What is your life's vocation?

[WA6MHZ]

In response to my opinion that most hams these days are not in Electronics, but Doctors, Lawyers and Indian Chiefs, (Or homeless!) lets see how the poll plays out. Back in the 50s & 60s, I would guess 70% of Hams worked as Engineers or Technicians, or maybe Assemblers and QC personell. Some had gone on to Management but started on the Service bench. Today, I see very few in Electronics at the Radio clubs. Most are in Sales, Healthcare and other standard industries. Lets see what happens. I personally am an RF Technician, and have been since I started in Ham radio back in 1968. Consequently, I have missed out on the money that Management makes, but the companies I worked at knew I was too valuable fixing things to let other fix them for me. So I was stuck in a dead end job to this day. I sure need the money, but atleast during work hours, I get to build and fix stuff, which is alot better than sitting there writing silliass reports and making computer presentations. I like to solder!

[W5GA]

35 years as a mechanic of one sort or another, now I manage lots of them.

[n8yx]

Sniper.

Professional Ebay sniper...

:eek:

:D :D :D :D

Edit - you left a BUNCH of possibilities out of your poll...a good number of the 'Zed's members work in the computer/IT fields. Mainly writing 'sniping' programs for eBay users, from what I'm told...

[WA6MHZ]

OOPS! I forgot Auto industry! lets put that under Sales and Retail. Only get 10 choices! This is under the Amateur Radio category as we want to analyze just what fields HAMS are in these days.

[kr2d]

Missing option: Software/Computers/Information Technology

[WA6MHZ]

Yeh thats why it sucks only having 10 categories. Put that under Electronics.

[KC0BUF]

I work as a freelance computer programmer.

In other words, homeless bum.

[n5rfx]

304X4 Ground Radio in the Air Force
Instructor and RF Systems Engineer after that. This covers a little more than 25 years. I have always been an electronics enthusiast and Amateur radio has played a large role in my avocation and vocation. The Amateur groups I belong to have always had a majority of members who are involved in technical careers. This is probably not the norm in Amateur radio as there are so many facets to the hobby.

73,
Mark N5RFX

[WA6MHZ]

OH I forgot about Transportation industry too. Truck Drivers, cabbies, etc.
So many things to do in life.
For those retired (figure about 70% of Hams are retired) just log down what you did primarily Before you retired.

[N2RJ]

My degree is in electrical engineering, but I've been in the I.T. industry for the past 11 years or so.

Ham radio was what encouraged me to get my degree in EE.

Otherwise I'd have done something like computer science.

[N8UZE]

Since I work as a mechanical engineer in the automotive field, I put Industrial Manufacturing. None of the others fit very well.

[ks4du]

Hazardous and nuclear waste characterization and shipping, Health Physics Instructor, ex Navy nuclear operator/chemist. I categorized myself under "Food Industry".

[AG3Y]

Back when I was going to school, I was tested for aptitude in computer technology. I FAILED the test ! Therefore, they did not train me in that area.

30 years later, I was working as a Network Supervisor for a State-owned Hospital here in Hagerstown, and at one point served on the Governor's comittee for implimentation of computerized healthcare for the DHMH of MD. So much for 30 year old aptitude tests !

The main thrust of my career has been in professional Broadcasting, and I was CE of an FM Stereo station, and Assistant CE of a television station, among other accomplishments.

I've been an Amateur Extra Class since the late 60s.

73, Jim

[KC7UP]

30 years as Air Traffic Controller and 20 years self employed as Appliance repair technician.
Curt

[KC9ECI]

I'm a full time firefighter that volunteers as a carpenter in exchange for a paycheck.

[WA6MHZ]

OH thats one more industry we missed! Construction. Also forgot to include Hospitality (Hotel, travel), Sports, and the entertainment/film/news/media. SO many choices!!! So little space!

[WB2WIK]

This is a tough one.

I'm a full-time Dad, still. Pay's lousy but there are benefits.

Part time tour guide, for all friends and relatives visiting L.A., especially if it's their first time.

Semi-pro cook. I made my special Lasagne last night, it takes almost two hours from scratch but worth it. Family agrees, so does the dog.

Speaking of dogs, I'm the dog washer. Wash, rinse, condition, rinse, twice: Dog enjoys it and he smells good.

I also fix everything that breaks around the house, unless it's something big and covered by our home insurance policy in which case I let them do it.

In what little time I have left I can operate the radio or go to work, which involves making stuff for the motion picture and television industries mostly. Production, post-production, broadcast stuff. Short drive to Hollywood so I get to be stuck on my own choice of freeway or surface street. That's called "freedom."

