Astro Physicist

isn't it obvious!?

There's nothing wrong at all with that question but, despite the fact that I like my job and have written software for most of the last 30 years now, I really don't like discussing work outside work and I don't like the idea that I'm defined by my job so if someone asks me, I tend to answer that I collect records but I don't so much anymore and collecting downloads doesn't have the same ring to it. I'm not sure what I'm going to say in the future, I suppose I'm going to have to say that I'm a music fan but it doesn't really answer the question. I don't like to ask others as I don't want to define them by their job either and it's normally assumed that that's what the questioner wants to know.

I agree with JohnW in that I don't like being asked the question by a stranger because of the process of being defined. I also do my level best to avoid asking the question myself. I think part of the reasoning is that I have been fairly successful with what I do, and live in a relatively small community, so if asked the question by someone locally who may not know me, I don't want to come across as superior or a braggart. I tend to play down my role.

Odd perhaps?

was careful not to ask this. I think she would have sided with JohnW. Instead she would ask people what they did when they weren't at work. The responses were much more interesting.

Paradoxically, I was with a couple of artists (an actress and a visual artist) last week and asked them what they did in the real world. The conversation picked up immediately.

Me? I'm just a lawnmower. You can tell me by the way I walk. (Writer/editor/filmmaker actually)

...other than spending hours every day applying for work, and getting absolutely nowhere. I've not even had a face-to-face interview this year.

for the county

I lead a Voluntary Sector team who work as part of a Community Mental Health Team in the NHS with people with mental health problems.

Its quite a big deal in as much as theres rarely been that level of integration and co-operation between Public and Vol Org agencies before in Scotland and I'm quite proud of it. It seems to work as well.

Oh,and nice one Dave Amitri. Have an UP.

Dad to four teenage children, daytime hours spent working for a company which sounds like "Brattish Geese"...having fun with broken heating appliances!

I'm a painter and work for myself.I have 3 kids and no time to listen to music or play the guitar. I have no problem telling anybody what I do for a living. I can understand why some people don't but don't get the being defined by your work theory. Why would anybody think what you do for a living defines who are as a person.

The dentistry is just a hobby.

I'm a (currently rather depressed) Arsenal-supporting, hockey umpire. I should have thought that was *perfectly* obvious from my nom-de-keyboard. Pshaw.

In my working hours I'm a faceless NHS bureaucrat with little to do other than to dream up new ways to waste everyone's taxes. No, honestly; that's all any of us do, all day, every day.

at WOLD

playing all the hits for you, wherever you may be

A civil servant of a sort. I work for a Home Office Agency (oh alright, a quango) owned by all of the UK police forces. What I do is to ensure two of the many IT apps they use operate in the way they should, holding the supplier to account aswell as helping the forces use it properly. Nothing technical, more performance and cost related. Part of what I do is work out ways this kit can work better for less money.

It sounds dull but it isn't. Because it offers opportunities for juvenility. I slip in Star Wars-isms to conference calls. Things like, "Yes, I agree. The force is strong on this one.' or, "OK, well I'll have to see if the force may be with us on this.'

Taxpayers money well spent.

Bad guy

I don't mind saying what I do for a living, it's a large part of my every day.
I'm the editor of a regional Sunday newspaper, and I'm a husband and father of two.
That's pretty much all my time accounted for.

I lurk here on a more-or-less full time basis. I also have a 3 year old daughter, which gets in the way of music listening.

For cash, I work as a prosecutor on a small Caribbean island.

a music and film fan.

(edited: my previous post went on a bit)

I am a second year law student. Rest of the time I run the CD department at HMV. S'alright...

Not that one - so don't ask for a free iPad......

I work as the guy that draws the white lines around the bodies at crime scenes. However, after honing my skills for all these years, the dropping crime rates worldwide are reducing the work so I'm currently undergoing intensive training for a second career.....

I'm going to be the guy that records the voices in elevators - "Level 1", "Basement Car Park"...... It may start off small, but I see the opportunities are incredible - pick up a couple of languages (I'm looking at Chinese) and I have a global career...

