Boring Job

[Langley Cruisers]

I once met a guy (not on a cruise) that is a county employee, and his job is to go out and pick up road kill. Now that's definitely NOT something you'd want to discuss with tablemates on a cruise, whether anyone thought it was an interesting job or not.:eek:

 

Really? Well there you go as I disagree! I've often wondered about the how and when of critter carcass removal. :)

[spookwife]

In your shoes, I would be tempted to say "I'm a tax collector for the IRS. Did you know, I'm actually getting paid to come on this cruise, because of the large number of passengers who don't report their casino winnings." Then when the conversation fades to horrified silence and everyone at the table looks shifty, I would say, "No, I'm really a chemist!" :D

 

actually, of our dinner companions last week.. one WAS a tax collector for the IRS.. she actually first demurred when asked her occupation but the other couple at the table started making random( and some outrageous) guesses. she simply started by saying she didn't want to ruin everyone's cruise.

 

 

we all got a laugh by the time coffee came round and she admitted it. was never mentioned again.

[Fredr]

This is a good thread and highlights one of many reasons why I enjoy cruising. I have the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life and many of whom have interesting careers...and a sense of humor.

 

As for me, I am a retired civil servant, and yes, I was both civil and a servant of the public. I am very proud of my career. However, there are some out there who believe that the only worthwhile people are those who were in the private sector or the professions. And sometimes I had to defend not only my work but government service generally. I didn't mind this so long as the conversation was reasonable and friendly but sadly there were a few rare times when I simply shut down and concentrated on the plate before me.

 

So, on cruises I tell them about my second career...part time and for fun, is a substitute teacher. And to the Chemist who started this thread, thank you for your post and you should know that your work is an exceptionally important one.

[DDWW]

I'm a Civil Engineer. Most of the time I say that my one main career goal, is to retire and not to be featured on the TV show, Engineering Disasters!

So far, so good.

 

You can start off saying you work for the CSI Unit of (major city). You are in the Mattress Tag Division that investigates when people remove their mattress tags that say ‘do not remove under penalty of law!”

 

DDWW

[caribsun]

This is a fun thread to read and I just would like you know how I and the rest of our polymer (plastic) team has brought "good things to your life".

My company produces the polymer and sells the raw polymer to other companies to mold into a finished product.

Some products like, car fenders and bumpers, tv housings, plastic eyeglass lens, bullet proof plastic, stealth coatings, microwavable containers, etc.

The applications are endless and the projects I have worked on have reach your home I'm sure.:)

[SnowshoeCat]

This is a fun thread to read and I just would like you know how I and the rest of our polymer (plastic) team has brought "good things to your life".

My company produces the polymer and sells the raw polymer to other companies to mold into a finished product.

Some products like, car fenders and bumpers, tv housings, plastic eyeglass lens, bullet proof plastic, stealth coatings, microwavable containers, etc.

The applications are endless and the projects I have worked on have reach your home I'm sure.:)

 

Perfect! See, I was going to suggest that instead of just saying you are a chemist, embellish it with a little information on what you actually do (e.g research or teaching). I have a friend in polymer science and last I heard from him, he was working on dashboards. We can relate to that ;) Not boring at all.

[Hstergo]

If I saw someone I thought was on tv or in movies, I wouldn't ask them anything, assuming they were on vacation and wouldn't want to be bothered.

 

I don't mind it ... it even happens in line at the grocery store

[feathersandnananose]

He's retired now, but my husband - with his doctorate in physics - worked for an aerospace company and sometimes on classified projects, so he was not supposed to say anything about what he did.

 

I thought this was pretty silly, because it would have been easy to talk about the interesting BASIC stuff. The rest would be so far above any of our heads - -- I typed his doctorate: "The Effects of Line-Tying on Cross-Field Plasma Convection". Huh?

 

In Ireland, someone asked him what he did, so he gave a generic (dumb, dumb) answer, "I'm an engineer." Of course, the response was, "Me too! What kind of engineer......" I just turned and looked at him, waiting for his exciting back-pedaling....

 

For what it's worth, I've been to a physics conference, and physicists can be the most charming, human, funny people! Do NOT be afraid of scientists. They're actually pretty wonderful!

[jocap]

My late husband was a priest in the Church of England. He always tried to avoid disclosing this to our table companions because it was a complete conversation stopper. People always immediately felt that they had to be really careful what they said, which wasn't the case at all from his point of view.

This is the one we avoid, too....my OH is retired, but still working for the C of E during interregnums.... We normally say that we're both involved in teaching....;)

Have a wonderful time on Azura, by the way. I've only been on her for the night of the naming ceremony, but we loved her, and like to travel on her twin, Ventura, too.:)

Jo.

[CFD130]

I am a funeral director- that gets a very wide range of responses and questions LOL

[Magnetchief]

He's retired now, but my husband - with his doctorate in physics - worked for an aerospace company and sometimes on classified projects, so he was not supposed to say anything about what he did.

 

In Ireland, someone asked him what he did, so he gave a generic (dumb, dumb) answer, "I'm an engineer."

 

 

Lol that's so funny. I have the same issue. I work in research mostly funded by DOD or DOE.

I tell people I am an engineer all the time.

