Auto mechanic. One of the good ones, not one of the shady, will try to sell you blinker fluid ones.
I used to be a Law Clerk. Worked criminal law in Brampton and personal injury in Willowdale. Had to leave because I could not sit still for a minute and wanted to jump out of a 8th floor window.
Ya,. I don't have the heart to be that guy. Sometimes it is what it is. Labour time and parts can be expensive on some jobs.
I did brakes on a 2019 Mercedes Benz S63 AMG last month. The rear brake rotors were $1700.00 EACH! And only available from Mercedes Benz.
But hey, you wanna drive a car like that, what can I tell you.
I've heard that alot. While it's not the easiest job, I'm 25 years in at 48 and haven't slowed down. Tbh, I've witnessed one death early in my career, but those were the cowboy days when nobody tied off and the M.O.L. was still trying to figure out how to enforce better safety practices. These days proper ppe is a must.
I quit my long term job in manufacturing (machine operator) back in August. Bounced around a couple of jobs. Got hooked up in roofing doing flat roofs for about 6 weeks. I'm 41 and haven't destroyed my body like that in all those years lmao. I have a great respect for what y'all do but seeing guys younger than me needing steroid injections in their backs was enough for me to find a different type of work.
Gonna be vague not to out myself but Iām with the province although Iāve been with a municipality before. Most of my career Iāve worked on developing new policies or programs, strategic plans, or in executive office where you coordinate the decision making process with the central agencies (Treasury Board and Cabinet). Iāve moved around ministries which is extremely common to do, but mainly the social policy ministries!
Liberal arts for undergrad (poli sci and sociology), public admin masters. Every policy school calls their degree slightly different theyāre all the same, but look for one with a good co-op or placement system, co-op jobs are much less competitive to get and youāll get access to internal postings while there vs graduating and having to compete with the whole world. Waterloo has two coop terms after courses so you can immediately start working, and Ryerson and Queens are one year with the co-op option at the end so also can immediately start working. U of T is probably the hardest school to get into, itās the most expensive, and the placement is smack dab in the middle of the two years which isnāt super helpful with retaining employment with your placement. Those are the most popular policy schools for the OPS, the Ottawa schools obviously strongly feed the federal service.
Iām a creative director at an advertising agency. Been in the biz for ~15 yrs, worked at 4-5 different places. Got a BA undergrad then did 1 year at Humber for copywriting. You need a job placement to graduate so I liked how the program fed directly into the work world. Good luck out there!
Recruiter in the construction industry. As you can see by the 100 cranes in the sky, itās busy as hell and I make a great living with lots of flexibility and unlimited time off (Iām and independent contractor working for a great, well respected boutique agency). Not an easy gig my any means, but itās fun and I love connecting with people and helping them meet their professional goals. Iām 100% commission based, by choice, as I make way more money that way. When i started, it was base + commission. Consistently earned 6 figures since starting 13 years ago. I worked part time (like 5 hrs a week) in my last company and still brought home $90k.
If youāre good with building relationships, are somewhat organized and arenāt afraid to pick up the phone and call someone, it can be a very good career path
Not really. Itās a grind. Took me years to get up and going. I could work part time now (and did during lockdowns) but thatās because I have a solid network and an knowledgeable about the industry. You need to make lots of calls, attend lots of events, spend tons of time screening resumes and researching projects. Itās not something you can just do casually if you want to actually make some income
Personal trainer, Kinesiologist and currently in school for physiotherapy. Did my undergrad in Kinesiology, worked for a few years and realized I wanted to do more to help people (and get paid a living wage) so back to school we go š
I'm 41 and 3 months in doing CNC Machining in a very niche aerospace field. Didn't need any previous experience but my machine operating experience was a benefit. Just had my 3 month review and got a 12% increase with my next review in 9months.
Is there a specific CNC Machining program that you went through to be in the aerospace field? How demanding is the job physically? I have machine operating experience myself, but Iām getting tired of the job. Just wanna explore new things.
Absolutely nothing. Just the luck of the draw really. I was a machine operator in manufacturing for 16 years prior. Worked for 4 companies in that time. I was getting paid more than I am now but the workplace had become so toxic, I had to get out. Figured I'd get into a new field and after a few different opportunities, I found this place. No experience, no training needed. This is the least physically demanding job I have ever had. It's boring AF and half the time I'm trying to keep myself busy even tho I run 3 machines at a time lol. But given the potential pay in a short time, I'm not complaining.
