What's the coolest job you ever had?

[motely36]

I've always had boring job like retail sales or help desk.

Has anyone ever had a really cool job they want to share?

[bobbobbins]

1. i was in a rock band for a while

best job ever invented...i did it full time, made about 200 bucks a night, people bought me drinks and shots, so i never had to pay for them...got drunk off my ass on the job every night...and the women...oh man, the women...that kinda job is what dreams are made of

[barackmyworld]

2. I passed out wrist bracelets at a huge lobster bake

and got a lot of free lobster. Well, that barely counts, but free lobster is all the more delicious.

[KurtNYC]

3. Video producer for a ski resort

Skied, shot videos, edited, skied, helped with location shoots for films, skied, helped coordinate World Cup skiing competitions, skied, worked the OP Snowboarding Championships.

Made video news releases about how much snow was falling / is falling and sent them to Los Angeles. Stuff like that.

[readmylips]

15. KurtNYC: Ski question for you...

Where were the 1991 Ski Olympics held? I bought a beautiful 1991 Ski Olympic jacket at a flee market and I'd like to sell it at Ebay.

[KurtNYC]

26. Not sure

There was pre-Olympic skiing competition during the spring of 1991. The most relevant stuff was in France since the 1992 games were in Albertville, France. Some of the competition scheduled for Val d-isere was cancelled because it snowed TOO much. Some was at Tigne whihc was the venue for Freestyle in the 1992 games.

http://www.xs4all.nl/~jon/ski/skiing.htm

The jacket just says "1991 Ski Olympics" ?

[readmylips]

39. Yes. Shoulder patch says USA Skiteam 1991 and..

made by The North Face, GORE.TEX jacket front left patch, large KODAK patch on front right. It's a woman's jacket. The back has large USA letters on top of map of somewhere but I don't think it's a US state. I thought it looked like Utah, but it's not.

[SKKY]

4. I like the job I do right now...

...I do CND (computer network defense) for the DOD. It's fun.

[readmylips]

5. Photographer...

with a company that took yearly photos of school kids. You know, those school photos we all have of our kids. All day, I worked with a huge smile on my face.

Worse Job: Child Support Investigator. The heartbreak, abuse of children and women, and the government's indifference toward the innocent was too pressure on my sanity. I was very dedicated to my job and very heartbroken when I left.

[tk2kewl]

6. I've had a bunch of cool jobs...

Just thinking about them has made me feel kinda good. Thanks for asking.

• I once worked in the Long Beach Naval Ship Yard for a while refitting propellers and shafts on ships and rebuilding minesweeper engines
  
• I ran bus ski tours to upstate NY and VT
  
• I worked as a groom and exercise rider at a Long Island riding club where lots of celebs and their kids rode (Soros, Caroline Kennedy (I met Jackie O.), Peter Boyle)
  
• I worked as an Environmental Land Use Planner for the Town of Southampton and did extensive work on The LI Pine Barrens Preservation Plan and built a Geographic Information System (GIS) that automated much of the towns planning research
  
• I was an associate professor of GIS for Long Island Univ for a few years
  
• I was Director of Software Engineering for govWorks.com (of the movie "StartUp.com" fame) and we developed NYC first on-line parking tickets payment app (did you know that NYC writes 25% of the nations parking tickets)
  
• I now work as a Software Development manager for NYC GIS group and developed an application the Office of Emergency Management, NYPD and FDNY that maps all the details of subway stations for use in incident command centers (Homeland Security stuff)
  

[redqueen]

11. I'd love to be a groomer and exercise rider.

You have had some very cool jobs, indeed.

[Lorien]

20. Me too

I don't really like picking out horses hooves, but the rest sounds really great. Quite a career list there!

[Ian David]

7. Coolest job: Digital audio editing for a voicemail system

I got to edit the built-in voicemail prompts:

"To leave a voicemail, press one... to be transfered to an operator, press zero."

[qnr]

8. On a polar icebreaker in Antarctica? Oh wait, wrong "cool" - no, wait

it was cool in both ways....

