What Do You Do For A Living? *Photo Heavy*

[fordomatic]

Photographer, love it, get paid to do my passion

[SM1DY]

Estimator for a construction company, I tender for and ideally win projects. Essentially I figure out how much it costs to build things.

....and then I get really good at hide-and-seek when I stuff up.

[towtaltowing]

Electrician

mostly doing domestic stuff , Crestron Home automation ,
AV Setups ,Antennas/Satellite And FOXSPORTS


in Canberra so get a few deep pocketed pollys

[Gambit]

I'm an operator in a coal mine. Get to drive a big truck or a grader. Nearly 4 years now & still enjoy it. Plenty of time off tho it seems to go way to quick!

[kaniSS]

Originally Posted by ryanstev

I work on an IT help desk.

It's so monotonous, I hate it so much, I hate going to work, I even hate Fridays, because instead of looking forward to the weekend I'm thinking "I now have another 5 full days ahead of me in a couple days time."

Yes, I'm trying to get out of this field.
I'm actually physically training to join the Police force, which is hard going, as I'm 39 and have injured myself by pushing too hard, too fast.

Something's gotta change soon, I can't take much more of this job.

Sorry to be a downer.

Originally Posted by Streets

I was exactly the same as you, I hated going to work and sitting in an office all day doing a job I hated. When I got home at night I had about 3 hours of personal time before it was time to go to bed and get up for the next day. To me it seemed like weekends were only one day long; I could enjoy Saturday but Sunday just meant work tomorrow. Not to mention the only place you can be employed in IT is in a capital city and I lived 1.5 hours away and had to commute.

I ended up quitting for my sanity but I'm not sure it was the smartest choice. In this day and age it seems that it's better to be employed and depressed than unemployed and depressed.

Funnily enough I really enjoyed helping people with their tech problems - it was the IT stuff I hated. For most people it's the other way around, they love computers but hate the clients.

Anyway, my life is in the toilet and I dream of a job where I get to work outdoors or something but alas I am unqualified for anything but IT.

I'm the same as you two. Working a complete miserable office, depressed as ****, climbing up the walls. My life is a complete misery being here. The worst part is I have my 10 year service in October and I want to leave now. It's that bad I can't spend another minute in here... What to do

[Beastie]

Originally Posted by kaniSS

I'm the same as you two. Working a complete miserable office, depressed as ****, climbing up the walls. My life is a complete misery being here. The worst part is I have my 10 year service in October and I want to leave now. It's that bad I can't spend another minute in here... What to do

Think of the mods you can buy after you get your long service - hang in there!!!

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by Gambit

I'm an operator in a coal mine. Get to drive a big truck or a grader. Nearly 4 years now & still enjoy it. Plenty of time off tho it seems to go way to quick!

How bad do I want a roster!

[kaniSS]

Originally Posted by The Beast

Think of the mods you can buy after you get your long service - hang in there!!!

I know. I guess the main issue is our boss is mental case. He spends every second hovering around your desk all day long, sneaking up on you and never leaving the office. It really gets to you as an employee.

[TEZG]

Originally Posted by kaniSS

I know. I guess the main issue is our boss is mental case. He spends every second hovering around your desk all day long, sneaking up on you and never leaving the office. It really gets to you as an employee.

Don't want to redirect the thread but.......
Intervention time.
There should be an avenue available via your employer for you and your co workers to address what appears to be micro management.
Not an easy option but no more uncomfortable than the current situation.
Been there done that a few times, pretty stressful but you get heard by those that need to hear and those that should know what's going on.
Talk to your co workers about taking action.

[Blue Shadow]

Quote:

Originally Posted by*ryanstev

I work on an IT help desk.

It's so monotonous, I hate it so much, I hate going to work, I even hate Fridays, because instead of looking forward to the weekend I'm thinking "I now have another 5 full days ahead of me in a couple days time."

Yes, I'm trying to get out of this field.
I'm actually physically training to join the Police force, which is hard going, as I'm 39 and have injured myself by pushing too hard, too fast.

Something's gotta change soon, I can't take much more of this job.

Sorry to be a downer.



The cops aren't much better. The microscope is on you 24/7. Cops spend more time covering their backside than they do doung the job.

[beardo]

Originally Posted by Jess1992

I am currently studying at uni. I work part time as a bartender and a dancer. The life of a broke Uni student haha

Lucky I was never smart enough for uni, I'm a terrible dancer

[LyleXR8]

im a dirty old miner, move rocks all day long in these bad boys, 7 days on, 7 days off, aircon stops-work stops!!! Semi retired you could say

[LyleXR8]

Wheel dozer, bouncy bloody things!

[LyleXR8]

Biggest loaders in the world, also least reliable!!

