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.
mechanical technologist
Radio talk show host.
Producer/mixer (audio), musician.
Civil Engineer, 41.
Managing partner in a midsize Consulting Engineering firm, specializing in land development.
Enemy of the trees.
Particle physicist / housewife.
Yes, really.
(I’m currently at home with my infant son, on a break from my studies. Have my M.Sc., will be going back to school for my Ph.D. when the boy’s a bit older.)
(Also, I’m 27.)
Founding partner and vice president of commercial real estate agency. 58 years old.
Founding partner and vice president of commercial real estate agency. 58 years old.
Founding partner and vice president of commercial real estate agency. 58 years old.
Founding partner and vice president of commercial real estate agency. 58 years old.
Founding partner and vice president of commercial real estate agency. 58 years old.
Director of Surgery
lobbyist / communications consultant
Sr. Application Developer, age 51
Environmental Consultant (environmental chemist)
Environmental Consultant (environmental chemist)
Sports writer, 25
Mikey, you are indeed the luckiest man alive to have a woman that rates you #1.
Special hat tip to stay at home mom’s. My wife did an amazing job as a mom and I love her for it. I disassembled large mountains and laid them at her feet to keep her at home.
And to the truckers for I am you.
What an incredible list of talent. I am quite frankly in complete awe. This obviously lucid and funny group proves up this comment:
“There is a certain meanness in the argument of conservatism,
joined with a certain superiority of fact.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ex Military officer, Aerosopace program manager, now retired.
Communications Tech (retiring in 152 days)/Grandad/Husband to a lovely wife/do audio restoration part time/ Part time supervisor of a paintball field. 54 yrs young.
Student/Starbucks Barista
35 yr old serving CF Officer.
Senior Systems Analyst
Trade Association Executive Director
manager, business owner.
Wow. Coming in at the end of this list I feel so inadequate.
Psych nurse.
Age: staring at the Big-6-0 later this year. Where has all of the time gone? Yikes.
Degree in Math/Physics
Certified & Chartered Financial Planner
My wife says I am “certifiable”.
One day I plan on becoming a “Small Dead Animal”.
Retired Revenue Canada Supervisor– 75 years old–SDA keeps me young and informed.
62 year old senior financial planner, enjoying what I do for mostly grateful clients, and will likely only retire when my mind does.
Accountant and university business student, soon to be law student, 22.
Autoworker
to finish, 62, retired.
Retired (60). Spent over 30 years as a Design Tech in the Oil and Gas industry. Would do it again just to piss-off David Suzuki!
Systems Analyst/Database programmer
Ex army officer, now electrician/nuclear power plant repair man. 42 years old.
mbaron
Owner of a manufacturing business
Professor, engineering…
Yes, I chase the grant dollars and suck off the public teat. However, I do have to demonstrate that my research meets a need, generally by getting matching corporate support.
Anyone interested in grad school? Semiconductor physics/optoelectronics, both numerical and experimental, advanced solar cells, lasers, and weird stuff…
…reply below with email
🙂
Production Manager – Manufacturing Engineer by trade.
Been in BC 1 year – spent last 10 in S’toon SK
41 yrs
been a reader now for a loooong time
Duh, should have put my age. (49)
Owner of a manufacturing business
Executive Director of an International Development Agency.
Entrepreneur and business owner
36
Process Piping Systems designer/drafting
Profession: cynic
Past time: University professor
Age: 44 and counting (but I swear I don’t feel that old!)
Yes, I am a clown – over 25 years.
If it did not cost so much I’d give any LIEberal under DeYawn a run for their votes. [I did ask Jasson Cherniak if I could carry his suitcase when he is put into the Senate – no answer.]
*
economist
Quality Assurance for a major pharmaceutical manufacturer
Owner food distribution Co.
Chartered Accountant – currently stay-at-home mom
software marketing consultant/technical & corporate writer/training curriculum developer
Manager in transportation industry
Aircraft maintenance engineer (Calgary)
I missed your age one…65, retired. I worked in Heavy industry as tradesman and in a supervisory position, and as a trades instructor, I also worked on the Canadian Patrol Frigates as a pipe supervisor. For any CPF guys out there I was in charge of the FAMR and the AAMR piping…After seeing the postings, I thnk I am going to learn how to play the piano….