[tk2kewl]

21. For real? That is pretty far out.

I love the water. I have a dock on in my backyard on LI

[qnr]

22. Really. A couple, actually, 7 trips to the Antarctic, 5 to the Arctic n/t

[tk2kewl]

23. Very cool

[redqueen]

9. Not really.

But I did really enjoy working at the fish and chips shop, my first job. Split shift, but the owners and customers were wonderful.

[BurtWorm]

10. Managing Editor of True Detective and other "dick books"

Pardon my French. My first job in NYC. I was with them till they died a lingering death. Still trying to solve whodunnit.

[cruadin]

12. I worked at an ice cream factory one summer. All the free...

ice cream you could eat.
And, yes---despite everything your instincts tell you, you can get sick of ice cream.

[TlalocW]

13. Computer programmer

Which may not sound cool, but because of the people I've worked with, it has been. I'm always part of the "class clowns" clique so I always have lots of laughs.

In high school, my coolest job was just a temporary one with my best friend. We were hired to gut the inside of an old house built in 1898. So we would just knock out inside panelling all day and get filthy. Less than a year after we were done, it burned down. I imagine the owner (who was living in a trailer on the property) wasn't too happy about that.

As as mentioned before, I'm also a part time entertainer - magic, balloon animals, and juggling at restaurants, parties, and corporate events. It's a nice diversion and is surprisingly decent money.

TlalocW

[Sporadicus]

14. Systems Engineer for a Major Insurance Corporation

The working conditions were outstanding and the pay wasn't all that bad. It was a temp job, however, so I didn't make myself too comfortable. It was fun while it lasted, though.

[NewJeffCT]

40. I've never had a cool job :=(

1. In high school, I worked for a jewelry store.
2. Briefly, as a college freshman, I worked at the college cafeteria.
3. later on in college, I worked for my father's small business.
4. My last year in college, I worked as a college intern for a large insurance corporation
5. Since college, i've worked at financial reporting & accounting type jobs.
6. After my ex-wife sucked up all my cash & left me deep in debt, I took a 2nd job at a restaurant, working as a host, bussing tables & serving for about a year.

[Lorien]

16. Animator for Walt Disney Feature Animation

OK, some people wouldn't think that was cool, but the under 10 set usually does! ;-)

Interned on The Little Mermaid, left during the Lion King...done a few really crappy movies for other studios since then. It was fun for the first few years, but then it got as monotonous as you would expect it could be (and studio politics are hell).

[tk2kewl]

19. I always wanted to be an animator

I think that is soooo cool!

What do you do now?

[Lorien]

29. Well, you've been everything else!

;-)

At the moment I'm doing what I always dreamed of doing; writing and illustrating children's books. Sadly, it's not a career one can survive on, so I have to keep illustrating for Disney too (the merchandise and collectibles market pays pretty well). Last animation job I had was as a studio supervisor on an Adam Sandler film for Sony. I actually really enjoyed being a manager, despite the fact that the movie was fairly awful. Key to good studio management; 1.) hire competent people, 2.) let them do their jobs! I'm pretty good at that end of the business too, but I feel that I really don't have the luxury of wasting the artistic talent I was given (and my friends and family won't allow it either).

My other favorite job; teaching a portfolio class at a local college. I helped a few of my students to finally get their dream jobs, and that made me feel really good.

[tk2kewl]

35. Childrens books are cool too

my wife works for Chris Cerf (son of Random House founder). She just finished working on "Thanks and Giving" with Chris and Marlo Thomas. Its a book and CD for kids and proceeds go to St Judes. Wife also works on "Between the Lions" childrens TV show and used to work for Sesame St.

[Lorien]

42. Your wife has some pretty cool jobs!

and the only people that have an easy time in the children's book market are celebrities; it's a struggle for the rest of us.

What does she do for the PBS show, and do they need any illustrators/ character designers? ;-)

[tk2kewl]

44. Are you in NYC?

if so PM me. I can always put you in touch with my wife.

[Bouncy Ball]

17. Probably the one I have now

but I can't talk about it too much.

[XNASA]

18. I'll have to think about that for awhile........

It's a tossup between being a Rock Star and working for the Space Program.

