So what is your job?

Page 6 - Seeking answers? Join the Tom's Hardware community: where nearly two million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
Damn I am an odd ball.... I am the local CPA (exam pending :? ) and yall are all engineers/technicians/software engineers...

*Hides in the corner with his 10 key*
Click to expand...

I'll hide with you...don't know if you read all that shiz, but I'll have my CPA soon, but I work for the guvment. Speaking of which...the IRS has plenty of positions in Texas :twisted:

I just love reading about technology and whatnot :arrow: Is it true you can legally own an anti-aircraft gun in Texas?

Probably... if you can shoot someone legally I don't see why you can't shoot a plane down.

--zornundo

What stage in the CPA process are you at? 150 hrs? Sit for sections? waiting on experience requirements? still in school?
 
Well, yes and no. The more money you have, the more time you spend managing it and dealing with it. Consider having more than 100,000 in the bank - that's the max that's insured (FDIC), so any amount above that means you need to have money in another bank. This is a small example, but it's evident that more money actually turns into more headaches. Also consider that the more you make, the more the government takes (even with an accountant, you have to worry that they're handling it correctly and that they won't run away with the money - ignore the fact that they also require you to pay them). More than 95% of federal income taxes in the US are paid by the top 50% of wage earners. Your reward for earning more is having more sucked away...and not proportionally to what you make. I fear for family wallets everywhere when the next Democrat is elected president. 😀

The more money you have, the more you end up spending too. Do you really NEED a new computer every year? Do you really NEED to buy a new car instead of used? Ironically, it seems that the more money people have, the more they want more money. This isn't just my own experience either - I've talked with lots of people far older and wiser than I and it seems to be a common theme. It's a little counter-culture with America that demands that you BUY BUY BUY, but strictly following what advertising tells you would leave you pretty depressed IMO.

Making millions at a job that makes you miserable means that you won't be able to enjoy the money you're making. Choose a job that provides at least the basics (food, clothing, shelter) and make sure it's what you enjoy doing. You'll spend at least 1/3rd of your waking hours at your job - that's a lot of life to be wasting to make sure the 2/3rds of your hours are a little better.
 
I'm fairly surprised at the technical level of most of the people here! These are the things I'm wanting to do in my future. However, considering where I live (Twin Falls Idaho) if you're not in retail, construction, or agriculture you're dead in the water unless you want to move to at least 100+ miles away.

The company I'm with now pays more than most + I don't have a college degree.
(EDIT: I meant pays more than most retail, construction etc.)
Meh I'm not someone to look for 80k+ a year as an annual salary... I want enough to provide for my future family. I want to be able to have a wife, a comfy home, a couple kids and not have to stress over money... that's naturally what I want because while growing up I didn't have much myself.

EDIT: in regards to the money, I live by what my step mother told me... "With more money comes more responsibility". With more responsibility comes naturally more things to handle and more stress. So I would rather make less money, manage less, and live a less stressful life.
I took CCNA classes in high school and I liked it; I finished my year 1 and 2 in a semester but the class got shut down due to lack of interest. So right now I have my year 1 and 2 but need my 3 and 4. Luckily though I was able to get out of high school with CCNA 1 and 2, A+ and my company paid for my MCP and will pay for a second certification. I plan on making this my CCNA 3 and 4.
 
im right up (down?) there with the sleazeball lawyers...im a financial advisor, the used car salesmen of the corporate world. lawyers and advisors...hated by many, needed by all. i make gobs of money, pinch every penny, and advise others how to do it as well.

i do it because i find it very rewarding to help people accomplish their financial goals. its a pretty cool feeling to attend the graduation of a client's child, whose college they were able to pay for due to my help, or to be invited to a retirement party that i helped someone realize _was_ possible. its an extremely stressful career, both mentally and physically, but very rewarding, both financially and psychologically.
 
im right up (down?) there with the sleazeball lawyers...im a financial advisor, the used car salesmen of the corporate world. lawyers and advisors...hated by many, needed by all. i make gobs of money, pinch every penny, and advise others how to do it as well.

i do it because i find it very rewarding to help people accomplish their financial goals. its a pretty cool feeling to attend the graduation of a client's child, whose college they were able to pay for due to my help, or to be invited to a retirement party that i helped someone realize _was_ possible. its an extremely stressful career, both mentally and physically, but very rewarding, both financially and psychologically.
Click to expand...

That does sound like a rewarding job! The job I have is similiar to that in we're hated, but usually needed and at the same time can be rewarding.
 
Near to 23, Architecture student, working as a graphics designer and occasionally interior and product design. More or less I work hard and get paid very bad but they say the beginning is always like this :cry:
 
I wouldn't say your job is a bad one. I've thought about doing that as well. I mean, sure you're like credit card companies - making money on the fact that people are not generally responsible with money. But you're actually trying to help them out, rather than providing a way for them to lose their shirt faster :).

Helping people is probably the part of my job I like the best. Yes, there is satisfaction in getting something working after pounding my head for awhile, but the best satisfaction is when my software makes someone's life easier and less stressful.
 
It very true what you are saing, but look at this real life situation:

I'm 25 making 80k+, my wife, she is 24, in the inv. banking making 140k+ (depending on the bonus it can be from 100k-250k). Making our family income at around 220k a year. Taking in account potential carrier growth and good investments I can hit my target of having 2mil on savings in 10 years. Looking at 2m x 6% per year/ compounded daily comes out to 135k, take away taxes 70-80k. You know, I can live with that... and it does worth time and effort to give 2/3 of your time to work for 10 years...

