UKBouldering.com
the shizzle => shootin' the shit => Topic started by: BenF on July 31, 2006, 11:58:43 am
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This isn't some kind of inquiry to find out exactly what everyone does for a living, so if you work for MI5 or summat don't worry, you don't have to blow your cover. I'm just interested after having a conversation with friends and we took a while to think of many close climbing friends who weren't teachers or working on the ropes. Obviously both these jobs have serious benefits for climbers in terms of getting time for climbing.
Oh yeah, and neither am I suggesting that the "working in neither" category is in anyway being dismissed, I just didn't want too many categories.
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Surely you could have put 'I don't have a job' and 'I'm a student' together ;)
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Surely you could have put 'I don't have a job' and 'I'm a student' together ;)
Yeah, I know I could have done, but then someone picky (not suggesting that you are of course) would have suggested I did the opposite. Bloody teachers!
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Bloody teachers, too right. 13 weeks paid holiday a year and all they do is moan about 'workload'. The cheek of it >:(
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I'm not a teacher or in roped access, I'm an environmental consultant, however most of the people I climb with work in education, either as teachers, or as post docs at Uni. I do know three other climbers who are environmental consultants too though...
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I'm not a teacher or in roped access, I'm an environmental consultant, however most of the people I climb with work in education, either as teachers, or as post docs at Uni. I do know three other climbers who are environmental consultants too though...
Maybe Environmental Consultants will top the poll? Interestingly I know a few Environmental Consultants, but none of them are climbers. Not that interesting really, I know lots of people who aren't climbers. Although obviously I don't talk to them much though.
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Bloody teachers, too right. 13 weeks paid holiday a year and all they do is moan about 'workload'. The cheek of it >:(
I know, shocking isn't it? :o
Sometimes I don't leave work until after 4.00pm. Barely gives me time to get much more than 4 hours climbing done.
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Oh, I forgot about the part-time 'hours' when they are in school. 8.30 till 3 is not a full working day. Teachers, one step up from students.
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Oh, I forgot about the part-time 'hours' when they are in school. 8.30 till 3 is not a full working day. Teachers, one step up from students.
No, that isn't a full day. Lightweight. I don't finish until 3.40.
Plus my life in a special school is so demanding... What shall we do in maths today? I know, lets have a walk down to the local park and go on the swings. Then in science we'll get some privet for the stick insects.
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I too am an environmental consultant, I know lots of other environmental consultants who don't climb, and some that do, though I don't think I know Stubbs. Some climbers I know work on the ropes, some teach, some work in education but don't teach, some are self employed and some work in climbing as reps and stuff. What I think this means is:
- I know lots of people at work
- Some of them climb
- The other climbers I know have a variety of jobs
- Around half of them have jobs that give them more time to climb or they are just slackers
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After graduating over a year ago, I was a Computer Aided Manufacturer for 9 months making embossing/debossing dies and foil blocking dies for the greetings card industry/product design industry. There were some ok elements to it. Knowing how to CNC pretty much anything from a sketch on paper into an actualised solid product is very satisfying, but working for a bunch of tits isn't.
Unemployed at present but very much looking for a stimulating job.
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Of the 10 or so people I climb with regularly; no teachers, only one is on rope work, and all work in the Oil and Gas industry. Comes with the territory up here.
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I know at least five people who are tree surgeons, does that count as rope access?
Being a student's almost as tough as being a teacher, you know! We have to laze around most of the time! Terrible.
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Most of the climbers I know are either doctors or physios.
Personally I don't have a "job" but I'm currently working 7 days a week so the lots of free time to climb theory has failed to materialise...
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i make trains
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Any graphic designers amongst us? Would be keen to hear just how you managed to get a job thats not an unpaid placement. Got a bit fed up of working for free for a few months.
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Cool, good response so far. Thanks. Keep 'em coming, maybe I could write a Ph.D...
