Are you working and what do you do? [Archive]

blake20

08-21-2009, 02:01 PM

So how is everyone doing work wise? I work at at 1st step steel fabricator and we are only working 32 hours a week. Everyone in the steel business arround here (Kansas City, MO) is slow. Usually here in the middle of the country we don't have severe recessions, but it is pretty bad here. I have been in the Industry all my life and it was not even this slow back in the early 80's. It would be nice to know where there is work and what type of work is going on.

So post up where your at, what you do and what the economic outlook in your area is.

Blake

Thordic

08-21-2009, 02:16 PM

I'll bite.

I'm a Quality Assurance Analyst for a BNY Mellon. I work in a division that handles stock transfer and employee stock plans (stock options, employee stock purchase plans, etc).

I work in Jersey City, which is kind of the new Wall Street with major offices of JP Morgan, UBS, Citibank, Goldman Sachs, and obviously BNY Mellon all located here.

The industry is pretty rough but recovering. There still aren't many jobs around, but its slowly getting better. I came about 2 weeks away from getting laid off early this spring but they found a new position for me within the company before it came to that.

A lot of people I used to work with did get laid off, however, and I know a lot of them are still unemployed.

C_losjoker

08-21-2009, 02:29 PM

I am an insurance broker, dealing with the benefits medical/dental/life/vision for companies and their employees. We have clients from every blue and white color type of job out there and yeah it is felt all across the board by everyone. from your 2 employee mom & pop shop, to your 40,50,350,2k employee company it is hitting everyone. Unlike when the .com bubble bust in 2000 and that mainly affect the high tech industry, it was felt by a few others, but neve at the level and across the board that it is today. some are shutting doors, been bought out, merging or cutting their work force by 50% or more.

teufelhunden

08-21-2009, 02:44 PM

I'm an accountant working for a mid-sized firm in North NJ. Our primary clients are high net worth individuals/families and hedge funds/related entities. We're still hiring, but our raises were absolutely not what they were in the past - about half of what they were last year. Seems like clients are resisting paying us and really trimming back - obviously, a lot of the funds lost a lot of value and a lot of investors.

We're in a pretty affluent area, things seem to be pretty much as usual. Business don't seem to be shuttering at an alarming rate, still plenty of new cars around, etc.

maniacmechanic

08-21-2009, 03:40 PM

I am a heavy equipment , heavy truck & everything else that runs on gas or diesel fuel mechanic , in south florida , still working , 2 years ago I was working 50 to 60hrs a week now i'm down to 40 , 6 months ago I thought our company was ready to fold , probley dropped 60% to 70% of our employees , now things are picking up some , we have rehired probley about 5% back , haven't had a raise in 2 years and not about to ask for one

kevdupuis

08-21-2009, 03:43 PM

I'm a wage slave for Magna Electronics div. designing and building lighting systems for the automotive industry. I have enough seniority that I don't get laid off.

ManInBlack

08-21-2009, 04:29 PM

I sell Dodge, Chrylser, and Jeep vehicles. At least, I would sell them if we had any inventory on our lot. And if there were customers here. With decent credit...

Bah....

Pullman

08-21-2009, 04:40 PM

I teach preschool. Starting my second year. Prior to that I was a stay at home dad for 5 years. Before that I was in school for my second degree in Elementary Ed. Little kids are where it's at. :D It doesn't pay all that well, but the job satisfaction is enormous.

skife

08-22-2009, 03:17 PM

i deliver pizza, tips suck.

i can't find a "real" job around here, everything is paying minium wage.

in fact, there is a factory that just opened in a nearby town that just opened that is building medical equipment they want someone "inspecting and minor assembly" work paying $7.40 an hour, wich is michigan's minimum wage.

its pathetic.

Sumthinwicked

08-22-2009, 03:26 PM

i am a wearhouseman at electric boat we build subs for the navy i make good money to ;)

SCpoloRicker

08-22-2009, 05:05 PM

I work for the internets; so I'm really getting a kick out of a lot of these replies...

bornl33t

08-22-2009, 09:59 PM

Warehouse lead in one of two distribution centers for the Midwest's largest grocery store. They never stop hiring. Around mid 2007 to mid 2008 they had the equivalent of 100% turnover rate. They are currently starting 1-9 FT at 13$ a hour, that said once you are topped out you are done. As a side job I do remodels and occasionally replace windows for Pella windows. This state hasn't really seen a recession like the rest of America. However, politicians are ruining it for every one, the 2010 congressional session will be a fun watch...

gam-e

08-23-2009, 02:47 AM

I am a fuels resource controller for the USAF. The hours are long, but the pay is stable.