[LyleXR8]

Big slow dinosaur, can't kill it though!

[roKWiz]

I reckon you guys can guess what I do.



I travel the Eastern states as a contract Heritage Stonemason for 9 months of the year. I've been doing this for 25 years now and wouldn't trade it for anything.
I get to stay in amazing places, enjoy the hospitality of the locals and the complexity of the work.
It can vary from carving restorations on buildings, chimney's, drystone walling to complete homes.
I specialise in country estates as the few Masons left don't want to travel.

Pictured... staying onsite building a drystone granite entranceway for a vineyard. Vic. and house entrance hidden out the back of Bellingen NSW

[LyleXR8]

800 ton shovel, closest thing to being God having all that power in ya hands!!!

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by LyleXR8

800 ton shovel, closest thing to being God having all that power in ya hands!!!

Makes the little 10 ton tellehandler I used last month..... small.

[LyleXR8]

I was on a 1.5 ton rubber track digger unblocking a crusher on Monday night!!

[Blue Shadow]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

I reckon you guys can guess what I do.

image

I travel the Eastern states as a contract Heritage Stonemason for 9 months of the year. I've been doing this for 25 years now and wouldn't trade it for anything.
I get to stay in amazing places, enjoy the hospitality of the locals and the complexity of the work.
It can vary from carving restorations on buildings, chimney's, drystone walling to complete homes.
I specialise in country estates as the few Masons left don't want to travel.

Pictured... staying onsite building a drystone granite entranceway for a vineyard. Vic. and house entrance hidden out the back of Bellingen NSW




image

image

Now that is a dying art. Not to many of you blokes left.

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by Streets

Funnily enough I really enjoyed helping people with their tech problems - it was the IT stuff I hated. For most people it's the other way around, they love computers but hate the clients.

Anyway, my life is in the toilet and I dream of a job where I get to work outdoors or something but alas I am unqualified for anything but IT.

Hmmmmmm OK. Been in this position, where the big wide world seems about 47 feet higher than what you are and there's no ladder around.

Without knowing or meeting you, I would say you have one big qualification that a lot of people don't - experience. Things happen, stuff goes up and comes down, sideways upside down whatever. The one thing you need to ask yourself is what is the worst thing that can happen to me from having a go? If you don't like what you're doing, do something else. And yes, I have heard all the people who make it sound easy to just up and leave and decide bugger it I'll do what i want without taking into account the fact it's not ever that simple. But it all boils down to that one question.

You're human, you have basic needs, wants desires etc. Bills to pay, food on the table. Go back to all of those considerations then start from the bottom and figure out how you'd make it work. Pick something you want to do and apply that criteria - "if I went to do XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx for a while, I would need to think about XXXXXXXXXXXXXX". Start from there and work out a plan and have a go. You'll still come out alive on the other side.

I see so many people come through our doors now with HUGE hopes and dreams, and they think that just because they're in a chair or cant walk or whatever, that they can't do them. There's absolutely no reason that is true. The ones that want to do it find a way no matter what they have to take in to account to get there. The ones that are just excited about the idea of change but dont actually want to do it keep thinking about it on their way to the same job in the same place that they hate.

Your call as to which one you might be.

[Road Games]

I do up to 800km's a night in this...

From Ormiston to Yamba and a few country stops in between 28 actually.

Supplying Newsagents / IGA's / Caravan Parks / Police Station's with Courier Mail / The Australian / Telegraph / Sydney Morning Herald / Financial Review and The Gold Coast Bulletin...







Most the time i also do this on the M1 carpark!



Great money, awesome company and i have had a clean licence since i first got my HR.

I just gotta manage my fatigue breaks correctly and watch the point to point cameras...

[Blue Shadow]

Originally Posted by b2tf

Hmmmmmm OK. Been in this position, where the big wide world seems about 47 feet higher than what you are and there's no ladder around.

Without knowing or meeting you, I would say you have one big qualification that a lot of people don't - experience. Things happen, stuff goes up and comes down, sideways upside down whatever. The one thing you need to ask yourself is what is the worst thing that can happen to me from having a go? If you don't like what you're doing, do something else. And yes, I have heard all the people who make it sound easy to just up and leave and decide bugger it I'll do what i want without taking into account the fact it's not ever that simple. But it all boils down to that one question.

You're human, you have basic needs, wants desires etc. Bills to pay, food on the table. Go back to all of those considerations then start from the bottom and figure out how you'd make it work. Pick something you want to do and apply that criteria - "if I went to do XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx for a while, I would need to think about XXXXXXXXXXXXXX". Start from there and work out a plan and have a go. You'll still come out alive on the other side.