Whilst there are a disproportionate amount of educationalists and ropists (eh?) so far in the poll, there ain't a stupid number so it must be my circle of friends that's wierd. I just did a quick tally of the people I've climbed with most over the last ten years or so and it came to roughly 5:1 ratio of teachers/rope access vs others. I need to get out more obviously. And I haven't known all these teachers since I was at uni, I've just seemed to meet them all through climbing. Maybe it's something about the Liverpool climbing scene.
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Maybe it's something about the Liverpool climbing scene.
Maybe young people in liverpool need more teaching in general? :P
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i am being a graphic designer this week, after being a photographer for the previous 3. however, I can't really help with questions about placements and stuff because I am entirely self taught and blagged my way into it where I work now. officially i am a marketing executive for a fairly high end furniture company. however, thanks to the chinese, i expect that in about 6 months time i will be homeless, jobless and penniless...
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I work in Sportswear Design....
On the subject of getting jobs without internships, I think they maybe are a nessecary evil. We have over the past couple of years drastically increased the number of interns we use. They generally get paid a pittance and stay for a year as a part of the course they are on. I know seveal people who have done 3 or 4 interships of different lengths before getting a proper job, and I can't see it changing.
As long as there are lots more people wanting jobs than jobs, of course employers will want to use interships as a cheap way of getting work done. To be fair though, interns here learn a lot, and when they arrive are allways a lot less experienced than we would want if they were going to start as an acutal designer....
I think the key to getting the most out of an internship is to do one at a company which will look good on a cv, and/or teach you a lot. No point in learning how to make cups of tea, but if you can get involved in real projects then you can benefit greatly. And command a higher starting salary when you do eventually start a real job.
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At the mo I'm teaching rope access. Now I feel like I'm living some kind of ultimate cliche...
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I am also 'special'. And the kids I teach are, too :thumbsup:
Just wondering if this is a particular area that attracts climbers, just 'cos I know loads of teachers who climb, and a lot of them are in Special Needs too.
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On the other hand Johnny, you could be working out some very hard to get at sums.
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my avatar says it all. or does it.
Ends.
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Graduated recently with a degree in Outdoor & Environmental Ed but it doesn't really qualify you to do much apart from outdoor activity instruction or teaching via a PGCE year.
I'm happy working at the climbing wall though, as it means a lot of free time and a training facility (before and after shifts) without having to waste valuable time travelling! ;D
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I am also 'special'. And the kids I teach are, too :thumbsup:
Just wondering if this is a particular area that attracts climbers, just 'cos I know loads of teachers who climb, and a lot of them are in Special Needs too.
Indeed, come to think of it, I know a fair few SEN teachers who climb. Or should that be the other way around?
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No teaching or rope fiddling here. Just your average corporate desk-jockey. :yawn:
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After about 20 years in IT, I'm currently a postie and wondering what the hell to do with the rest of my life that doesn't involve sitting at a desk in a soulless office 9 to 5.
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I`m a political correspondent and part time comedian.
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After about 20 years in IT, I'm currently a postie and wondering what the hell to do with the rest of my life that doesn't involve sitting at a desk in a soulless office 9 to 5.
I keep thinking about getting out of IT but unfortunately I cant think of anything else I could do which would pay the mortgage. Postie sounds great - if only...
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Master baker 1st class. beat that
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I'm teaching rope access. Now I feel like I'm living some kind of ultimate cliche...
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e67/houdini2/99999999.jpg)
You know it!
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I`m a political correspondent and part time comedian.
Don't give up the day job ;D
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i'm a community psychiatric nurse working in west hull.it used to be a rewarding job when it was about patient care.that was before the nhs became driven by the need to be competitive financially.however with abit of luck i might be able to retire in about 5 years and get a job at b&q or sainsburys.
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After about 20 years in IT, I'm currently a postie and wondering what the hell to do with the rest of my life that doesn't involve sitting at a desk in a soulless office 9 to 5.