WB2WIK/6

[N8GAV]

Lets see ful time Grandpap,part time taxi, sometimes cook, have a snow removal service and lawn care service to keep my "Queen" happy. Part-time loan officer at The Dad's Bank And Trust Me till Payday....Please( I wonder when payday is?) Sometime Doctor/ Nurse /Paramedic specialy in scrapes and cuts and splinter removal sometime contractor with a degree in Treehouses. Oh yea when I am not doing the above .... Broadcasting Enginer

[KE6SHJ]

Sales and service at LSTC. Tire changer for 17+ years. :p

[K8ERV]

Annoying people here----

TOM K8ERV Montrose Colo

[AG3Y]

And a mighty fine job you do of it too, Tom ! ! ! :p :) :D

[AC0FP]

Annoying people here----

TOM K8ERV Montrose Colo

This shows how important enjoying your work is to insuring personal happiness!
;)

[KB3LIX]

35+ years in broadcast engineering/two way radio engineering, construction and maintenance.

[ab9lz]

Enterprise software architect / systems designer for a bank.

73 m/4

[w6ire]

Self employed electrical contractor for 25 years.

[n7wr]

I have been in public safety for 41 years..law enforcement, fire, EMS and now public safety communications. However, my path down the road to what has been a fantastic public safety experience began with ham radio. In college I volunteered with the L A County Sheriff's Disaster Communications Service as an amateur radio operator (@ K6CPT) and that put me into frequent contact with Sheriff's personnel...specifically Sgt. Tommy Thompson and Deputy Frank Oakden (K6TOW) both of whom encouraged me to become a Deputy Sheriff. Throughout my career my background as a ham has proven very valuable. In my current employment it has helped immensely as over the past several years we have completely replaced and enhanced our entire county public safety communications system. I feel I owe a rewarding career to having become a ham at age 12 many, many years ago.

[WW3QB]

The problem with this poll is that a software engineer like myself cannot answer. Answering electronics is not correct because software engineers may use computers all day (a complex electronic machine), but they do not need to know what makes the computer work (besides "Intel Inside"). I know electronics, but have never needed it for my 30 year computer career. Just assembly, FORTRAN, PL/I, Ada, C++, Java, networking, TCP/IP, etc.

Does that make a software engineer an appliance operator?

[NA5Z]

Pretty much.


But then being a hardware engineer, I might be a bit biased and highly inclined to give s/w guys a hard time. ;)

[KB4BLU]

Been a chemist for over 30 years. Currently analytical chemist for the state of NC.

[VE3FMC]

I spent 28 years working for Ford Motor Company at one of their plants here in Southwest Ontario. If you have ever been pulled over by a two toned Crown Vic police care there is a 50% chance I had my hands on that car ;) The last 6 years I worked there I was a two tone demasker. That involved taking the paper and tape off the two tone units after the second coat of paint went on and was baked. Two of us removed all the paper which covered body parts that stayed the original color.

I retired May 1/07 when the plant went to one shift. I went to work at a private golf course the day after I retired. I was 51 at the time and was not quite ready to sit around doing nothing. I am back there this year. I work in the Back Shop where the member's clubs are stored. A great part time job and one benefit is some free golf at a beautiful golf course :D

PS I will not be held responsible for any speeding tickets you happen to receive from an officer who is driving a Crown Vic :D

[WA6MHZ]

Sorry we limited the categories so badly. If only the software for the poll were extendable we could include all the vocations slighted here. I am sure that every walk of life is represented here, except maybe Adult Film industry. OH lets see who volunteers up that vocation!!

[K8ERV]

I don't think Glen would look good with his clothes off----or on----

TOM K8ERV Montrose Colo

[k8wpj]

Sorry we limited the categories so badly. If only the software for the poll were extendable we could include all the vocations slighted here. I am sure that every walk of life is represented here, except maybe Adult Film industry. OH lets see who volunteers up that vocation!!

Can you be an adult entertainment star on the radio?

I've worked a lot of jobs before becoming disabled, and the one that I always enjoyed the most, and actually looked forward to going to work even on the coldest ohio nights, was without a doubt an on air announcer for a group of radio stations in Ohio.

If I could, I'd gladly work any shift they gave me, on air or not, without the tought of getting paid for it.

The vibe I got from my listeners when we related to each other, combined with being able to spend time with the truly gifted people I worked with, was truly a lifetime experience. If you ever get the chance to do a job that interests you, in the company of people you mesh well with, then go for it.

And in my case, it all came down to someone encouraging me to be myself, while spending 8-10 hours a day all by myself in a soundproofed padded room, talking to no one:rolleyes:

Pic is circa 1999 ish, me outside the studios loading the van on the way to one of our many county fair appearances...

