GTKY: Real v. Dream Job

anitad84 · January 2014

Tell me about what you do for work. I work as a Project Manager for an electrical contractor. Technology projects only, so data cabling, wireless access, security wiring, etc.

More importantly, do you love or hate your job? I like it. Wouldn't say I love it. Mostly because I deal with subcontractors who need constant hand holding.

And if money were no issue, what would your dream job/career be? I would love to be a SAHM, and just do my craft business stuff on the side whenever I wanted.

Bonus: As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? A country singer!

mockingjay1 · January 2014

I am a NICU nurse, and I work 3 12 hour day shifts a week. Most of the time I really love my job. I might not like getting up early in the morning, but once I'm at work I realize how lucky I am to work where I do.

Dream job? I'd love to work where I do now one day a week and stay home with our hopefully soon to be child/children the rest of the time.

I wanted to be an OB/GYN when I was younger. I've worked in Mother Baby and NICU, so the area was always something I loved, I just went the nursing route instead of the doctor route.

txgsd81 · January 2014

@manateearmz - I'm totally with you re: geeking out over risk analysis. I'll come home and start telling DH about some account I'm working on and his eyes generally just glaze over. I've taken it as a cue that underwriting really just isn't exciting to many other people. lol

scgirl89 · January 2014

Real Job: I am a CNA / Unit Secretary at a hospital. Its okay. Could be worse, could be better.

Dream Job: I would LOVE to open up a bakery, I bake all the time and I think it would be so much fun. I also would not mind to be a SAHM

GretchenWeiners7 · January 2014

I am an admin for a district manager at a bank. I don't hate it but it's not the most entertaining thing in the world.

My dream job is to design uniforms for the NFL/NHL. I went to school for fashion design & have been sewing/creating since I was about 4. I would also take "professional napper" or "lounge chair tester".

When I was little, I wanted to be a fashion designer and ballerina...because obviously there is time to do both.

Manateearmz · January 2014

TheJerseyCowgirl said:
@manateearmz - I'm totally with you re: geeking out over risk analysis. I'll come home and start telling DH about some account I'm working on and his eyes generally just glaze over. I've taken it as a cue that underwriting really just isn't exciting to many other people. lol

I do the same thing! DH is not an analytical person so he never quite understands my risk excitement. I had to test for this position and it was a bunch of those analytical word problems, it was like playing a game for me.

<----- nerd alert

semi891 · January 2014

My current job is a hairstylist - I rent a chair in a salon so am technically 'self-employed'. The best part is being able to set my own hours. I love the creative aspect as well and have some wonderful clients. The part I don't like is that I get people calling me at all hours to book appointments and the like - it can be difficult to shut off sometimes.

My dream job - I'm fortunate that I will have the chance to be a SAHM when the time comes. I don't plan on going back to doing hair afterwards, but am stuck in that "I don't know what I want to be when I grow up" phase. I love history, would love to be a history teacher. I would also love to write.

When I was a child, I had many different jobs in mind. Oscar-winning actress (of course), singer, marine biologist, vet, fashion designer...

Edit - spacing.

irisheyes317 · January 2014

@norweigan and @MamaZEsquire great to see some other lawyers on here! (and @norweigan I LOVE your Kristen Bell and Dax Shephard photo)

Current job: Lawyer. I like the description "full time and then some" so I'm stealing it here.

Dream Job: I wanted to be a lawyer all through high school and college, but it's not my dream job anymore. I'd love to own my own business and/or be a wedding photographer.

As a little kid I could never decide what I wanted to be when I grew up. That question used to stress me out so much. I could never decide on my favorite color either. I was a weird little kid.

norweigan · January 2014

@irisheyes317 Thanks

and I think finding out being a lawyer isn't your dream job once you become one is pretty common.

jlbeanza · January 2014

Haha, sure @irishtheatrechic! I think it would be my dream job if all I did was teach, but now I teach one to two classes a semester in addition to a job that is already full-time, so it feels like all I do is work sometimes.

irisheyes317 · January 2014

@norweigan Judging by my law school friends, it's extremely common!

ColinTheRobot · January 2014

Peledreamsofrain said:

I am currently a commercial banker, but may move to credit analyist soon. My dream job is to move to the country and open up my own organic poultry business.

You should do it! That kind of thing is super popular in my area (near San Francisco).

AFM, I am self employed full time, but do the administration for a couple of creative partners, "Small Business Support." I LOVE it and it's pretty amazing because typically administration is what people with good ideas are pretty bad at, so I feel like I'm getting this great info out to customers & letting my partners focus on being creative.

