What do you do (or did you do) for a living?

[harv]

I originally posted this on a seven-year-old thread, and got my wrist
slapped. That thread was "What do you do for a living?" This one includes
people who are no longer working. Sorry if you can't find work.

Changed the subject because I'm retired. Ha! I'm busier now than when
I was working.

My last job was with a design and documentation firm. It was a small place
(about six people tops), owned by a husband and wife. She was a designer
(ads, magazine layouts, eventually Web site work). He was a technical writer
(computer manuals, online help systems).

I did the technical writing stuff. Also hired and shepherded a group of part-
time writers who were paid to summarize articles that went on a consultant's
Web site.

Until my eyes started to go, it was a fun gig. Now I spend more time at the
computer than I did at work. I do miss the free coffee...

Anyone else?

[Pixall]

HA free coffee, I was never treated that good.

I was an odd-jobs gal. I have worked grocery stores, fruit stands, pet shops, kennels etc.

I miss working, though. Hopefully I will be employed again soon

[Huge]

Library assistant at the National Oceanography Centre, UK. Fascinating place to work, and being at the forefront of the marine science, it's pretty cool seeing your workplace (and people you know) on the BBC all the time.

[Lyndzo]

I'm an Office Administrator for a well known tools and security company. I'm on a contract until Dec 2012 and the people I work with are great, so I hope they keep me.

Until a year ago I worked for Blockbuster Canada's head office. We all know what happened there, not surprising. Bitter feelings towards them since my leaving was controversial, but it's in the past so I won't get into that. I'm in a good place now

[harv]

Originally Posted by Pixall

HA free coffee, I was never treated that good.

The boss was no dummy. He figured out we were wasting too much time
going back & forth to get coffee. So he bought a machine that not only
brewed, but even ground the beans. We would have had IV caffeine if
that had been feasible. The only downside were the awful headaches
from caffeine withdrawal over the weekends.

I was an odd-jobs gal. I have worked grocery stores, fruit stands,
pet shops, kennels etc.

I miss working, though. Hopefully I will be employed again soon

Fingers crossed!

[harv]

Originally Posted by Huge

Library assistant at the National Oceanography Centre,
UK. Fascinating place to work, and being at the forefront
of the marine science, it's pretty cool seeing your
workplace (and people you know) on the BBC all
the time.

Nice!

[harv]

Originally Posted by Lyndzo

I'm an Office Administrator for a well known tools and
security company. I'm on a contract until Dec 2012 and
the people I work with are great, so I hope they keep me.

Until a year ago I worked for Blockbuster Canada's head office. We all know
what happened there, not surprising. Bitter feelings towards them since my
leaving was controversial, but it's in the past so I won't get into that. I'm in a
good place now

Let's all hope you stay on. The job market stinks.

[MowMow]

I was a Federal employee for almost 12 years until the 'great recession'. Then I was laid off and unemployed for over a year and half.

Now I've got a two year contract (1.5 years left) with Hewlett Packard and we get free coffee too!

[harv]

Originally Posted by MowMow

I was a Federal employee for almost 12 years
until the 'great recession'. Then I was laid off
and unemployed for over a year and half.

Grim! You're lucky to have gotten a job. Many
people stopped looking.

Now I've got a two year contract (1.5 years left)
with Hewlett Packard and we get free coffee too!

With all the shakeups at HP, it must have been very
interesting there. Is your contract renewable?

[MowMow]

Not renewable no, I work for 2 years and then even if my team wants to keep me i have to take 3 months off from HP and re apply after that time.

I have a co worker who was offered a longer contract job through HPs temp center. It was the same job she's doing now but a 5 year contract and they would cut her pay by 4.00 an hour.

I'm just so disgusted with corporate America. Outsource paying jobs and then wonder why *we* don't have money to spend on high ticket items..... They really need to put through the tariff on items made outside the US and force companies to use US labor.

Companies are getting richer and richer and people are getting poorer and poorer (unless of course you're a CEO and then you just rake in your millions until you retire...

Wooo, sorry I'll get off my soapbox now.