Now I'm reconsidering. Maybe I could be a garbage collector :)

[circuitrider]

I'm a stay at home dad. So I'm often asked if I'm currently looking for work.

 

And when you said chemist...I (wrongly) assumed you meant a pharmacist. I'd probably be an idiot and ask a wrong question (like do you work at a small pharmacy or a chain, or something completely irrelevant to your actual work).

[Northerncheapo]

I've been known to not admit that I am a teacher (depending on age of the people). I get very sick of "must be nice to work 9 months of the year and get paid for 12" or worse, parents asking advice about school problems.

 

I wish I was smart enough to be a chemist.

[michmike]

Really? Well there you go as I disagree! I've often wondered about the how and when of critter carcass removal. :)

 

When my son was about 6 or 7 he asked me as we drove down a rural highway, what happened to the dead animals on the side of the road. He shared that he had noticed they would be there one day and then a few days later if you traveled the same road, they had disappeared.

 

I kept my straightest face and asked him "have you ever had a burrito?"

 

Now at 32 he still asks me if I'm in the mood for burritos when we see some flattened fauna.

[johneeo]

I've been known to not admit that I am a teacher (depending on age of the people). I get very sick of "must be nice to work 9 months of the year and get paid for 12"

 

You poor thing. That must be awful.

 

We require our teachers in PA to work 180 days a year.:eek:

[I_heart_vaca]

Our group had fun meeting new people as we don't mind telling people what we do....I'm an event planner, one of us works in movies (production not on screen) and one of us worked for Princess Cruises - always a good story and good laugh to be had!

[ferfoodle]

you COULD tell folks that you're just a chemist... BUT you work for the Medellin Cartel in their drug labs *L*

 

 

I typically get some strange looks when I tell folks that I spent the last 35 yrs in jail and prison.....but then add that that was only as an employee (running correctional kitchens).

 

Serving that life sentence 8 hours at a time... Cuts down on those annoying phone messages when your voicemail says "if you get this message, I am still in prison, but go ahead and leave your name and number and I will get back with you when I get out.";)

[sammamishcruiser]

What a great topic!:) Funny story - My late dad was a chemist. He showed up at my wedding with black hands!!! from doing some kind of lab work, don't remember what probably because I was so MAD at him! LOL! Looks great it the pictures, though, made for interesting conversation!

 

BTW, I am a Florist and my DH is a Lawyer. Really not too interesting;)

Melody:D

[EdmPair]

I work as locksmith with mix of clients. To support the security of my clients, I can not freely talk of the most interesting projects I have seen. But even generic lock talk is good. Past life as science teacher mens I can relate to chemists, but the again, I know some of it.

 

Partner is musician and if you like OLD music he can talk. Guess he does well with prog rock too.

 

Good thread. But why does conversation have to always flow? If it doesn't, move on.

[Stratus22]

I like telling people I just got out of prison and see the reaction on their face! I get a lot of :eek:! Some people actually ask me what I was in for! I ask them if they see my husband standing next to me ;)

[DizzyDallasDi]

In your shoes, I would be tempted to say "I'm a tax collector for the IRS. Did you know, I'm actually getting paid to come on this cruise, because of the large number of passengers who don't report their casino winnings."

 

That wouldn't scare me in the least. Casino winnings? What is that? :D

[Travelcat2]

IMO, talking about what you do/did for a living or how many children you have is fairly boring. We enjoy talking about cruises and/or vacations all of us have taken. After the first day on board, discussions change to what you did in port that day and what you'll be doing in the morning.

[Erik101]

I guess I have a boring job, I'm a chemist. At dinner or when meeting others when the topic of what you do for a living I get a blank stare or a response of Ohhh. :p No disrespect but if you are a used car salesman or sanitation worker the give and go in the discussion goes on and on. I just get a blank stare. :D

Do others find your occupation boring or interesting. :)

 

I can honestly say that I sometimes wish I was in your shoes so when I tell someone what my job is, the story ends...next subject! But I'm a critical care nurse and I will admit that I do like the respect that I get. As another poster has mentioned because he/she is in the medical field, the topic gets its attention because health is what some people on the table want to talk about. When I was on the Navigator of the Seas during lunch at the MDR, we shared a table with a family and when the wife found out as to my occupation, she told her husband that she's glad someone was at the table to look after them in case something goes wrong.

 

What I wanted to tell her that if their health was endangered, I'll ask the staff to call the ships healthcare team but I didn't say anything and glad that no one at the table had a heart attack, stroke, seizure or stopped breathing. Let's just put it this way, when cruising I'm on vacation and the only job I want to do is have fun!

[Sinppu]

I come from a country that has only two casinos so when I say I'm a croupier I also get blank stares. When I tell them I'm the person dealing the poker or black jack cards and spinning the wheel in roulette, they understand.

 

People from countries with more gambling understand right away.

 

Then there is only two thing to be said after that: "What is the biggest amount anyone has ever won?" and "You must know a lot of ways to cheat!" :eek::rolleyes::D

[5326jan]

If you really want to see the blank stare, tell them you're a homemaker. :rolleyes: Seriously, what is more boring than that? The best thing about this occupation is that you can always get time off for a cruise!:D