In reality, much more boring - I manage the PCBA Engineering / Test / Development in Asia for a major Hard Disk drive manufacturer. The PCBA is the electronics.

I am the God of Hellfire

with cash money so that Mark Ellen doesn't have to go back to selling garden gnomes on the free market and David Hepworth can enjoy his yearly subscription to "Millionaire".

...especially as I'm not allowed to talk about it - oops!!! - don't ask it ain't worth it.
Don't have kids so spend lots of time listening to new music via a myspace page that has developed into a bulletin board for Liverpool Bands. Go to more gigs than I've ever been to before, been on french radio discussing the bands and been asked to host a gig as part of a Leeds Festival Fringe event - so bleeding bizarre and all because I'm a music fan.
Little aside - loads of bands looking to play outside the City so if you put on events send details and I'll post on the myspace.

and I can honestly say, I'm not still not particularly sure what I do. I spend the vast majority of that time dreaming and plotting to be a music hack though.

Self employed graphic designer - currently long-contract at an agency working furiously on London 2012 Olympic design stuff - reports, exhibitions, posters etc, all good stuff and hoping to get comp tickets to the opening event in 2 years due to all the hard work i do for them, and the great client rapport we have - rare i know but common courtesy and a 'can do' attitude to every job thrown at me goes a long way in a clients eyes!

Oh, and do a bit of photography on the side!

Kind of. It's what I still call myself, even though I do more "not" than actual teaching these days. I'm a Secondary English and ICT Consultant (settle down, ladies) for a central London local authority. In essentials, that means I do some teaching, help struggling departments and teachers sort themselves out, and while I'm about it train them how to use technology in a useful educational way. Oh, and I'm a dab hand with stats and timetabling software, so I do some of that around the place too.

I realise that people don't like to define themselves by what they do. I don't mind at all, because "teacher" is a big part of who I am. I do what I do because of who I am, and my job sort of feeds back into my personality. So if I'm out and someone says "what do you do?", I just tell them. I'm fine with it - of course it doesn't give the whole picture, but what does? Saying "I'm a dad" or "I'm a musician" would be true, but would give an equally incomplete impression.

Not really. I'm a magazine editor.

12% of male primary school teachers in England. That's what I get paid for - I like it & I'm proud of it. It takes up far too much of my time, and it can be a pain in the backside, but it's the best job I've ever had.

I am a husband, a dad, a songwriter, an author (unpublished, but not for long I hope... I will resist the temptation to self-promote on here if it does come to pass), a film-fan... but my big passion is TV. I know TV can get a bad press, but one of the great pleasures of my life is getting stuck into a really excellent, long running drama series (you know the titles, they are mentioned often enough around here).

Music? I'm increasingly indifferent to it. I love what I love, but I don't seek it out.

And, I'm a member of the The Word Massive. That gives me a buzz.

... spend significant amounts of each day staring at a 12" laptop screen, looking at sites like the BBC, Facebook, Flickr, b3ta.com and The Word ... I also go to the leisure centre daily at the moment because the boiler in my flat is broken and it's the only way i can have a shower ... i liaise with a building surveyor because there was a leak of water into my living room/kitchen area last Tuesday (source mysterious), and write apologetic notes to neighbours in my tenement who complain because they can hear me snore, apparently, and this is driving them demented ... i also worry about money (principally HMRC and local authority debts, the latter because of a major common repair on my building), about my parents (77 year old mother was hospitalised with a suspected heart attack last month, but she's out now), about the value of the work i can do that pays reasonable money (corporate communications and staff magazines - mendacious bullshitty copywriting of the highest order) and even the value of the work i do that's supposed to be fun (highly formatted and predictable guidebooks) ... i get horribly distracted by interesting topics that are tangential to the latter work (often Scottish history: Ninian, the Bruce, Montrose, Dundas) and have terrible writer's block ... sometimes i actually do lash together a chapter of guidebook and sent it to the editor, late

over the last five years in particular, just when the cashflow was about to hit the fan, someone would call and offer me some work that would get me through the next month/mortgage payment/few months and it seemed crazy to turn it down ... now i've started to turn things down because i am 47, fed up and bored shitless ... the last time i was involved with an amenable wee communications firm (2007-08) they were puddling along fine with financial sector clients til the credit crunch then lost 40% of their turnover at a stroke and had no more use for freelancers (later laying off actual staff too).