Army

08-23-2009, 03:33 AM

I kill people and break things....business is good.

Mongoose

08-23-2009, 08:13 AM

I kill people and break things....business is good.

:cheers: thank you

BobTheCow

08-23-2009, 11:52 AM

I'm a full-time student with two-part time jobs and an internship... kill me?

Shirow

08-23-2009, 12:47 PM

I'm a network engineer for a large ISP, been working there since 2001. Luckily the recession didn't really hit us.

chafnerjr

08-23-2009, 01:19 PM

I'm an IT Coordinator. :ninja:

kutter

08-23-2009, 04:43 PM

Retired

Snake847

08-23-2009, 05:23 PM

I am full-time student finishing my BS in Operations soon. I work full-time as a NDT Specialist, Assistant Operations Manager, Metalurgist for a pressure vessel manufacturer. My hours were cut down to 32 but with 6 months left of school and I could care less. I make good money now and it pays for school.

om3n

08-23-2009, 10:07 PM

I'm a full time student getting a bachlors in computer science while minoring in philosophy, and I work part time at a hospital right now and I deal with medical records.

neppo1345

08-24-2009, 01:58 AM

6 months of being an engineering student at the University of Cincinnati
6 months of being an engineering intern for some airline...can't really remember the name.

'In this economy' the airline industry is in shambles, yet my job is somewhat secure. It's sad when they threaten layoffs to the full timers and then tell the interns they're jobs are safe because they do the same basic work for 1/5 the cost.

This next year is going to be make or break for us; thank God that fuel prices didn't skyrocket this summer.

teufelhunden

08-24-2009, 07:55 AM

Oh, and Thordic, if I ever have a problem with my Mellon HSA I'll give you a call. Thanks!

punkncat

08-24-2009, 08:11 AM

Low Voltage tech, installing everything under 110V. Intercoms, security, CCTV, Cat5/6, access control, you name it.
When the building industry bottomed out, so did we. Combined with my accident, I have not worked an honest day in over two years, and doubt that I will within this industry for the next several, if ever again. Nothing but low paying, entry level jobs hiring around here, and lots of well overqualified people applying for them. A furniture store that just opened in the area had over 1200 applicants for a few dozen positions. At this point, I am not even looking for work. I just do odd jobs and side work every now and again, and try to keep my head above water.

kevdupuis

08-24-2009, 08:56 AM

Things are looking up for me, we just got six contracts with orders to start in November which means we'll be calling back more people and that will bring us up to approx 700 people although it's still well below our peak of 1300 a couple of years ago.

Ando

08-24-2009, 09:22 AM

I'm a Helo Mech working at Andrews AFB. Work for Dyncorp at 1st Helicopter Sq. Working for the Gov has it's perks. Job security. :rolleyes:

Thordic

08-24-2009, 09:38 AM

Oh, and Thordic, if I ever have a problem with my Mellon HSA I'll give you a call. Thanks!

Mellon HSA's are out of Boston, I have one too. You're on your own :)

Little_Ho

08-24-2009, 09:46 AM

Industrial Electrician.... i am taking care that our Million Dollar equipment keeps running and Production is going...

Working for Magna Drive Automotive here in South Carolina. in 07 we had about 1000 Employee`s right now we are down to about 550 but you can see its going a little bit up the Hill.

We making Body Parts for pretty much all major Brand Vehicle. From Freightliner to BMW and Mercedes and so on...

We used to work 7 Days but right now we are on 5 Days and sometimes 6......

vf-xx

08-24-2009, 10:46 AM

Before the recession: I was a maintenance engineer for a plant making plastic.

Now, I'm an application engineer for a pump manufacturer.

H-town is a great place for folks in the Oil-Gas industry. Even in these times.

blake20

08-24-2009, 02:31 PM

Well I'm glad to see that some of you are seeing an uptick in work. I do most of our estimating and purchasing and I have seen a large increas in quoting but not so much in the way of work.

