How do you pay the bills?(What's ur job) - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**LaurieL622** · 05-17-2005, 02:23 PM

Hi tpunks,

What do you guys do for a living? What kind of jobs (or ::gasp:: CAREERS) does everyone have...and how much do you like it? Did you go to school for what you're doing?

Within the last few weeks, I've progressed from disliking my job to pretty much hating it (I'm in medical billing). I've also put some serious thought into graduate programs. Buuuttt....in the mean time, I'm wondering what every does for a day job. I know a lot of tp's are students. But for those who aren't...give me some ideas (or let me know what to avoid

).

THANK U!!!

**Rozza** · 05-17-2005, 02:29 PM

i'm still at school but i labour, do you want to do that?

**space virgin** · 05-17-2005, 02:38 PM

Done with school years ago.

My main (day) job is: "Staffing Coordinator" for a company that sends out people to work catering shifts at hotels, country clubs, conference centers, etc. In other words, I'm dealing with temporary on-call servers, cooks and bartenders. Hospitality workers can be notoriously flaky anyway, and I'm dealing with freakin' TEMPS.

No, they're not all bad. But generally speaking they cause me enormous amounts of frustration and stress.

My (first) secondary job is: event manager / bartender / server for a local catering company.

At least it provides me with extremely entertaining stories (like the time the drunk-as-a-skunk sorority girl flushed the back of her dress down the toilet.)

My (second) secondary job is: henna artist. And I also sell stuff I've painted. Now that I think about it, though, there are one or two people who owe me money... Huh.

**agriadam** · 05-17-2005, 02:39 PM

I sel agricultural electronics

if your still interested check it out Agri-Tronix

05-17-2005, 02:49 PM

Im the Parts Dept. Manager for a Jeep, Chrysler and Renault franchise

i get cheap car parts...but i dont own a jeep chrysler or a renault, plus sitting in an office all day is

**SuDz** · 05-17-2005, 02:58 PM

I work for a University. Basically we keep the network and computers running. That really takes a whole range of what we do and sums it up real fast but thats the breakdown.

SuDZ

**TimmyJames1976** · 05-17-2005, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by space virgin@May 17 2005, 02:37 PM
Done with school years ago.*

My main (day) job is: "Staffing Coordinator" for a company that sends out people to work catering shifts at hotels, country clubs, conference centers, etc.* In other words, I'm dealing with temporary on-call servers, cooks and bartenders. Hospitality workers can be notoriously flaky anyway, and I'm dealing with freakin' TEMPS.* * No, they're not all bad.* But generally speaking they cause me enormous amounts of frustration and stress.

My (first) secondary job is: event manager / bartender / server for a local catering company.* * At least it provides me with extremely entertaining stories (like the time the drunk-as-a-skunk sorority girl flushed the back of her dress down the toilet.)

My (second) secondary job is: henna artist.* And I also sell stuff I've painted.* Now that I think about it, though, there are one or two people who owe me money... Huh.*

Just a quick note: I have done some temping when i was in, and got out of school, and we are not all bad people. Some of our attitude stems from the fact that some of us have to go through a temp agency to get a job and have them take anywhere from %10-%40 of what the paying company dishes out for your services. And then there are issues with companies that use temps as well, but I will not go into that. I do understand that catering and what not is a very sporatic field, so temps are more feasable, but we are people too.

Okay, now to work. I am in my last week at an insurance third party administration company. It is easy since i am low in the ranks. It is boring and the pay is blah, not horrible, but not great. I recently found out that most of the people above me are not college grads, which is pretty twisted. I am new to it though, and if I stuck it out(maybe not with the current firm, but same business) I am sure I could advance, but I don't like the job or field.

**space virgin** · 05-17-2005, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TimmyJames1976@May 17 2005, 09:58 PM
Just a quick note: I have done some temping when i was in, and got out of school, and we are not all bad people.* Some of our attitude stems from the fact that some of us have to go through a temp agency to get a job and have them take anywhere from %10-%40 of what the paying company dishes out for your services.* And then there are* issues with companies that use temps as well, but I will not go into that.* I do understand that catering and what not is a very sporatic field, so temps are more feasable, but we are people too.*

I know that.

I've been doing this for a long time, sigh, and I've met some of the most wonderful people

through my job!

By and large most of the employees are great. Sadly, the bad economy has a lot to do with that-- I've been able to raise standards and kick the bad (and to some extent even the mediocre) ones to the curb. (Seriously. I could EASILY write a book-- you don't even know...

) *edited to add: The way our company works, we do not take any percentage of the employees' money. They are on our payroll (as full employees, not independent contractors) and they make between $10 - $12.50 per hour. Period.

The trouble is that there are a lot of people who don't view this as \"real\" employment, and they are totally surprised when-- after pulling a stunt like a no-show or calling in at the last minute or just cancelling on me one too many times-- I tell them that they are not going to get any more work. (In a word: Fired.) Some people view this with amazement and think that because we're an AGENCY, that automatically means we're beholden to employ whoever walks through the door demanding a job. I have a thread around here somewhere with all sorts of fun stories about my work.

