What job did you want to do but never did?
Discussion
When I was at school I really wanted to be a music journalist. I loved music from a very young age and spent most of my pocket money on LPs and gigs and used to read every word of the NME.
Turned out I couldn't spell (probably dyslexic), so that never happened.
Can't say I am that upset in hindsight as music became really crap after the 1990s.
Oddly enough I was in the bottom set for maths. Although I ended up with a "B" in O'level without really trying. In my later career I ended up producing a lot of spreadsheets. I love a spreadsheet and statistical analysis. But I was always told I was crap at maths.
Turned out I couldn't spell (probably dyslexic), so that never happened.
Can't say I am that upset in hindsight as music became really crap after the 1990s.
Oddly enough I was in the bottom set for maths. Although I ended up with a "B" in O'level without really trying. In my later career I ended up producing a lot of spreadsheets. I love a spreadsheet and statistical analysis. But I was always told I was crap at maths.
When I worked at the CSA many, many years ago there was a summary screen that showed people's employer, employment address, etc.
One "client" was described simply as "digger driver" and I always thought that sounded like fun. Certainly, at the time, it sounded more fun than the prospect of calling up his ex-wife to talk about her assessment- she was a proper harridan.
I have hired a mini-digger from time to time over the ensuing decades and "digger driver" still remains on my list of aspired next jobs, assuming the whole chartered accountancy thing fails to pan out.
One "client" was described simply as "digger driver" and I always thought that sounded like fun. Certainly, at the time, it sounded more fun than the prospect of calling up his ex-wife to talk about her assessment- she was a proper harridan.
I have hired a mini-digger from time to time over the ensuing decades and "digger driver" still remains on my list of aspired next jobs, assuming the whole chartered accountancy thing fails to pan out.
Terminator X said:
I wanted to be a Building Surveyor and ended up a Quantity Surveyor. Rock and roll 
TX.
My Dad was a building surveyor. I was considering being a quantity surveyor as it could be done in day release rather than full time at university. My Dad talked me out of it, which I think was a shame as I would have been in spreadsheet heaven. TX.
Pilot.
I did my PPL in the early 00s, did my hours building and CPL, then around 1/2 way through my Instrument Rating we had the financial crash in '08. One side effect was a large number of pilots laid off. So I stopped and stayed in IT (still fly for fun). One of my mates at the time carried on with the IR and Multi-Crew.... he finally got a flying job in 2012, with massive debts from his training.
I did my PPL in the early 00s, did my hours building and CPL, then around 1/2 way through my Instrument Rating we had the financial crash in '08. One side effect was a large number of pilots laid off. So I stopped and stayed in IT (still fly for fun). One of my mates at the time carried on with the IR and Multi-Crew.... he finally got a flying job in 2012, with massive debts from his training.
I desperately wanted to fly Sea Kings.
Spent my school time tailoring my CV to be ideal for the Royal Navy. Maths & Physics, team sports, up to date with current affairs, always booked an appointment with the visiting Navy Liaison Officer.
Berlin wall came down in 1989 which led to a massive forces reduction in 1992, I sat my GCSE’s in 1993. Pretty much got told my B-Grade results would not cut it anymore for air crew but welcome to join the RN surface fleet.
Dad was a Captain in the Merchant Navy, had a Jaguar XJ-S V12 & a nice house, so went & did that instead.
It worked out as planned…
...still not as cool as Flying Sea Kings though.
Slow.Patrol said:
Terminator X said:
I wanted to be a Building Surveyor and ended up a Quantity Surveyor. Rock and roll
TX.
My Dad was a building surveyor. I was considering being a quantity surveyor as it could be done in day release rather than full time at university. My Dad talked me out of it, which I think was a shame as I would have been in spreadsheet heaven. TX.
TX.
Cameraman, sound engineer, lighting engineer, publican.
I have always enjoyed tinkering with electronics and anything technical really. I was the geek in the lighting box at school when the confident kids were on the stage performing but at least you could have a quick smoke.
Publican is a rose-tinted dream based on working in pubs in my youth. Being the jovial landlord would rapidly turn into being the pickled alchy at the end of the bar I suspect given that I’m not far from that anyway without being a publican
I have always enjoyed tinkering with electronics and anything technical really. I was the geek in the lighting box at school when the confident kids were on the stage performing but at least you could have a quick smoke.
Publican is a rose-tinted dream based on working in pubs in my youth. Being the jovial landlord would rapidly turn into being the pickled alchy at the end of the bar I suspect given that I’m not far from that anyway without being a publican
funinhounslow said:
Whenever I see a really tall crane I'm always envious of the operator.
I'd love to be up there in splendid isolation just left to get on with my work and enjoy the view.
I'm sure the reality isn't half as appealing though...
Worked on dozens of sites with tower cranes, some with more than one crane, as you’d expect you rarely see the crane drivers, not many come down for snap, they also do the truckers Tizer when nature calls as well.I'd love to be up there in splendid isolation just left to get on with my work and enjoy the view.
I'm sure the reality isn't half as appealing though...
Their only communication is usually the banks man who slings stuff on and off the chains via walkie talkies. First thing every day you’ll have all trades screaming for lifts though, so a pressure job to some extent and a good banks man is required as they are you eyes.
The crane technician who has to walk out to the end of the jib to re cable it, now that’s a real job.
Driver just has to climb up numerous one lift ladders to his cab but the technician has to wander out 30-40 metres on a tubular steel arm.
Then you’ve got the sky scraper tower cranes that get bolted on the side of the building and go up with it, no thanks.
75-100 ton mobile crane would be a good gig, some form of hgv licence to drive it would be required you’d think.
They also sway a fair bit even in normal conditions, ones on railway tracks that move always look unstable but obviously are not.
Edited by Promised Land on Monday 12th May 18:41
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