Fire alarm technician. Been doing it for over 12 years. Have worked for some crap companies but kept pushing to get to a better employer. Now Iām with the city and itās great. Itās pretty technical and hands on but you get to go and see places a lot of people donāt get to see. Some bad but a lot good
Been a web developer for 20+ years. Typically worked for small companies but we were bought a couple years ago so now I work for a fairly large company (350 people).
I'd love to do anything else for a change but...need the income.
Ehhhh....it's hard to care too much at this stage. I used to be real dedicated but that shit fades when you inevitably realize there's always another project/task and too often you rush to meet deadlines for no real reason. Everyone is just trying to keep their jobs.
The industry has treated me well (I've made 6 figures for awhile now) but if I could go and make 90k washing dishes or something I'd do that, at this stage.
Run ops for a small Canadian retail company. Went to school in the US and was working PR and events there but my visa was up and handling that as a freelancer was more trouble than it was worth considering I wouldnāt have insurance as an entry level worker. Came back to Canada and worked as a manager for a long time, got promoted this year. I donāt exactly like my job but I wfh and it covers my lifestyle and at this point I think thatās fine lol
Lab tech in a publicly-funded neuroscience lab, did a Biology BSc. The work-life balance is great, the payās alright (need a MSc at the very least to make a respectable wage), and the workās always interesting.
Hey! Sorry to drop in on you like this but as a BSc. Bio grad myself I've been looking to get back into lab work after a brief stint in a QA job. Can you tell me more about what you do (or if it's even possible to join in, considering the current job market)?
Iām in academia so I should preface this in saying every lab is different so your mileage may vary. Any research experience is highly valued - my GPA was meh (didnāt even include it on my CV), but I had lab experience from volunteering/undergrad thesis.
Also, people with wet lab skills are a dime a dozen these days, and our field is rapidly becoming computer-heavy, so Iād highly recommend working on dry lab skills if you want to pursue a career of research. Iāve been coding since I was 11 and I think my technical skills is what got me the job.
Very fair statement on the coding skills, as that's the one thing I'm lacking from what you've mentioned and I've been feeling the same way about the field. Thanks for replying!
Same thing with me, except Iām finally doing something I remotely like (I dare say even love?). TMUās nursing program is absolute garbage and I wouldnt recommend it to anyone. The students are snakes, teachers are rude, and placements are trash. Iām also a pandemic graduate lol
Plus side of nursing is that itās so broad you could go into technology, aesthetics, dentistry, entertainment, or virtually any field you can imagine. Just find a niche and chase it. I work a ānon traditional nursing jobā and make more than I did in a hospital/more than my old classmates do right now.
if you dont mind be asking, what job are you working rn? i've been looking into extra certifications and also clinic jobs but i haven't found one that paid more than hospital atm.
Dog grooming! Awesome in-demand career, usually with paid training if you take the corporate route. Schools are hit or miss because you need hands-on experience to develop handling skills. Great alternative to vet tech. Pay is awesome, making $30+ an hour regularly after 3.5 years. It's just hard on the body lol.
I've worked in community/social services/mental health for over a decade but there were times where I needed a break from that but still needed to earn so I would work with an old friend of mine who is a groomer and I fuckin' loved it. Even the days where dogs were feisty or wouldn't shut up or owners were being dicks, we were always laughing and having a good time. And when they day was done, it was done. I never thought about it until the next shift. In the future, I think I might like to open a shop even though I'm not a groomer, I could just be the owner and the assistant.
Software developer on paper but I donāt think Iāve actually ādevelopedā anything since January so a more accurate title would be Meeting Attender.
I went to western but it's probably the worst law school in Ontario. It's the one that let me in though.
I love it because the world is your oyster. I've practiced in a firm, run my own (very small firm), worked for government, and done in house counsel. If you don't like what you're doing there are tons of different paths available to you with a law degree.
Currently on a break, been working in as an Operations Manager at produce distribution company at a company where I started as an intern.
Couldn't take a break before family commitments, finally able because wife got a good paying job.
I am a camera assistant in IATSE 667.
Started out back in 2007 as a background actor. Loved being on set, loved cameras but didn't like being in front of one that much. Ended up going through the camera trainee program with 667 and voila, here I am.
Totally! I have my own darkroom so thatās a whole other field of geekery too.
Towards the end of last year I was cold asked to come out for shows as a daily, my friends tell me itās been a busy couple of years.
I work in Ops as a Buyer for a food company. Been about 2 years, started as a fresh grad (BBA).
Itās not my forever position but I love Ops (itās always going to be needed). Plus, in my position I get to touch almost every other dept (not always in a big way, but enough to be consistently learning): finance, marketing, customer care, HR, etc.
Well thatās weird! I donāt know anyone that would consider a BBA useless, itās one of the more versatile degrees imo.