I am no longer able to feign enthusiasm over a job that might entail some fuckwit communications manager in a bank ordering me to fit 14 quotes ("one from each region!") on a double page spread of an A5 format magazine along with a 500 word story ... or listening to drivel from the brand communications department who have been given control of internal comms (why?) and end up stuffing all staff communications full of spew-inducing marketing tosh because they lack the imagination to do anything else ...

i quite envy that graphic designer bloke or blokette up there ^ who feels they have a decent job for a decent return, even if that means a lot of "going the extra mile" (when you're having fun, it doesn't feel like an extra effort, does it?) ... i would also sympathise with any editor who reads this and says "self pitying twat, just give it up then" ... and i plan to as soon as i work out how otherwise to pay the mortgage and council tax

standard middle aged crisis basically ... i daresay i need a holiday ... (maybe the strapline at the top of the page should be: The Word, therapy for lively minds?)

The one and only...

Human Resources. I specialise in pay and benefits. I rarely tell people much because they look utterly confused when I do, and clearly struggle to see how it could be a proper job for a grown up.

As do I some days.

.. for a one-armed window cleaner.

also company director, psychiatric nurse, birder, amateur wildlife photographer, music collector, football fan, plagiarist, bon viveur, wit and raconteur.

... but not a writer. Mainly radio, which used to be more fun than it is... Have done telly which is worse than you can imagine.

When I'm not doing that I call idiotbear numbnuts on the internet. The writing is what pays the mortgage, the numbnuts I just do for fun.

- I usually wake up on the floor somewhere in the house, often right next to my perfectly good bed. It’s been this way for years. I don’t drink so I can’t blame alcohol. I’m a vagrant in my own home.

- As a child I systematically chewed the feet off my Star Wars figures. Now an allegedly mature adult, I chew biros to destruction. On a related note for the first time in my life I am very close to using-up a biro. There’s about 4mm of ink still visible and I am very excited about it. Even in my mid-30s I am still finding new worlds to conquer.

- I befriend the garden birds. They are naturally social animals and they don’t seem to mind me. Robins and blackbirds in particular are very curious and rather partial to digestive biscuits. You have to be endlessly patient and let them define the parameters of the relationship. There’s a moment when a bird realises that you’re communicating with it and its entire body language and attitude towards you changes.

- I walk practically everywhere. If I can get to where I need to go in less than three hours on foot then that’s how I’ll do it. I will happily roam all day with no destination; leave the iPod in the desk drawer, put one foot in front of the other, and let my mind turn itself over.

- I write stupid things and then scatter them around the internet. It passes the time and it’s all posted under pseudonyms so none of it connects to me in any meaningful way.

- I am content in my role as in-house hospital temp/receptionist. It’s undoubtedly the most worthwhile thing that I do with my life. Everything else is superfluous and of questionable benefit even to me.

Formerly known as "prints".

sorry!

a new personal record - sorry again!

SPARTACUS !

I currently have two jobs - one is deputy editor of a specialist motorsport website and the other is p/t postman, which I do to subsidise the journo (sorry, hack) bit.

However, when asked this question, I find myself starting with "Well, I was in retail management for 20 years, but now......."

No matter how much I am at ease with being a postie (and I am), I must still feel that people will somehow judge me on the fact. Odd, really.

Full time Dogsbody (Carer) to the Aged P.Artist by inclination and education (Painter).I underwent hypnosis a while ago and was informed that in a previous incarnation I was Keeper of the Royal Stool so not much change there then.

... what I do for a living and I don't want to talk to them, I tell them I work for the IRS. It's funny how they always need to be somewhere else at that exact moment.

I'm Batman!