When I was a kid I wanted to write, but then I realized that I didn't care what anyone thought of what I wrote, which makes for a very underpaid author.

Jpinky9 · January 2014

I am currently a nanny taking care of three boys ages 5, 7 and 9. I have been with the family since the youngest was a baby. Now that the youngest is in school I work 7-9 and 2-5. I get paid for 35 hours a week and more if I work over time or for snow or sick days, I am basically always on call. It's certainly not my dream job but it's got it's definite bonuses

My dream job would most definitely be a SAHM! I don't know if we will ever be able to afford for me to be able to do that. Although, when we buy a house I would like to take in kids and do an in home daycare so I can stay home and still make an income.

As a kid my dream job was always to be a lawyer or to work with people who have addictions. I have an undergrad in psychology and a diploma in addictions counselling, it would have been nice to use those!!! Some day perhaps!

peggels24 · January 2014

What field of work are you in, do you work days/overnights/rotations, part time/full time, are you a stay at home mom and therefore work around the clock?
I am an attorney - I own a General Practice firm with one other partner and two associates. I work full-time M-F (well about 10 hours per day) and additionally when needed.

Do you love or hate your job?
I like my job.

If money were no issue, what would your dream job/career be?
If money wasn't an issue - I would be a philanthropist and donate lots of money and sit on lots of boards for lots of charities and help with fund raising and event planning.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be a lawyer since I was 12 years old when my neighbor across the street told me that I couldn't.

norweigan · January 2014

peggels24 said:

What field of work are you in, do you work days/overnights/rotations, part time/full time, are you a stay at home mom and therefore work around the clock?
I am an attorney - I own a General Practice firm with one other partner and two associates. I work full-time M-F (well about 10 hours per day) and additionally when needed.

Do you love or hate your job?
I like my job.

If money were no issue, what would your dream job/career be?
If money wasn't an issue - I would be a philanthropist and donate lots of money and sit on lots of boards for lots of charities and help with fund raising and event planning.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a lawyer since I was 12 years old when my neighbor across the street told me that I couldn't.

That's awesome.

katietopaz · January 2014

I'm currently working part-time at my church with the production team and as an admin with volunteer teams. I actually really enjoy my job, though there are things I wish were a little different. It also might work well to keep it when we have kids, since it's pretty flexible with working at home, and part-time.

My degree is in music education, and my dream job would be to work with a high school band or orchestra. I recently stopped applying for full-time music teaching jobs because they're near-impossible to find out here, and it's all political. I had what I thought was an "in" in a school district, and never got past the first-round interviews (though even getting the initial interview was an accomplishment, since over 300+ people applied for every full-time posting).

When I was a kid, I wanted to grow up and be a dolphin trainer. Swimming with dolphins once in Hawaii was one of the highlights of my childhood.

hazelrora · January 2014

I'm a medical assistant for a urology office. It's interesting. Lots of pee, catheters, and office procedures. I've learned a lot and really like most of the people I work with. My dream job would be a SAhm or a nurse part time. Growing up i wanted to be a nurse

AppleGrapeMSTK · January 2014

I teach GED and life skills to men transitioning out of prison and back into the community. The hours suck (12-9), so I only see DD from 7-7:40am when I get her to school and DS from 7-11am when I drop him off with the sitter. The job is OK, and we really don't have to pay for a sitter much b/c DH gets home at 3, but I miss my kids. I have anxiety about not seeing my future baby for most of the day as a newborn.

Prior to this I taught ESL to immigrants and refugees. I'd like to get back into that. My dream job would be ANYTHING to do with languages. I wanted to be a language preservationist and save dying languages, but the market for that is pretty non-existent.

As a child I wanted to be a teacher, because that's what women grew up to be, in my mind, or I wanted to be a doctor because all of my dad's family works in medical.

snooks721 · January 2014

I'm a case manager at an insurance agency. I really like my job and don't plan on leaving.

If money weren't an issue I would love to be a writer. I would love to write books.

When I was little I wanted to be a mermaid when I grew up.

coolwhipz1 · January 2014

What field of work are you in - Dental Assistant.......its okay for now. I finished my pre-reqs to go to hygiene school but I've decided against that for the time being

Do you work days/overnights/rotations, part time/full time? Full time-four days a week, day hours

More importantly, do you love or hate your job? Its okay. I loved it more when I first got into the field. Now its mundane and very repetitive.

And if money were no issue, what would your dream job/career be? SAHM, and luckily for me that's the plan when we finally do get pregnant.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE to bake, and would someday love to have my own bakery

Bonus: As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? A lawyer, which I am not at all interested in now.

