Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

The "What do you do for work" question that always comes up

This is standard in Asia, especially in my country, whether it's potential acquaintance, friends, love interest, elderlies, this is the second step they ask after name. People basically judge you by your potential income generation.

Third step is, they will scan you from top to bottom to see what brand(s) you're wearing.

It seems ridiculous, but that's real life, all ages, from those in their 50s and 70s to those in their 30s, they all generally behave the same. Parents, and even out TV shows, are teaching people to look for wealth for the base of relationship.
 
eyoungren said:
I've only felt condescension in that question when amongst a group of people I already believed (or assumed) would be looking down on me anyway. Most of the time in my experience it's been a way to break the ice and get to know a person.

That said, I dread the question for two reasons. The main reason is that I usually have to explain to other people what I do. Everyone knows what a doctor does, a police office, a lawyer, a teacher, etc. But tell someone you're a Graphic Designer (which I am) and the look on their face is blank because they have no concept about what I do. At best, they think it relates to computers. Thankfully, we are well past the 1990s because trying to explain amberlith, mechanicals, typesetting and god-knows what else would be really onerous.

As it is, I have to actually explain what I do before most people get it. Problem is that I did what I do for 19 years in newspapers, so it wasn't your typical graphic designer job of logos, stationary and business cards. Now I work for a company that designs yardage books and scorecards for golf courses. The response then becomes either "That's a thing?" or "oh, yeah, I guess they'd actually need someone to design those things." Because you know, that stuff is just there, no one thinks about how it got there.

The other reason I dread the question is because once you start the drudgery of explaining a lot of people check out. It's not interesting at all to them and they really just asked the question to be polite. Getting into it wasn't exactly the conversation they wanted to have.

But yeah, it's what I do and it's what has put food on the table and paid the bills for 22 years now.
Click to expand...
It's worse when you don't have a role like Graphic designer.
My job title's are something like
Purchase Manager
Stock manager
Product manager
Training manager
Senior manager
Operations manager
Logistics manager
Facilities manager
Warehouse manager
Business system super user

Then you are left with the what does your company do question.
We are Europe's leading distributor and service provider for colour management products.

Usually results in what's that then?
 
  • Like
Reactions: eyoungren
Regbial said:
Ahh yes, sometimes it's innocuous, just to make small talk... sometimes it carries that other intention.. for the people raised in the meritocracy who still foolishly believe it is real..

It is sad. People are more than their jobs... Not every job is fulfilling or meaningful, in fact I'd say most aren't. Luck carries a large role in success or not... In any case, people should remember people have value just for existing and having their own thoughts and feelings and interests, a job wether impressive or not, is a nice bonus if you see value in another having a job or giving them certain knowledge or skills, not much more. But yeah other than that there is little more to most jobs... that's how I see it at least.

Few take great meaning from their jobs (think passionate doctors, artists, vets, social workers, engineers, some business owners, etc..) but that doesn't mean everyone has to or should.
Click to expand...
Fixed that for you.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Regbial
usagora said:
I remember asking a person this many years ago, and after an awkward look and hesitation, they replied, "I deliver bodies" (they worked for a morgue). Needless to say, the topic of conversation quickly shifted elsewhere.
Click to expand...
When I told people I worked in a hospital ICU they usually changed the subject.
 
I build things, like grown-up toys :)

P1000120.JPG


IMG_4596.JPG
 
  • Like
Reactions: SigEp265, pshufd, decafjava and 4 others
Nhwhazup said:
I worked in HR for all of my career so I love to hear about people's jobs. I think they are all interesting, especially to learn about other company’s policies.
Click to expand...
I had a guy work for me some years back. He came into my office to tell me he was quitting. I asked why. He said the older guy in the warehouse where he worked (who was an odd ball) kept touching him inappropriately! He kept it going for about 2 minutes before bursting out laughing and said he’d been offered an apprenticeship elsewhere (which was a much better prospect for him). I didn’t know what to say for those 2 minutes though as he was deadly serious.
 
It is a very age related question. Once you are retired it changes to "Where are you going on your next trip?"
 
Apple fanboy said:
I’m well past worrying what people think about me. Who cares? My self worth isn’t tied up in what people think.
Generally I think most people believe this to be a safe question. There aren’t many of those left. Used to be questions like married? Got any kids? But these days people steer away from those type of questions so as to not cause offence.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Too me, it isn't a big deal.
 
Apple_Robert said:
Here is my thought: My job, hobbies and other individual things about me do not define me as a person.
Click to expand...

In my case, I think they do define me.

Depending on the circumstances, I might answer questions by talking about my paid job, my hobbies, or my volunteer jobs. I should probably say husband and father, since that's my #1 priority job, but I never think to say that.