Or an investments bod at an insurance company; Word website lurker and occasional poster; comic book fan; Carlisle Utd supporter and real ale drinker (the last two are probably linked).

..I said. To no one there.

... but suffice it to say that I really want to be be a lion tamer.

pushing electrons through a slab of semi-conducting ultra pure silicon. Sometimes I do this listening to music. Sometimes this achieves something useful, mostly it doesn't.

serving as a combination climbing frame / on demand reader of books for a two year old I manage what we used to call a record shop. You know, the one with the dog.

But, try as I might, I cannot think outside of the box. It's all about the box as far as I'm concerned - why bother with anything else when the box is so bloody lovely and boxy?

I also don't have a "can do" attitude. If a task is presented in front of me, I can't do it. That's my attitude.

This sidelines me at many interviews.

From Manchester way.

Except I don't come from Manchester and I don't ramble much if the truth be told.

But, in work terms, do I define myself by what I've been doing for the last 10 months - civil servant bravely defending Britain's borders with my trusty ballpoint and PC? Or by what I did immediately before - write communications for an MP? Or what I did for most of my career - computer programming and technical writing?

I may be a wage slave on Mondays, but I am a free man on Sundays.

I am the fly
Fly in the
Fly in the
Ointment.

Teacher. Secondary. Art. HoD. Also 'Professional Mentor' which means I organise the teacher training programme. Like it. Done it for 21 years now.

Also Dad to 14 month old.

Had to give it up...

..."I'm in oil".

Electrician in an oil refinery.

Job satisfaction?.....nope. I've been there too long.

I am very happy to have a job to moan about though.

Finals this year. Should have done them years ago, but was busy having a good time. Still having a good time, just trying to be a little more responsible and grown up. Having three kids does that to you...!

...the vaguely embarassed silence that follows when I say what I do for a living. This seems to be for reasons of obscurity rather than anything particularly associated with my line of work. At best people assume that "fisheries scientist" (for that is my metier) is synonymous with "marine biologist", which in turn must mean that I spend all of my time communing with dolphins. Would that it were so.

I have worked at HMV.

hello Baton Rouge...

but the reality is I work with kids with severe learning difficulties in a "structured environment". 5 kids and 5 staff and a bit of a head-melt this year.

Walrus.

...for a big utilities company for internal use. They call me a communications manager.

..... for a packaging company. We trade under the name Packability and sell all sorts of things, we're based in the Uk so we are a co.uk (sorry Fraser, delete if necessary). Btw archive boxes are cheap for April. If anyone wants any, were competitive. Sorry for the advertising, but my company f***ing need it :(

Then you'll ask me where your Amazon parcel that was posted four days ago is, and I come here to get away from that.

I've had a lot of splendid jobs. Including:
Travel news reporter, radio producer, tv promo maker, broadcast IT trainer, and music teacher.

But whilst my kiddiwinks are still very small, I'm taking some time out. So I'm currently a full-time housewife. which the career-minded-me of ten years ago would be horrified at. but which today-me rather likes.

*master of none, arguably

... bits of polyester around the globe

...or was it a chapeau salesman?

and I'm OK

as a policy wonk in a Government Department. It's both rewarding and infuriating in equal measure. The general election makes this an uncertain time for my project - it's one that every opposition party wants to scrap.

The real me is learning to play guitar, trying in vain to keep up with the gardening and still playing five a side football once a week at the ripe old age of 46. I've never been very good, but I'll stop playing when I stop enjoying it.

oozing along 'cross your living room floor

poofreader ...........er well actually a draughtsman (refuse to call meself a drafter)

Not the most interesting job in the world. Think of it like building houses for all your ones and zeros.

I'll get me coat

I am Jack's complete lack of surprise...

...or a market researcher.

And no: I don't stand in shopping centres with a clipboard.

At our lowly level within the construction industry the majority of people are more likely to say 'bollocks' than speak it. Internal comms tend to involve a high proportion of images and single syllable words, so between the twilight hours I become the superhero, OUdegreestudentman.

since yesterday, I used to be a designer of the graphic variety

It's the only thing I've ever wanted to do and I still love it - there's something new every day.