[K0RGR]

I started out working in electronics, moved up to manufacturing engineering, then to marketing, then to software support, and now, I'm starting to get back into the hardware side of things again. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Around here, they just change the names to confuse the competition.

[kj3n]

Good thing I was able to select multiple items. I've had several different jobs over the years.

You left out computers, however. I could have selected 4 things instead of 3. ;)

[w5klb]

A bad example.

Just ask my wife. Its the only reason she stays married to me.

At least I have a purpose in life. Do one thing and do it well. :cool:

[K0HWY]

I've been a career fire fighter since 1998. Prior to that, I worked in consumer electronic repair for about 12 years. I changed careers when the disposable products began hitting the market.

[n9jrn]

:D Bulk Commodities Relocation Engineer :D

[wa9cwx]

First degree was a B.A., major in Psychology, Grad work in Counseling, taught in Special Ed for a while.

Second degree was a B.S. in Human Biology, then on to a D.C. degree.

Most of my continuing education has been in sports injury rehab and non-surgical orthopedics.
I am in private practice as a chiropractor, also trained and state certified for both nutrition and physical therapy.

Thirty Four years in practice, ten employees for several years, now slowing down :D, run office with 2 full time, 3 part time employees.


Frank

[W5HTW]

"Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy."

From the LeCarre Novel of the same name.

Mostly as a writer, and much of that in electronics in some form or other, but also in newspapers and broadcast radio. But I did some truck driving, some consumer electronics, couple of years as a two way radio tech, private investigator (workmen's comp fraud) musician, radio DJ/engineer, even acted in a local TV soap opera, some commercial photography back before digital. And more.

"Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy."

Ed

[KI4SYC]

Did I miss Education somewhere in the list? I'm a Teacher.

[N6PYI]

Where would place folks in IT?

Edit: Spoke too soon. Didn't read far enough.

[AE1P]

Well, lets see, 5 qso's on 20m in the last hour, A forklift repairman from Mo.,A Concrete worker from Fl., a AC and heating tech also from Fl., and another electrician like myself in Al. .Cheers to the rest of the Blue Collar worker's who "grease" the "wheels" everyday and play on the radio when we can !!!

[kf6rdn]

Another IT dude here..

Certified on the HEX system:

http://www.paulkidby.com/images/tshirts/anthill-1.jpg

[k8wpj]

Been a chemist for over 30 years. Currently analytical chemist for the state of NC.



Does that mean you get to test states evid (hick..) eviden (hick...) um, the state's proof at moonshine trials?

Now, that would be a cool job... Like the legal equivalent of working in the R/D division of Jim Beam meets CSI!

:D:rolleyes::eek::D:rolleyes:

[ka0sog]

Beerologist

[KC9IUX]

Bulk Commodities Relocation Engineer

Me too.

And a bum with a home, so I picked the last option.

Home is usually in the back of the Bulk Commodities Relocation Engineer command post.

[W0BLH]

I was an Electronics Technician on a aircraft carrier. Then a maintenance electrician, electrical engineer, process engineer, and product engineer. I retired from Cummins Engine after 35 years with all the different titles in one plant after my discharge from the Navy. I have been retired over 12 years. Retirement is my favorite occupation. :)

Andy

[ka0gkt]

:D Bulk Commodities Relocation Engineer :D

:D So, for which road are you a hogger? :D


Thirty-six years ago this coming August, I hung my first phone at my local radio station. Presently my office is at a Public Broadcaster (2-TVs, 2-FMs and 1-50 KW AM)...heck, I'm partly fibbing...My office may be in the building, but the one I really use is a 4x4.

[W1GUH]

Giant Cush maker.

[aa3re]

We all need it, we all use it, I dont see it. What about electrical power? I work in power generation. Well, thats for all you guys that don't have your own windmill or solar panels. :)
Learned my trade serving USN 1983-2003 as a Boiler Tech. Retired once, working on the second retirement. Keep buying those big amps and use as many kilowatts as you can. :D Keeps me working. :D

[KS4VT]

I fall into two areas that being government and electronics. For the last 20 years I have worked on, designed, and managed public safety communication voice and data systems. I also dabbled in doing the surveillance electronics for the Organized Crime Division of the Sheriff's Office back about 15+ years ago.

[N4AUD]

Former police officer, now a magistrate.

[N2RJ]

I personally think it's great that we have people from all different professions in ham radio.

From kings (http://users.skynet.be/on1cau/k_hussein.htm) and princes to college students and truck drivers, there's a place for everyone.

The common denominator is that we are curious about radio.

[K8MHZ]

Great thread!

