Work, what do you do.

[SOLID D22]

I work for a company in the city, im a plasterer and metal carpenter (thats all internal fitout of metal walls and ceilings), we do the big jobs like the mcg, convention centre and crown casino.

Would never work for myself out in the suburbs, too many chinamen cutting plasterers throats big time, but i do on occasion take on a few cash jobs throughout the year.

A prime example of throat cutting is me quoting 3 units $22,000 to supply plaster and labour, owner rings me back saying im a rip of and he has a quote for $13,800, I say impossible, but he stuck to his guns and i told him to be careful as my discounted plaster cos i ordered through my company, this is just plaster on it own was $12,000.

See told ya throat cutting, and there was over 2 months work there.

 

[KraftyPg]

Where as I'm the opposite, I wouldn't be selling pc's if I was in the city, there is too many relatives of your chinamen plasters selling their computers and ripping people off. Down here I have to compete with the likes of Hardly Normal but thats not hard to do when you can prove to customers that you can fix a computer and Hardly Normal just send it away for 8 weeks and even then they just format away the problem.

My uncle does flooring and like you pretty much only does big contracts in the city. The last time he traveled out side the city was to do Blockbuster's stores Vic wide under a contract. It's not for me but I'm glad someone does that kind of stuff

 

[bullwinkle]

I'm a financial planner. We do life insurance, income protection, super, investments, all that sort of stuff. Also do a bit of finance - vehicle finance and home mortgages. Also work two second jobs as a barman - been doing this for nearly twenty years - pays for all the extras.

 

[felixblack]

I'm a senior lab technican working in the metallugy/minerals processing department at the Uni. Great job, good boss, lots of variety and can be very easy going at times but the pay is crap.

 

[KraftyPg]

but the pay is crap.

We all say that about our jobs. I once knew a commercial pilot who was getting over $200K a year and he'd always complain that his pay was crap because he paid more in tax than I earnt.

I really did feel sorry for him, but that was mainly because unlike other high end earners he hadn't worked out how to write everything off so he paid no tax.

 

[Deejay]

Hi Guys,

I quit my job as a Sales and Marketing Manager for a large firm many years ago and started a kite surfing school in 2000, it has grown to the largest of it's kind in Australia. Three years ago I started retailing also and now have one of the fastest growing kitesurf retail outlets in Western Australia.

I work on the beach inside a 7 tonne Isuzu Snap on truck, with a 2 tonne trailer on the back which houses the school stuff.

We work seasonally from October to May and take three months off every year to go up north camping. When we return, it's back to the admin side of things which takes from August to October.

It's a nice place to have an office, if it gets too much, I step onto the beach or go kitesurfing.

Pays the bills OK and now you understand why I love the beach with my Nav.

I can't work for anyone else anymore, I love my job although it is time consuming and harder work than it sounds, we work 7 days a week for 9 months, then take 3 months off. It works for me considering the perks.

Cheers,

DJ

Forgot to add: My original trade is Aircraft Maintenance Engineer with Qantas, also worked as Heavy truck mechanic, plant fitter, diesel fitter, hydraulics fitter, vacuum and dust collection system technical sales rep, hire industry rep Coates, National, Onsite, GKN etc and many other jobs along the way. Once I get on top of a new job, I get bored easily and move on

 

[KraftyPg]

When I used to bitch about hard work as a kid my mum used to say "Stop bitching about how hard your life is because someone has always got it harder than you."

Man I just don't know how you can do it, fancy having to put up with the beach every day, have three months off and still call it a job your life really must suck and if I keep telling myself that I'll feel better.

Although I've had a number of jobs in my life and I reckon no matter what the job is at some point it's going to suck, just some don't suck as much as others.

 

[SOLID D22]

When i was younger, im talking 15, 16 years old i worked a part time job after school at pizza hut, the pay was shocking at only $4.30 an hour but it was the best part time job i ever had. The bosses were grouse, the atmosphere between workers was awesome and the general place and environment was pleasing to be in.

