Which jobs have you ?

[JH27N0B]

I worked as a grocery store stockboy and in a machine shop part time for my first couple years in college.  Then after getting my engineering degree I worked for over 3 years at a consulting engineering company that did forensic investigations.  Then I went in to the automotive parts industry, working as a product engineer for 14-1/2 years for a company that made a full line of aftermarket brake parts (Raybestos and Napa United were our biggest brand names).  Then the company got sold off to an investment group and they started shutting down North American manufacturing to start putting the same Chinese junk in the boxes as all our lower cost competitors.  Therefore they did not need my engineering services anymore and I got laid off in early 2005.
I lucked into a new job right away with a manufacturer of engine and axle seals, but got let go toward the end of 2005 and spent much of 2006 out of full time work.
But in early fall I landed a job as a product engineer in a new industry, hand tools, working for Klein Tools.  I am working in our nut driver and screwdriver lines. The vast majority of our tools are still made in the U.S. Next time you're in the market for premium hand tools I hope you'll keep us in mind, our tools are now sold at several big box chains like Home Depot, Lowes and Sears.  Help support U.S. manufacturing and help me stay employed!
I sort of miss automotive but with the lack of job security in recent years I am not sorry to be out!
I also have been working part time as a flight instructor, charter pilot and investor for many years.  Other than Mopars, aviation is my passion, and I wish I could have made a full time living at it.  As many pilots in the U.S. like to say, I love to fly but I like to eat and have a roof over my head too!
I'm making a decent amount of money from dividends and interest off my investments, and I hope to be making enough off investments within the next 5 to 10 years to sort of support myself, so that I can leave the Dilbert world of engineering and cubicles and live comfortably while working as a charter pilot or some other type of flying job.

[422STROKER]

I'm a Master Electrician.  Self-Employed for 6 yrs, going strong. 

Went to College but found that a Liberal Arts Degree wasn't going to cut it for Me.  Started working with my Old Man(Master Electrician) after College and decided to stick with it.  I had always done Electrical with Him growing up but He had wanted me to go school.  Luckily for me I went on a Baseball Scholarship and didn't incur too much debt.  Actually I have <1.5yrs left to finish paying them off!

BTW JH27NOB  Klein Tools are the Best!  not cheap but worth the $$$.

Tom

[JH27N0B]

BTW JH27NOB  Klein Tools are the Best!  not cheap but worth the $$$.

Tom

Thanks for your kind words!  I just bought one of our Journeyman side cutting pliers especially engraved to commemorate the companies' 150th anniversary.  Now I have to decide whether or not to use them or frame them and hang them on the wall!
Tonight the family, who still owns the company, are having a big 150th anniversary party downtown.  I better hit the road so I won't be late!

[Andrew]

I do casual work for a sound company. It doesnt pay too well, but its good fun.

[Jacksboys]

Chick-fil-A
Supermarket
Automotive shop
Bank Teller

Now: various positions at UPS for 8 years.

[Jacksboys]

May retire, Chryco and I are kicking around some ideas and might open a speed performance shop and Speed performance parts store.

That sounds like fun, but would that get Chryco into the USA for good?

[Moparal]

That sounds like fun, but would that get Chryco into the USA for good?

we got something in the makings were considering in the fall that may resolve that with any luck.

[Jacksboys]

we got something in the makings were considering in the fall that may resolve that with any luck.

Good luck 

[urgewalt]

***push it up again***

Hi guys,

when I read all the posts, there is on question about ...

Is this so easy to find a job in the usa ?

Here are many people which have a lot of jobs in the past.
So here in germany it is very strong to find a new job, especially when you haven't learn it.

[ChallengerHK]

It depends on a lot of things: experience, education, what job you're looking for, raw ability.

[422STROKER]

Depends on the local Economy.  If things are good then more people are needed.  Slow and you get the picture....

Most Jobs that younger people get have high turnover rates thus the high amounts of jobs listed.

Tom

[merlin969]

1st ----   14 years old,  busing Tables 15.00/night  7 hour nights..
2nd ----   18 years old, Collins&Aikman
3rd ----   20 years old, Auto Tech Bodyshop
4th ----   25 years old, Freightliner, started out as a truck painter, now a .net/sql programmer

37 years old now

[urgewalt]

It depends on a lot of things: experience, education, what job you're looking for, raw ability.

OK, I know that.
But here are some people which worked in fully different jobs.

As an example :
I learn and worked as a Communication Engineer, no employer would hire
me as an Programmer or something else.

I have educate myself from an Communication Engineer/Electrical Technican to
an System Engineer - but no employer would hire me.
So I go into my own business - primal after this I could find a job in the IT.

So it hears that you have it easier to practise a other job than the one you learned.
This is a subjective believe from me. But it sounds interesting ...

[back n black]

OK, I know that.
But here are some people which worked in fully different jobs.

As an example :
I learn and worked as a Communication Engineer, no employer would hire
me as an Programmer or something else.

I have educate myself from an Communication Engineer/Electrical Technican to
an System Engineer - but no employer would hire me.
So I go into my own business - primal after this I could find a job in the IT.

So it hears that you have it easier to practise a other job than the one you learned.
This is a subjective believe from me. But it sounds interesting ...

Huh?

[AllGreen70RT]

A Mechanical Engineer for the last 25 years designing various types of machines. For the last 13 years I've designed transfer equipment for automotive assembly plants. Was really hoping we would get some of the work for the new Challenger, but didn't happen. When I started in this field all the work was done on a drafting board, then along came Autocad so we started working on the computer in 2D, now we work in 3D. Lot of changes over the 25 years, but I still love it, always doing somthing different and always a challenge.