I have been an electrician on and off since shortly after my HS days. Every time I tried something new it seemed to never be as cool as being a sparky. Here is the most complete list I can think of in pretty much a chronilogical order:

Newspaper carrier

Bagger / stocker at grocery store

Full service gas station attendant

Electrician's helper / machine maintenance

Optical technician (ran machines that made eyeglass lenses)

QC technician in a window shade factory

R&D technician in a casting facility that made parts for jet engines

Self employed mail order entrepreneur

Builder / designer and repair tech for electric ceramic art kilns

Self employed automotive electrical and marine specialist

Mechanic at new car dealership, specializing in electrical systems

Self employed accounts receivable manager (locater of people, collector of bills, billing of insurance agencies)

Assistant to a PI locating people

Maintenance tech in a die cast foundry, specializing in electrical and computer systems

Wedding, sports and portrait photographer (see my work on the cover of the June 2006 edition of QST magazine)

Apprentice Electrician

Journeyman Electrician, Certified Control Systems Technician

Master of the phrase "I have quit better jobs than this that have paid more money" :D

I finally found my calling being an electrician. I also like teaching ham radio, but don't get monetarily compensated for it. My payment is the success of my students, which have been many.

[ad5mb]

Telemetry. Measurement from a distance.

I don't tell people what I've done, where I did it, who I did it for. Far too many small minded people can't accept that reality.

I can tell you, if you want to go interesting places, do interesting things, work in an environment with constant variety, telemetry is the plan.

P.S:
Self employed accounts receivable manager (locater of people, collector of bills, billing of insurance agencies)

Is that what Danny DeVito calls a "goombah"?

[ae5hl]

U.S. Navy here...

[W4INF]

Overpaid baby sitter. :cool:

Andrew

[N1LAF]

Hazardous and nuclear waste characterization and shipping, Health Physics Instructor, ex Navy nuclear operator/chemist. I categorized myself under "Food Industry".

What was your rate?

[KU0DM]

Not old enough for a job yet, but am seriously interested in becoming a Doctor; maybe a Neurologist or General Practitioner.

[kl7aj]

Why wasn't "QRZ Poster" one of the options? :confused:

[KU0DM]

Cuz' homeless bum equates to the glamor of being a QRZ poster :p

[K8ERV]

Mark: Can't hold a job?

TOM K8ERV Montrose Colo

[WA2ZDY]

I'm a reformed worker. I gave it up.

[aa5te]

In the Navy, I was an electronics technician, reactor operator, and operations instructor, but mainly a janitor as are most enlisted Navy jobs below E6. (almost 5 years)

At Los Alamos National Lab, I was a particle accelerator operator. (4.25 years)

Currently, at Oak Ridge National Lab, I've been an operations shift supervisor for a particle accelerator for 4.5 years, and am now a weekly maintenance coordinator (I only assist in the coordination) and (mainly) an operability coordinator (keeping track of basic accelerator facility statistics) - for the last 2 years now.

So I don't really fit into any slot on the poll.

[KD7TCS]

What was your rate?

I'm also curious, although I'd guess he was an MM/ELT. It's good to see a few other nukes around here, not a surprise, just nice to see a few fellow nukes.

[K8MHZ]

Mark: Can't hold a job?

TOM K8ERV Montrose Colo

Busted!

:D:D:D

[kk7ue]

Giant Cush maker.

PURPLE CUSH?

[n3zra]

I had to choose medical but my vocation is a little of a few, I'm a Firefighter/EMT for a steel mill, and in school to become a RN, so I would guess it is the closest to what I do for a living. (I volunteer as a FF/EMT also.)

[W4INF]

I'm a reformed worker. I gave it up.

Quitter! :p

[w2ajw]

Let's see... currently actually using my degree and working as a photographer... I've been an IT recruiter, a phone slave for a telco, a camera store manager, a volunteer EMT, and drove a shuttle bus on campus once upon a time in college, and a few others too boring to mention.

A rather atypical ham operator career track.

:p

[kk7ue]

My family says Ive had nothing but wierd jobs. I have to agree. Just check near the avatar for the latest

[kg4llq]

All of this proves - unscientifically of course - that "ham" radio is a very diverse hobby. It's just FUN! 73, Ken

[AC0FP]

Cuz' homeless bum equates to the glamor of being a QRZ poster :p

Duncan,

Has anyone told you that your wisdom is "beyond your years"? Of course they have.
:)

[wb6bum]

Entertainment industry here. 35 years as a TV & Film Camera Operator. 20 years with CBS Television Network, 15 years freelance.
But then, there were those 6 years that I spent driving pro Formula Atlantic. So I guess race driver should fit in there somewhere!

