We've known each other for a while now
but I still don't know what half of you do in between procrastinating on here.

So tell me Otters, what do you do for a living? And how far removed is it from what you wanted to do when you were a kid? Do you like it?

I'm the office manager for a firm of solicitors. It sucks balls. I wanted to be a vet when I was a kid, but then I realised I just don't get science. I also did two thirds of a law degree, but it was boring.

Alt Q: When's the last time you did a cartwheel? I can't do them, so my answer is never.
( Kitty v1.0 desperately naive, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 8:42, 94 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

I do software support for a specific application to property management.
It's a great job, and I get to travel.

When I was going through school (ASU), I majored in International Economics, but as a child I aspired to be....a rockstar.

Alt: Could never cartwheel, I have the co-ordination and dexterity of a disabled midget using chopsticks while trying to give the finger with the other hand. Cartwheels? More chance of me birthing a cow than that.
(nolongernuts, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 8:46, Reply)

What's the majoring thing in America?
I've never understood it. Do you major in one subject and then do lots of other subjects half-heartedly?
( Kitty v1.0 desperately naive, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 8:49, Reply)

Your major is your chosen subect, and then you get the option of doing a minor. My minor was business administration.
Essentially, it's all one degree with an added bonus. I'm not sure how it compares to your universities - anybody got more insight?
(nolongernuts, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 8:52, Reply)

I think they have a similar thing
I remember one of my friends doing Psychology for his degree but with a sideline in American Politics. When he arrived at the uni they'd accidentally put him in Japanese, it was funny.
( Kitty v1.0 desperately naive, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 8:53, Reply)

I last did one (a cartwheel) about 3 months ago
also - I've applied to study Biomedical science. Really hoping I get in!
(Poppet some assembly required., Wed 11 Aug 2010, 8:47, Reply)

ooh sounds clever
what sort of jobs will that lead to? What do you want to do?

There are adverts in a couple of newspapers over here enticing people to go over to Aus to be koala catchers, penguin house-builders and shark taggers. Want. Except the shark one. Sharks can fuck off.
( Kitty v1.0 desperately naive, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 8:50, Reply)

they totally want engineers in australia
me and the mrs could easily get jobs there. shame I have no desire to move to australia at all.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:02, Reply)

Vipros, meet Wiggy, you can both fuck off to Canada together.

( Kitty v1.0 desperately naive, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:05, Reply)

naa, I like it here
the weather suits me
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:07, Reply)

mate if you lived where I live the weather will suit you just fine.

(Poppet some assembly required., Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:09, Reply)

but.....spiders!

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:13, Reply)

well it'll make me basically a Pathologist (the person who runs all the tests on samples taken from patients)
and if I get high enough marks, I can go on to study medicine at the same university to become a doctor. :)
Or I could go into medical or university based research.
(Poppet some assembly required., Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:07, Reply)

aww I'm jealous of your foresight in getting a real career
it took me 24 years to realise what I wanted to do and it's such a bollocks subject.
( Kitty v1.0 desperately naive, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:14, Reply)

I did biomedical science
And I did a placement in the big regional hospital shadowing a pathologist (although they're called biomedical scientists over here, a pathologist is something different) and it bored me to tears. Hence why I'm working in academia in a research lab - it's so much more fun. But each to their own, you may love working in a hospital. But I really can't stress this enough, GET YOURSELF SOME WORK EXPERIENCE. Even if you have to do it for free. It makes you much more attractive to potential employers and gives you a much better idea of what various jobs entail and you might change your mind entirely about what you want to do - when I started at uni I thought I wanted to work in a hospital. I really, really didn't, as it turns out.
(berk, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:44, Reply)

the university I've listed as my first preference has work placements as part of the requirements of 3rd year.
can't wait! so so excited.
(Poppet some assembly required., Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:54, Reply)

I'm a research scientist
working in cancer genetics. And nope, this is pretty much what I always wanted to be.
I don't think I've ever done a cartwheel properly, and I stopped trying after my wrist gave way once and I faceplanted mid-turn.
(berk, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 8:48, Reply)

Uhoh, you're probably mean to rats aren't you?
My rat has the snuffles, he sounds like a squeaky toy.

That's pretty much what happens when I cartwheel, my wrists are limper than Crow's so I'm shite at cartwheels, handstands and the drums.
( Kitty v1.0 desperately naive, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 8:52, Reply)

No, I'm not
I don't work with any animals at all. There's not as much animal testing goes on as the general public seem to think.
(berk, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:46, Reply)

yay :D
This makes me happy. I just assumed with it being cancer and shit, makes me think of earmouse.
( Kitty v1.0 desperately naive, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:50, Reply)

Do you work with white mice and get rats to run around mazes all day?
Genuine question.
(nolongernuts, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 8:54, Reply)

Nope
as it's quite hard to make rodents running around mazes in to a cure for cancer.
(berk, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:47, Reply)

Im training to be a Primary School teacher
spent ten years in sales after leaving school and hated 8 of them. Always had fun with kids (in a non Jacko way) and want to spend my day with them as they are ace. So at Uni now, 3 years to go and I'll graduate as a 31 year old!!!

