As promised, I’ve brought this post to the top.
On June 1st, I asked our readers the question – “What is your primary occupation?”
(Physicist and engineer) Ed Minchau collated the 633 responses as of 1:46 am, June 3rd. Do read the whole thread – many of our readers have multiple or specialized fields of expertise that general categories don’t quite do justice to.
engineers: 61
computer programmers/consultants/systems analysts: 47
management: 46
military: 36
educators: 31
scientists: 28
small business: 28
technicians/technologists: 27
accountants/bookkeepers/economists/taxation/insurance: 24
construction/electricians/plumbers/carpenters/contractors: 23
financiers/brokers/bankers: 21
farmer/rancher/cowboy/agriculture/veterinary: 19
stay-at-home parents: 18
consultants: 18
sales: 16
pilots/air traffic control: 15
lawyers/legal assistants/advocates: 14
doctors/nurses/healthcare: 14
pastors/priests/missionaries/social workers/psychologists/counselors: 13
civil servants: 12
artists/musicians/photographers: 12
manufacturing/machinists: 10
writers/journalists/reporters: 10
police/corrections/security/investigation: 8
students: 8
truckers/railroad workers: 8
statisticians/actuaries/data analysts/librarians: 8
architects/draftsmen/urban planners: 8
radio/television/telecom: 7
mechanics/heavy equipment operators: 6
oil workers: 6
real estate: 4
forestry: 3
purchasing/logistics/warehousing: 3
secretary/administrative assistant:3
quality assurance: 2
map maker/surveyor: 2
human resources: 2
other: 12
total: 633 (ignored obvious duplicate entries, general comments)
Oh, and … whorehouse piano players (aspiring or claiming to be): 10
piano teachers (listed under educators): 2
Responses are still trickling in.
Thanks to everyone who participated. To quote (air traffic controller) “Yukon Gold” – “Boy, what a bunch of highly-educated, highly learned and experienced bunch of mouth-breathing knuckle draggers we are.”
And to think – we do it all in our pajamas!
Note – submissions are still welcome, but please refrain from using this thread to chatter about the survey. If you wish to discuss the survey, please do so here.
Original post continues below:
About 18 months ago, I asked readers to share their ages in a dedicated comments thread, in response to yet another media portrayal of blog readers as “tech savvy twenty-somethings”. As it turned out, around here the “tech savvy” includes a lot more 40, 50 and 60 year olds than most people would have guessed.
Today, I have a different question: What is your primary occupation? (or occupation prior to retirement). No need to provide extensive information, just a quick job title (eg. in my case, “freelance commercial artist”.)
I already know you encompass a pretty wide field of expertise, based on some of the discussions here. I think it would be interesting to find out just how wide it is.
I’d like to encourage those who are regular readers but who don’t typically comment to participate in this one. You aren’t required to provide a name or valid email address.
Systems Engineer for communication satellite earth station infrastructure.
IP Business owner
Rubber stamp manufacturer on the verge of retirement. Please Kate, never ask this question again. I think my spleen has ruptured from laughing so hard.
retired stock broker and financial advisory service publisher
69 retired, Assistant Deputy Minister, Government.
Software/systems engineer for control systems
39
Formerly Sys Admin / web developer.
Currently Building Engineer working toward HVAC/Refrigeration certification.
also a part time thug and hooligan / envelope courier for Librano capos!
Absolutely impressive list, Kate. And, the quality of these people shows that blogging is an important, vital area of our modern society’s informational processing.
I’m a semi-retired professor of anthropology; my research is ongoing, and deals with complex information networks and information generation in the physico-chemical, biological and socioconceptual realms.
Systems admin, currently taking piano lessons.
VP Marketing
Electrical Engineer, Ph.D.
Knuckle dragger. (part time/hobby)
Pipeline integrity/environmental. (full time/self employed)
Retired geologist. Now stock day trader and mining explorationist.
I have the NEWEST brain here. Its never been used.
Truck driver
Semi-retired, 62 year-old, Texas lawyer.
President of the Texas Institute for Canadian Studies.
Doodlebugger (Oil and Gas exploration)
Former Welder / Steel worker turned computer programmer/ IT manager
hi! im semi retired .a priest in an eastern philosophy called eckankar
Petroleum Engineer.