;)

[tk2kewl]

24. I once had a job bilking old people out of their SS money

also: indiscriminate killing, and HS cheerleader

[Tom_Foolery]

25. I've been a radio dj for a long time...

but it was more fun back when radio was done right. It sucks now, but it's still kind of fun. Hell, it isn't even a real job.

[GOPBasher]

27. Physics teacher at a small rural school.

I was only there a year, because I had to move when I got married. I'm still a teacher, but I hate the job I have this year.

[EstimatedProphet]

28. I raised endangered Colorado river fish

It was for a study on temperature and growth effects

[Webster Green]

30. Rockand Roll roadie/technician...........

Setting up sound and lighting systems for shows. Did quite a few national tours and one nighters during the late sixties and through the seventies. I met quite a few of my heros and had a blast, and made good money for doing it.

[RagingInMiami]

31. I was a karaoke MC in an Irish pub in southern Spain ten years ago

I was allowed to drink free drinks all night long and I would spend my shift talking to Spanish, Irish and English girls who were on vacation. What a summer.

[scarlet_owl]

32. I had a job where I got to play with antique toys all day.

I would determine their condition and describe them for sale on Ebay. Unfortunatley, the company got too greedy and laid people off, including me.

[ImpeachBush]

33. Trail Crew foreman with the forest service ...

I got PAID to hike trails on the Dixie National Forest in Southern Utah ... the most beautiful place on the planet.

[tk2kewl]

51. Utah is fantastic.

I have never been in the Dixie National Forest, but I loved Escalante Canyon, as well as all of the National Parks (Zion, Canyonlands, Bryce, etc.)

[rbnyc]

34. Information and Referral Specialist at the LGBT Center in NYC.

I still work there on-call, but don't have a schedule, because I got a huge promotion at my other job with a breast cancer non-profit.

Here's my job description for The Center from my resume:

"My duties at The Center included managing the Information and Referral Database, acting as liaison between Center users and providers of Center services, acting as liaison between Center users and LGBT service providers in the New York area, answering telephone and email inquiries regarding Center programs and services, providing administrative and reception support, and helping to facilitate the hundreds of weekly activities at The Center. I was also responsible for the safety of all Center visitors and staff, evacuating the building for fire drills, enforcing The Center’s code of conduct, mediating conflicts, and assessing emergency situations such as injuries, fights, blackouts and bomb threats and implementing the appropriate emergency protocols."

Basically, anyone could come to my desk or call me and ask me anything and I would help them find the answer.

[Dukkha]

36. Greenpeace

The pay was shit but very very rewarding and the best people I ever knew.
What other company would bail you out of jail for protesting.

[tk2kewl]

50. Cheers to you!

Here's to fighting the good fight! :toast:


I will never forget the "Next time try recycling" banner on the garbage barge in NY Harbor in the 80s

[micrometer_50]

37. instrument maker

I help fabricate components for large scientific instruments.

[Tikki]

38. 1984 Summer Olympics...security at the..

UCLA venue. I worked every night for 3 weeks. My shift was 11:00pm~7:00am. Even though it was in the middle of the night, some amazing things did happen. I remember it as a 'real fun' time.

I came home with a small paycheck and this pin.





Tikki

[Ivan Sputnik]

41. magazine editor

I got to travel overseas and attend pseudo-glamorous events where cool swag was given out. The downside was low pay, ridiculous deadlines and supervision by psychopaths.

[motely36]

43. Like I said, I never had any cool jobs.

but a friend of mine works for a trading card company and gets to go to the photo shoots and meets a lot of the stars. I think that would be cool.

[skygazer]

45. I've had some cool jobs

My first job, at 13, was at a riding stable where I worked in exchange for lessons. Did that for 4 years.

At 17, I was training a kennel of 76 greyhounds at a racetrack. I did that for about 8 years.

I worked as a snowmobile mechanic and salesperson for about four years which was a great job. I got to ride any time I wanted to and try out all the new models.

I worked on a road crew one year which was a pretty cool job since I was the only woman on the crew. I went from a grunt laborer to being an assistant to the grade foreman - I was in charge of a bunch of guys who'd been working at it for a long time but they liked me and respected me so it was great. That was my favorite job.