When I was a kid I wanted to be a lawyer or on the radio.

Cartwheels are for fit people and children.
( SteveFrench Cardio is for homo's. do you even lift bro?, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 8:52, Reply)

A lot of my friends have retrained as teachers, I keep hearing the letters PGCE thrown around
those who can, do... etc.
( Kitty v1.0 desperately naive, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 8:54, Reply)

pgce is fucking hard
I've opted for the easy degree. Stop being mean before i've even got out of bed!!
( SteveFrench Cardio is for homo's. do you even lift bro?, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 8:57, Reply)

seriously? I thought the PGCE was a piece of piss
which is why everyone I know has decided to do one having failed to find careers related to their degrees. But I haven't actually done it myself so I shouldn't really judge. I'm going to anyway though.
( Kitty v1.0 desperately naive, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:00, Reply)

you just write off your life for a year
it's a gargantuan amount of work. Three years of content and practical work in 10 months. I'm getting up now so be as evil as you like. *prays for hot water*
( SteveFrench Cardio is for homo's. do you even lift bro?, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:02, Reply)

I've been up since 6 working on my degree, now I'm in the office.
so I laugh at your complaints.
( Kitty v1.0 desperately naive, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:06, Reply)

you're my hero.

( SteveFrench Cardio is for homo's. do you even lift bro?, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:21, Reply)

I'm many people's hero
it's a burden more than anything.
( Kitty v1.0 desperately naive, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:23, Reply)

I may start a new religion
how would you feel about being a deity to literally tens of people!!!!
( SteveFrench Cardio is for homo's. do you even lift bro?, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:42, Reply)

it's been done on here before
old news punk.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:47, Reply)

In that case balls to it. I will be God!!!!

( SteveFrench Cardio is for homo's. do you even lift bro?, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:51, Reply)

Library bird 9-5, barmaid once a week, quizmistress another once a week.
I think I'm cartwheeling but I'm not.
I'm doing a three point turn wheelbarrow.
What is happening in my mind is not what people actually see.
In my mind there is a perfect arc as my legs slice through the air like sexy knives through sexy butter, but apparently I'm doing a Matrix version of a squat.
( Roota zweeeeeoooooowm, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 8:55, Reply)

haha me too! I thought I was cartwheeling until my friend pointed out that I'm just putting my hands on the floor whilst I jump half a foot to the right
Ooh library bird sounds fun, although I know you hate it so I guess it's not like being Rachel Weisz in The Mummy.
( Kitty v1.0 desperately naive, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 8:57, Reply)

I used to love it
I'm just working on a really shitty boring project at the moment and it's nearing its end so I'm suicidal.
I love it when the new stoodents arrive and we get to do all the welcomes and show the bright schoolkids "This might be your library one day..."
( Roota zweeeeeoooooowm, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 8:59, Reply)

I'm a computer science lecturer.
When I was a kid I wanted to be an archaeologist so I became one of those first. No future in it. Career was in ruins. Etc.
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 8:57, Reply)

that's really cool, how come you jacked in the archaelogy, all puns aside?
I guess it's not as much like being Indiana Jones as one would like to think. Although you probably do have a whip.

I couldn't be a lecturer, I like my work to involve as few other people as possible. My CV says "works well in a team", just one of the many lies.
( Kitty v1.0 desperately naive, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 8:59, Reply)

There really were limited options in archaeology.
I was working on rescue excavations all round the country. No sick pay, no holiday pay, no union. To get job security you needed to specialise so I decided to specialise in computers.

I love archaeology. My research still includes it but I don't get to dig much any more and I miss that.
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:02, Reply)

You get to dig poo out of a babys bottom

(Bazongaloid, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:03, Reply)

ew
too early Al. Too early.
( Kitty v1.0 desperately naive, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:06, Reply)

I am actually astonished at how my happiness now depends on someone's bowel movements.
Not quite at scat level yet though.
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:11, Reply)

when you find yourself writing about it in your facebook status
back...away...from...the PC
( Kitty v1.0 desperately naive, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:15, Reply)

"She did two poos today and one of them was really runny!!!111!!!eleventyone!! lol Good girl!!"

( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:17, Reply)

You've been on mumsnet haven't you.
Have you been unreasonable by having sex while the baby is in the room?
(Bazongaloid, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:20, Reply)

Good lord, I don't have to have sex for at least another two months!

( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:22, Reply)

I'm sure Catface is glad to know you keep a close eye on his movements.
How is the little fuzzy one? And how is the baby?
(Bazongaloid, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:15, Reply)

Both are full of shit.
I love them anyway.
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:16, Reply)

Awwwww

(Bazongaloid, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:20, Reply)

Worryingly, I have become really fucking hormonally pathetic since giving birth.
I do not like this weak, placid state. I watch the news and it's horrible and people are mean or dying or both and I feel an overwhelming urge to protect my child from the awful world. I want my cynicism back.