(*sigh*) True to conservative form, I live in a trailer, have a plywood deck with a couch on it, a 79 K-car rusting in the yard, and my kids are both suspended from elementary school for disruptive behaviour.
I have only 9 teeth in my head, my wife weighs in at 370 and wears lycra, and our 86 Tempo’s brakes need replacing.
Public Relations (don’t hate me!)
Ph.D. Plumbing Heating Drainage ,X army, x oil fiel firer fighter, now industiral pipefitter. Not retired , just tired.
Age – 75 years – now retired – started out early life as a dirt farmer.
Last enterprise was publishing a “Free” Real estate Guide for the Stratford Ontario real estate market.
Sold in May 2000.
Learned computerized composition of paper at age fifty-eight.
Interesting posts, Kate.
Age – 75 years – now retired – started out early life as a dirt farmer.
Last enterprise was publishing a “Free” Real estate Guide for the Stratford Ontario real estate market.
Sold in May 2000.
Learned computerized composition of paper at age fifty-eight.
Interesting posts, Kate.
Age – 75 years – now retired – started out early life as a dirt farmer.
Last enterprise was publishing a “Free” Real estate Guide for the Stratford Ontario real estate market.
Sold in May 2000.
Learned computerized composition of paper at age fifty-eight.
Interesting posts, Kate.
Age – 75 years – now retired – started out early life as a dirt farmer.
Last enterprise was publishing a “Free” Real estate Guide for the Stratford Ontario real estate market.
Sold in May 2000.
Learned computerized composition of paper at age fifty-eight.
Interesting posts, Kate.
Age – 75 years – now retired – started out early life as a dirt farmer.
Last enterprise was publishing a “Free” Real estate Guide for the Stratford Ontario real estate market.
Sold in May 2000.
Learned computerized composition of paper at age fifty-eight.
Interesting posts, Kate.
WOW! Who knew? I sent your link to my sister in the Peg who thinks that we are all sitting in our pyjamas all day in the basement.
I am a retired heavy equipment operator(coal mine).Age 64 now spend as much time as possible trying to get into the senior LPGA.Love to golf!
Internet network engineer
41, Software developer for 20 yrs
Flesh peddler…used people salesman…ummm okay, Headhunter.
So Kate now you have our basic resumes, when can we over 65s expect an offer for yout new company?
61
Volunteer driver of children in care
Director of a charity
Today: Agricultural producer and Truck driver
Recent past: Ag research, processing and retail sales.
And I resent that remark eliza. When it rains for a few days in a row (or is -40) and I can’t work outside I do end up in my basement typing in my pyjamas.
46 yrs. Infidel golf addict / Commercial pilot.
Retired CF communications and electronics engineer.
Consulting Geologist
Before taking early retirement, I was a computer systems analyst, working in software development and server support.
Geological engineer, retired to a farm for 10 years, then re-retired to SFA. (Very old fart)
Aircraft Maintenance Engineer
I’m the director of the Let’s Break Out The Booze And Have A Ball department of the If That’s All There Is My Friend, Then Let’s Keep Dancing division of the Emptor Culpa company.
Just kidding. Since I have a big mouth I suspect many here know that I have been a professional software developer for 36 years and the president of a software development company for 30 years. I have a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering, and a master of science in computing science.
For over the last decade our six-man operation has been developing Internet-based software to provide engineering standard mathematics and management tools to chemical engineers responsible for the design, auditing, and safety of large-scale thermodynamic systems. Our software is now in use by the big multi-nationals to provide enterprise-wide support for the improvement of plant safety all over the world.
I don’t do pride, because it’s the road to hubris, but I will say that I am satisfied with the contribution our efforts are providing toward making the world a better place. A safe, clean, productive plant is a happy plant.
One more systems/software/electronics engineer here.
I also do construction in summer.
So basically: building stuff.
Newspaper reporter. Age 50.
Professional photographer, landlord, entrepreneur and 50+yrs old.
Administrative Assistant for IT Consultancy.
Unofficial referee to pint-sized hooligans.
Devoted lover to the perfect man.
…in ascending order of importance.
Commodity Broker
carpenter(nailbanger ,if you prefer)
chiropractor
now homeschooling mom
Business Systems Analyst
Unofficial linesman to the same pint size hooligans mentioned by Wonder Woman
Luckiest man alive.
…in ascending order of importance.
🙂
51 yr old accountant
Cardio Tech (health care) part time;
Domestic engineer full time