What do you do for a living?

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 1/19/2010 1:29:57 PM
Author: rhbgirl24

Date: 1/19/2010 11:06:00 AM
Author: Dancing Fire

Date: 1/19/2010 10:00:05 AM

Author: rhbgirl24

I have a BS in Marine Biology and a BS in Psychology.


However I work in Foreclosure Real Estate (I''ve worked in the market for 8 years on and off and it pays the bills) and I also run an in home/office Salt and Freshwater tank maintenance service.


My dream job would to be doing conservation research in an aquarium or research lab.

wow,what a fun job!!

i used to hire a guy to do maintenance on my 280 gal saltwater aquarium.

It can be fun, it can be a pain! and mmmmm..... a 280 gal? Reef? or FO?

marine tropical. i kept seahorses back in the mid 70''s,then played around with marine tropical fishes in the 80''s,but never gotten into keepping a reef aquarium.

 

[Clio]

Date: 1/19/2010 1:31:08 PM
Author: vespergirl

Date: 1/18/2010 8:34:14 PM

Author: Clio

I used to be a history professor at a university, and now I work in grantmaking at a small Federal agency.

Clio, history professor is my dream job. I am planning to go back to school to start my Ph.D. in about 2 years. Why did you leave - did you not enjoy it? Do you recommend it as a career?

Vesper, I love research and writing, but I found that I did not enjoy teaching, especially not teaching the US history survey to 150 undergraduates, most of whom were only there because it was a requirement (I was at a largish state university).

When discussions about tenure made me feel anxious that I WOULD get it, rather than anxious about the possibility of not getting it, I realized that I might want to try a different career.

For the right person, being a history professor is a great career. The one HUGE downside is the dismal state of the job market. The number I''ve heard recently is that only about half of new history PhDs will get tenure track jobs, and those who do have to be willing to relocate. This situation is likely to worsen as more and more institutions replace tenure track lines with adjuncts. On the other hand, in the DC area there are lots of colleges and universities where one can adjunct if one is willing to forgo the tenure track.

My current job is great because I still get to interact with academics and support the work that they''re doing, but I don''t have to teach. My agency even offers some modest support (in the form of time off) for those of us who still want to publish in our fields.

 

[sparklyheart]

I''m a pediatric nurse, working towards becoming a pedi NP.

 

[Gailey]

Date: 1/19/2010 4:40:39 PM
Author: MC

Date: 1/19/2010 3:53:40 PM
Author: Gailey


MC, how many gallons are you up to now? I'm just checking up on my prediction from a couple of months ago!

Eh, sorry, not up to 35 yet.

Right now I have: 1 guppy tank at 5 gallons. Then 5 betta tanks at 10, 5, 5, 3, and 2. lol I'm going to upgrade the guppy tank to 10 gallons b/c there are two pregnant females in there. We've had a few babies from the first pregnancy but they disappeared! The 2 gallon is actually a fish bowl. Poor betta. He does have a heater and I change his water about every 4 days. His fins look better than the bettas in the filtered tanks. A few of the bettas have vertical breeding strips, but I'm too afraid to stick a female in the tank of the betta who blows bubbles. Can't imagine being stuck with cups of bettas all over the house!

I can`t remember my exact wording back then, but I believe I was referring to your overall total number of gallons rather than getting up to a 35 gallon tank, so I wasn`t far out was I. Hee hee. Told ya!!

 

[Mara]

my current job is Gestational Host.

 

[steph72276]

Date: 1/19/2010 8:01:21 PM
Author: Mara
my current job is Gestational Host.

 

[JSM]

My BS and MS have led me to a position in academic cancer research. I''m a lab rat and love my job!

 

[beechezz]

Special Education High School Science teacher. One day I would like to transfer back to the little ones (elementary age), but for now this is a challenge.

 

[audball]

I have a Bachelor''s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders for Speech, Language, and Hearing and had intentions on continuing on to get my AuD (Doctorate in Audiology). I was accepted to the AuD program as well as the MPH (Masters of Public Health) program for the same term. Every job I''ve held through my Bachelor''s has been fiscally related and I''m pretty good at it (not that I enjoy it). My part-time job as a Fiscal Assistant at the university came to a full-time offer as a Fiscal and Business Specialist after I graduated. The AuD program didn''t allow me to work, but the MPH was very accommodating and allowed for part-time enrollment. I decided to opt for the MPH since it had more potential and opportunity in the future and would permit me to work (FF and I can''t afford for me to not work). The other upside being that since I work for the university, they comp 6 credits/semester of my tuition, so by going part-time, I''m getting my degree for free in 7 semesters, instead of 5. I''ve selected the Environmental Health track and would love to end up working for the Department of Fish and Wildlife Services at a fishery or a forestry station or something like that.