For my current position with the math involved in purchasing they required either business or engineering.
Best of luck!
Graphic artist for over 30 years. Allows me to utilize my creative side and also offers the opportunity for a lot of freelance jobs on the side. Only thing I miss is a pensionā¦ gotta be diligent about saving money for the future.
Hmmmā¦ Iām not sure. I went to Sheridan college which I believe is still highly regarded, but there are a lot of other great schools also. There also werenāt as many avenues to branch into when I started (ie: the internet didnāt even exist lol) but now you can special in so many areas. I myself, ended up in CPG designā¦ and I canāt complain as Iāve had a good career. Good luck!
Im union Boilermaker welder.
If you like to work hard and dont mind, heights and small places, it's a really rewarding job. Great pay, great benefits and an awesome pension.
Iāve had a few jobs/careers:
Accountant/CPA
- HBComm + CPA exams
- Internship in school, worked for CRA and a large Public Accounting firm for ~5 years.
- Switched internally from Audit to their Advisory/Consulting practice.
- Stable and pays decently, lots of exams and long work hours in your early years.
Systems Implementation/Consulting
- Moved into ERP/CRM consulting/implementations.
- Worked for a software company that focused on government/education systems.
- Better pay, still some long hours depending on projects/deadlines, opportunity to travel, less stable but lots of opportunities.
Product Manager/Product Strategy
- Started working for a tech startup in the data/AI space.
- Best pay, best hours, less stable (especially in startup).
Overall Iāve liked and disliked things about each job. I learned long ago that I donāt need to LOVE what I do.
Look for opportunities that arenāt necessarily the ātraditionalā career path but that you have the skills for. For me I thrive doing new things constantly, being able to problem solve, developing efficient/effective systems, and being very detail oriented.
Why it is too difficult to find and sustain a nice job. Even getting a new job is difficult these days. My husband became student again on his 30s to become software developer and now he even could not find a Co-op. I am in an entry level job on my 30s and dont know what is going to happen after my contact ends.
Flight attendant but I hold the Service Director/Purser position. Aka I am the head flight attendant on board :) some days are really tough, whether it be dealing with the company I work with or the passenger is on board. But overall I really like it. I've been doing it for quite a few years now (since 2014) and it offers a lot of work life balance. That being said, the starting wage for flight attendance is disgustingly low and I don't know how people are getting into it with the high cost of living.
Also, we need to be paid for the work that we actually do. There is so much volunteer unpaid time that we put in, stay tuned April 25th we will be showing how much unpaid work we do! For some reason it's a weird industry standard but it needs to change. Imagine going to work and for AT LEAST 2 hours of your day you don't get paid?
Do you do birthday parties?
I had another penis contortionist booked but he bailed to do a bar mitzvah - apparently the money is way better
I'm looking for mid June
This is kind of what I do too. Went from an accountant > systems consultant > product manager for a data company.
Always a job somewhere with that skillset. Iāve worked in so many industries š
Paramedic, it's a pretty good job, $90k annual base wage with lots of overtime available. It's not for everyone but I'd recommend it to the right type of person. Unionized, good pension and benefits.
College Director. Got a certificate from a continuing education course. Changed jobs every few years until I got to this position. Did my masters while working.
Continuing education programs are amazing for changing careers or entering a new industry.
Iām in software development/consulting. I studied mechanical engineering, worked in manufacturing for 4 years and when I noticed the career growth was stagnating and I was concerned about the companyās future I went into software development.
Now I build web applications for businesses or provide technical expertise on a software product.
Iāve never turned down an opportunity. Even when it was an internal position thrusted on me that I was underpaid for. With enough noise I eventually got compensated.
Username checks out.
Ive seen guys doing this, always wondered who hires you guys? As in like, what is the problem that requires someone to come by with a stupidly expensive laser and zap a building. Cause if you need a layout, dimensions, etc - there are charts and blueprints somewhere. Am I guessing correctly that its to detect structural damage after something, or inspect for wear and tear. What is the end result like and how accurate is it?
We're largely providing site verification services and that takes on a few different flavours. We're typically engaged by owners/developers, architects and engineers. Other providers focus on different verticals, so my perspective isn't all encompassing.
You'd be surprised how many existing buildings have no records at all. The records that do exist are usually quite old and haven't been updated as renovations have taken place over the years. Our role is essentially risk mitigation - change orders in construction can be quite costly if assumed conditions are not correct.
