I'm a mechanical engineer, just started my professional career a year and a half ago with a powered wheelchair company. I did product design up until 2 months ago when I got transferred to the motors department. Now I have to help Chinese vendors understand that choosing between "aluminum and metal" isn't really a choice. *sigh* I'm looking to ER before I'm 30.
What kind of work/job do/did you guys all do?
My first job was in planning for a communications/arms manufacturer. I've also worked in retail, catering, scaffolding, teaching, as a labourer and worked clearing up after a bomb explosion.
I'm currently a full-time Japanese-English translator. Mainly I do technical stuff for construction, power/HVAC systems, green technology and architecture. I hope to be good enough to go freelance in a couple of years.
I also teach corporate English classes on the side.
My plan is to freelance as a teacher and translator. Of course with much lower working hours.
I'm currently a full-time Japanese-English translator. Mainly I do technical stuff for construction, power/HVAC systems, green technology and architecture. I hope to be good enough to go freelance in a couple of years.
I also teach corporate English classes on the side.
My plan is to freelance as a teacher and translator. Of course with much lower working hours.
Currently working in operations management for a small company that owns retirement communities. I loathe my job and most paid work in general. I bartended for a few years and fell in love with it--the only job I've enjoyed so far. I'm well on track to purchasing a turn-key establishment within the next year (at the ripe old age of 26!). I'm beyond excited for this next chapter of life and "work". The income potential within 3-5 years will put me well on track to ERE and if I play my cards well I could have a very healthy sum coming my way for as long as I wish past ERE/ER. Either way, I'm putting the foundation in place to phase out of day-to-day work by the time I'm 35-38.
I'm beyond lucky to have found this site to inspire me. Jacob, you started a snowball effect with me. Thank you.
I'm beyond lucky to have found this site to inspire me. Jacob, you started a snowball effect with me. Thank you.
Envious of Redsted and his bar. Bartending class is on the list! Just need to free up some time after work to drive to San Francisco for two weeks.
I do inspections (something that can't be exported) on systems within buildings (high-rise, hospital, etc).
Pay's alright, lots of OT, and a good amount of perks.
I used to test (manage testing) video games, and prior to/after that, retail. Also, I worked in a coffee shop which was the most relaxing job ever - almost zero stress.
I do inspections (something that can't be exported) on systems within buildings (high-rise, hospital, etc).
Pay's alright, lots of OT, and a good amount of perks.
I used to test (manage testing) video games, and prior to/after that, retail. Also, I worked in a coffee shop which was the most relaxing job ever - almost zero stress.
@ Q: Don't go to bartending school, it's not worth the money, I promise. You can get on the job training almost anywhere and of course it's better than free--you get paid. Bartending is very much like a trade, and not as easy to get into as many would like you to believe. Your best bet is to start out as a busser/waiter if you're in a restaurant or a barback is even a better bet if you're working at a full-on drinking establishment (i.e. clubs, lounges, pubs, pool halls, taverns, etc.). Another big thing to remember: it's ALL about who you know. Work your connections, almost every bartender I know that has a killer job situation got it because they knew someone (similar to the "real" world). If you're at the right bar you should make $800-1000+ in cash every week in tips alone + paychecks (varying from state-to-state due to minimum wage laws of tipped workers.).
Might not be a bad idea to get into owning a coffee stand, sounds like you're passionate about it and I know the profit margins on coffee are off the charts, not to mention it is far less regulated than beer/liquor/wine and gambling (pull tabs). Just my $.02.
Might not be a bad idea to get into owning a coffee stand, sounds like you're passionate about it and I know the profit margins on coffee are off the charts, not to mention it is far less regulated than beer/liquor/wine and gambling (pull tabs). Just my $.02.
@Redsted1 - I'm intrigued by the little coffee stands too. We have some around here that are basically like backyard shed size and sit in parking lots. People drive through and get their coffee. Seems like it would be a low investment - few thousand to get up and running. I don't know what equipment you would need, but like you said the margins are high.
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Concojones
- Posts: 117
- Joined: Fri Jul 23, 2010 6:57 am
Complicated story... engineering degree, then worked as a business analyst / project management in corporate HQ, then worked as a high school teacher, now looking for the next thing.
I'm drawn to entrepreneurship and leaving my mark, and I was disappointed with how I could contribute in my corporate staff job (think: do-not-try-to-change-the-system, focus-on-grunt-work-and-trivia). My next job (teaching) was awesome, despite the $25k pay, but what I really want is building a business and living in different countries. So what's next? Maybe I'll help a business owner build his small company, but that means I'm stuck in one country. Maybe I'll become an engineer in the natural resources sector (excites me; outdoors; different countries). Maybe I'll go back to banking and become an account manager (I love dealing with business owners & entrepreneurs, and I would build contacts and join them after a year or two).