Long story short, full time Fiscal and Business Specialist working on my Master''s in Public Health.

 

[PilsnPinkysMom]

I''m a nanny

B.S. in Political Science & German... Spent a little while in law school, had a change of heart, and will soon start a graduate education licensure/masters program. I hope to become an urban high school social studies teacher. But for now I love working with darling babies & toddlers and prolonging my life as a student!

DH is a legal drug dealer... aka a pharmacist

 

[ChloeTheGreat]

My current full time job is looking for a job! Ugh.

I just graduated with my Bachelor''s in Finance. I''m keeping my fingers crossed that something comes along soon!

 

[ringthing!]

I work for the USPS.

 

[Luckyeshe]

I work for a financial firm that provides 401Ks and other services.

 

[ArtistJess]

just chiming in...

maevie- welcome to the boards and congrats on your new job!

gwen- i''m hoping to get back there within the next few years. df and i were thinking about honeymooning there, but the money situation in our family changed drastically so that idea was kind of shot. he''ll be done with his second degree in a couple of years so we may make a celebratory there afterwards. now ask me when i WISH i could go back

and someone start a microbrewery with me! i think that would be such a great job.

 

[katamari]

I am a grad student for a few more months and then I will be a prof! I am still really excited about it.

 

[katamari]

Date: 1/19/2010 7:23:56 PM
Author: Clio

Date: 1/19/2010 1:31:08 PM

Author: vespergirl

Date: 1/18/2010 8:34:14 PM


Author: Clio


I used to be a history professor at a university, and now I work in grantmaking at a small Federal agency.

Clio, history professor is my dream job. I am planning to go back to school to start my Ph.D. in about 2 years. Why did you leave - did you not enjoy it? Do you recommend it as a career?

Vesper, I love research and writing, but I found that I did not enjoy teaching, especially not teaching the US history survey to 150 undergraduates, most of whom were only there because it was a requirement (I was at a largish state university).


When discussions about tenure made me feel anxious that I WOULD get it, rather than anxious about the possibility of not getting it, I realized that I might want to try a different career.


For the right person, being a history professor is a great career. The one HUGE downside is the dismal state of the job market. The number I've heard recently is that only about half of new history PhDs will get tenure track jobs, and those who do have to be willing to relocate. This situation is likely to worsen as more and more institutions replace tenure track lines with adjuncts. On the other hand, in the DC area there are lots of colleges and universities where one can adjunct if one is willing to forgo the tenure track.


My current job is great because I still get to interact with academics and support the work that they're doing, but I don't have to teach. My agency even offers some modest support (in the form of time off) for those of us who still want to publish in our fields.

Vesper, I recommend reading on the Chronicle of Higher Education a bit before going back for a humanities PhD. The general consensus over there is that it just isn't worth it because the market is so abysmal (unless you are interested in non-academic positions or study for intrinsic value). I am in the social sciences and, while our market is bad, people are finding jobs--they just might be a heavy teaching load in the middle-of-nowhere-flyoversville. If your interests mesh with PoliSci, Anthro, or Soc it might be better, market wise.

Here are a couple of articles you might find interesting. First & Second

Clio, I will be picking your brain here in a couple months about how to transition from grad school into TT.

 

[caribqueen]

Neat thread.
Up until recently I was a television journalist. But since that is not exactly a recession-proof job and after a decade of doing it, I''m exhausted with parts of the industry, I''m now trying to figure out if I''ll continue on that path after we get married or get my Masters in something else.

 

[Phoenix]

I am a qualifed UK Chartered Accountant (like an American CPA) and have worked as an auditor/ fraud investigator. I was working as a Director of Internal Audit Services at one of the Big 4 in Singapore, but gave up my job to move to Shanghai with DH about 6-7 months ago. I'd like to go back to work soon. I miss the money and the social aspect of it. Am not terribly keen on audit however (have done it for many years) so would like to work as a fraud investigator again, but am not so sure about the feasibility or practical aspect of it working as a F/I in China....probably not the best job to have in terms of safety!

So, we shall have to see....

 

[treefrog]

Date: 1/19/2010 5:17:02 PM
Author: Maevie
This is my very first PS post - I am a recently licensed Psychologist who just scored my first job an hour ago!

That is awesome, congratulations!!!