[KC9JIQ]

Assembly line operator, supplier to the automotive industry.

[w2ajw]

But then, there were those 6 years that I spent driving pro Formula Atlantic. So I guess race driver should fit in there somewhere!

Oh, hey, jealous. I never got out of SCCA Solo II.

I am part of a team building a car for the 24 Hours of Lemons... no, that's not a typo, heh.

http://24hoursoflemons.com

Team site here... http://porcubimmer.com

Apologies for the threadjack, we now return you to your regularly scheduled program.

[KE7PMX]

I work in a hen house ( 9-1-1 dispatch center). On my days off I have been known to run into burning buildings, jump into swolen rivers, and care for the sick/injured.


But I really would like to give being a Porn Star a try!.:D

[ks4du]

I'm also curious, although I'd guess he was an MM/ELT. It's good to see a few other nukes around here, not a surprise, just nice to see a few fellow nukes.

MM1/SS/ELT. Worked at the Savannah River Site for 17 years. A short stint at INL, and now I'm a house-husband while my XYL manages the internal/external dosimetry program at INL. Life is good!

USS Whale (SSN-638) / NSSF R-5 NLON

Time for a Navy Nuc/Ham thread??

[ae5eh]

:)30 years in aviation:

First 20 in avionics as a systems installer, systems flight test tech, bench repair tech. Product test and FAA certification tech. Systems designer and integration specialist. Also got a EE degree along the way. Worked in avionics engineering, but hated it. Found out that most green engineers out of school don't know squat. The techs (like I was) did all the hard work to make their lousy designs work, and the engineers made the more money and took credit for the end product. It wasn't always that way, but it was a lot of the time where I was. There's a lot more to aviation electronics than just communications electronics. A LOT MORE!

Yeah, no big deal though. At least I know how my equipment works, and can work on it when I have to. You don't have to know how an aircraft or automobile is made and how they work to operate one, but knowing more than how to change the oil and put fuel in them won't hurt you either.

Got tired of all the corporate and government BS with the tarkus, bloated, top heavy mgmt that was more interested in looking like they knew what they doing rather than being competant at what they were doing.

Decided to go back in the ditches as a licensed aircraft mechanic for the last 10 years. I love working with my hands and mind again. The electronics background comes in handy too. I love working on aircraft. The only bad part of the job is dealing with the some of the people that own them and fly them. They're not all bad though. :)

73 de terry ae5eh

[KD2SJ]

I've been an electronic tech for 30 years. I've been a ham for 23 years.
I played with electronics since I was a kid. Broke most of my toys (autopsied them to see how they worked) and found other uses for the parts.
Now I am a site technician for a radio telescope. Nice work if you can get it.

Ham radio has been a help in finding this type of employment, as a large number of folks in the organization are hams.

[N9VBI]

Upper management Real Estate now, was upper management Automotive.

So being in Real Estate have lots of time on my hands for Ham Radio,hehe..

Burt-N9VBI
www.freewebs.com/allhamradio (http://www.freewebs.com/allhamradio)

[ky5u]

Why wasn't "QRZ Poster" one of the options? :confused:

Maybe I could be Hillary Clinton's "man toy"?

[WF7A]

I'm a gigolo so I checked the "works at home" box...though I didn't know whether you meant from my home or someone else's.

In my dreams!

I'm a "jack of all trades, master of none" type so I've had a wide spectrum of jobs, none of them I'd say were my calling.

(In no particular order): data entry clerk, secretary, avionics technician, tech support maven, marketing ad copywriter, technical writer, flight instructor, word processor, electronics assembler, part-time residential electricity instructor, home inspector, manager of a college media center, A/V technician, database writer, Registrar, and commercial pilot. There are a few I've missed but that's because of failing brain cells.

My favorite job was being a flight instructor, but it didn't pay enough to survive on...which is typical of all flight instructors.

Life goal: to die in my sleep.

[K4KWH]

Mine doesn't FIT in any of the criteria. I was just a lowly little railroad man who also flew airplanes (for awhile) as a hobby, AND loves radio. I'm retired and loving it. And, NO, I am NOT a railfan; it was a LIVING!!!!!!!!:D



73

J

[W1GUH]

I'm a software puke now, until about 20 years ago I was a hardware Jock.

I knew from the time I was old enough to say "electronics" that I'd be working in electronics. There was never anything that held my rapt attention more than electronics, starting from watching my father fix our radios and television. The absolutely biggest treat in my life was when I got to look under the chassis of the TV. The complexity was mesmerizing. I expecially liked variable caps...they looked so exotic.

