what job do you do?

[mmm]

I'd be really interested to know what careers mumsnetters have. I know it's very nosy but I've seen all sorts on these pages. So...I was a teacher of English as a foreign language and the voice of a mouse for a video game and a singing butterfly and I have done voices for companies which want an answerphone message ("just a moment please hold the line" etc ) Anyone else?

hi jinna,thank you very much i will go and get them and let you know how i get on,good luck with your book too!!!

whymummy you mentioned you also do illustrations - it is worthwhile approaching some publishers to do illustrations only - the book i am doing is being illustrated by someone else who was found by the publisher - i am hopeless at drawing

i`d love to do that jinna,anything to do with drawing,painting,etc i also want to do murals,but i will have to wait till my dd is at school,but the illustrations i could do them from home,thanks!

LIZS

Spooky, but no I only started there three years ago, did two years time and am now SAHM nearly a year.
I was in Lingerie & Acces division B&M, where did you move to out of B&M, always interested in what other direction our line of work could take us, as it always seemed like an all or nothing job timewise that is. I do want to return to work in approx 3/4 yrs but know that 40+ hr weeks and constant travel was one of the reasons I gave up in the first place.......What took you to Switzerland ?

Angelmother

Angelmother,

Last worked in the Retail Planning dept but know structures have changed since my day and it may be part of Design Function now. Had a bit of an up and down relationship with B & M depending on which divisions were on the up or down. Was very interesting to try to realise some of the developing concepts and trends in the stores and high profile, but quite pressurised (where wasn't) and most definitely not something I could visualise doing successfully part time with kid(s)- too much focus and dedication required, aside from travel and long hours...!

I took a 5yr Career break, because was denied 1yr as they would have had to keep my job open, and in the meantime my husband was offered the chance to work in the Swiss subsidiary of a UK based bank, so we moved here 2yrs ago. Technically I have the option to be considered for a job preferentially with no loss of accumulated benefits but they seem to have forgotten all about me !

Anyway I think I've probably waffled too much already but it is interesting to see what a cross section of jobs/former jobs we've all had.

I'm a Dental Technician, in my work I make dentures, crowns bridges,orthodontic appliances,etc.
For the last 14 years I've specialised in Child Dental Health and orthodontics. I love my work, and am lucky that I've been able to carry on part time. I work in a large Dental School, have some involvement in under and post grad teaching, and treatment of cleft babies and patients with special needs.

I'm a patent agent - companies/people tell me all about their new 'inventions' and then I describe them in a patent document and try and protect them at patent offices throughout the world. Can be interesting, mainly stressful but not badly paid. Got a science degree then spent 5/6 years taking the most horrendous exams - passed, got big payrise then promptly fell accidently pregnant.

Used to work in private practice but have recently set up on my own - initially from home but soon to take on an office (scared about this)

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sssh - don't tell anyone about it!!

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I'm a teacher, teaching ICT at secondary school. Only do it part-time now, 3 day a week, since Dd was born a year ago. Anyone who has read the stave v private debate will know that I am not exactly impressed with the school I work at at the moment though so have been considering some form of change - not sure what yet though.

Too late! Edgarcat I've stolen it, I've just sat and wrote out the plan and emailed it off to a patent company. It's going to be called an M2T Juice Dispenser....

....ha ha ha the world will be miiiiine!!!

Mum2Toby and SamboM - look, wheeeeeee I can do it!

I'm a University lecturer, teaching Gender and Development and African Studies.

edgarcat
apply to patent it, convince a large manufacturer that it's a real winner and sell it - or become a Mandy Habermann with the anywayup cup and sue anyone who nicks the idea (mum2toby!), earn zillions from having a monopoly in suckable cups that leak and patent infringement damages, then moan that patents cost too much, c.f. Dyson etc -

Too true, Northernlass. No-one ever points out that it's not the patenting process that costs a fortune, it's defending the damn things! And if you do remove any costs associated with making an application (as in the US) you end up with idiots trying (and succeeding) to patent the wheel!

Ah, that's given me away, hasn't it! I'm a marketing manager in a technology development company (and yes, we spend a lot on patents). Actually, NorthernLass, do you fancy a job? We've just lost our inhouse patent attorney and I reckon we could cut a very attractive flexitime/parttime arrangement for the right person.

I'm a chartered tax advisor and chartered accountant - AKA bean counter extraordinaire!

I'm an NHS manager (boo hiss!), but I'm not high up enough to be a really horrible one! Don't really want to be an NHS manager though - it's too stressful...

I'm an HR Manager (human resources fyi). Happy to sell my soul and provide advice on mumsnet for you all.

I'm thinking of becoming an NHS manager. Does dot1 want to swap?

Oh dear - I'm a Director in the NHS so that must make me one of the horrible ones.

Agree on the stress levels though.
Does anything we do as NHS managers really make a difference sometimes I have my doubts.

I call myself one of Alan Milburn's prostitutes - I meet even the most ridiculous requests from the dear man.

Must go - I've depressed myself about my job again - where's that bottle of wine!

Ohh Dot1 agree with you - Dh is an NHS manager and was fairly high up in a hospital ( but not a bad one either....think that is the level above him)- stress levels were a nightmare and No such thing as family friendly hours...I had gone to hospital to have an ultrasound to check dd's growth and ended up having an emergency caesarean an hour later.... dd born with down syndrome and very serious heart defect ... He called work to speak to his boss who asks him can he make it to work two days later for a very important meeting at 6pm at night.....When dd was in London having 2 open heart surgeries - the pressure for him ot be at work - whilst implicit was incredible....

He is now still an NHS manager but works for a health authority ... lot less stress and very family friendly... and he is finding it a little hard to cope with it after 12 years of stress and long hours.

I'm a nurse.
It must be really hard for those NHS managers on their management payscales. I've never seen any of my managers around after 5. They seem to spend all their time going to a lot of strange off-site 'meetings'. So sorry to hear you're all so stressed. I have regularly seen nurses spat at, hit and abused. This is quite stressful too.

Well said Verona!!!!

Yeah - well said - great idea to slag other people off !!! That's a great example of one way Mumsnet has changed to me !