After originally training as a teacher I decided to do a shitty office job for a bit whilst I concentrated on climbing and clubbing. This led on to roughly 6 years of shitty office work, interspersed with periods of travelling then returning to shitty office work. I finally sacked off the office work and moved to NZ to climb and work in a climbing shop. When I returned to the UK I finally got my arse into gear and did some supply teaching which quickly led to a contract and now a permanent teaching job at a wonderful special school. After so long hating my job in an office and basically getting no satisfaction from work, it has been amazing to get such a fulfilling role within teaching. However it was a hard step for me to take the plunge back into teaching but I'm so glad that I did it and it has proven to me that there was a way of getting satisfaction through work. Something that for years I just couldn't comprehend or accept that I could achieve.
However, my time working in a shop in NZ was equally good as it gave me time and freedom, which allowed me make a sensible decision and move into teaching. So Bubba, I'd say that your current role as a postie is similar and I'm sure that you'll either decide that being a postie is what you want to do longer term or you'll decide upon a satisfying career elsewhere. Either way, time "treading water" as a postie is probably a great opportunity to collect your thoughts. Good luck.
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After about 20 years in IT, I'm currently a postie and wondering what the hell to do with the rest of my life that doesn't involve sitting at a desk in a soulless office 9 to 5.
Go do a winter season as a liftie. Gives you plenty of time to think, and score amazing powder inbetween.
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Talking stunt horse. Jim- Beaten.
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After about 20 years in IT, I'm currently a postie and wondering what the hell to do with the rest of my life that doesn't involve sitting at a desk in a soulless office 9 to 5.
Go do a winter season as a liftie. Gives you plenty of time to think, and score amazing powder inbetween.
Right on. But make sure you can administer UKB from wherever you're working!
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So Bubba, I'd say that your current role as a postie is similar and I'm sure that you'll either decide that being a postie is what you want to do longer term or you'll decide upon a satisfying career elsewhere. Either way, time "treading water" as a postie is probably a great opportunity to collect your thoughts. Good luck.
Thanks fella - "treading water" is a good description of what I'm doing at the moment. The pay is pretty shit but it's such low stress it's just what I needed for a while.
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Go do a winter season as a liftie. Gives you plenty of time to think, and score amazing powder inbetween.
Right on. But make sure you can administer UKB from wherever you're working!
Me and Ms Bubba are definitely thinking more along these lines nowdays - NortonSharley (who doesn't post here much any more) and Ms Sharley are MTB guiding in the Alps and working for their snowboard instructorship and they seem to be having a great time despite the lack of cash.
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I keep thinking about getting out of IT but unfortunately I cant think of anything else I could do which would pay the mortgage. Postie sounds great - if only...
It's those "golden handcuffs" you're wearing. We're so far hanging on to the house but the mortgage is a bit of a weight to say the least.
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Being a postie sounds almost idylic- Good excercise, free time in the afternoons, there must be more to it than the perception of a civilian?
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Environmental Engineer / wannabe Farmer.
What consultancy work are the environmental consultants up to?
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Being a postie sounds almost idylic- Good excercise, free time in the afternoons, there must be more to it than the perception of a civilian?
Well, I'm actually a driver for the PO - this involves nipping round post boxes and companies picking up the mail, driving mail out from the mail centre to the local delivery offices, and quite a lot of chucking bags/wheeling things about in the warehouse. Sometimes it's quite boring but it's low stress and easy.
I think you're talking about a delivery postperson. That might seem idyllic but apparantly is actually not so cool (I applied to be one of these but the driver came up first). For one, you have the weather to contend with day in day out. Not so bad now but in the depths of winter it's pretty miserable. Then you have a variety of dogs to fend off. And then you have the ever increasing amount of junk mail to lug about. It's got so bad you now see some posties still delivering late afternoon and they started at around 4am. Errm, that's the last problem - starting at 4 or 5 am every day. Not for me thanks. My shifts are mainly 2pm til 10pm or something which is fine.