Used to do pointless science in the private sector.

Now do useful science in the public sector.

I am a thermal insulation engineer to trade. I have worked in some of the most hazardous onshore places in Scotland. I now survey buildings for asbestos and I love my job. I love health and safety (although someone recently compared me to a traffic warden, no offence). I am studying at college just now for NEBOSH Certificate.
Lovely wife. Two teenage daughters. Like Tai Chi. Like music (obviously). Love podcasts (Word, Danny Baker, Answer Me This, etc.) Occasional poster on here. Would love to read more, but I'm kidding myself on there. Like most sport, going downstairs now to watch the Masters on HD. Enjoy a wee flutter. Really enjoy a wee malt whisky.
I liked the post above where the question 'what do you do away from work?' was mentioned. How refreshing. Alas, most people really do judge you based on the 'what do you do' question.

And so is my wife !

I should know.

I've followed enough !

professional singer (classical), and a local councillor (Lib Dem flavour).

in a suit apparently

I'm OK.

But A Gorehound, Woo!

am the resurrection.
(another HMV manager to be honest, seem to be a few of us round here)

The Passenger

the personal assistant to the Most Reverend Professor Elizabeth Stuart, Pro Vice Chancellor at the University of Winchester and Bishop in the Liberal Catholic Church.

A train driver on the worlds best underground in london. "A world class railway for a world class city" The Circle line rules! let the venom flow

My friends call me Chandler Bing because they're no wiser after I've told them, and they have to ask me on a regular basis. Let's just say in Higher Education.

More interestingly I like having days out with my young children (I work part time), and listening to as many new albums and dvd box sets as the FPO allows.

I spent 32 years in IT services - doing then selling - 2 weeks ago I took an early retirement option & am now following the dream !

www.myspace.com/thecohenbrothers - come & heckle sometime !

Live we're getting compared to Steve Winwood & Eric Clapton (which is very nice) - the only clip I have is of a funky little number originally by Jess Roden (taken last Friday)

I used to answer this question by describing my musical favourites first and then adding that I work as a designer in my spare time.

I can't do this anymore as I'm now designing (and compiling/editing/working on) box sets for Bear Family, and it all gets mixed up: half of my magazine archive and parts of my record collection are now in my studio, and those "author's copies" are all proudly displayed (and listened to) at home...

a sub-editor/hack, but had to leave my previous tabloid post due to a dicky ticker. Now debating my future options, which - frankly - ain't that multifarious.....

I've been rigging and running conferences for nearly 25 years now (video projection mainly, since you ask, used to be 35mm slides controlled by AVL Doves and Genesis green screen computers technology geeks) and about 7 years ago I woke up and realised "This is what I do". There is no proper job or grown up career waiting for me so I might as well make the most of it. Fortunately I rather like the work and the people I work with. Generally speaking, if a freelancer is a bit of an arse/Prima Donna/trouble maker they don't get asked back so tossers generally get filtered out. I am doing less work for more money these days although as I also supply equipment this is cancelled out by what clients will pay for equipment hire. Best of all, I get to say "no" sometimes if I really can't or don't want to do a job for whatever reason.
Life is not what I thought it would be when I left school but I guess that's the same for most people and a lot of time is spent adapting what I offer every couple of years but, although I can always find stuff to whine about, life is pretty good really. Plenty of people would be happy with my lot.

.. in an abattoir but all this killing is starting to get me down

Late again. I'm a qualified accountant who has given up on the 9 to 5 rat race - or should that be they have given up on me - and is attempting to help a charity through the recession in one piece and into the 21st century at the same time. Just have a website, Wikipedia entry and Facebook to sort out now...

Music was my first love
And it will be my last
Music of the future
And music of the past

To live without my music
Would be impossible to do
In this world of troubles
My music pulls me through

By day, I'm editor of FourFourTwo.com http://fourfourtwo.com

By night, I'm guitarist/vocalist in Howl Griff http://youtube.com/howlgriff

Can't complain about either, really