I also was born with a strong desire to know, and use Morse Code and to talk on a microphone. Learning Morse Code for the Boy Scouts was sheer pleasure! I'd always wanted a ham license, and as soon as I got to Junior High and met others working on their licenses and we moved across the street from a new ham, I had the letter in the mail to the FCC for the application and exam for my Novice license.

"Career" choice was a natural. EE all the way with absolutely no room for anything else. When I was in college I couldn't relate to the people whose majors were "unspecified." For me it was EE or nothing!

("Career" is in quotes because, after doing the engineering thing for 38 years, it's true that it's just a job...there's no "career" involved. :rolleyes:

Finally...it must be a genetic thing. I put together an SB-102 when my son was one year old. It was on a table in the bedroom in our apartment where I stored it for a while, and one night I walked in there, he was standing on a chair playing with the knobs! Wow...

[ab9lz]

Maybe I could be Hillary Clinton's "man toy"?

A shower cap and some suntan lotion... you'd "fit right in" :)

73 m/4

[af6bk]

I'm a geologist, so I voted "homeless bum". It was the closest answer on the survey.

[KA4DPO]

The title of the thread is "What is your life's vocation? " My life advocation is to die from extreme old age in bed with someone elses wife.

Oh, you meant ham radio didn't you? Oh, sorry.....

[KB1QKQ]

Well I said homeless bum (closest category) but I'm a custom knifemaker.

[NH2MS]

I'm currently the chief engineer at KTWR, a shortwave station on Guam. Getting my license at 18 played a big part in how I got here. After getting my engineering degree in 1985, I worked mostly electronic warfare in until coming to Guam in 2002.

Mike, NH2MS

[KB1PLB]

I have a computer science degree and worked the last 16 years as a Computer Specialist/Test Engineer on a Navy contract. Best job of my life!!!!!

[WA4NPL]

Forty Year Broadcast Engineeer. Fourty-seven year Amateur.
AM , FM, TV ....... What a hobby !!!
Someone once told me that if I found a job that I loved, I'd never work a day in my life. Well............. that ain't necessarly 100% true, but it's close.

Don WA4NPL

[N2RJ]

Looks like police/fire/military is in second place.

I've always wondered why. My guess is emergency communications.

[n5xm]

I've been disabled for 3 years, but spent 32 years working first as an Operating Room Tech for 8 years, then as a PA and 1st assistant in Surgery for 24 years. I've helped do open heart, craniotomies, total joint replacement, sports medicine surgery, all kinds of cancer and trauma surgery. major abdominal and thoracic surgery, and peripheral vascular surgery. The total number of procedures I've helped on is somewhere on the far side of 30K. The last Doc I worked 9 years for had a second degree as an EE from Cal Tech, so when he turned me onto getting a license, we would talk about radio theory in the office all morning and during surgery in the afternoons. I was very lucky in this regard.

It's really nice to read about what all of you fine folks do and have done. n5:)

[KT4LF]

Spent the first 7-8 years out of hs trying to be a professional college student, with several jobs in between - insurance sales, insurance adjuster, traveling dept store photographer, wire service photog, property mgr..to name a few..then went to work for the railroad in '73. Spent the past 35 years as a locomotive engineer, in FL, GA, NC, SC, KY and TN. For past 22 yrs have operated locomotive engines for CSX on former Clinchfield line from Pikeville KY to Spartanburg SC, based in Erwin, TN. Could have retired already, but actually get paid for operating coal trains thru the beautiful Blue Ridge mtns on a daily (and nightly) basis..tho' spend most my radio time these days on 40m cw, have met many friends via 2 meter freight train mobile over the years...73..Dale KT4LF

[k2gsp]

USAF then a licensed Aircraft Mechanic. And presently I'm in Healthcare in Nuclear Medicine.

[k8wpj]

Not old enough for a job yet, but am seriously interested in becoming a Doctor; maybe a Neurologist or General Practitioner.


Get good at science and math, and never miss a chance to learn.,.. the stuff you might think of as silly or stupid now, may just hold the answer to a riddle you'll wrestle with, years from now...

[KE4YGS]

Seems to me computers and network geeks have about as much to do with electronics as a pet groomer does with a Vet.

Poles are so limiting.

Scotty

[k2jnc]

Chose homeless bum... My trade is not listed... I'm an electrician...

John
K2JNC

[k8wpj]

Chose homeless bum... My trade is not listed... I'm an electrician...

John
K2JNC

I chose 'homeless bum too! I thought it was a euphemism for 'broadcast personality'

[ea3feb]

I,m trying this new way of comunitacion. Cristina

[K7WCB]

For money: Jail Commander for the county lockup. Also referred to as The Department of Social Sanitation. :D Been in the industry since 1999.

