenged adults leaving the institutions, and I worked in a mental hospital in Alberta for 11 years. I am really hoping that I will be able to continue my career when I get to Los Angeles. I went back to university in 2002 when my youngest daughter aslo started, and graduated in 2006 with a BA in General Studies and a minor in History; this was in preparation to moving to the USA to improve on my ability to get another great job. Nice to hear about all the interesting things people have done.

Janet

Edited April 18, 2009 by carslo

[Rhiannercakes 14]

I'm still in Canada currently.

I'm a cake decorator for a grocery store's bakery.

I went to college for Culinary Management, but ended up hating the kitchen... and I love cake decorating, so here we go.

It's alot of fun.

[JillA 2]

I'm still in Canada currently.

I'm a cake decorator for a grocery store's bakery.

I went to college for Culinary Management, but ended up hating the kitchen... and I love cake decorating, so here we go.

It's alot of fun.

Cool, maybe when you move to the US you can get a job at "Ace of Cakes"! I love that show, the cakes are amazing!

[Jenni and Bo 0]

I was a "Timmie Ho" back in the days of high school and some University. I also worked tourism during the summer on the Halifax waterfront 2 years of my University time. I loved that job - got to meet a lot of people from so many places, was right on the water, got free boat trips through out sister company! We also got the American cruise ships in a lot, so I met a lot of Americans before I met mine <3

I graduated with my B.A in Criminology. I was going to be an RCMP officer - had been my dream forever. While I was training for the physical portion, I worked at a group home for youth 11-18. The kids were either placed there by Social Services, their own parents or were actual wards of the province. A lot of these kids had addictions, broken homes, psychological issues, and it was a very trying job at times, but I did get through to a few of them. After I left, they found me on facebook and I still talk to them when I can. So I was there for 2 years...

For a 2 years before I moved down here, I worked at a Women's Shelter. Residential, so it was shift work (same as group home), I was the house tech/designer as well (my dad has been working in various computer professions for 30 years- I was bound to pick a bit of it up)...any paperwork that needed to get done, any advertising or materials we needed - that was me. I had to man a 24-hrs crisis line and provide in-house support for our clients living there. I met women in so many different situations, of different backgrounds. It was wonderful working with them and helping them get their life back. It is so rewarding to get a hug, or a card from a woman that you know really appreciates the help you've offered.

I hope to eventually get into my field again down here. I would love to be a cop here in Raleigh (though the thought of it makes Bo very nervous), but anything within a department would be great. I'm not sure if I would do residential again - it takes a lot out of you, but I would love to get involved with any programs that help women - not necessarily abused solely

[DeadPoolX 9]

I'm still in Canada currently.

I'm a cake decorator for a grocery store's bakery.

I went to college for Culinary Management, but ended up hating the kitchen... and I love cake decorating, so here we go.

It's alot of fun.

You might like this website about unusual cakes then.

[Gypsyangel 11]

I worked in marketing in the communications industry. In fact, I'm still doing that a bit as I'm on contract with a Canadian company doing some consulting for them. We're launching a low-cost cell phone company something like Metro PCS or Cricket in the U.S. It's about time Canadians were able to pay less for their cell phone bills.

We did an analysis, and although it's hard to compare the U.S. and Canada .... we figured that Canadians are paying at least 30% more for the same thing Americans pay for, just because there's not enough competition.

Anyway, in my past I did work for the dreaded Rogers and also for Bell. But I have seen the light!

I'm trying to get a new career going here, but I'm still figuring out what that is. The consulting gig is fun and it pays the bills. Plus it pays for my travel to Toronto once per week so I can visit my sister. And, oh yeah, work. Helps with the homesickness, but the travel can be tiring.

[thetreble 19]

Wow you travel from south jersey to toronto every week? thats crazy.

[warlord 73]

I've worked in Transportation, as many of you know, for quite a few years.

I worked for the Region of Waterloo for years in the "systems" department which dealt with signals at intersections. We oversaw over 500+ intersections in real time and were able to adjust lightening time based upon accidents, events, etc.

We worked with GIS systems, mapping...pedestrian signals...it was cool.

I started out working in Roads just doing stuff with collision reports and stuff.

Now I'm working in Transportation and Parking at a university. I deal with parking tickets, buses, road maintenance...all sorts of things. I don't like my job really at this point because parking is a really hard job to do. We have 20,000 students and 5,000 parking spaces on campus. It's very crowded and kids call me and yell at me all day. It kinda sucks to be sworn at and screamed at but its my job.

This is pretty similar to what I do now. Not only am I mapping all the traffic singnals in our multi county region, I also do all the GIS maps for long range transportation planning, crash data mapping, Bike to Work Day, and all the other mapping thing for our traffic engineers or traffic planners or the Ride Arranger folks. In otherwords I do GIS mapping.

Before this I worked at another mapping place in Colorado Springs and for 8 or 9 years I was doing the digital ortho photos like you see on Google Earth. So for years I had to go through and manually correct all the arial images. I also got sent to some special places as well for special tasks like Barksdale A.F.B. in Louisiana were I got escorted into the Nuclear facitlity that no one gets into in order to map the drainage area. Another time I got sent to India to help train them for centerlines on roads.

The last one was much more fun, but didn't want to commute an hour down there every day, plus they tend to love layoffs every year and didn't know how long my luck (9th year) would last...

Edited April 20, 2009 by warlord

[Gypsyangel 11]

Wow you travel from south jersey to toronto every week? thats crazy.

Yeah, it is. But the money is good (except for the Canadian/US exchange) and I like/know/trust the people. It's a four month contract and it's only 2/3 days a week in Toronto. It'll probably move down to travelling once a month after that. I figured I could do it in the short haul, but I wouldn't want to do it as an ongoing lifestyle. I always feel like I'm rushing and not getting much done.

I'm thinking of it as a bridge while I get my act together down here. It also takes the $$$ pressure off in this economy.