Those of you who have seen an increase in work, do you think it has to do with the stimulus package?? Just a question I thought of after seeing your guys posts.

Blake

Destructo6

08-24-2009, 02:51 PM

Federal Law Enforcement. Job security is pretty good, barring seriously bad decisions as an individual. Getting laid off is non-existant. Hiring regularly. Pay is pretty good, too.

Epic_Scotsman

08-24-2009, 03:44 PM

Student at a CDN Military University uber stable and I get paid!

Flatliner333

08-24-2009, 03:45 PM

I am the NDE Manager for Materials Evaluation & Technology Corporation (METCO) out of Beaumont Tx. We do Destructive and Non Destructive examinations of anything and everything pertaining to the Petrochemical industry. There is alot of competition in this area so our work load has it's ups and downs. Things are a little slow right now, everyone seems to be sitting on their funds waiting to see what is going to happen with the economy and the Oil industry.I feel pretty good about my position cause everyone seems to panic when I go on vacation...that is a good feeling.

vf-xx

08-24-2009, 03:48 PM

gimp

08-24-2009, 07:36 PM

i am a wearhouseman at electric boat we build subs for the navy i make good money to ;)

I'm a test engineer at Pearl Harbor. I just transferred from Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. I test your subs and fix them when they break or run into stuff. They've been trying to cut down on overtime in the past year or so, but I still end up working 100 hour weeks sometimes. It's a good thing I get paid by the hour. :cheers:

chafnerjr

10-17-2009, 05:14 PM

I'm a test engineer at Pearl Harbor. I just transferred from Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. I test your subs and fix them when they break or run into stuff. They've been trying to cut down on overtime in the past year or so, but I still end up working 100 hour weeks sometimes. It's a good thing I get paid by the hour. :cheers:

No kidding! Did you ever play over at OSG? Nice move BTW!

MoeMag

10-17-2009, 06:30 PM

Research and Development mech/aero Engineer for Dillon Precision Products. Currently working on development for our new 50BMG loader and other very large rounds 20mm Vulcan and 14.5x114. Also we have our own line of sunglasses that I have been helping with making the equipment for processing the lenses. Last but not least, every once in a while I get to help out with our ‘other’ product, the Dillon Mini gun. I am either Drawing, inspecting, loading, machining, or blowing stuff up. I love my job.

http://www.dillonprecision.com/
http://www.dillonoptics.com/
http://www.dillonaero.com/

Will Wood

10-17-2009, 09:32 PM

Right now I'm the on again and off again student ... (4th time in school)

Never had a career per se, but I have alway dabbled in the food service (front of house and back) and done a little bit of retail (home depot) and random labor jobs in construction and and landscaping.

getting my education now in hospitality .. hoping to run a restaurant. people always gotta eat.

ZapTheMad

10-18-2009, 07:38 AM

I worked in hydraulics until the lay off. Now I work for you guys!

xX TANK Xx

10-18-2009, 08:56 AM

Furniture Draftsman/ 3D Illustrator for a freelance furniture designer in NC. I use AutoCad to do engineering drawings of furniture designs, and I use Rhino 3D to create 3D models of pieces and render them in Hyershot. Nafta has ruined the furniture industry resulting in the majority of all furniture manufacturing jobs heading to China. I used to be in the Engineering Dept. for Hooker Furniture but saw the writing on the wall and left for where I'm at now. My only saving grace is that we deal directly with Chinese factories and Furniture Distributors that deal directly with Chinese Factories as well. I haven't had a raise in about 2 1/2 years, but thank God I'm working epecially in this area. I live in southern VA and commute to NC. Unemployment here was around 18%+, I quit looking to keep from getting upset about the situatuion. Like I said before though, just thankful to be working since my wife and I are expecting our first child. :)

SSP REAPER

10-18-2009, 10:29 AM

Parts Specialist at a motorcycle dealership. Home Remodeling on the side and also currently own a small paintball business.