For fun: Volunteer FF in my small town lucky enough to be situated at the intersection of 2 major interstate highways with the highest traffic flows in the NW. Also smack dab in the middle of dryland wheat farming country. :cool: Been doing that since 1990, split between 2 departments.

edit for speling airor eye mist whin eye red it teh frist tyme.

[w5alt]

I didn't see any choice for my profession. I'm a petroleum engineer.

73,
Walt, W5ALT

[WA4D]

WA6MHZ wrote no "sillyass" reports! As an RF technician he is a working class hero. And broke.

It's easy to surmise that WA6MHZ is uneducated (no college degree) and has had no professional level training in many years. ( Please provide Verifiable documentation if you wish to refute this assertion--- Thank You) His self described economic condition is his own doing. Indeed, WA6MHZ boasts that his employers felt that he was too valuable to promote.


No one put a gun to WA6MHZ's head and said stay in the "dead end job". He was there because he could do nothing else. The good news is that the globalized information economy will wash away the uneducated by the tens of millions around the world, for they contribute little to a post industrial economy. The age of the knowledge worker is upon us. And it will be cruel to people like WA6MHZ. Thankfully his attitude and ilk are fading into insignificance.

wa4d.net

[AC0FP]

WA6MHZ wrote no "sillyass" reports! As an RF technician he is a working class hero. And broke.

It's easy to surmise that WA6MHZ is uneducated (no college degree) and has had no professional level training in many years. ( Please provide Verifiable documentation if you wish to refute this assertion--- Thank You) His self described economic condition is his own doing. Indeed, WA6MHZ boasts that his employers felt that he was too valuable to promote.


No one put a gun to WA6MHZ's head and said stay in the "dead end job". He was there because he could do nothing else. The good news is that the globalized information economy will wash away the uneducated by the tens of millions around the world, for they contribute little to a post industrial economy. The age of the knowledge worker is upon us. And it will be cruel to people like WA6MHZ. Thankfully his attitude and ilk are fading into insignificance.

wa4d.net

Whoo, I guess you don't mince any words.

I will say hello to Christina (EA3FEB). This is not a typical thread, QRZ can be a little bit rough on some people, some of the time. I very much enjoyed your country during my brief stay there.

73,

Frank:)

[wa9cwx]

WA6MHZ wrote no "sillyass" reports! As an RF technician he is a working class hero. And broke.

It's easy to surmise that WA6MHZ is uneducated (no college degree) and has had no professional level training in many years. ( Please provide Verifiable documentation if you wish to refute this assertion--- Thank You) His self described economic condition is his own doing. Indeed, WA6MHZ boasts that his employers felt that he was too valuable to promote.


No one put a gun to WA6MHZ's head and said stay in the "dead end job". He was there because he could do nothing else. The good news is that the globalized information economy will wash away the uneducated by the tens of millions around the world, for they contribute little to a post industrial economy. The age of the knowledge worker is upon us. And it will be cruel to people like WA6MHZ. Thankfully his attitude and ilk are fading into insignificance.

wa4d.net

Let me guess.....Your NOT a Social worker.......?.......:D:D:D

[W4HMV]

I got my ticket at age 15 and just enjoyed the operating aspect of ham radio. Unfortunately, I never cared what "X" equalled and wound up with a liberal arts degree.

My first few years after college were spent as a pilot in the USAF.

Then, I went to law school on GI Bill (what a great benefit) and being a basic masochist, went back in the Air Force as a JAG. Total military time was 24 years.

I retired in '93 from the USAF and then went into private law practice. I retired a second (and hopefully final) time last year after 13 years of private practice.

I've met a lot of hams who have been a great help on techhical issues/matters and respect thier talents and abilities. There's room in amateur radio for a lot of different interests. It's been a great life-long hobby!

[w8znx]

[QUOTE=WA6MHZ;1201884] Back in the 50s & 60s, I would guess 70% of Hams worked as Engineers or Technicians, or maybe

no
not at all
you have it all wrong

most hams in the 20's to 60's
did not work in electronics

but lots of people that worked in electronics
had been kid ham ops

the words are " had been "

most of the ops i knew in the early 60s
had jobs
that had nothing to do with electronics

came home for me
after a few years in the US Army Signal Corps
when i got out
was NEVER
going to look at another radio as long as i lived

took 2 years working in the printing trades
before i got back in to ham radio

mac

[vk6zgo]

WA6MHZ wrote no "sillyass" reports! As an RF technician he is a working class hero. And broke.

It's easy to surmise that WA6MHZ is uneducated (no college degree) and has had no professional level training in many years. ( Please provide Verifiable documentation if you wish to refute this assertion--- Thank You) His self described economic condition is his own doing. Indeed, WA6MHZ boasts that his employers felt that he was too valuable to promote.