LittleLadyAKS · January 2014

What do you do for a living?
I am a full time commercial interior designer. I essentially space plan, select finishes, layout furniture, etc to make office spaces look great and work great.

More importantly, do you love or hate your job?
I love interior design. It's something I've always had a passion and talent for.

And if money were no issue, what would your dream job/career be?
I would love to be a SAHM one day, but I don't think we'll ever be in a position to do that financially.

I sometimes wonder if I'll stay a commercial designer forever or if I'll switch to residential/hospitality (bar/restaurants/hotels/spas). Hospitality really interested me in college but Iowa just doesn't have the market for it.

I also dream of being a nursery designer--but that's a very niche field. My profile picture is a computer rendering of a nursery I did in my spare time. Hit me up when you all get your bfps!

Bonus: As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Ever since I was little I've wanted to be an interior designer--specifically a designer on HGTV or Trading Spaces. And if that didn't pan out, actress for sure.

kaimee27 · January 2014

What field of work are you in-I'm and ER nurse working full time on night shift. I work 12 hour shifts which works awesome because it allows me more days off a week. Before when I worked the floor, I kind of hated my job, which is sad, because nursing is what I've wanted to do-well, that and be Miss America/princess/superhero. Now that I'm in the ER, I feel like I've finally found my niche, and I love it.

If money were no issue, what would your dream job/career be? If money were no issue, I'd be a SAHM once we have kids-for a while. Otherwise, if I wasn't a full time nurse, I think archaeology would be super interesting.

Unknown · January 2014

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jenmcD11 · January 2014

I am a high school science teacher. I really love my job and would call it my dream job if it wasn't for all of the marking...

Unfulfilled dream job: I really wanted to be a marine mammal trainer for a long time. I volunteered in the fish room preparing the meals for the whales for a summer but nothing ever came of it.

NSAnderson0313 · January 2014

Current job: I work full time for a large consulting firm in the process improvement/process optimization space. I love my job, but sometimes the clients can be difficult, the hours long and the travel straining on every aspect of your life. If money were no issue.....I'd be an independent consultant 50% of the time and volunteer the other 50%. As a child I wanted to be a pediatrician & really wish now that I would have pursued that!

turtles7 · January 2014

I'm an analyst for an insurance carrier and I love my job! Hours are m-f from 9-6. I do something for every department so its never a dull day.

My dream job would be an underwater or sports photographer. Underwater so I can scuba dive all day and sports because i like sports. Lol

My childhood dream job was to be a pediatrician until I found out you have to be in school for another 11 years.

TammyDoubleB · January 2014

I am a Marketing Rep for a hospice company. I love it! Talk about a new appreciation for life every single day!

If money were no issue, I'd want to be a SAHM. That's probably never gonna happen. I make more money than my husband.

When I was little, I wanted to be: A teacher, a cashier, or a Solid Gold Dancer (click link below if you don't know what that is...I'm old, yo).

Solid Gold

ETA: More words and my dream job.

RunBooRun · January 2014

Joy2611 said:

What field of work are you in - Research science. Laboratory setting. I design and implement experiments. I infer results. I make guesses. I play with chemicals. I screw up a lot and then adjust. It's 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration around here.

Do you work days/overnights/rotations, part time/full time? Days. Nights. Science never rests so neither do the lead scientists.

More importantly, do you love or hate your job? I do like it. I really really do. But, it's a very mind-consuming job. You're constantly thinking about experiments, models, and ways to explain your results. Insight comes after hours of thought or experiments.

I dedicated myself throughout my 20s to my projects. Then I got married at 30 and realized how much of life I'd given away to hard work. I'm not saying that's a bad thing at all - I love working hard and reaping its rewards. But, I also have to remember that there's a personal side of life and a different kind of gratification that can come from playing with a cooing baby or visiting friends. Life doesn't need to be one big work day. I still struggle with this.

And if money were no issue, what would your dream job/career be? I'd write about science. I'd give lectures about awesome research. I'd explain science to non-science people. I'd run seminars about women's cycles and explain how everything from periods to birth control works. I'd speak about HPV and cervical cancer. I'd be considered an expert in these things and people would come to me. I'd be the liason between upper science and the general public.

Bonus: As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? I wanted to work in mission control at NASA. I fucking love NASA.

As mentioned in my post, I wanted to be an astronaut. I even went to space camp. During the week you do two missions: one as a crew member on the shuttle and one as a member of mission control. In my mission control exercise, I was INCO, which means I got to be the one who said "Endeavor, this is Houston, do you copy?". It kicked ass.

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