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.
software developer
At home with kids; previously Communications Director at Hydro One
Development project manager and record collector, 36 yrs of age
Software developer, once a Geologist.
43 years old.
Self employed Architectural Designer/Technologist
Retired Sales Rep…Oil industry
Medical laboratory technologist
54 yrs old – Former 30 years in Telecom technology& Engineering. Systems planner, Technical writer, trainer and researcher.
Now – Technology research and development in environmental tech.
Misc. – Part time thug and hooligan. Envelope courier for Librano capos!
Accelerator Technician(Radiation Oncology), retired Air Force(avionics).
ed Rymes
aka
Texas Canuck
Software Sales
I.T. Recruiter (age 31)
Currently setting up own business providing hospitality industry training programs to urban indians and then shipping them off to resorts and hotels around BC and AB.
Electrical maintenance technician
Risk Manager-Banking
self-employed structural designer, engineer in the US
BTW, never learned to play the piano but have been to LaGrange, Texas. (ZZTop fans will understand)
Self Employed, Bookkeeper
Homeschooling mom. Part-time author, columnist & speaker.
Statistician
Age: 45
Occupation: Draftsman and network administrator for agricultural equipment manufacturer near Winnipeg. Part time U-Pick strawberry farmer.
I rarely watch TV news anymore. I get most of my news from blogs. I find them much more honest and objective than the MSM due to the fact that their market is not simply handed to them by the state; bloggers have to compete in order to keep their audience.
Consultant – global energy trading
Annuitant- Formerly Investigation Officer with Govt. of Canada-age 61
Shipboard Marine Engineer
Shipboard Marine Engineer
Electronics Engineering Technologist working as a Spectrum Management officer for the Feds
Industrial sales – retired
Always a deep interest in current affairs
50. Chartered Accountant, CFO of family business in fuel distribution & commercial industrial water treatment.
Radio Creative Director
Hey, I think I may have heard some of you piano players in Yellowknife, Manitouwadge, Gagnon, Tonopah, Reno, Tucson, Nogales… ah-h-h, whoops!
Software Developer
Canadian Forces – Avionics Technician
Just finished 4 months at a homeless shelter – landscaping for the summer. Big fan Kate, I grew up just down the road in Rosetown. I guess I’m the only 21 year old…
Power company economist in the West, also welder, machinist, backhoe owner/operator, (keep digging up the dirt Kate!) a tech savy 56-something.
Woodwind & brass-wind musical instrument repair technician, biz owner and former professional saxophone player/singer in the USA circa 60s – 70s
Computer savvy.
Born in 1943
I have a cat.
High School Teacher
Alberta
Age: 32
Logistics Manager
Attorney serving as Assistant to the President, United States Hockey League
Technical Adviser, Web Services
Self-published children’s mystery writer
Age: 49
67, missed the age postings as I was playing in the greek islands.
Long retired Director of Operations. my biggest wish is for a renewal of honest public discourse.
Flooder of rain forests (civil engineer – dam designer). Currently back in Vietnam after finishing a dam in Mongolia. Then off to England to check in with client for job in Africa.
63 years young. Citizen of both Canada and Australia.
Professor (Research Area: Cryptography)
Director of Operations for a Consumers Goods Company
Age: 25
Occupation: software tester for radios (wireless telecommunications)
Age: 44
Nearly 20 years as a computer programmer, contractor & now project manager in the financial services sector.
Director of Operations for a Consumer Goods Company
Electrical engineer: Chip design
32
Railway Signal Systems Specialist
Calgary
systems analyst
systems analyst
Oops, I almost forgot. I’m also a musician (composer). Software testing is just how I make money.
broadcast technician 68. retired, never worked so hard in all my life.