I'm drawn to entrepreneurship and leaving my mark, and I was disappointed with how I could contribute in my corporate staff job (think: do-not-try-to-change-the-system, focus-on-grunt-work-and-trivia). My next job (teaching) was awesome, despite the $25k pay, but what I really want is building a business and living in different countries. So what's next? Maybe I'll help a business owner build his small company, but that means I'm stuck in one country. Maybe I'll become an engineer in the natural resources sector (excites me; outdoors; different countries). Maybe I'll go back to banking and become an account manager (I love dealing with business owners & entrepreneurs, and I would build contacts and join them after a year or two).
Bureaucrat. Sort of like Robert Muir's first job--complex and fun explaining the complexity to people who think it's too hard--but this will be my last job.
I wanted to be a teacher, but didn't look like a good disciplinarian. I no longer look 12, but as a student teacher I slept only 4 hours a night on week nights. I'm settling for my cushy 40-hours-a-week job. I don't get summers off, but I'm up to 4.5 weeks vacation plus state holidays (plus sick leave). After all these years, I even get paid as much as a first-year teacher in my town.
I wanted to be a teacher, but didn't look like a good disciplinarian. I no longer look 12, but as a student teacher I slept only 4 hours a night on week nights. I'm settling for my cushy 40-hours-a-week job. I don't get summers off, but I'm up to 4.5 weeks vacation plus state holidays (plus sick leave). After all these years, I even get paid as much as a first-year teacher in my town.
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GetLaidOff
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2010 5:23 am
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ScottfromMenominee
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2010 3:00 am
WOW! ERE has an excellent cross-section of the employment sector. Albeit maybe slightly heavy on the engineer side. I've been wanting to say that for awhile.
A couple lawyers, a pilot, accountants, musicians, teachers, builders, leaders. It's great - to me, almost like the college friendships and what not that I never experienced because I withdrew.
@Redsted - Thank you for support and excellent suggestions. Funny you should mention coffee. I used to work at a chinese coffee shop and it was the best job ever - super relaxing, no stress, no nada.
Right now SO has a dream of owning one...and there happens to be a pre-decked out crepe, yogurt, etc shop that's closed nearby. It doesn't have coffee, but easy add...the leap is hard to stomach because the rent expanded out over the lease is close to 180k...6 years left on the lease which is good, but that 180k scares me out.
If I did what I do for a living on my own, I would probably take the chance because I could go after more jobs to increase the income...
Anyways, maybe vegas will pay off next month and that'll work too
A couple lawyers, a pilot, accountants, musicians, teachers, builders, leaders. It's great - to me, almost like the college friendships and what not that I never experienced because I withdrew.
@Redsted - Thank you for support and excellent suggestions. Funny you should mention coffee. I used to work at a chinese coffee shop and it was the best job ever - super relaxing, no stress, no nada.
Right now SO has a dream of owning one...and there happens to be a pre-decked out crepe, yogurt, etc shop that's closed nearby. It doesn't have coffee, but easy add...the leap is hard to stomach because the rent expanded out over the lease is close to 180k...6 years left on the lease which is good, but that 180k scares me out.
If I did what I do for a living on my own, I would probably take the chance because I could go after more jobs to increase the income...
Anyways, maybe vegas will pay off next month and that'll work too
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Steve Austin
- Posts: 177
- Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2010 12:17 am
naval logistician/accountant (tracking spares, intersquadron jet fuel transfers inflight, monthly squadron budget reporting)
generalist software engineer (lots of software folks here, so this is for them: some SQL procedural, some object / relational persistence, fair amount of mini-grid computing, lots of algorithmic implementation, good bit of rule-based / declarative coding, very little front-end work though I admit truly enjoying using the Processing IDE as a proxy for developing an independent front-end for a project)
generalist software engineer (lots of software folks here, so this is for them: some SQL procedural, some object / relational persistence, fair amount of mini-grid computing, lots of algorithmic implementation, good bit of rule-based / declarative coding, very little front-end work though I admit truly enjoying using the Processing IDE as a proxy for developing an independent front-end for a project)
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Robert Muir
- Posts: 280
- Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2010 10:15 pm
Worked in construction, truck driver, retail, warehouse.
Currently registered nurse working for state government. Seems to be one of the best paying jobs you can get with an Associate degree.
Benefits:
457b and 401k plan = room to tax defer lots of money
Vested Pension plan at 5 years service
Disadvantage:
Politics / Full of management that just don't seem to care
Don't plan to stay forever, but have about 10 years until youngest son is out of the house. After that, who knows?
Currently registered nurse working for state government. Seems to be one of the best paying jobs you can get with an Associate degree.
Benefits:
457b and 401k plan = room to tax defer lots of money
Vested Pension plan at 5 years service
Disadvantage:
Politics / Full of management that just don't seem to care
Don't plan to stay forever, but have about 10 years until youngest son is out of the house. After that, who knows?