Well it can be just me, but it looks like the way to go taking in consideration that 401k wont be able to live through baby boomers...

And actually I do want to have a new computer and new car every year.
 
Hopefully, I am going to enter computer engineering because I love technology. I get the highest marks in physics and computers ( chaosgs, keep in mind physics is important for CE), but my problem lies in mathematics ( I try hard but dont seem to do well. I am looking forward to specializing in 3d ASIC desgin, just a small question. Do the universties normally teach this, or do I have to study it myself, or after I graduate, the company i work for is supposed to teach it.
 
Lol @ 6 bucks. A girl I know is a ref for high school and higher and she gets about $40 bucks for 90 minute games.
Click to expand...

Wow I really got ripped.

And you haven't even seen the pros...a World Cup Referee gets 33k euros (=~ USD 45k) for each game and 50k euros (=~ USD 70k) for the final.
 
Joined the Navy at 17 and spent two years training to be an AEGIS Fire Control System Tech/operator. Spent time on Cruisers in Norfolk and Japan. Worked on radars primarily, UNIX-based integrated test and evaluation system, and 60 to 400Hz power converters. Lots of fun, fondest memories are launching Standard missiles at drones (that's a lot of tax-payer money!) and firing the CIWS mounts. Currently being paid to attend college to become an officer. Lovin' it.
 
Hopefully, I am going to enter computer engineering because I love technology. I get the highest marks in physics and computers ( chaosgs, keep in mind physics is important for CE), but my problem lies in mathematics ( I try hard but dont seem to do well. I am looking forward to specializing in 3d ASIC desgin, just a small question. Do the universties normally teach this, or do I have to study it myself, or after I graduate, the company i work for is supposed to teach it.
Click to expand...

Physics is the key, math is a tool to learn and understand physics. For ASIC design you can probably learn a bit in school, though mostly you will have to learn on your own and catch up once you will get the job. It's way faster and better to learn on the real life projects. On the 3d part I wouldn't worry about it unless you want to get into some hardcore research. Industry having problems with ASICs the way they are right now, and it wont change for the next 5-10 years. Most eng schools teach VLSI and HDL that's what you will be using later on, so look at the programs. Another thing, check on the professors who teach those classes, remember those who can't work - teach. There is the problem with that and that means you will have to learn on your own most of the time.
 
As you all know Tom's Hardware is the very center of news and entertainment for most computer technicians and engineers as well as alot of other electronic careers. Im 17 still cant think what i want to do for a career, except computers and business is what im thinking about. Im the best in my class in entrepreneurship and all of my computer classes. Now what i was hoping is yall will do is post what you all do how many years of college, how many years on the job, a job description, and if your brave enough how much you make per hour or year (salary).

This CAN be a interesting topic that CAN potentially forever change someones future career.

PS: yes its in wrong place cant find a good visited spot for it.
PSS: IF WHAT YOU POST WILL BE NEGATIVE DONT POST!
Click to expand...
Hello Everybody,
haven't been frequently posting of late, I'm sure everyone has been missing my wisdom, yeah right.

MS Computer Science
BS Computer Science
AS Associate of Science

7 years of testing comptuer software and automation systems for Pharmaceutical companies. (Extremely boring!)

$45 an hour contractor with an average of 10K bonus every year.

Boring as heck, great money.

High Regards,
Howard
 
34 year old stock broker. Have my own small firm. Technomaniac all my life. An apple lover in the beginning pushed towards PCs due to the fact I'm a heavy gamer... (what else could I've done)...
 
I'm 26 and a chemist for Bausch & Lomb. My official job is to develop and validate test methods on HPLC and GC for novel and existing components for new solutions and lenses. Basically the formulators come up with something and it is my job to figure out how to test for all the individual components and degradants to make sure that are at the right levels and stay at the right levels. I make ~$21/hr. I have a BS in chemistry and am going to go back to school to get a MS/PhD (which they pay for).

Edit: I'm also an avid gamer since the atari and NES days.
 
Independent computer consultant, solving problems for small and medium sized businesses. Installing servers, PC's, networks and from time to time developing minor routines. Hourly fee: 100-150 USD.

Background: Self tought computer nerd. University courses in Physics, social Anthropology and political science.
Worked a few years after highschool in the MIS/IT department of a multinational company, doing programming, techsupport, research and standards definitions.
I find programming intellectually exausting after doing project after project- consulting is more varied (more human contact) and better paid, but more stressful.
 
Awesome, you're in the same boat as me. My old lady is an Internal Medicine MD. She's going to specialize in Gastrointerology. Stomach stuff.

Hopefully she'll make twice what I make.

To quote a Beatnuts song

If you ain't makin money, then your days ain't f**kin sunny.

Money is happiness, try living without it.
 
First off, Semper Fi to all the jarheads. 8)

The only engineering degree I have so far is the Combat Engineer position I had in the USMC....yup... they taught me how to build things then blow them up....along with being able to hit a man-size target at 500meters with bare sites.

Changed careers from automotive tech to electronics(17 years ago), an AAS will get you in the door of most semiconductor businesses but a little talent with hardware or software will take you farther.

My suggestion is to try to find a job you like that won't be outsourced to India or Asia about a year after you optimize your process.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom