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Life Employment History

ofos

ofos

Vintage Cyburbian
Messages
8,278
Points
28
I'm not even sure what constitutes a "career" any more than I can define "permanent employee" but I thought it might be interesting for people list their employment status(es) since they've been mature enough to be counted as part of the workforce, not including part-time or internships. Mine looks something like this:

1. Student
2. Military
3. Student
4. Public Employee
5. Voluntarily Unemployed/Student
6. Business Owner
7. Private Sector Employee
8. Private Sector Contractor
9. Voluntarily Unemployed
10. Private Sector Employee
11. Involuntarily Unemployed/Student
12. Self-Employed Private Sector Contractor

Some of those phases were with multiple employers or involved contracting at multiple companies. Can you match that? I'll kjel can. Remember, we talking about full-time employment status, not necessarily careers or places of employment.
 
I think you really need to include your age (or an age range) in order to provide some context.

I am in my mid-30s and mine looks like this:

Student
Military
Student
Military
Student
Non-Profit employment (foundation)
Law student (one year's worth was enough for me)
Grad Student
Public Sector employment (state and then county)


Maybe some day I'll test the waters of the private sector.

My graduate student time was concurrent with my state employment and the first year of my county employment, but all of it was full-time.
 
Student
Public Sector employee (small municipality)
Public Sector employee (mid size municipality)

I need to get out much I guess....
 
My list is quite a bit shorter than yours, ofos...then again, I do believe that I am a bit, ah, age-challenged when compared to you. :h:

1. Student
2. Grad student and (full time) private sector employee (that was an exhausting couple of years)
3. Public employee (one location)
4. Darkside employee (working for my fourth different company now)
 
Late(r) 30's, and my full-time employment history is something like this:

Student
Private sector (completely different field)
Student
Public Sector employee - small exurb (overlap with Student)
Public Sector employee - suburb
Retail job
Public Sector employee - large city
Private sector
Public Sector employee - large city

And I am actively looking to add to this list.
 
Turn 40 later this year...

High School Student (worked retail, summer camp kitchen staff, summer camp counselor)
College Student (summer camp division head, summer camp sports director, planning internship)
Public Sector Entry Level (City)
Public Sector Mid Level (Town, same one I had interned for in college)
Public Sector Department Head (Town)
 
WSU MUP Student said:
I think you really need to include your age (or an age range) in order to provide some context.
Click to expand...

I don't think it's any surprise here in our fair forum that I'm in my 60's aka a Boomer so I've had time to have more status changes. Just wanted to put the lie to the idea that my generation finished school, worked for a long time at one place, and retired comfortably. Actually, my parents didn't exactly follow that model either although they had a good retirement.
 
Here it is:

  1. Private Sector Employee
  2. Voluntary Unemployment (stay at home mom)
  3. Private Sector Employee
  4. Undergraduate Student, Act I
  5. Private Sector Employee
  6. Undergraduate Student, Act II
  7. Public Sector Contractor
  8. Graduate Student/Private Sector Contractor
  9. Graduate Student/Public Sector Contractor
  10. Non-Profit
  11. Forced Unemployment
  12. Private Sector
  13. Non-Profit

Keep in mind that I never just went to school, I always worked and it was often full time. I am 39.
 
Undergrad Student
Private Sector Employee
Graduate Student
Unemployed
Public Sector Employee
Public Sector Employee

Mid 30s

The Private Sector work and grad school overlapped. The grad school and unemployment overlapped.
 
ofos said:
I don't think it's any surprise here in our fair forum that I'm in my 60's aka a Boomer so I've had time to have more status changes. Just wanted to put the lie to the idea that my generation finished school, worked for a long time at one place, and retired comfortably. Actually, my parents didn't exactly follow that model either although they had a good retirement.
Click to expand...

You have to remember that you are surveying a community of planners, a very unique breed. If you surveyed a group of blue-collar union workers, you would probably find more people who stayed at jobs longer.

My mom (who has worked in primarily educational and administrative support roles) has worked at a gazillion places. My late dad, who worked for more blue-collar industrial places, only had two different jobs from age 30 on, before he went on disability due to terminal illness around age 50.