**TimmyJames1976** · 05-17-2005, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by space virgin+May 17 2005, 03:15 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(space virgin @ May 17 2005, 03:15 PM)</div>

Quote:

<!--QuoteBegin-TimmyJames1976

Quote:

@May 17 2005, 09:58 PM
Just a quick note: I have done some temping when i was in, and got out of school, and we are not all bad people.* Some of our attitude stems from the fact that some of us have to go through a temp agency to get a job and have them take anywhere from %10-%40 of what the paying company dishes out for your services.* And then there are* issues with companies that use temps as well, but I will not go into that.* I do understand that catering and what not is a very sporatic field, so temps are more feasable, but we are people too.*

I know that.

I've been doing this for a long time, sigh, and I've met some of the most wonderful people

through my job!

By and large most of the employees are great. Sadly, the bad economy has a lot to do with that-- I've been able to raise standards and kick the bad (and to some extent even the mediocre) ones to the curb. (Seriously. I could EASILY write a book-- you don't even know...

)

The trouble is that there are a lot of people who don't view this as "real" employment, and they are totally surprised when-- after pulling a stunt like a no-show or calling in at the last minute or just cancelling on me one too many times-- I tell them that they are not going to get any more work. (In a word: Fired.) Some people view this with amazement and think that because we're an AGENCY, that automatically means we're beholden to employ whoever walks through the door demanding a job. I have a thread around here somewhere with all sorts of fun stories about my work.

[/b]

As discussed in another thread...the only book you will be writing is Dialouges with Kokou!

Okay, now I am done hijacking this thread.....

"But why the rum?"

**d_fresh** · 05-17-2005, 03:26 PM

I run a home health agency.

**kyle j** · 05-17-2005, 04:01 PM

Slave at Home Depot for 2 more months

**LaurieL622** · 05-17-2005, 04:24 PM

Quote:

I recently found out that most of the people above me are not college grads, which is pretty twisted. I am new to it though, and if I stuck it out(maybe not with the current firm, but same business) I am sure I could advance, but I don't like the job or field.

TJ-that's the same thing I've discovered about my job. I was told that the supervisors, as well as office managers don't have degrees (bachelor's or above). This is a bit frustrading...but I'm slowly understanding that experience counts for a whole lot, and a degree does not mean nearly as much w/o the experience to back it up.

I'm still, however, not too happy with the job or career prospects with the company. I guess I don't play entry-level grunt very well. Hopefully any recent tp grad's can relate to this.

Thanks everyone for all ur replies!

Some interesting jobs you guys have (i'm not being sarcastic).

AGRI-are you in sales and marketing??

**Diorama** · 05-17-2005, 04:48 PM

I'm a Concierge in a fancy downtown hotel. So I spend my day booking limos, making dinner reservations, selling tour tickets and basically picking peoples asses.

Tourists are goddamn idiots. I must admit some of them are lovely, but the rest are

My jobs alright though. I work long hours (11 hour days), but if it's busy it goes by really fast. And besides I get some good tips.

Oh and i graduated highschool five yrs ago. I haven't yet gone to university. And I probably never will. The shool of life is the only thing I'm interested in. I don't find that a degree is necessary in the life that I want to lead.

**TimmyJames1976** · 05-17-2005, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Diorama@May 17 2005, 04:47 PM

Oh and i graduated highschool five yrs ago. I haven't yet gone to university. And I probably never will. The shool of life is the only thing I'm interested in. I don't find that a degree is necessary in the life that I want to lead.

I wish I figured that out 24k of student debt and many years ago

the next 2 years of my life are basically devoted to paying off my student loans....boooo!

**mowark** · 05-17-2005, 05:14 PM

student/bartender. I HATE THE SERVICE INDUSTRY!!!!!! 6 years. Everytime I go to school I think, "school sucks." Then everytime I go to work I think, "gotta study hard to get a better job."

**agriadam** · 05-17-2005, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mowark@May 17 2005, 07:13 PM
student/bartender.* I HATE THE SERVICE INDUSTRY!!!!!!* 6 years.* Everytime I go to school I think, "school sucks."* Then everytime I go to work I think, "gotta study hard to get a better job."

yeah I just got out of the industry about a year ago.. walking out of that place was one of the best feelings ever.

**Joker** · 05-17-2005, 06:37 PM

Professional Kitchen Pirate.

:D

(and its true, cooks get the best drugs. Waitresses and hostesses are perks, man.)

**space virgin** · 05-17-2005, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Joker@May 18 2005, 01:36 AM
(Waitresses and hostesses are perks, man.)

The funny thing is that almost unilaterally, all waitresses and hostesses will tell you that Kitchen Guys are assholes and will bitch about them up one side and down the other (and vice versa), but they'll still fuck 'em.

And before you get upset Joker, I'm not calling you an asshole! haha. Just commenting on the incestuous and hypocritical world that is the Hospitality Industry.

**LostFarmboy** · 05-17-2005, 06:59 PM

I work for the government making maps and writing programs. Because it's a government job it's rediculously easy and has some pretty nice perks, i almost feel guilty that they actually pay us as much as they do to do as little as we do. But it's boring as hell so i'm leaving at the end of the year to try and find a more exciting job, sounds like being a chef might be the way to go

**urOZm8** · 05-18-2005, 03:03 AM

Trading Representative (stockbroking co.) - buy/sell stocks for clients, provide stock market info, broking account admin yadda yadddaa...

ev