Alternatively, I would like a news channel devoted entirely to penguins. Happy news. Headlines like "today, a penguin was rescued by a puppy" - and then there'd be a montage of penguins and puppies and Jon Snow smiling happily at the camera. I could raise a child in that world.
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:21, Reply)

You must really dig history to be an archaeologist

(PsychoChomp, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:06, Reply)

Nah, it's a load of old crap.

( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:13, Reply)

I've got a chum who has a degree in archaeology.
But he now works for the highways agency writing letters to people, telling them to fuck off, the road they are talking about is owned by the council.

He hates his job, but loves the flexitime.
( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:13, Reply)

He hates his job?
Getting to write letters telling people to fuck off? That'd be, like, my second dream job.
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:16, Reply)

He is a confirmed under achiever, and he is forced to do this work
because his bosses are all unable to write a decent letter.
( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:20, Reply)

Civil Engineer
specialising in coastal and rivers stuff, mainly flood modelling.

can't do cartwheels, too much of a lolfatty
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 8:59, Reply)

You've got just the figure for flood modelling
I do blizzards myself.
( Roota zweeeeeoooooowm, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 8:59, Reply)

:-D

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:01, Reply)

I work for the NHS diagnosing autism.

(PsychoChomp, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:00, Reply)

This will save us all a lot of time and trouble
www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-10929032
(Bazongaloid, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:02, Reply)

I read that,
I wonder how many people have worked out how many seconds it'll be before they can get the test themselves.
(PsychoChomp, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:04, Reply)

Wiggy made me do an online test for ADHD
the internet says I don't have it, so ha.
( Kitty v1.0 desperately naive, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:10, Reply)

Well if the internet says it...

(PsychoChomp, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:12, Reply)

the internet wouldn't lie...
...would it?
( Kitty v1.0 desperately naive, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:18, Reply)

KITTY IS A SLAG

(PsychoChomp, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:30, Reply)

harsh and uncalled for

( Kitty v1.0 desperately naive, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:36, Reply)

I tried one of them once
but got distracted and didn't finish it.
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:19, Reply)

Physician, heal thyself.

( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:02, Reply)

By spending all day looking in a mirror.

( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:02, Reply)

work for the NHS diagnosing
(Bret Mong Keys Eggs has wet his weapon, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:02, Reply)

There's some
^
|
|
|
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:03, Reply)

Electrical engineer
Designing control systems for buildings, mostly.

Cartwheels, I don't think so.
( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:05, Reply)

My job title is Internal Liason Manager, which means nothing
I work in data manipulation, I'm responsible for checking any and all data that is to be thermalled/embossed onto cards in my company. We mainly do loyalty cards, casino cards, that sort of stuff. I'm also training in networking, mainly self taught so far though.

Alt Q: I couldn't ever do a proper one, and it's still been a few years since I tried.
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:06, Reply)

I think we should have a mass cartwheel attempt at the next bash.
I hear it's going to be hosted in Milton Keynes by some autism.
( Kitty v1.0 desperately naive, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:08, Reply)

Likelihood of someone getting kicked in the face?

( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:28, Reply)

moderate or good

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:48, Reply)

If it doesn't happen through cartwheeling
I'll just go and start kicking people in the face.
( Kitty v1.0 desperately naive, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:49, Reply)

that's my girl

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 9:50, Reply)

any info on this
and can non b3tans attend??
(Purpledoris I've got afeckin' job, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 11:29, Reply)

I run an internet/catalogue retail operation
You are looking at the king of unfulfilled potential right here.

I wanted to be a Viking as a boy, so not quite what I had in mind...
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 10:32, Reply)

I'm a Senior Digital Forensic Analyst
I mainly go through computers that have been seized by the Police and look for evidence. It's fairly interesting, but I'm getting bored of it.

As a kid I wanted to be a helicopter pilot, preferably an Apache helicopter. The closes I've come to that was flying from Nice to Monaco in a chopper, which was ace fun!
( Labia Majora You keep on talking but it makes no sense at all, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 10:38, Reply)

i am a multidisciplinary design/photo/video monkey
i work for a high street fashion brand and have decided i loathe fashion and it's accompanying sycophantic cliquey wastrels, and want to gtfo and do something more fun.
hopefully soon i'll be able to agency/freelance/whatever and work on more than one fecking brand.
(UppityDamnPrimate LET'S OPEN THIS F*CKING PIT UP, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 10:52, Reply)

I'm a sticky-tape salesman!
No, seriously, I am! Mainly working in the automotive and medical fields although I've been dabbling in new building methods for the third world.
(Captain Placid 24/7 ball gags, brownie mix and clown porn, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 12:18, Reply)

I work in a box factory
Which I bet no one knew.

(My actual job title is Sales Co-ordinator and I have to look after idiot customers and idiot sales reps. It's all very interestzzZZZZZzzz)
( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 12:27, Reply)

English lecturer in a university
with a sideline editing a small magazine and some freelance writing.

When I was a child I wanted to be a journalist so I'm not too far off.

Can't cartwheel, never could.
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Wed 11 Aug 2010, 14:47, Reply)