For me (mid-20s), it looks like this:
College Student and seasonal Public Sector Intern (at the same place): 5 years
Unemployed, then Part-Time Retail, then Part-Time Retail+Private Sector Intern: 1 year
Private Sector Full-Time: 2 years
 
illinoisplanner said:
You have to remember that you are surveying a community of planners, a very unique breed. If you surveyed a group of blue-collar union workers, you would probably find more people who stayed at jobs longer.
Click to expand...

That is a good point. I remember reading somewhere that among "professionals" those who work in city management generally have among the lowest life expectancy at any one employer since if something goes wrong, it's much easier to fire a city manager or department head than it is a mayor or commissioner/councilman. I would imagine that plays a part in the willingness to job-hop for all of those in the public sector... not just the bosses, but their underlings as well.

However, I will say that at the county level (in Michigan anyway) longevity seems to be quite normal. I think it may have something to do with the way local government is set up here where everybody lives in a local city, village, or township, and the county has limited mandated responsibilities (not that I agree with all of those different layers existing). As a result, residents with complaints usually go directly to their city or township or to the state, which leaves the county level to be relatively relaxed.
 
illinoisplanner said:
You have to remember that you are surveying a community of planners, a very unique breed.
Click to expand...

Not trying to be too snarky, but thanks for the reminder. I'm here because I was a planner and still am, in many regards. I'd say planners are more unusual than unique. Hey, I never knew that "You have to remember..." was a hot button phrase for me. Thanks again.:D
 
31 years old

undergrad (and RA in dorm)
public sector - municipal, small exurb (began grad school)
public sector - municipal, college town (finished grad school)
public sector - state agency (big f***ing mistake)
public sector - municipal, emerging suburb

For comp, my father worked in banking/finance. In his 45-year career he has worked for 5 companies (excluding mergers). Of those, only one of them was a major national (and then, only due to a series of mergers & acquisitions). In 10 years I've almost matched him.

I haven't hopped that much, and I've been fortunate that none of my job changes required a relocation. I like stability and I'm actually having fun/good challenges at my current employer.
 
Non-profit seasonal employee x 2 summers
Private sector - temp employee x 4 summers
Student - undergrad
Private sector x 2
Government employee - Special District x 2 (1 paid & 1 Volunteer)
Student - grad
Government employee - County - same time as grad student
Government Volunteer - State - same time as grad student
Government employee - County

And at various times and lengths - either unemployed or worked jobs off the books for cash. ;)
 
Roofer, barns mostly
Manufacturing material handling equipment
Manufacturing tool boxes
Rebuilding Ford engines
heavy equipment operator
College (maintenance work for a slum lord)
County Park employee
Grad school (Bus driver)
Planner
City Administrator
City Administrator
 
I'm at 39 and hears a list:
1. military
2. construction
3. drafting (low voltage controls)
4. drafting (cable engineering) x2
5. drafting (mobile offices)
6. unemployed
7. tobacco sales
8. student
9. planner (Phoenix suburb)
10. grad student (while employed)
11. unemployed
12. tobacco sales
12. planner (director for Kansas county)
 
I’ve had a lot of jobs, but just a handful of ones that were “full-time with benefits”:

Undergrad (various menial jobs)
Non-profit hospital (unrelated to planning)
Grad school (internships)
Public sector (state conservancy)
Public sector (county planner)
Voluntary unemployment for a year (stay at home mom when we lived in NM)
Private sector (environmental planner)

My parents were college-educated and the longest my dad was with one company was about 10 years, and for my mom was about 18 years (but she was a nurse so worked for the local hospital). My in-laws did not have college degrees but my father-in-law worked for one company for 40 years, and my mother-in-law has been with her company for at least 20 years. My father-in-law’s job was definitely one of the blue-collar unionized jobs that are not available to workers today (6 weeks of vacation per year, hourly wage you could raise a family on, etc.). I'm at the tail end of Gen X, and my parents and in-laws were Baby Boomers.

I'm hoping to stay with my current employer for a long time, I like it here. Although I might end up in one of the different office locations at some point down the road.
 