Welcome to Pricescope!

Treefrog

 

[meresal]

My new title: Public Finance Investment Analyst

I deal solely with Municipal and Educational Bonds.

 

[redfaerythinker]

I am a student, graduating in August with a BA in Psych. Please Freke don''t say it''s worthless! That would be bad. But then I can go and work in a jewelry store and sell pretty things all day, and that wouldn''t be so bad.

 

[Lauren8211]

Date: 1/21/2010 10:42:54 AM
Author: redfaerythinker
I am a student, graduating in August with a BA in Psych. Please Freke don''t say it''s worthless! That would be bad. But then I can go and work in a jewelry store and sell pretty things all day, and that wouldn''t be so bad.

It can''t possibly be worth less than my BS in Sociology!

 

[meresal]

Date: 1/21/2010 10:47:24 AM
Author: elledizzy5

Date: 1/21/2010 10:42:54 AM
Author: redfaerythinker
I am a student, graduating in August with a BA in Psych. Please Freke don't say it's worthless! That would be bad. But then I can go and work in a jewelry store and sell pretty things all day, and that wouldn't be so bad.

It can't possibly be worth less than my BS in Sociology!

My DH has a BS in Sociology... we always joke in the fact that THAT is exactly what it is... "BS".

However, I think I have to agree RFT (not trying to be a downer, bc that is awesome that you are graduating!!), a Psych major isn't much without a Phd. One of my best friends is a Psych major, and decided not to go on to get her Masters or her Doctorate, and after graduating she worked as a manager at Bath and Body Works for 2 years, and she is now an elementary education substitute.

Have you put higher education completely out of the picture?

ETA: I debated Poli Sci for a semester, but realized it really wasn't worth much without a Law Degree, and I decided that I wasn't interested in Law School.

 

[Bia]

Date: 1/21/2010 10:42:54 AM
Author: redfaerythinker
I am a student, graduating in August with a BA in Psych. Please Freke don''t say it''s worthless! That would be bad. But then I can go and work in a jewelry store and sell pretty things all day, and that wouldn''t be so bad.

Not worthless. BS in Psych is good as an entry-way to most fields, but you won''t be making big $$$. However, there is a lot of opportunity with a MS in Psych (particularly counseling or school). Many states (NY for example) are licensing nowadays so you can practice privately after licensure (as well as accept insurance). I''m looking into it myself as I am finishing my MS in HR/Management and not loving it.

 

[Octavia]

I''m a 3rd-year law student with no clue what comes next. Hopefully making money instead of just spending it. Between college and law school, I worked in nonprofit fundraising.

Bella_mezzo, DH and I have a couple of opera singer friends. Our good friend lives in Europe, but his girlfriend is a mezzo who lives in New York. I''ll bet you''ve crossed paths with many, many people we know, though!

Haven, someday I might try to pick your brain about teaching at community colleges -- I think this sounds very attractive and I''ve always wanted to teach classes as an adjunct in addition to my day job (once I get one). First things first, but I''d love to hear how you got your foot in the door!

 

[vespergirl]

Date: 1/21/2010 12:32:41 AM
Author: katamari

Date: 1/19/2010 7:23:56 PM
Author: Clio

Date: 1/19/2010 1:31:08 PM

Author: vespergirl

Date: 1/18/2010 8:34:14 PM


Author: Clio


I used to be a history professor at a university, and now I work in grantmaking at a small Federal agency.

Clio, history professor is my dream job. I am planning to go back to school to start my Ph.D. in about 2 years. Why did you leave - did you not enjoy it? Do you recommend it as a career?

Vesper, I love research and writing, but I found that I did not enjoy teaching, especially not teaching the US history survey to 150 undergraduates, most of whom were only there because it was a requirement (I was at a largish state university).


When discussions about tenure made me feel anxious that I WOULD get it, rather than anxious about the possibility of not getting it, I realized that I might want to try a different career.


For the right person, being a history professor is a great career. The one HUGE downside is the dismal state of the job market. The number I''ve heard recently is that only about half of new history PhDs will get tenure track jobs, and those who do have to be willing to relocate. This situation is likely to worsen as more and more institutions replace tenure track lines with adjuncts. On the other hand, in the DC area there are lots of colleges and universities where one can adjunct if one is willing to forgo the tenure track.


My current job is great because I still get to interact with academics and support the work that they''re doing, but I don''t have to teach. My agency even offers some modest support (in the form of time off) for those of us who still want to publish in our fields.