If I meet people in social situations, I often ask about what they do, since I'm genuinely interested. Whether they mention their profession or some other interest, it usually results in a good conversation. But once in a while they mention a profession that I know so little about that I can't think of anything to say but "oh."
 
  • Like
Reactions: smirking
Doctor Q said:
In my case, I think they do define me.

Depending on the circumstances, I might answer questions by talking about my paid job, my hobbies, or my volunteer jobs. I should probably say husband and father, since that's my #1 priority job, but I never think to say that.

If I meet people in social situations, I often ask about what they do, since I'm genuinely interested. Whether they mention their profession or some other interest, it usually results in a good conversation. But once in a while they mention a profession that I know so little about that I can't think of anything to say but "oh."
Click to expand...
I should have been more clear. I don't think my job (in and of itself) defines me as a person. Put my job, hobbies, beliefs, preferences, and other related categories together, and I agree with you, that the culmination of all the different categories together paint a more valid and complete picture of the person.
 
Apple fanboy said:
I had a guy work for me some years back. He came into my office to tell me he was quitting. I asked why. He said the older guy in the warehouse where he worked (who was an odd ball) kept touching him inappropriately! He kept it going for about 2 minutes before bursting out laughing and said he’d been offered an apprenticeship elsewhere (which was a much better prospect for him). I didn’t know what to say for those 2 minutes though as he was deadly serious.
Click to expand...
In my years in HR, I had many a story told that seemed unbelievable. But people do crazy ass things to each other. That’s for sure.
 
Crowbot said:
Did she do it? Those doctors and nurses are angels. I didn't like going to the NICU. Very sad.
Click to expand...
No, never got there. Not for lack of trying though. She tried to enlist in the Army as a path to that, but was rejected because of 'possible glaucoma'. She's never had that and doesn't have it now. We tried our senator, but the Army also rejected his recommendation.

That all turned out to be fine though because this was a year or so before 9/11. She would have been in the Army when that happened and probably sent to Iraq. Then when the military started with its Stop Loss mandate she would have been stuck well past her enlistment period.

It turns out though that in volunteering to help our daughter's teacher she discovered that she desired to teach little kids more than being a doctor in NICU. She now has an education degree (bachelors) and is working on getting into a program that certifies her as a teacher while paying her to work as one.

It is unlikely that had she pursued her original goal we would have had kids at all, or be where we are now - or that she'd even be interested in that line of work considering what she would have being doing if she had gotten into the Army. Teaching and interacting with little kids (she works currently as an instructional aide) really makes her happy.
 
eyoungren said:
No, never got there. Not for lack of trying though. She tried to enlist in the Army as a path to that, but was rejected because of 'possible glaucoma'. She's never had that and doesn't have it now. We tried our senator, but the Army also rejected his recommendation.

That all turned out to be fine though because this was a year or so before 9/11. She would have been in the Army when that happened and probably sent to Iraq. Then when the military started with its Stop Loss mandate she would have been stuck well past her enlistment period.

It turns out though that in volunteering to help our daughter's teacher she discovered that she desired to teach little kids more than being a doctor in NICU. She now has an education degree (bachelors) and is working on getting into a program that certifies her as a teacher while paying her to work as one.

It is unlikely that had she pursued her original goal we would have had kids at all, or be where we are now - or that she'd even be interested in that line of work considering what she would have being doing if she had gotten into the Army. Teaching and interacting with little kids (she works currently as an instructional aide) really makes her happy.
Click to expand...
It's great that she found a way to work with kids. I found my "calling" (maintaining medical equipment) by accident. My parents sent me a brochure for a 2 year AE program in biomedical technology. It coincided with my love for biology and technology. And being the only tech heads in the hospital, we soon became the "wizards" who could fix any problem. Very satisfying.
 
  • Like
Reactions: eyoungren
Crowbot said:
It's great that she found a way to work with kids. I found my "calling" (maintaining medical equipment) by accident. My parents sent me a brochure for a 2 year AE program in biomedical technology. It coincided with my love for biology and technology. And being the only tech heads in the hospital, we soon became the "wizards" who could fix any problem. Very satisfying.
Click to expand...

Don't you love it when they give you a broken coffee machine to repair? Or anything that has, or once had, electricity passing anywhere near it.
 
DaveFromCampbelltown said:
Don't you love it when they give you a broken coffee machine to repair? Or anything that has, or once had, electricity passing anywhere near it.
Click to expand...
I enjoyed simple repairs like that and it was one of the best ways to make friends upstairs. I repaired a monster shredder for the legal department. I repaired a video projector for the Library (after the manufacturer said it couldn't be done) and saved them $1200. So I became "The Wizard" who could fix everything. I had a major in biology with engineering in the family so it was a natural fit.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back