Check it out!
www.silentstalkerspaintball.com

Ebbed

10-18-2009, 11:46 AM

I was trained as an industrial mechanic through St. Clair College here in Windsor, Ontario. After bouncing around for a few years with my diploma I landed a job for a worldwide robotic welding company as a Quality Assurance Tech. I work in their small components division. They recently sent me to their special machinery division to help machine some tooling but I’m back at my post in QC making sure everything’s up to snuff.
Here is their site:
http://www.cntrline.com/index.htm

If you go to company info, then product literature the PDF files are some of our catalogs.

psychowarden

10-18-2009, 05:10 PM

I'm a salesman for Verizon Wireless. I sell phones, and I'm damn good at it lol. Money isn't great, but it's not bad for a 20yr old, making about $35k a year.

maniacmechanic

10-18-2009, 05:43 PM

I'm a salesman for Verizon Wireless. I sell phones, and I'm damn good at it lol. Money isn't great, but it's not bad for a 20yr old, making about $35k a year.

I've allways wondered what a guy with a screen name like that did for a livin :rolleyes:

fishmishin

10-18-2009, 10:10 PM

Well I did low voltage structural wiring, home automation, and high end home theater until last summer. I was laid off in June when the housing market skidded to a halt here in Hampton Roads. I did some side work and helped with the CCTV rebuild here at the local Walmart last fall and then didn't work much until after Christmas. Thankfully I was able to work 7 12's for the Walmart gig and saved up enough to pull of a good Christmas for my 3 kids. I lucked up and the guy who owned the company didn't have anyone with experience so he paid me well. Took over running the local paintball store for the company that I worked for when I first started playing paintball in the 90's. I have been there ever since, working 30 hrs a week. The pay sucks but it is steady and I like the job. Since I work in the evenings I am looking to get back in school and start to work towards a degree in engineering. I still do some structural wiring for a buddy, I have done 6 houses this year, which isn't many but it is better than none. I do home repairs also from complete roofs to minor electrical repairs, and just about everything in between. Last but not least I work as a stagehand for Live Nation setting up for shows in the area, the pay sucks but I'm not in the position to turn money away. All in all things are really slow in the area but are slowly picking up, and I mean slowly. My only hope is that we can nail down a location for a new field so I can become a full time employee, and make better money plus still be able to go to school.

I am glad to see so many of you out there that have been able to keep working at you jobs. I have seen many of my friends here loose so much from being laid off. To everybody who hasn't done so well, hang in there, keep your head up, and it will get better eventually. Sometimes it just takes awhile.

psychowarden

10-18-2009, 10:34 PM

I've allways wondered what a guy with a screen name like that did for a livin :rolleyes:

Lol, came from a video game I use to play alot a few years ago.

1stTarget

10-19-2009, 09:18 AM

I am retired. But I do"work" as a School Crossing Guard.

Big'n slo

10-19-2009, 09:42 AM

IT/CADD/GIS/Survey Coordinator

//<-space reserved for the next round of layoffs..

skife

10-22-2009, 07:10 AM

i do random stuff. its hard in michigan to find a decent job with no experience.

right now its;
delivering pizza
assembling electronic components
setting up party tents
selling scrap metal

pretty much doing what i can to turn a buck.

buddy of mine is a freelance mechanic.

Spazmok

10-22-2009, 11:38 AM

paintball field manager (www.infinitepaintball.ca)
graphic/web designer (current side-business) / apparel designer/custom jerseys (launching Jan 2010)

TeaQue

11-03-2009, 08:34 PM

I'm a copier technician for Toshiba.

Always been good at fixing things I guess, not a bad job for now but at only 25 I know I don't want to do this forever.

gimp

11-11-2009, 07:51 PM

No kidding! Did you ever play over at OSG? Nice move BTW!

Yeah, I played there a bunch. The name on my jersey was Pitts. I think we met last summer. You were testing out your cerebrus framed pneumag.

