Why do you do the job that you do?

I knew I didn't want to go to university and I had always been interested mechanical & electrical things so I signed up as a marine engineer cadet.
Hugely disappointed when I found I had to spend 3 of the 4 years at college but the year away at sea was probably the best year of my life, had a fantastic time especially the 3 weeks alongside in Rio.

After a couple of years deep sea I moved into the offshore construction sector which wasn't quite as fun but the work was enjoyable and the time off even better.

Retired at 55 with no regrets and took on the best job ever, looking after my grandson.
 
I do my job because:
I care deeply about society.
I want to contribute towards creating a place where people feel safe and can enjoy quiet enjoyment of their homes, family and friends while feeling secure and protected.
I abhor bullies or those who hurt others, be it physically, emotionally or financially.
I had felt that it aligned with my abilities, although now I’m beginning to wonder sometimes.
It’s interesting.
It has allowed me to develop and become a more well rounded person.
I couldn’t imagine doing anything else, possibly because I lack imagination!
 
the_holgate_roof said:
Dropped out of sixth form college after a year, then ended up getting a start in telecoms via the careers office on Fry st, temp contract then got taken on, still here 37 years later, tied in by the decent pension and good wage.
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Sounds like me, 21 years in now have moved a couple of times, still like my job despite the abuse and hassle you get on occasions.
 
I always wanted to work in television as it was a medium that fascinated me growing up. I dreamt of directing, but I slept with the wrong people and ended up in the sound dept!

I can’t complain, I get to travel the world, meet some interesting people and stick microphones on them. I like being freelance because the older I get, the more choosy I can be.
 
Worked as a Payroll Clerk then a Accountant until my mid 30's (nearly 20 years ago)

Then discovered Matched Betting before it became popular. Started making a lot more money than my regular job, so quit my job.

When the peak of MB died off I invested my money in Berkshire Hathaway and early stage tech firms then Bitcoin in 2016.

Money and investing are the only things I'm good at (and I have to time to spend hundreds of hours reseaching) and with a bit of luck I've never had to work since, and don't miss it.
 
I work as a civil designer and thoroughly enjoy my job - fortunately.
Started off as an apprentice draughtsman and I've progressed up the ladder to a senior principal designer now. Pretty much as high as I can go without a degree, which I have no intention of doing.
It pays really well, I work with a load of my mates, I work on really interesting projects (currently working on the woodsmith mine in whitby that runs underground to Teesport).

Wouldn't change it for the world and have no idea what I would work as if I left this industry. Engineering has basically been my whole adult life.

I've often thought about teaching (father was a teacher), but the drop in salary would be significant so maybe I could look into some kind of consultation / teaching work when I retire. I'm 'only' 47 though so I've got a ways to go yet.
 
I did 20 years NHS as an Orthopaedic technician, loved the job at Middlesbrough general but hated it at James Cook hospital. Lasted 18 months up there then moved into Health and Social care on the drugs misuse side of things. Absolutely loved that work as well but two redundancies in three years and feeling a bit burned out with it all I moved a million miles from what I'd always been involved in.
Bought a window cleaning van and set out on my own just over 10 years ago. No politics, no form filling in and no threat of redundancy every two to three years. Now have a massive round that I built from scratch and 400+ customers.
Looking back it was a big jump but I now work 5-6 hours a day and earn more money than I ever did in full time, paid employment. Yes it can be difficult at times but I've never been in a better place mentally and that counts for everything right now. Not having a boss to answer to has it plus points too 😊
 
Went away to university aged 18 - hated being away from home, jacked it in after 3 months, and came home. Applied to Teesside University for a similar degree to the one I had been doing away from home. Got turned down. A course leader on another course rang me and told me about his course. Sounded interesting. Applied, got accepted. The path from the degree was direct into my current career, with exemptions from professional exams due to having the degree. The rest is history.
So I got into it by total accident.
 
Left the RN FAA in 09. Although by trade an aircraft engineer and did time as an instructor and training designer. Teaching job came up in the Lynx /159 team at Westlands (sometimes referred to as HMS Westlands) Now Leonardo. Most people in the school are ex military high percentage navy and we all knew and had worked with each other. It was like still been in the mob without the duties
 
I fell out of college, and my Mum got me a 1 year temporary contract at ICI. When that finished, I needed a job, so found a QC role at a local small plastics company. They just happened to be in medical devices. Worked my way up the ladder, and eventually started a business of my own (with 2 other guys).
Sold that business in 2019, retired ever since.
Roughly worked out that, from 2006-2019 we’d made and sold about 20 million products, which (in the hands of expert surgeons) had made small but important improvements to 20 million lives. That’s something I’m very proud of
 
MaximoParkEnd said:
Went away to university aged 18 - hated being away from home, jacked it in after 3 months, and came home. Applied to Teesside University for a similar degree to the one I had been doing away from home. Got turned down. A course leader on another course rang me and told me about his course. Sounded interesting. Applied, got accepted. The path from the degree was direct into my current career, with exemptions from professional exams due to having the degree. The rest is history.
So I got into it by total accident.
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About 1997 i was on the phone to someone from Teesside poly (always known it as that) pleading to be accepted on a course.
It didn’t happen and I was on the dole for a bit which is just as well as my chosen career at the time has gone to ****.
 
I closed down my company in 1999 and was looking for something to do, I always fancied driving an artic, mainly just for fun, so trained and passed my class 1 in the same year, moved into the transport industry while I was thinking what my long term prospects were- company I was working for asked me to take the management CPC, I did and went into transport management. I kinda semi retired in 2018, but went back driving in 2020 because of the shortage of drivers through Covid- the lack of professional drivers, and the fact that we could almost name our own pay. I'm now driving part time 3 days a week.
 
30 years in the Royal Navy, had two days off and joined the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Suppose I could have done something else, but I do exactly the same job as I did then, except as a civilian with a civil servants pension.
The money is regular and unless I do something completely stupid it's a job for as long as I feel able to do it.

However recently I've started to find the separation getting harder to do. Thinking about getting out (again).
 
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