Spent the first 20ish years of my working life in electronics as a TV/VCR service engineer. Worked for a number of firms around Nottingham, then opened my own retail/service operation. Ended up running all over the country providing service back up for the 'Cash Generators' retail operation. Realized I was having to run ever faster to stay where I was, so folded the business, sold the house and bought my narrowboat. Went back to school for my plumbing certs and have a been a self employed Kitchen and Bathroom installer for the last 12 years...Usually an enjoyable job although the aches and pains of getting older are starting to make an appearance!
Been in IT for 34 years (whose counting) - started with punch cards and tape - now an IT manager for a global company so includes a lot of travel (which ain't glamorous....) Hoping to give up in 7 years time but let's see how my pension works out........
I'm another one who started out an electrical/electronics engineer, although my first job out of uni took me into the materials handling industry. I worked mainly mobile and abroad on some of the largest cranes, forklifts and other specialist machines in the country. I've probably worked in every steel works, port you can mention. Got bored of the constant travelling (or should I say her in doors got bored of it) and long weeks away so took a local job at the port of Liverpool, where I run a team of lads who service and repair cranes, mobile equipment that's mainly for containers but we get to see some pretty cool stuff passing in and out. Hate working the nights but the shift pattern sold it, I only work 8 shifts in every 20 days. Gives me a lt of van time!
Work for an aerospace company making aircraft windows and bullet proof windows for cars. Been doing it for 12 years now. Its ok not the best job, stuck inside but it pays the bills.
At varying times in my life I've been a film & TV sound recordist, I've been a cleaner in an old folks home, I've run workshops for students on how to use cameras and edit suites, I've been a galley slave on a sailing boat round the Greek Islands, and done a lot of life jacket demonstrations, and for the last 15 years I've been a grower of trees - coupled with a bit of film memorabilia market trading on the side. I think I might be a postman (woman) next when I'm done with trees, but we'll see.
No relevant qualifications, all mine are in film and photography. When the old folks home closed, and after a couple of months working on my house, and a month travelling around southern Africa, I went to the job centre looking for a summer job to earn some dosh til I worked out what I wanted to do next.... 15 years later.....
This is brilliant! The mods now have all our cv's together with the rest of the personal information they have been gathering over the past few weeks! What are they planning?
Correct........but not for much longer. I have considered what occupation I could do afterwards. Thought of being a Porter at a Hospital, a Postal Worker, Delivery Van Driver. I have been pointed in the direction of driving/chauffeuring celebrities but don't think I would be able to keep quiet if they annoyed me so crossed that off. Told the current wife I was going to train as a mobile masseuse for lonely housewives but she refused to let me do it.