To find it awkward explaining my job?

[Bluebluesea321]

Does anyone else find it awkward/tiring trying to explain their job to people e.g. when being asked in a social setting? Unless you’re a vocation like doctor, teacher, accountant etc it just feels quite difficult without either sounding boring or show-offy! I work in a senior role in financial services and although it’s a very good job I have people asking what I do!

That should be *HATE people asking what I do!

Yes I can answer in about six different ways, all are correct, most are dull, people must think I'm lying :)

Me. I test on animals. That goes down like a lead balloon.

And I actually love my job but downplay it so as not to bore people and probably come across like I hate it

DH has a very senior financial services role and people don’t ever ‘get’ what he does. He just said ‘i work in banking’ now.

I used to work in financial services and now work in compliance in Education. I've seen so many people's eyes glaze over when I've explained my current role.

@stealth glad it’s not just me!!

@SoyDora that’s probably easiest!!

I often lie or am v economical with the truth because if I tell them my job title, they feel obliged to say 'oh, I don't know what that is - what does that involve?' and it's pretty obvious they don't want to know the answer!

@leg

Nobody ever understands my job. I doubt half my family actually know what I do, but I usually see it as a nice thing that people ask and want to understand - unless they’re just being polite and don’t actually give a shit

I am a matched bettor. Try explaining that without people thinking you have a gambling problem.

I hate the question because it's only often asked so you can be placed in some sort of social hierarchy related to them and behave towards you in a number of set ways, either deference or irrelevance.

Power play, innit.

I’m a philosopher. Many people hear psychologist, then make a joke about me reading their minds, I reiterate philosopher and that kills the conversation.

I hace a vocational job, but few people outside the profession know what civil engineers do.

@OrchidInTheSun yes and my job title pretty much wouldn’t mean anything to anyone outside my field so then I end up trying to explain it in layman’s terms and feel like I’m boring myself!!

@BikeRunSki something like a civil engineer though at least is a legitimate job people will have heard of!

I work in HE regulation. It's fascinating and I'm passionate about it but it's had to explain what I do in a couple of sentences. I'm also aware that some people don't find higher education as endlessly fascinating as I do

@OldUnit so true! Maybe that’s why I feel naturally quite awkward about it!

Surely they are just being polite? Say something vague like that you work in finance and then move the conversation on.

That said I am a doctor but I won’t admit that in most social situations otherwise before you know it your taxi driver is telling you all about their recent colonoscopy, or you are stuck discussing someone’s weird rash over dinner.

Sometimes I wish I could just say ‘I’m a solicitor’ or something!!

@SpuriouserAndSpuriouser the issue is if you’re surrounded by a group of lawyers or doctors and they politely ask you what you do/where you work/what speciality you’re in and I have to try and explain my job!

What do you say if people ask you what you do spuriouser?

Sometimes I tell people I'm an accountant (I'm not) because it's boring and people just want to change the subject

I do. I struggled with all manner of things before I finally got a grip of myself and gritted my teeth to say 'I'm a writer'.

I sound like a dick but at least people know what that is.

I am a judge. Another lead balloon, especially as the country I work in was famous for its corrupt legal system, before its civil war.