I see so many people come through our doors now with HUGE hopes and dreams, and they think that just because they're in a chair or cant walk or whatever, that they can't do them. There's absolutely no reason that is true. The ones that want to do it find a way no matter what they have to take in to account to get there. The ones that are just excited about the idea of change but dont actually want to do it keep thinking about it on their way to the same job in the same place that they hate.

Your call as to which one you might be.

Well said, could'nt be said any better

[beardo]

What happens when i get a job driving a tipper on a weekend...

[Ben73]

I have been working for a railway company for 7 years. Actually been up on the loco for 6 years.
When I started I loved it, over the past 7 years it has got a bit repetitive and boring. Even if you don't travel a route for a month, as soon as you get back on that track it feels like just yesterday you were there.
Having said that I don't mind being at work during normal hours. During night shift sometimes it's terrible, sometimes it's fine. I just have to tell myself I could be much worse off working in worse jobs.

Good part of shift work is seeing some amazing sunrises, sunsets and pretty crazy storms and lightning shows.

11,000 odd tonnes keeps you on your toes, especially coming down steep hills.
Multiple V16 turbo diesel locos putting out 3,300kws each make somewhat 'light' work of moving all that weight.



This picture is just over half of the train. There are only a few locations where you can get a look at the entire train



Just another romantic sunset.

[roKWiz]

Hey Ben,
Great pictures, Is that 1st pic, the loop line going out to near Broke your on.?
Seen a few biggies crawling through Hexham this morn.

[Polyal]

roKWiz thats pretty cool!

[mcflux]

Originally Posted by Russ

How are things holding up for you in there ??

"Here, <hands over bra>, Diesel fit you well"

[mcflux]

I worked my *** off from age 19 to 32 & am now 33 (still working hard albeit shift work - a different kind of work/life balance). I did a traineeship at a supermarket in my gap year while most of my mates either stuffed around, travelled, or went to uni. I kept the supermarket job as part-time whilst studying full-time at uni, and often had a 2nd job as an Engineering student. I missed out on every weekend between 2001-2007 due to studying/working 7 days a week.

Once out of uni I worked for a council but my development was stalling compared to my uni mates, so I shifted across to a consultancy where initially the pay was good & the learning curve was steep again, but over time the pay stagnated, the conditions were taken away, the training dried up, I was taking leave *whilst at work* to fill in my timesheets and avoid the chop, and the culture was turning toxic, save for my immediate workmates.

I was working 12+ hours every day & getting paid for 7.5 (and travelling an hour each way on top of this), and I'd be bringing my work home with me to work on overnight and on weekends. This wasn't to get ahead, this was to survive. I had a mate working in a call centre whose base rate was $10k short of my pay, yet he did less hours, had RDOs, and could close that gap with overtime.

I got out of Engineering after 5 years of study & 8 years in the industry, and had a career reboot as an Operator at a power station.



^^^ Night shift about 15 floors up. Now I couldn't be happier, I've found *my* job. Yes working on a pump at 3am in the morning in the rain sucks, as does working on valves next to the boiler on a 40*C day when the top of the boiler house is probably nudging 60*C, but the general work flow & the people I work with really suit me.

For anyone who is unhappy in their current role and has exhausted all avenues to improve their current role - find a viable alternative and MAKE THE CHANGE. It's not easy, it took me 3 years of searching and applying for jobs, having private interviews with employers who weren't actually hiring at the time, researching career options and then when an attractive role was advertised researching the absolute crap out of the role, the company, and quizzing employees or workers in the same industry all about the role.

It's so hard to do all of this when you're time-poor and have no energy because you've spent it all on your ****** job. But find that energy and force yourself to persevere with transitioning from a job that's no good for you to a job you love. It changes the rest of your life outside of work too.

[xurbanx]

For the ones stuck in their jobs - perhaps you could try listing what skills you have (not the technical/qualified skills) but rather transferable skills eg. negotiation, quick to learn ..etc.. and apply for the roles that you want regardless if you think you're qualified or not.

I was in the same situation 4 years ago, I was working in a call centre environment for 4 years, on the smokes and was absolutely hating work. I'd use to call in sick 3 out of 5 days out of the week and if I did make it to work, all it took was for me to look at the front door, turn around and call in sick (after driving an hour to work). Needless to say, the drive back home or to a mates place was a great feeling.

For those that have been in the call centre environment, you'd know how toxic the industry was/is. Everyday was a constant "yes sir, no sir, please sir, of course sir" and slowly it eroded you bit by bit. I bit the bullet and took out all my annual leave and went all in, backed myself to land a job within the 4 weeks and guess what, I got my current role within 2 weeks and the moment I went to hand in my resignation letter was the best feeling in the world.

Needless to say, ever since then I've been happier than a pig in mud!