Vesper, I recommend reading on the Chronicle of Higher Education a bit before going back for a humanities PhD. The general consensus over there is that it just isn''t worth it because the market is so abysmal (unless you are interested in non-academic positions or study for intrinsic value). I am in the social sciences and, while our market is bad, people are finding jobs--they just might be a heavy teaching load in the middle-of-nowhere-flyoversville. If your interests mesh with PoliSci, Anthro, or Soc it might be better, market wise.

Here are a couple of articles you might find interesting. First & Second

Clio, I will be picking your brain here in a couple months about how to transition from grad school into TT.

Clio & Katamari, thanks so much for your feedback. Several years ago I was working at a large state university as a director or fundraising, and spoke to the academic dean who was also a history professor on the job market, and he had shared those same dismal stats with me. I ended up moving to the DC area, decided to wait to start my Masters & Ph.D. until after my youngest kiddo starts preschool (it will probably be in about two years).

Thanks for the advice on meshing with another social science - I used to be the president of my local chapter of the National Organization for Women, and have often thought about meshing my interest in women''s studes and history.

Another option that I''ve been investigating is just to get a Master''s in either Museum Education and Curatorship or Fine Arts Management (GWU and GMU in the DC area have some interesting programs), if the Ph.D. track seems too daunting (my undergrad degree is in the Fine Arts). I think that I would really enjoy working in a museum environment as well, and if the job market would be better, I may just pursue that instead. Since I still have two years to decide, I am not in a huge rush to decide.

Thanks again for your feedback - it''s really great to get inside information from people working in the field.

 

[redfaerythinker]

I haven''t put grad school out of the equation. i want to do research but I don''t want to run the research. I just want to be doing the "grunt" work, and unless i''m mistaken, a masters might over-qualify me for that. But i''m still looking into my options. I may do entry level research and then do grad school later if need be. I''ve worked in labs as an undergrad so a masters isn''t always required.

 

[Haven]

Date: 1/21/2010 11:43:34 AM
Author: Octavia
Haven, someday I might try to pick your brain about teaching at community colleges -- I think this sounds very attractive and I''ve always wanted to teach classes as an adjunct in addition to my day job (once I get one). First things first, but I''d love to hear how you got your foot in the door!

Hi, Octavia!
So you''re in your last semester of law school--congrats!
I LOVE teaching in a community college. I''ve taught all grades in my short time as a teacher, and I must say that CC is my favorite place to teach. I''ve found that CCs respect their instructors and trust that they hire well, so they leave the *art* of teaching up to us. The *science* of teaching is set in our course documents, of course, but they don''t meddle with *how* we teach at all.

I got my foot in the door pretty easily. Most CCs rely on a large staff of adjunct instructors because they don''t have the funds to employ as many FT faculty members as they need. This is good for people who want to get in as adjuncts, but it makes it difficult if you want to obtain a full-time faculty position.

This is what I did: I saw an opening for a developmental English instructor posted online, so I submitted my resume and other app documents via their website, and then made a follow-up phone call. The dept chair set up a time for me to come in and meet with her, and then we had a short informal interview, and next thing I knew I was slated to teach a six hour course the following semester.

Our students fill out feedback and course survey forms at the end of each term, and we are assigned a FT faculty member as a mentor. Our mentor does some informal observations each semester, as does the dean of the department. These are the primary tools they use for deciding whether to keep adjuncts on each year.

I''ve been with my particular CC since 2004, and I could not be any happier. I highly recommend trying it out if there are any adjunct instructor openings at your local CC. If you live in Illinois, you''re more than welcome to come and observe a class or two of mine, as well!

 

[risingsun]

I''m a Licensed Professional Counselor. One of my areas of interest is working with adults dealing with attachment disorders that occurred during childhood, which have affected their mental and emotional development. Unfortunately, I am on an extended medical leave of absence from my practice and don''t know when, or if, I will be able to resume my career...but that''s a whole other story

 

[stephbolt]

Until last spring, I was a graduate student in chemistry (working on my PhD). I finally accepted I was miserable and following the wrong path working in a lab, and managed to find my current job, and write my thesis to get my MS.

Currently I am a Product Stewardship Analyst for a large specialty chemical company. My company provides papermaking and water treatment chemicals to various companies, and these companies all come to me to make sure the products conform to whatever local/state/national/global regulations they are subject to.

My dream job is to teach, that''s why I went to grad school in the first place. I plan on pursuing part time teaching work as soon as I''m done with all the wedding stuff. I would love to teach at a CC or as an adjuct at a local college, and hope that down the road that can be my primary employment.