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Are there any product designers on here? Is it something you have to spend years getting into/ie is there any point when you're middle-aged?
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Surprised this one hasn't come up yet - there's plenty of us out there - I'm an academic. And no we dont get six weeks summer holidays. Still, like Ben, I've found a job that I like and motivates me.
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I suppose I should be smug as I have essentially got my perfect job (making guidebooks). I do like the freedom and satisfaction of being self employed, but I can't deny that I'm not gripped about the financial exposure.
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Are there any product designers on here? Is it something you have to spend years getting into/ie is there any point when you're middle-aged?
there's an interesting chap called ora ito. he didn't want to spend years inching his way up the design ladder, so he wrote a couple of articles for some hip french magazines, and in them included a load of pictures of cool things he's designed for apple, louis vuitton, etc, etc. except that he hadn't. he'd just made them up.
everyone went mad and flocked into the shops trying to buy these supercool things. and then they realised they couldn't.
on the back of that he started getting commissions from here there and everywhere. cunning bastard.
http://www.ora-ito.com/
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I suppose I should be smug as I have essentially got my perfect job (making guidebooks). I do like the freedom and satisfaction of being self employed, but I can't deny that I'm not gripped about the financial exposure.
Yep, similiar here. At the moment I'm writing stories for computer games, as well as any other writing related work I can find. The money's not exactly flooding in (I'm still waiting for the first trickle) but hey, it's great fun, the hours are flexible and life is enjoyable. Whether or not I'll still be doing it in a year's time depends on the money picking up. Fingers crossed.
As for the rest of my friends - there are teachers everywhere, but a reasonable smattering of normal jobs, including a fair amount of IT people. There definitely seem to be a lot of climber-teachers in Sheffield. Which is good, it means I have people to go climbing with when everyone else is at work... ;)
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on the back of that he started getting commissions from here there and everywhere. cunning bastard.
http://www.ora-ito.com/
class!
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Environmental Engineer / wannabe Farmer.
What consultancy work are the environmental consultants up to?
Contaminated land mainly; cleaning up other people's mess on a large scale!
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I did a physics degree and was joining the marines, i now take kids climbing and build climbing walls freelance with a little bit of IRATA thrown in, i am trying to become a jet pilot. We shall see what happens...
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Contaminated land mainly; cleaning up other people's mess on a large scale!
I've recently started out in the same sector and am curious to find out the true diversity of roles within the environmental sector as a whole, i.e. environmental scientist, water resources etc.
As I've only ever spoken with environmental engineers my polar view is that people either work eviro. engineering or EA.
Got a site visit near a farm the other day. Well chuffed.
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Re: Product design.. its the type of thing where if you have great ideas and a good portfolio then there is no reason why you couldn't do it. The problem would be the millions of youths with a mad drive to do intenships etc an live on less money than you probably need, making it harder for you to get your foot on the ladder.
You don't even really need to go to college and study it for years. If you have genuine interest in this area then you must have done some stuff, or have some ideas that you could do. once you have a porfolio you can get on a course, masters maybe and and get the bit of paper you need to be taken seriously, but really it is all about the ideas.. Or skip college and take your portfolio to some smaller brands/companies and ask them for projects that you might do for free-or cheap- for the experience and feedback etc. Where there is a will etc etc
I am an apparel designer now, but I did my first degree in Zoology at Sheffield and pisssed around for a while starting failed clothing labels and the like before doing a masters course in Sportswear Design. Now I am a shiney senior designer in a well known sports brand and I am basically self taught. You got to be a quick learner though...
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Thanks fella - "treading water" is a good description of what I'm doing at the moment. The pay is pretty shit but it's such low stress it's just what I needed for a while.
