to wonder what happens "in the city"?

[ButteryPie]

I'm genuinely not being horrible here - I am just curious.

I just realised that I don't actually know what "working in the city" means. People tend to just refer to it as if you should know.

I'm guessing it is well paid, and the city is London, possibly it involves banking, but isn't actually working behind a counter taking in cheques etc.

If you work in the city, when you get to work, what do you do? Do you sit doing spreadsheets, or have meetings getting people to give you contracts, or what?

I understand most jobs, even if I couldn't actually do them, but I honestly have no idea here - if I had to pretend it was my job, I would put a suit on and walk about with a folder in my hand, but that (or it's variant of wearing a high vis jacket or overall and holding a scrap of paper) is my fall back "pretend to know what you are doing" thing.

Not that I pretend to do these things, except in my head. Obv.

Reinsurance isn't a form of betting.

Insurance companies take out insurance themselves in order to reduce the risk that in the event of a catastrophe they are still able to pay. It isn't betting. It is insurance.

And I was in the city for 16 years. I drank a lot back in the 80s but these days you don't drink because of the culture, you drink if you are a piss head.

'City job' covers a multitude of sins (and incomes)

In 1986 I had a city job in settlements (v. boring probably doesnt happen any more). One colleague was seriously considering giving up his flat and buying a Porche and living in that - he could afford a flat or the payments on a car not both.

I think this is quite a brave thread.

I've got lots of friends who work 'in the city'. I've had some of their jobs explained to me in playschool terminology over dinner. The rest I just don't get...... but then when you get down to it lots of people don't really get my job either!

I have lived with my DP for 11 years and he has no clue what I do in the City. I tried to explain once and saw his eyes glaze over. Saying you 'work in the City' is a bit like a code that's used to identify 'people like us'. It's more an attitude, state of mind than a job iyswim.

If you want to pretend to work in the City OP you will need to leave home early, get home very late moan about your commute and be able to navigate from A-B using only winebars as landmarks .

i worked in the city as a trading desk assistant, executive pa and also client entertainment manager

i enjoyed it, is different to other places i have worked. it was always busy, buzzy atmosphere but the last year or so i got bored its a very young environment and the attitude of many started to really get on my nerves

money was very very good for what i did and i got at least a third yearly bonus and lots of other perks skiing, ascot, drive race day got to drive very fast cars, lots of meals out, concert tickets, but would not want to go back to working there its not for me now and i am studying and much happier