How many are working outside of their degree/field??

[Smithfan]

Weird; life is what happens while you have other plans -- or words to that effect by some Beatle.

My degree is in journalism, with a reporting/editing emphasis. Probably would have been happier as a history prof somewhere, except I love the research, but could not stand to deal with "teaching" high school or college adolescents, without moving down the aisles to slap the snot out of some one or another young dipshit.

So...spent 18 years, part-time and full time as a reporter and bureau chief, much of that with a Chicago Tribune chain suburban daily.

Went into business for myself as a freelance writer but soon succumbed to the lure of corporate public relations (the money was incredible, compared to print media.) In the process, earned the equivalent of a master's degree, academically.

Have also worked, briefly, in government (which I hated) and have been in business for myself.

In retirement, I have a real estate license, working on a broker's license, and manage single-family residential properties.

I also pretty much do, think, speak and write what I want, so life is not too bad (I like to think the missus and I have invested wisely; we own rental property, among other things.) But who knows what Obama I will pull next.

Bill

 

[2000Z-71]

Got a Bachelor of Architecture and I'm unemployed. So not working outside of my degree field, just not working.

 

[bettis1]

I have bachelors degrees in biology and chemistry and a doctorate in dentistry. I'm retired (except for part time teaching) but I still use my scientific background...I convert a lot of wine, scotch, and vodka into urine.

Bob

 

[bmhiii]

...I convert a lot of wine, scotch, and vodka into urine.

Bob

bmhiii

 

[1968hawkeye]

I was a journalism major, but spent 30+ years in municipal/county finance so I wound up getting a degree in finance too.

Hawkeye

 

[BarbC]

I'm a paralegal but I manage an old folks home. Actually, there's not much difference.

 

[Engineer1911]

I earned at age 31 a BS in mechanical engineering from U of Wisconsin-Madison. After 30 years of engineering positions from design engineer to engineering manager, I am happily stock shelves in the electrical department at Lowes.

The Lord does work in mysterious ways.

 

[DCWilson]

Officially retired, so I am jobless but not contributing to the unemployment stats. Majored in Greek and Latin, did a couple of years of graduate work in Classical Archeology. Worked in academic research management for a decade while teaching a handful of classes; did nothing for five years; wrote and edited a community newspaper for 10 years, than worked as govt. relations/fix-it guy for a property management/development firm for 10 more. Not a clear career path, but then when you major in dead languages you are sort of opening yourself up to an erratic professional future.

There were some strange years, but in retrospect I wouldn't have a minute of it any other way.

 

[cmort666]

I have a BA in Political Science.

I've been an Army officer, FSO for a cleared NASA contractor, computer and networking specialist and operations manager for an importer of castings and forgings. I don't think I've ever gone without using at least some of my major degree, especially in the Army and as an FSO. I used it a lot in the importer too.

 

[66TAS]

Turned away from a scholastic scholarship to Auburn in 1984 and went to a Vocational-Technical scool for welding and auto mechanics. Been a mechanic ever since. Bought the shop I worked for in '99 and been questioning my own sanity ever since......

 

[H Richard]

Starting out in the USAF as a Jet Engine Mechanic. Went to college, but never completed the first year. Went to work in the Finance field and for 5 years worked up to and managed a small loan company. Was recruited by a hospital in the process of expansion, and as Credit Manager, later Director of Patient Financial Services oversaw the credit& collections; registration & scheduling; third party billing & contracts. That lasted for 35 years, and along the way picked up the equivalent of an assoc. degree in management. Dealing with the Fed government, State government, numerous third party payors, it all boils down to bill collecting. Hospitals are a business, don't let anyone tell you different.

Thank God I am now retired and wouldn't go back for anything. My volunteer work is all in various shooting sports which keeps me busy.

 

[deadin]

Two careers down and working on a third.
First career was 20 years as a Navy Musician. Retired in '78. Went back to college, got a degree in Computer programming. Never professionally wrote a single line of code, but ended up as a system analyst for an actuarial and underwriting department in an insurance company.
I'm currently working on my third career. I'm 10 years into it and getting really good at retirement.

 

[dennis40x]

I do not wish to embarrass the intuition of higher learning thus it goes unmentioned. My profession is mechanical engineering the career included design of the following: mining equipment, industrial food service equipment, telecommunication enclosures, bulk material handling & drying equipment, pneumatic waste haulage systems, radio frequency gluing equipment, and finally mobile medical units. I've never worked outside of my career field. Retired early and I am now a house man.

 

[mississippi revolverman]

Degree in Criminal Justice, master in Police Adminstration. Years later Construstion work, Procurement Manger, 8 yr overseas work and now Fleet Manager

 

[Duke426]

I have a major in Finance and a minor in Economics. Hated working in the white collar environment. I am a railroad conductor on the Norfolk Southern and looking forward to becoming a locomotive engineer in a few years.

 

[Tijeras_Slim]

BA in philosophy.

Bicycle mechanic, then prison warden, finally nuclear weapons effects and radiation hardening.

Don't ask me how it all happened, it just did.

 

[flop-shank]

I'm a shop laborer/janitor/maintenance guy/truck driver for a tool and die shop. By trade I'm an infantryman. Excepting the current economic slow down, I have a pretty cool job. It's not uncommon for me to go into work and work all day without being told what to do. I keep busy taking care of whatever has to be done so that the shop runs smooth, safe and pleasant. I don't make as much money as the builders, but prefer the autonomy my job offers compared to theirs.

 

[Onomea]

PhD in East Asian Languages & Cultures, but I work for an aerospace company selling highly technical, big-buck products.

I don't have a clue as to how the products actually work, but then that's okay. My colleagues do. I do sell 'em to the Japanese, though, so that part fits with the academic field, especially the language.

 

[grub348]

English major, worked as a poured wall carpenter for 30 years, now an idler [no job]. I hope to become Emperor, when Obama fails.

 

[truckemup97]

Wife has a degree in telecommunications with a broadcast journalism emphasis. She works as an accountant. I studied psychology, so of course, I drive a truck.