What's Your Job IRL?

Discussion in 'Random Thoughts' started by MoatsArt, Oct 23, 2016.

  1. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    Of all the posts on the page, this throws up the strangest mental pictures. Scary even!

    But I guess civilian calibration is voluntary. At the moment. :eek:

    o_O:D:D
     
  2. drgumbybrain

    drgumbybrain Science Nut

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    Hi there. Nice thread.
    I’m a medical doctor and got specialized in surgery. Than I got tired and got another specialization in clinical Psychiatrie. Today I’m professor of psychopharmacology in a federal university in my country. my main research is new drugs for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Always liked music and started playing the trumpet when I was 12 years. Today I’m old, and music it’s where I can rest and search for peace to stay with my responsibilities.
    It’s nice to meet you all!
     
    Last edited: Jun 4, 2019
  3. msommers

    msommers High on Epipens

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    I would love to get your career opinion and advice. As a geologist at 32, I'm seriously trying to get into medical school, specifically pysch or neuro...
     
  4. abhinit90

    abhinit90 New

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    Software Developer here, nothing more to add except it's the most typical profession where I live. I like programming so it's sort of a win-win here. Trying to pursue an MS but let's see.
     
  5. muse

    muse Facebook Friend

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    Mechanical Engineer in-charge ACMV design and Fire Protection services. It's my first job and tough as hell.

    Stress levels are through the roof because of the endless stream of deadlines and inevitable f**k-ups that occur on site.
     
  6. Priidik

    Priidik MOT: Estelon

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    Do you do flow simulations as well?
    I do filter & inductor designs for power electronics, the big megawatt stuff. Sounds like electrical engineering, but it's like combination of mech and electrical.
    Far from easiest jobs I've had.
    The engineer is always bullied by sales (who have been bullied by customers) and production managers.
     
  7. drgumbybrain

    drgumbybrain Science Nut

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    Do it man! You will have drugs in your house and music? What else could you want in your life?
    :D
     
  8. DigMe

    DigMe Friend

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    My brother quit his job and went to med school in his mid to late 30’s.
     
  9. drgumbybrain

    drgumbybrain Science Nut

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    But seriously, it’s a difficult profession, but if you decided to help people for life, there is no better way. put your ass in a chair and start your studying. You can PM latter if you want to talk more.
     
  10. 93EXCivic

    93EXCivic New

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    Mechanical engineer designing LED drivers for lighting fixtures.

    Before that Product applications engineer for a magnetics company and before that a mechanical engineer at a mining safety company.
     
  11. Case

    Case Anxious Head (Formerly Wilson)

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    @msommers , I got my social work degree when I was 44. Definitely go for it.
     
  12. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    Reasons I did not get to do medicine. Lousy at Maths, almost innumerate. Lousy at languages, and Latin was required back then. Really bad at memorising large amounts of stuff.

    On a sailing weekend, I met a woman who was a doc. She had started her medical training at 40 (I guess I was only 30-something then) and I asked her how she could take on such a thing at that age. She said, "I just couldn't not do it any longer." Oh, there are so many better [wo]men than I in the world!

    Do it! Be one of those better men than I am :)
     
  13. muse

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    Nope, flow simulations are not within my scope of work, and probably require a greater technical expertise than where I am currently at.

    In theory, my role is to co-design ducting, chilled water and sprinkler systems with consultants, and to ensure adherence and implementation on-site.

    In practice, a significant portion of consultants have never worked on-site before, and have zero appreciation of site constraints and/or no regard for co-ordination difficulties with other fit-out services.

    Some are also guilty of blatant laziness. Designs are incomplete and lacking in detail. They cough up an extremely general outline and throw it down to us to fill in the gaps.

    What you mentioned about bullying is true and perhaps what I dislike most about the job. Near the bottom of the food chain, picking up scraps and dealing arrogant/aloof behavior is part of the package.

    I don’t wish to throw out names, but because my company is perhaps the most well-reputed in the industry, we regularly get to work with the largest pharmaceutical and tech companies (highest profit margins). While there are plenty of great people to work with, some are just absolute douchebags and treat you like a lesser human being: just two nights ago, an office lady came up to me with a sarcastic and condescending tone and asked why after office hours lights were not provided (she had wished to stay back late for work) - “it’s utterly unacceptable!”. Wasn’t even remotely my problem since lighting wasn’t under my charge.

    I’ve gradually become more and more depressed in this job. 90% of my colleagues are either foreigners and/or at least 15 years older than me. I don’t share any common ground with any of them, let alone language. I’d even say that I haven’t met a single colleague whom I can call more than an acquaintance.