Yeah, I know exactly what you mean. I made an art of treading water for many years, far too many years in fact, basically 'cos I didn;t want no stress. However, low stress sounds like what you need and who knows you may decide that you want to stay that way for a long time. I did and can honestly say that my years of slacking were excellent and I was lucky enough to get my act together and land on my feet again eventually. It's also worth saying that my partner was and is incredibly supportive, in fact it was her who really encouraged me to sort my shit out and finally do something both rewarding and challenging. Respect to her.
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Contaminated land mainly; cleaning up other people's mess on a large scale!
I've recently started out in the same sector and am curious to find out the true diversity of roles within the environmental sector as a whole, i.e. environmental scientist, water resources etc.
As I've only ever spoken with environmental engineers my polar view is that people either work eviro. engineering or EA.
Got a site visit near a farm the other day. Well chuffed.
Have a look at ENDS - there's a million different types of env consultancy out there - if you really do get a kick out of farming, then there are lots of agricultural consultancies that use env. types to help the bloody farmers contaminate the land to the maximum extent they can get away with..... :oops:
Personally, I do contam land, some water resources, some mining, and have done wastewater treatment, windfarm geotechnics, flood risk assessment etc.
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I did a physics degree and was joining the marines, i now take kids climbing and build climbing walls freelance with a little bit of IRATA thrown in, i am trying to become a jet pilot. We shall see what happens...
Why don't you aim a little higher and push yourself? ;)
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'Bout time I 'fessed up and admitted to being a teacher. Which is great. But not 'Special', just ordinary comp. Love the job though. I , like Ben, know lots of teacher/climbers. Stunning, Dal, Pete Chad, Oz, Owen, Steve Roberts etc etc. This time of year is the best as there's lots of cragging to be done, time to get those projects ticked before term starts again.
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'Bout time I 'fessed up and admitted to being a teacher. Which is great. But not 'Special', just ordinary comp. Love the job though. I , like Ben, know lots of teacher/climbers. Stunning, Dal, Pete Chad, Oz, Owen, Steve Roberts etc etc. This time of year is the best as there's lots of cragging to be done, time to get those projects ticked before term starts again.
Great innit? I broke up five days ago and have climbed on four of them. Tomorrow I go to the Alps for three and a half weeks. OFSTED in September though, so have a bit to do on my return. :thumbsdown:
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Going for some serious highballing are we ;) Hope OFSTED goes ok, at least you've got more than 2 days notice :o
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Going for some serious highballing are we ;)
:lol: Yeah, I'm gonna need plenty of mats for those ten pitch problems... Actually I intend getting a bit of bouldering in at some point, not sure where though, depends on heat really.
Hope OFSTED goes ok, at least you've got more than 2 days notice :o
Thanks. We seem to have been tipped off re: the OFSTED, management are certainly planning for one in mid-september anyway. Dunno where this new two days notice business comes in to that!
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I'm pretty certain to get hit sometime next school year as a) the new head has been there for just over a year and b) it's been 5 years since the last 'visit'
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Have a look at ENDS - there's a million different types of env consultancy out there - if you really do get a kick out of farming, then there are lots of agricultural consultancies that use env. types to help the bloody farmers contaminate the land to the maximum extent they can get away with..... :oops:
Personally, I do contam land, some water resources, some mining, and have done wastewater treatment, windfarm geotechnics, flood risk assessment etc.
Cheers for the advice, it's more the experience of the individual professional I'm after such as you've provided. Hoping the MSc will clear up a few questions.
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I'm pretty certain to get hit sometime next school year as a) the new head has been there for just over a year and b) it's been 5 years since the last 'visit'
Yeah, that sounds very likely. Maybe we'll escape for a bit though, we're three years on from our last inspection and our Head's been there for two years. However, the Head is insistent that we're getting inspected in September - probably just trying to make us work harder!
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Rent boy. £5.50 an hour. Get in. :shag:
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Then you'll be familiar with the Johnny Lee Miller flick Meat (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0134816/)? Harsh portrayal of the plight of the rentboy on minimum wage.
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Dark, dark, dark film. Very good though.