Dend78

11-11-2009, 08:51 PM

yup Electrical Drafter/Draftsman and umm well its 9pm and im still working so yeah work is going pretty good right now WHO LOVES OT? :dance:

Ratt

11-11-2009, 10:29 PM

Still active duty, USN. Currently, I am working as the Asst. Security Manager for the Navy at White Sands Missile Range. After little over 17 years in the Navy, this is my first real shore duty station. And shore duty is good. A little less than 3 years to go 'til retirement. Hopefully, when I retire, I will be doing the same job, but getting paid more than twice what I am making now. If that is the case, I may become a permanent Desert Rat...

ahellers

11-12-2009, 01:34 AM

US Coast Guard Cutter Munro, Kodiak AK.
Im doing pretty well considering Im living on an island in Alaska, and am underway 6 months out of the year...
ICY MIST RESCUE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6Wg_7Kn5CA&feature=PlayList&p=A636D764103828AE&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=11)

this was a case from our patrol before last. you can hear me keeping comms with the C130 at the end of the video.

t

blackjanuary

12-03-2009, 11:14 AM

Freight Broker, if you need anything moved, flatbed, 53 van, stepdeck, whatever it is i can move it for cheap and i can promise better customer service than anyone else. Better rates than anyone else....sorry just had to try to get more business, give me a msg if you need anything for your company :)

teufelhunden

12-03-2009, 11:17 AM

TwilightG

12-03-2009, 11:24 AM

Software Engineer

Hook

12-03-2009, 11:58 AM

I'm a technical and administrative translator working for Canada's largest wireline telephone company. While the telephony business is a cutthroat, highly competitive market where cable providers currently have the upper hand in the service provider war, the translation field is a thriving sector where demand far exceeds offer.

If more workforce cuts were made in my workplace, I feel confident that I could easily find work in the translation field for another company.

Many people find that linguistics is a uninteresting field, but I really enjoy it. It's the type of work where I learn new things on a daily basis, be it in the text that I'm translating, or by keeping abreast with what's going on in the linguistics field.

Old School 626

12-03-2009, 02:36 PM

I'm an internal consultant for a fortune 500 US manufacturing company. The project I am working on has been deemed to be a mission critical priority so I've been pretty busy and 2010 will be even busier.

Prior to this gig I was a Materials Manager (Supply Chain Manager) running a factory in So Cal. We closed the factory last year and consolidated the production volume in the other two US manufacturing sites.

What I've seen from my various client groups is that business seems to be either dead slow or frantic but overall still down year-on-year. Given the nature of the products we produce, assemblies and raw materials for others to further add value to it indicates that business is picking up but producers are not willing to invest in inventory. The whipsaw effect on the supply chain is likely to go on until producers are willing to invest in the inventory to decouple supply and demand. Of those facilities that had lay offs most have hired back at least some of the RIF'd workforce but we're still a long way off from first half 2009 numbers.

rawbutter

12-03-2009, 03:23 PM

I'm a salesman for Verizon Wireless. I sell phones, and I'm damn good at it lol. Money isn't great, but it's not bad for a 20yr old, making about $35k a year.

In my book, that's good money. I make less than $40k a year as a high school teacher, and that's AFTER four years of college and $25k in loans. :mad: I need to find a new job.

RavishingEddie

12-03-2009, 11:02 PM

I work in the broadcast industry as a field engineer for a Japanese company called NTT. The US branch is based in north New Jersey and I had to move here from California in early 07, before the recession hit full blast. I feel like I dodged a major bullet. :eek:
My industry has been hit, but not as severely as all the others. Fortunately, I work for an overseas company so we are funded a little better and as long as there are people watching television, this industry will continue to grow ;)

blackjanuary

12-04-2009, 11:36 AM

can you do bodies?

PM me......jk :rofl:

robo1

12-04-2009, 11:36 AM

Im the Walmart photo guy. I sell cameras, develope pictures, and keep those big printers running. No, it doesnt pay well, but I have great customers and love what I do.

El Camino

12-04-2009, 03:24 PM

I'm unemployed, after 36 years of bending wrenches on foreign/domestic cars, light duty/medium duty trucks, gas and diesel. Three years ago I had both knees replaced, and the doctors said to get a new job (easy for them to say). Very slow recovery, all over muscle pain and weakness, I couldn't even lift a 5lb hammer, one doctor told me I just needed to exercise.(quack) :mad: Seven months ago, I stop taken all my meds and found two of my pills was the cause of my problems. Now, slowly getting back in shape, I hope to find a job after the first of the year, and I'll be damn glad to work for minimum wage, actually, I just be glad to work. Well that's my story in a nut shell.

duadare8

12-07-2009, 06:54 PM

Senior Corrections Officer. We get a lot of repeat customers, so the future outlooks for this career are promising.

d4m4don3

12-09-2009, 12:36 PM

I work on copiers, laser printers, and the occasional desktop/laptop/pc/server.

chopper duke

12-09-2009, 05:15 PM

I'm unemployed and have been since the end of April. Can't find a decent job to save my life. A Buffalo Wild Winds opened up and they had over 1000 applicants for the 100 or so jobs. It's a college town as well, so that doesn't help.