No one put a gun to WA6MHZ's head and said stay in the "dead end job". He was there because he could do nothing else. The good news is that the globalized information economy will wash away the uneducated by the tens of millions around the world, for they contribute little to a post industrial economy. The age of the knowledge worker is upon us. And it will be cruel to people like WA6MHZ. Thankfully his attitude and ilk are fading into insignificance.

wa4d.net

Well when WA6MHZ & I first started out, Electronics was "The way of the future",& that was where all the money was!

At least in VK,University was not an option for working class kids!

As an Electronics Tech,I concentrated on doing my job well,learnt a lot about new technologies as they appeared "carried" colleagues who preferred to play with the early computers rather than do their jobs,was "carried" by older colleagues who knew more than I did,& was paid a reasonable wage for it.

This carried on till the mid 1980s when a new generation of Managers & politicians appeared on the horizon with the mantra of the "bottom line".

As they had no technical knowledge or interest they all believed "It's can all be done with computers,we don't need all these bums!",so technical jobs were cut in huge numbers.Those who remained in jobs saw their wages effectively cut by losing shift allowances etc.

This was the same in every skilled occupation,kids didn't want to learn a trade after their parent's experience,so many opted for learning IT subjects.
Others went for business qualifications.

Now, of course,a lot of the IT jobs have gone to India & there never were enough positions for the MBAs.Still ,they can always work at McDonalds!

Western Australia has a minerals boom at the moment,with huge projects being constructed in the North of the state.These require large numbers of skilled tradesmen.
Who? Skilled tradesmen!!.

Oh them! We haven't trained any because we don't need them anymore,it's all done with computers!
73 VK6ZGO

[WA6MHZ]

I DID go to College, for 2 years, and quickly learned that they were teaching me everything I DIDN'T need to know! I wanted to learn Electronics, they wanted me to learn the arts, social engineering and everything else not related to the job I wanted. After sticking it out 2 years, I decided this was a collosal waste of time. Most of the guys were there to meet girls and party. Most of the girls there were to meet guys and party. OH, there were a few Bookworms and lots of Jocks, but very little to increase my knowledge of my avocation, RADIO! So I decided to learn it all by myself. I read every technical book I could acquire, and boned up on all aspects of Electronics. This was supplemented by considerable Hands on experimentation in the lab I built at home. I easily got a job as I was much higher in knowledge than all these College grads with degrees. They didn't know which end of the soldering iron got hot, less how to fix a device that didn't work. I DID! And I excelled at it, so much so that I was indeed invaluable to the plant in fixing and shipping things. Fixing things was easy for me. And fun as well. I get great joy out of sleuthing a problem and nailing it down! But, meanwhile, all these College grads went on to Management, where they told the KNOW HOWS what to do rather than being able to figure it out themselves. So thats what College does for you. You get into management where you can shuffle papers around, make reports to impress other managers and generally do a job without the slightest idea what it entails. I was constantly pestered by plant managers who made incredible mismanagement decisions based on "I'm the BOSS" attitudes with no respect to reality.
I remember once there was a Laptop motherboard line going through a high volume plant and the boss told me to fix all the ones that didn't work. What he failed to realize was there was no way to access the board in the test fixture. It either worked or didn't. The pile of broke boards grew dramatically, and he got angrier! "WHY DON'T YOU FIX THESE?!!!" he would yell. I tried to explain to him reality, but he would have none of that. So I noticed that some boards DID work and most didn't. I surmised there MUST be a difference! After considerable examination, I discovered one IC had a different part number on it for the broke boards. The boards continued to stack up, failed. I pointed this out and was quickly told how stupid I was, for the Customer had said this was a Substitute part! Undaunted, I took a broke board and a good one and traded the chips. VOILA!!! The problem moved to the once good board and the broke board worked perfectly!!!! But the manager still maintained I was STUPID and continued to kerchunk out the boards with the bad parts in them. I went to the engineers and they agreed that the problem was such, but they could not get around this boss! Finally, one did contact the customer and they verified that yes, that part would not work. SORRY! In the mean time, several THOUSAND boards had stacked up with the wrong part in them. My company had to rework them all, at great expense, and in the end, the customer canceled the contract and sent the job to Taiwan. The company folded sometime later, all under the "Management" of a college grad who Knew more than he really did!

So, I maintain that you can learn alot more by DOING than college will ever teach you. College is fine for button pushers and number crunchers, but for actual WORK where you have to use your Noggin to FIX something, nothing beats longtime experience and SKILL. SKILL is something our current batch of young people are way short of.