[tk2kewl]

47. You reminded me. I forgot an important job I had

albeit volunteer. I taught mentally and physically challenged kids to ride horses when I was in HS.

[fluffernutter]

46. i worked on a few movies here as Art Director assistant.

that job rocked!

[WMliberal]

48. I like being an election officer

It's just too bad we only work twice a year.

[arwalden]

49. DJ In A Gay Nightclub... Gainesville, FL

[tk2kewl]

52. That sounds like a little too much fun.

I hope you didn't get too caught up in the meth scene. My brother had a real problem with it as a result of the gay party scene.

[arwalden]

54. Well... My Last Year Of DJ-ing was 1987...

and I managed to isolate myself from much of the substance abuse that was popular back then. (I didn't even drink alcohol when I was working.)

Working? More like "you-mean-you'll-actually-pay-me-money-to-do-this?"

-- Allen

[tk2kewl]

60. cool

[noshenanigans]

53. I tested video games

I spent a few years after college working at a couple of really big game companies (the biggest game I worked on was Medal of Honor: Rising Sun). It was cool- they gave me a build of the game, I played through it and told them what needed fizing. On MOH I spefically did Multiplayer stuff, so I got to sit around and play with three guys a lot.

At a different company I did standards stuff- specifically for Sony, but I did some X-Box stuff too. I was given every game we made before it was submitted to the company to make sure it follows all the rules it needs to (memory card function, what buttons can do, what messages can say- that sort of thing.)

I loved it, only left because I was in a really bad car accident and couldn't work for a while. I was interviewed for an Assitant Design thing at a different company, so I'm hoping maybe that will pan out since I can walk again now.

And hey, since I was pretty much the only girl working on the games I got the extra joy of being followed around by geeks all day :)

[Samurai_Writer]

55. Lots of cool jobs...

In high school:

Worked at Astroworld (Six Flags in Houston) as one of those cartoon characters. In the summer. In a big, hot suit. With no cooling system. Back in 1977. But it was fun, because we got to get in free to the park whenever we wanted, and they had all kinds of parties for the employees after hours.

During and after high school:

Sang/played keyboards and bass in a couple of metal bands. Also did fashion modelling, and taught piano, voice, and music theory.

After high school and during college:

Bartender and chef at various clubs and restaurants.

After college:

Studio musician, BBW model (which I still do). Volunteer as a "Search Angel", helping people find their birth family members (adoptees and others).

Regular/boring jobs I've had:

Technical Writer
Software Trainer
Network Administrator
Document Coordinator
Editor

Currently manage a technical writing department and do lots of editing. Still do the BBW modelling on the side. Still do the adoption searches too.

Peace,
Bella

[greyfox]

56. Associate Editor

of a rural cooperative magazine which sent me north one edition and south the next -- and therefore I got to spend 3 days and nights in New Orleans once every two weeks... had some GREAT times!!!!

[Worst Username Ever]

57. Correctional Officer

Work release/medium security. So easy. Night shift, I studied for school all night and got paid something in the neighborhood of 16 dollars and hour to do basically nothing. Good times. Free prison food!

[northzax]

58. I'd say it's a tie

between raft guide and ski patrol...

getting paid to spend all day on the water, either flowing or frozen, and all night in the bar.

[gollygee]

59. I was a newspaper reporter

It sounds cooler than it is.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

61. I've had two that were really fun.

The first being a tour guide at a cavern. I was a teenager in HS and I got to take the college geology students on tours. Being a 16 year old girl that equated to lots of flirting. I also got to go caving with the colleges that were doing research. That was VERY cool.

The other was as a columnist for a local newspaper. I was the person who attended all the local festivals and gave a summary of events. Very fun job.

[Left Is Write]

62. Radio chick.

[no name no slogan]

63. Chief Cellarman in a top-rated London (UK) pub

In fact the pub had won the Evening Standard's "Pub of the Year" award right before I started working there.

I got to learn quite a bit about the secondary fermentation of cask-conditioned ale from an expert in the field. I also completed a course at the City & Guilds of London Institute, which (supposedly) can get me a job in just about any pub in the UK.

It was the toughest, worst-paying and most back-breaking job I ever had, but it was also one of the greatest jobs I ever had, too.