 

[felixblack]

We all say that about our jobs. .

yeh true but considering i got over $20,000 in debt for some crap degree and the deli manager at woolworths gets paid more then me i feel i'm getting jipped. but like i said the conditions are good. things are fairly flexible around here. will have to give it up soon but as i've moved 150km away which makes under 4 hours of travel 5 days a week

might look at doing a trade next year if the funds allow. sparky or refrigerant. Even looking into communications. How did you get started Dave?

 

[KraftyPg]

I was no doubt lucky I didn't get into debt with uni courses and stuff, when I left school I had no idea what I wanted but I knew it wasn't education so I just got a job, was an average local government job but it paid me enough to start my business in 18 months.

Every few years I get sick of working for myself and drop the business back to a few clients and about 10 hours a week while I work for someone else but overall I can't complain too much. The Nav was the first vehicle I paid cash for so I probably shouldn't complain at all.

 

[SOLID D22]

I was no doubt lucky I didn't get into debt with uni courses and stuff, when I left school I had no idea what I wanted but I knew it wasn't education so I just got a job, was an average local government job but it paid me enough to start my business in 18 months.

Every few years I get sick of working for myself and drop the business back to a few clients and about 10 hours a week while I work for someone else but overall I can't complain too much. The Nav was the first vehicle I paid cash for so I probably shouldn't complain at all.

Seems like a smart move.
Good on ya!

 

[KraftyPg]

It was a good move at the time, although I gotta say taking on a job 6 days a week midnight to 10am so I could run the business during the day wasn't as good as it first sounded after 7 years.

 

[Aido]

Tried to get my occupation recognised in the last census - all 3 of us put down OCCUPATION - Beer plumber .
I fit draught beer systems to venues.
If your interested - Beer Dispensing Equipments, Beer System Services, Draught Beer Systems
And no I don't get to sample everyday, yes I have a set up at home, no I wont come around and fit out your bar, yes it can be expensive to set up your own system.........the daily questions and comments are endless.

 

[navman_dave]

im a 3rd year apprentice mechanic at blackburn nissan. i service all the latest nissans except the gtr. (because we don't have the facilities to service them)

 

[Aido]

Bought mine from Blackburn...........
Will never return
Crap sales dept. Poor communication.
Have been riding around on bump stops since you lot fitted the Nissan steel bar. Wayne hasn't got a hyphenated surname Kerr - Evans? has he? Too much to bother you lot for an oil change on the first service? Nevermind. Your dealer principal and salesman didn't let you know it was coming anyway and very gratious that the loan "fee" of the tida roller skate was waived even though we had to travel from Sunbury on a date that wasn't suitable for us but more suited Blackburn Nissan. As for the overpriced accesories.
Good luck with your apprenticeship. I'm sure they will teach you alot about shafting customers.
Rant over
Adrian

 

[Cruiserstu]

Work in the offshore oil/gas industry as a marine engineer (diesel fitter by trade), do 5 weeks on 5 weeks off mostly off the WA coast
stuart

 

[Aido]

So if you weren't doing what you are doing what would you rather be?
http://www.navara.asia/clubhouse/2286-work-what-would-you-rather.html

 

[Killswitch]

Over 7 yr with BHP Billiton at Olympic Dam, working with Larox filters, Myrens dryers (copper) and making sulphuric acid.

 

[will]

Used to be a car audio and security fitter at an autobarn for 6 years then as a salesman / shop jock for another 3 years. decided was dead end so went to uni as a 26yr old studying business & economics. After that worked for the government for 2 years. now working as project controller in defence. my how things change.

 

[HJWB]

I'm an environemental advisor on a mine site in the Pilbara region of WA, basically spend my time telling engineers to stop breaking the law and helping them to recognise that you cant dump what ever you like into the ocean!

What would I do if I could have my dream job? Think I'd turn to nature photography and work for DeeJay aka Kitehard, he did teach me to kitesurf after all!

Harley