    The pay in this line is low (it’s high in other countries around the world but not in mine) given my junior status. I work an average of 55 hours a week (hit a record of 65 hours last week). I don’t have any corporate perks whatsoever. The learning curve for this line of work is extremely steep but I feel like my company is throwing me into the fire and letting me fend for myself and learn things without any structured guidance from more senior colleagues.

    The only reason I press on is because the job market is brutal right now, and I don’t want to quit on my first job so easily. Also, pride. Also, no real certainty with what I wish to do next.

    Friends who graduated with me are getting paid higher, work shorter hours, have good working relationships, better work life balance and have generally better work prospects.

    I’m not sure why I just typed all of the above, but it’s been stewing inside of me for a really long time without anyone I wish to confide in and I guess writing this helps get things off my chest. Sorry for the rant.
     
  14. Priidik

    Priidik MOT: Estelon

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    Every tough job is great learning experience, if nothing else. Hang in there at least a year, then you'll know what you want and what you deserve.
    It's quite common in engineering. Few companies have resources or people to deal with training.
    Most senior engineers suck at teaching anything to newbs, they usually lack the social skills and inclination.
    Those who are suitable are usually too busy, because they are even better at everything else that is of immediate benefit to the company.
    It's expected of you to either float or drown, and.. next candidate!
    When you do float, however, your value increases exponentially in the eyes of the current company and their competition.
     
  15. msommers

    msommers High on Epipens

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    Honestly, this is exactly how I feel. Medicine has always been the goal and it's over the last couple years I've come to fully realize that and want it. Part of the process, I've never been in a confident enough position to seriously consider myself worthy of even applying. So as we speak, I'm just about to finish defending my Masters which will help build a stronger application. In fact, the main driving mechanism to doing an MSc. in geology was for med, and secondarily a better Geo job if med didn't pan out. I find geology very interesting but when it truly comes down to distilling it's purpose in life other than a means for a (very good) pay cheque, my enthusiasm drops off.

    Many work until they're in their late 60s these days so I'd rather be doing something I truly believe in until then, even if that means starting what feels pretty late in life.

    Thank you for the kind words of encouragement everyone, it's very much appreciated. Goal #1 is to first get in and with a country-wide acceptance rate of ~8%, I know how strong of an applicant I need to be.

    @David De Lucena I will definitely PM you soon about this and hopefully not construct a barrage of questions!
     
  16. muse

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    Yeah, I'm just past the 8 months mark. If anything, I remind myself of the best part of this job -- that the amount of things I get to learn is honestly way more than most conventional jobs out there.

    It was an idealistic mindset that first spurred me to take on this job: I was sick and tired of the lopsided emphasis towards theoretical 'head' knowledge throughout the course of my university education, and so I decided upon graduation that my first job would be one which afforded me a wealth of hands-on, practical experience.

    At times it gets hard to hold on to idealistic notions. I think this one still holds for now.
     
  17. 93EXCivic

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    IMO, some of that you are just going to find most anywhere you look (lack of training, laziness, bad designs, the bullying by sales and product management, etc).

    But my suggestion would be to start looking for another job. I have learned in my time out of college that 1) there is no point in sticking in a job that you hate and makes you work long hours for shitty pay (life is too short for that shit) and 2) companies don't give a flying f**k about you so do your best work but don't feel any loyalty towards them because I guarantee they won't towards you.
     
  18. Returnity

    Returnity Acquaintance

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    38 year old MD specialized in Anaesthesiology. Got into the med school with the dream to become a psychiatrist but ran away as fast as I could from that specialty (unlike Mr. David De Lucena). Anyway, currently spending most of my working time in the intensive care unit, so dealing with death and near-death all the time causes some kind of subconscious stress I guess. I may not feel it overtly but I know it's somewhere inside of me, big time!

    Music is the only drug I use, otherwise I probably couldn't have been able to cope with it I guess. I play electric guitar and composed a lot in my twenties, which probably was the only reason I hung on to life at that time. I probably would have commited suicide otherwise... Thankfully nowadays I have a great wife and a great son who add all the more reasons to push on (besides music).

    So @muse , it's not rosy all the time in med school and professional life. You will have to learn to handle the stress of yours (and your patients' and their family's stress on top of that). I love my job, I couldn't do any other thing if I had to choose again, but, you know, sometimes it's too much. And that "sometimes" word turns to "often" frequently :)
     
  19. drgumbybrain

    drgumbybrain Science Nut

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    Sometime i think to myself: i should have made anesthesiology! I would have the ketamine to give to the patients, and would have much much hair in my head.:sail:

    we should definitely make a medical care thread in SBAF.
     
  20. Returnity

    Returnity Acquaintance

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    LOL, trust me I have so many more drugs besides ketamine in my arsenal, but I'm still bald at my age :D
     

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