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Well I've just started a new job having been working for an outdoor clothing/equipment company for the last four years. In fact I've worked in the outdoor clothing industry for the last 9 years so I'm pleased to finally make the HUGE shift to............ the fashion industry!! I've started work for a company called White Stuff who are opening in Keswick. I get to be the boss for once!!!!! First impressions are great, opening on the 17th of this month if anyone feels the urge to come and say hello ;D ;D ;D
Retail is all I know, not a bad industry to be in. I'm actually pleased to be getting the odd week day off now instead of the old mon-fri 9-5 I was doing. Means I can have a good quiet session at the cobble without being distracted by kids from London :furious: :furious: Had to REALLY restrain myself the other day, these little fuckers we're throwing stones (of which 3 nearly hit me) talking about when I was "gonna fall off next" and generally being abusive. I am a fairly tolerant person, but had my patience pushed to the limit. Sorry a bit of a rant and a tad :off: but feeling better for it!!!!
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As I've only ever spoken with environmental engineers my polar view is that people either work eviro. engineering or EA.
I work in water resources - flood risk, water quality etc, but I don't tend to work for the EA, more private companies etc, though I used to do EIA and contaminated land and occassionally still do when the work dictates. The best thing about doing hydrology is that site visits tend to just entail a walk along the river. Nice. I've also worked all over the UK, Cyprus, Suriname and been involved in projects in Azerbaijan and Russia. There are definately more opportunities then working in contaminated land has thrown up.
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I put the wet stuff on the hot red stuff for a living. The job is great and it leaves loads of midweek time free... if it wasn't for looking after my son. Do seem to end up working lots of friday or weekend nights tho.. which is not so good.
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I put the wet stuff on the hot red stuff for a living
Firefighter? :-\
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Yup.
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I work in water resources - flood risk, water quality etc, but I don't tend to work for the EA, more private companies etc, though I used to do EIA and contaminated land and occassionally still do when the work dictates. The best thing about doing hydrology is that site visits tend to just entail a walk along the river. Nice. I've also worked all over the UK, Cyprus, Suriname and been involved in projects in Azerbaijan and Russia. There are definately more opportunities then working in contaminated land has thrown up.
Water resources is where I'm headed with a masters in Contaminant Hydrology over the peak in Sheff. The department seems to have some top academics on staff.
Farming's taking a sideline as I'm finding a 6 by 6 allotment hard enough. ::)
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Also a firefighter. Excellent job for climbing, apart from none of my mates outside the job work anything remotely close to my shift pattern. As mentioned by blockhead there are a lot of weekends involved, but empty crags during the week are a pleasure.
Currently the job gives plenty of job satisfaction, but, much like all my friends in public service morale is flowing away and upper management don't give a shit about you or the service, only the bottom line.
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im a sort of student, despite my age...
im currently practicing in a law firm, to be precise in a notary firm, to try a big national exam and become a notary. in the countries of "positive law" its a very different role than in "common law" countries, but its a very good job for the ones who like law and right, and its very very very well paid, and that means you can work less to make a living...
and what do you do when you dont work?.....
before, ive worked four years in a bank, was earning good money but didnt like it so i quit.
now i basically work the same amount of hours, but am not paid at all.
something didnt go according to my plans...
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I'm a member of a struggling boy band called Big Fun, we were big back in the early nineties now we just run the club scene... mostly.
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This sort of club?
http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,5890.0.html (http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,5890.0.html)
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:jaw:
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This sort of club?
http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,5890.0.html (http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,5890.0.html)
Mainly.
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Big Fun as in
(http://www.mattscdsingles.com/acatalog/255%20big%20fun.jpg)
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i would'nt go near a handful of anything they had on offer.
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Big Fun as in
(http://www.mattscdsingles.com/acatalog/255%20big%20fun.jpg)
Yeah. That's me in the middle.
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Me, I'm an investigator for a non departmental public body
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Private dick?