I've spent many years in LE and in IT work. I was most recently a Wireless Network Tech. I've tried a few LE agencies and keep hitting brick walls. I took an entry test for one agency this past Sat and they're not looking to hire until the end of March. Yes, three more months. My UE is about to run out and I'm not closer to a job than I was in May. I'm supposed to talk with a Sheriff of one of the counties here, but I can't get anyone to contact me back.

Oh well, meeting with the recruiter for the Air National Guard a week from today.

suaze

12-09-2009, 05:46 PM

Production scheduler & inventory control at a plastics injection molder. It's nice having a machine shop in house for my paintball projects.

ntn4502

12-09-2009, 09:43 PM

Environmental consultant out of Columbus, OH. I love the job, its a nice combination of office and field work, plus I get to actually use my degree. The pay is awesome, and they have never downsized in the 35 years since startup. I'm pretty content

Hexis

12-09-2009, 10:08 PM

DoubleDutch

12-10-2009, 01:06 PM

"Senior Solutions Consultant" at a large CAD/CAM/CAE software firm. I customize our software offerings for specific customer needs, mostly through programming. I get to work from home most of the time, that is a nice perk. No layoffs, but there is a hiring and salary freeze. It's my 10th year with the company, which is unusual in this industry (people jump around a lot, or used to at least).

bofh

12-10-2009, 02:25 PM

IT consultant for a family owner Pharma company in NJ.

We just disbanded our entire research arm in the US. 80 some odd people from a kinda small company.

kevdupuis

12-11-2009, 04:25 PM

Production scheduler & inventory control at a plastics injection molder. It's nice having a machine shop in house for my paintball projects.

It's nice to see someone else in injection moulding, I spent quite a few years moulding lighting components before transferring to the assembly side of operations.
Currently I'm on the GMX 231 program (Impala).

MANN

12-11-2009, 06:04 PM

Im the Walmart photo guy. I sell cameras, develope pictures, and keep those big printers running. No, it doesnt pay well, but I have great customers and love what I do.

I sorta have a bone to pick with you...well not you, but your boss... or maybe your boss's boss. Apparently Walmart is no longer going to offer 1hr photo on 35mm film. What is the deal with this? Have that many people gone digital? I never print my digital photos.

robo1

12-11-2009, 07:41 PM

I sorta have a bone to pick with you...well not you, but your boss... or maybe your boss's boss. Apparently Walmart is no longer going to offer 1hr photo on 35mm film. What is the deal with this? Have that many people gone digital? I never print my digital photos.
If a lab doesnt average 15 rolls per day, it gets converted to a dry lab. No film processing, and the actual photos are done on a giant inkjet printer.

Swampy

12-26-2009, 08:30 AM

Landscape Contractor - Own Landscape Engineering Services. Employ 6 full time staff including myself, up to 15 this winter but was lucky to exceed last year's $450K. Business is slow but still trucking alone, now offering a ton of new services, even offering 3rd shift parking lot cleaning but still looking to expand next year to 8 full time employee's, need a sales manager and a Horticulturist.

The work is there you just have to find it. Like this past year I got called to rebuild a 300ft shoreline. Had no clue, a few phone calls, some research, a permit from the DNR, and off to build. I could have just turned it down and stuck with something I'm good with but the offer was there so I took it.

eelz

12-31-2009, 08:54 PM

I work for Caparo steel products in the wire drawing sector producing steel wire for the bedding companies producing springs....

sleep well peeps.

http://www.caparo-wire.co.uk/

and this is our 'boss'

http://www.birminghampost.net/birmingham-business/richlist/richlist09/2009/01/20/4-2-lord-paul-of-marylebone-and-family-1-5bn-1-5bn-65233-22734779/