I would not know how to do this. I have worked continuously since I was 13. Even during grad school I worked a full time job as well as a weekend job.
 
Career evolution

Planning tech
Program specialist for extension (bicycle safety)
Bicycle safety educator certification
Managing editor for a serial magazine (bicycle programs journal)
Self-employed (mail-order and special event gift business, 15 yrs overlapping much of what follows)
Free-lance paste-up graphic artist
Advertising sales for a small bicycle assn magazine/education program coordinator
Editor of same magazine
Freelance writer & paste-up artist
Dance caller (22+ years so far, overlapping)
Technical assistant manager for a copy chain (computer dept)
Catalog designer for industrial supply warehouse
Freelance publications/adult ed computer classes (we're into the digital era now)
Grad school
Home hospice care for parent
Zoning for telecommunications (contracts)
Planning & zoning administrator for a township
Planner I for a major city (special land uses, wireless telecom-mittee)
Telecommunications (three contracts)
Municipal short-term contract (drafted bicycle plan v. 1.0 for favorite city)
Real estate specialist for a small wireless carrier
Unemployment collector, volunteer
Palliative care for other parent, family estate issue-solver
Professional musician, dance caller, bicycle safety
----------------------
35 years total, aging boomer
 
Fat Cat

1. Student
2. Private Sector
3. Military
4. Public Employee
5. Private Sector
6. Public Employee
7. Student(GI Bill)
8. Public Employee-City Planner
9. Private Sector-Business Owner-Accounting
10. Private Sector-Corporate Accounting-Bank
11. Public Employee City Manager
12. Private Sector-Planner
13. City Manager
14. Private Sector-Busness Owner
15. City Manager/Economic Development Director
16. Unemployed (forced)
I am a baby boomer :);)
I worked full time while going to school
I may have missed something
 
My list was just a bit cryptic - another attempt more descriptive -

Summer camp counselor - paid to live by a lake in mountains.
Grocery store stock clerk - down the Jersey Shore
Shipyard - 6 unions
Oilfield Wireline Rigger - worked with explosives
Dishwasher, Kitchen Steward, Security Officer - condo/hotel conference center in ski town job bonus - season ski pass
Sanitation line maintenance - "Norton"
Volunteer Firefighter/EMT in ski town
State Parks Volunteer - Urban Trails mapping
County Planning Dept - student intern / temp
Combined City/County Planning Dept - current
 
Professional Life
Public Sector planner/minion
Usher at sports/entertainment complex (concurrent)
Public Sector ZA-full time
Public Sector ZA part time
Public Sector ZA-Full time and concurrent with part-time gig mentioned above
Public Sector PD/BC
Public Sector PD
 
1. Undergraduate college
2. Graduate school
3. Law school
4. Private law firm
5. Federal government
6. Private consulting firm
7. Involuntary unemployment (thanks, Reagan!)
8. Self-employed consulting
9. Non-profit
10. Federal government
11. Self-employed consultant
12. Private law firm
13. Public sector planning director

Various summer and part time jobs during school. I am 62. My father's career: 1. Navy (27 years); 2. College professor (17 years).
 
Mid-30s, worked full time in high school and full or close to full time during both undergrad and grad school.

Private sector employee
Student (undergrad)
Military
Private sector employee
Grad school
Public sector employee
 
Whose Yur Planner said:
Professional Life
Public Sector planner/minion
Usher at sports/entertainment complex (concurrent)
Public Sector ZA-full time
Public Sector ZA part time
Public Sector ZA-Full time and concurrent with part-time gig mentioned above
Public Sector PD/BC
Public Sector PD
Click to expand...

FWIW, the ZA in the jurisdictions I worked was the same thing as PD.
 
Fast Food/Restaurant Employee during my high school years.
Worked at an Automotive Supply company while in college (undergrad) during the summers.
Currently the Planning Director of a rural county in the south (at 25.... 8-!)
 
I am 35. Been working in some capacity (or in school), since I was 15.

