What do you do?
 

As most of you know, I've been kicking around this group for the summer. I know I want a boat and I'd really like it to be a Formula. But I'm still without a boat and since winter is kicking in, this group is slowing down. Yea, yea, I know, not for everyone... :cool:

This is a little off topic but, what do you or did you do for work?

I noticed Cuda posting (:eek: elsewhere :eek: ) that he has had a variety of jobs. I think its interesting to hear what people do. Who knows, networking is also good.

I was a hot rodder at heart and got a job in an balancing machine shop in high school. I eventually headed up the automotive division and rebuilt and balanced lower ends. It was the coolest job I've had but it was a time for a change. If I remember right the owner was a Formula fan (Will? Are you here?)

I put myself through college working at a family friend's laser machine shop. I worked second shift operating CNC equipment. (Laser cutting, etching, and welding)

After graduating from UMass I started working in the software industry and have had various software developer support roles.

Next?

I'm the maintenance director for a private firms' flight department in Chicago- been working on corporate and private jets of all mfg's and sizes for 20 years. I am also a FAA authorized inspector.
I also do some jet consulting for those fortunate enough to afford these machines, researching the history and condition of the aircraft and reporting my findings to the prospective buyer. I specialize in Dassault FalconJets (from the people that build the Mirage fighter). Falcons are the pinnacle in engineering and build quality in this type of aircraft.
Also hold a commercial pilot's license, although I don't fly professionally; strictly recreational.
Pics are of a pair of Falcon 10 aircraft- the one on the right is my baby!

That's great Jafo. I bet there are all varieties of members here. I always want to fly an ultralight. Have you ever done that? A little out of your league... ;) but I hear they are like the motorcycles of the sky. Same open free feeling.

My work experience may not be glamorous but I can always find work when needed.

I was always interested in engines, cars, boats, etc. In high school I took 4 years of Auto Shop during that time I started working in an EXXON full service station. After graduation I worked full time there. The owner let me do what ever I wanted so I could learn. I beacame the Brake Specialist, Tune-up Tech and Diagnostic Tech. I loved a challenge.
I got tired, maybe a little bored, and decided to work for my Father. He owned two large tool and die shops, one in Philadelphia and the other in Jersey. There I went through the Machinist Apprentice Course, graduated a Journeyman. One day I was asked if I wanted to learn how to weld, never one to turn down knowlage, I went. Graduated 6 months later a Certified Pipe Welder. Tought myself TIG and MIG welding afterward. After my Dad retired and sold his businesses the new owner promtly layed me off. Good thing too, I was ready to quit.
Spent several years welding and working various machine shops doing NC, CNC (mill and lathe), manual mill and lathes.
Decided to go to school for electronics, took a course for Computer Technicians. Graduated in the top 10. Tough to do when all the other classmates were 12 years younger than I and just out of high school. I had to learn how to learn all over again. Tried finding work in that field but was only offered pay that was 6.00 an hour less that I was making as a machinist.
I'm now in Florida working for a company that makes simulators for the Department of Defense. Started out in Quality Assurance doing inspection, then took over the Calibration Lab. After 8 years I transfered out of Quality and now in our Reliability and Maintainability Engineering department. I do product testing, thermal Environmental Stress Screening (ESS), vibration testing (to simulate 10 years of use/abuse), inspection, electronic testing, fixture design, packing/shipping and machine maintenence. I've been here for close to 15 years now.
Along the way I've had various part time jobs as welder, machinist, driver, airport line service, theme park attendant.

Hey that sounds great Iggy. I'm a little the same way. I always want learn something new. When I stopped learning at a job, I knew it was time to move on. I learned by apprenticing (SP??) how be a machinist. No profesional training. I learned how to weld while there. I did gas and stick welding but never got to try MIG or TIG. I left the industry because I didn't like the work conditions. Now that I have a good desk job I miss some of my old jobs... just can't win.

I also left out a few odd jobs before:
Lawn Mowing
Shelf Stocking
Bus Boy at Dennys for 4 hours...

I will try and get into my sorted history later :D:D

Jon

Talking about the welding, when I finished the course I was certified in stick. One day the Foreman came in asked if I knew how to do Heli-Arc (TIG), I said no, he asked if I had any books I could learn form, yes, so he gave my a week to learn. And learn I did. I was very good at it.
Gas welding is easy, so is soldering or sweating pipe joints. Once you learn the basics of welding it's not hard to figure out how to do the other types.

In my current job I was lucky to find a position where I can use almost all my skills on a daily basis. That's what made learning all those things worth while.
In my annual review, which I received yesterday, my Boss asked me to find a course in vibration testing so I could learn more. I did and I guess I'll be going back to school. Home study/internet classes. Can't wait till they give me the go-ahead.

My Dad always said "never be afraid to learn something new".

Well what the heck
I'm not an example of what to do with your life.
after high school, I Tended BAR at my familys Taveren. Lots of Females, but goes no where.
I went to work for
Tom Kenendy, owner of TIKI'S performance plus. [ now in florida]
used to build and maintain Race cars for the semi Pros.
Some how I ended up working for the US goverenment.
the NRC, section six, Nuclear security. In other words you climb over the fence we "SHOOT"you. We find you any where you don't belong "WE SHOOT YOU" ETC. Sounds like fun. NOPE boaring as hell I retired after about 8 years. But I still get to keep my Federal ID and Side arm.
Now I'm a sub contractor, and Love it. Do glass work.
NY tag your it

Ok finally got the time. I started out pushind lawn mowers around my neighborhood. Actually did it for a long time. Got some good customers and mowed lawns tell I was in High school. All through highschool I taught windsurfing and when I was a senior in highschool I started in Boston a indoor windsurfing class at local health clubs. It was a blast. We taught them indoors all winter in the pools, then when it got warm enough we took them out to the ocean and let them go :D After that I started my current business. It started out as a Car stereo instalation business and has kind of morfed from there. While I was in College I worked on kids cars, doing mechanical work and ussually got a stereo install out of it. When I graduated I tried to go to NY city and become a broker. I quickly realized this was a fast road to complete missery and left the company and committed myseld to my shop. Well 10 years later I am still kicking, but I no longer do car stereo's (except for my good old customers) and I am stricktly doing home stuff. This includes Home theaters, Distributed audio, home automation, networking you name it. Business the last few months has been good and hopefully it stays that way :D

Jon

I have a ceramic tile contracting business. We do 90% commercial work. Fast food restaurants are our main focus. Right now we are doing 3 McDonald's, one in Orlando, Vero Beach, and West Palm Beach. We are also doing a Denato's Pizza in Oveido. This is as busy as I have been in a couple years. The beginning of this year sucked! One of the GC's I work for has 16 McDonald's under contract, so hopefully we will stay busy for quite a while. This business is feast or famine. I do love the work, and wished I'd started it earlier in life.

This is a picture of one of the job's I'm most proud of. It is the Dish Restaurant at Baywalk in St Pete. This place is really unique, if you get a chance, check it out. We also did Dan Marino's Town Tavern in the same plaza. There is another Dish over in Ybor that was probably my most ambitous undertaking to date. It was written up in the Tampa Tribune, and was the ESPN center for the Super Bowl here a couple of years ago, and was on TV.:)