1. High School Student
2. Private sector (summer job) (Ice Cream Scooper)
3. High School Student
4. Private sector (summer job) (Fast Food)
5. Military (US Army)
6. Private sector (Pizza Delivery Driver)/Military (Army Reserve)
7. Private Sector (Video Store)/Military (Army Reserve)
8. College Student(GI Bill)/Military (Army Reserve)/Private Sector (Barista)
9. College Student (GI Bill)/Military (Army Reserve)/Public Sector (Janitor for University during summer)
10. College Student (GI Bill)/Military (Army Reserve)/Public Sector (Planning Intern)
11. College Student (GI Bill)/Public Sector (Economic Development Intern)
12. Public Sector (Economic Development)
13. College Student (Masters)
14. Public Sector (Economic Development)
15. Private Sector (Dark Side)
 
Kind of a funny juxtaposition between private/public sector since graduating that I never really thought of...

25 yrs old:

High School Student/Private Sector: Janitor at fitness club
High School Student/Private Sector: Subcontractor (rode on a trailor and delivered new garbage cans to communities)
Undergrad Student/Private Sector: Inventory manager at car dealership (summer job)
Undergrad Student/Private Sector: Telemarketer
Undergrad Student Full Time (hated working as a telemarketer)
Undergrad Student/Public Sector: Intern at local state survey

Public Sector Intern at small suburb (random but interesting stuff)
Public Sector Intern at small town MPO (transportation stuff)
Public Sector Tech at mid-sized suburb (current planning stuff)
Public Sector Planner at large city (land use and transportation stuff)
 
Started working when I was 16, and am now 47:

1. High school and college - worked retail (Kmart, Venture, Carson's/Bergners/Boston Store, Kohl's), also worked one summer as a public works laborer, also intern in local government
2. Received BS - worked briefly in private sector, unrelated to planning before... (< 1 year)
3. Army (1+ years)
4. Federal government (1 Year)
5. Local government economic development (2+ years)
6. Received MS - Private sector market research (1 year)
7. University research center (1 Year)
8. Non-profit community development (2 years)
9. Local government economic development (7+ Years)
10. Local government economic development (1 Year)
11. Consultant - self employed (2 Years)
12. Consultant - private sector with my own business on the side (3 Years)
13. Consultant - self employed (4 Years)
 
OK, this is a neat idea.

will be a half-century this year, let's see if we can change the box & show a different route:

student: law and english
military
blue collar private sector employee (+side job)
blue collar private sector employee (+side job) junior college-math and english
private sector employee white collar (+bc own business) junior college-math
private sector employee white collar (+bc own business) junior college math and botany
private sector employee white collar (+bc own business) university, board member
grad school
public sector planning
public sector planning + side job
side job + daddy job + board member
private sector own business, boards member​

Ouch. I'm beat!
 
I shouldn't embarrass myself...but maybe it will be therapeutic. So here goes...

I'm in my mid-30s, by the way.

Waiter
Undergrad student / waiter
Video store clerk
Undergrad student / video store clerk
Waiter
Undergrad student / waiter
Restaurant manager
Health insurance claims processor
Administrative assistant
Law student
Administrative assistant
Law student / administrative assistant
Convenience store clerk
Grad student / assistant planner
Planner - public sector
Ph.D. student
Planner - public sector

And strangely, I miss waiting tables the most.
 
Ha, my first block of private sector employment was mostly cooking. I've been pining for it lately. You'd think the shit pay, messed up hours, and smelling like a sweaty prime rib all the time wouldn't have me all nostalgic.
 
I'll be 30 next month.

undergrad student (summer jobs as a temp)
law school student (interned at legal aid clinic, city legal department)
municipal lawyer at private firm
unemployed/caring for small children due to spouse's relocation
assistant in a small law office
planner I, public regional office
 
HomerJ said:
Undergrad Student/Private Sector: Telemarketer
Undergrad Student Full Time (hated working as a telemarketer)
Click to expand...

My college roommate and I lasted three days at a telemarketing firm, we couldn't even finish the training before we walked out together. The best part of the three days was the big slinky I won during a training game.
 
undergrad
state gov. photo lab
undergrad
grad
public sector planner/PD
retired, reaping the rewards of sucking on that government thingy for 35 yrs
 
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