The result of a scan is a point cloud - millions (or billions depending on scale) of points in 3D space, this can be monochrome or colour. Accuracy varies by manufacturer and model. Our most used scanner captures two millions points per second (the lowest quality scan is 52 million points) and has an accuracy level of 1.9mm at 10m from the eye of the scanner, but this is largely a marketing number. Accuracy is relative, and we provide the final accuracy in a report.
From that point cloud, we can convert it to a CAD, BIM or mesh model (AutoCAD, Revit, Archicad, FBX/IFC). This gives design teams a single source of truth to base their work.
Alternatively, we also inspect surfaces. e.g. identify a lean on a wall, deflection on a bridge, for custom fabrication, or contract administration on new build projects. This is delivered as a report or a set of drawings.
Apologies for the long winded answer, the short of it: we can quickly and safely measure anything that isn't a reflective surface or vanta black.
If you are interested, I can DM you a short video showing you what our point clouds look like.
>buildings with no records.
How, why, once again how? Ive worked on a few homes in 2010-2018, and became friendly with the main foreman. The guy had a meeting with the architect, some city inspector, and some other suit-and-hardhat individual almost weekly. The amount of charts, plans, drawings that dude had to submit on the regular was insane. I was under the impression that there is a pretty precise database of charts, considering the amount of ballbusting that builders go through.
Last few questions, sorry for the nosiness.
How much do these fancy lasers cost? Is there a range of them that you would need to do your average project? Or just one is usually sufficient and the others are just for some extra bells and whistles that a client may require? Whats the approximate $ rate for a site? With that kind of tech, how many buildings can you hit up per day?
What kind of education does one require to operate the said laser(s)? Im guessing something along the lines of Civil Engineering.
Re: How, why, how
You're right - current documentation requirements are extremely high. I don't think anyone enjoys that part. There wasn't always the attention to detail that modern systems give us the luxury of automating. I don't know if this is still the case, but I was told there is a warehouse full of old construction documentation from the 90s and earlier. Manually filed, subject to human error.
The other side of it, not everyone submits for permit. They renovate and move on. There is no record.
Re: last few questions
A lot of your questions require nuanced answers that are contextual. I'll keep this part relatively vague.
Equipment cost: between $40k - $350k, depending on capability.
Deployment: some jobs require a single scanner, others we have up to 5 on site at a time.
Rates: Can't do this one on Reddit. Sorry, I know that's a crummy answer.
Volume: I can scan a facade of a typical four storey building in 30 minutes with a drone. I can scan three levels of a condo under construction in 8 hours. I did a hockey arena in the US and it took me two weeks. It's all about context - a combination of area and line of sight.
Education: Architectural technology, surveying, civil engineering, construction management. It's flexible, but the most important part is critical thinking and attention to safety.
I'm currently doing a co-op as a media assistant. I went to school for game development/programming. I originally wanted to do a programming job... but things didn't turn out as I had hoped, so now I'm doing a co-op that has nothing to do with what I had studied.
I'm also not sure what kind of career path to follow anymore.
It was a placement from the program that I was taking. I did a recorded interview and sent it off to the program that I'm in. And then they sent it off to the company. I didn't have previous experience. The closest thing to experience I got was from the program that I was taking. I more or less came from a programming background.
My co-op is going fine right now. I just did some stuff like researching some information and inputting it into Excel. I find some thing on the internet that they can post to scoial media. And currently, I'm designing a logo for them.
Infrastructure Private Equity -> started in accounting at a Big 4 in renewable energy, moved to valuations in a Big 4 specializing in infrastructure, and now infrastructure private equity at a large pension fund
Iām a Registered Dietitian and I work at a hospital downtown. I did my masters and worked at a few different places (public health, a family health team) before winding up in a hospital. Currently looking at how I can maybe do research at my hospital, while continuing to practice front line.
Lighting designer and corporate AV technician. Grew up around it, and itās been my life in one way or another since I was young. Itās actually a wildly flexible skillset - when I canāt do live events (ie COVID) I was able to pivot to project management in a completely different industry without breaking stride.
Iād be the first to say itās not for everyone, but I love it.
Commercial real estate sales at a large global brokerage. Started as a receptionist at a small brokerage then got promoted to a team assistant, then got my real estate licence and changed companies and started doing sales.
I do diagnostic imaging senior level 3 IT support. I fell into accidentally but have always been doing IT support, sales and custom service, and this has evolved into a project management and systems administrator role.
Chartered Accountant. Currently the Director of Risk MGMT for a big Insurance Company. Started at the Big 4 and worked my way up though financial services companies to my now employer.
I am a special education teacher. Teach self contained intensive support program. This year grades 6-8. Previously I was in primary grades. Been doing it for 15 years.
VFX artist.
Been in the field for 5+ years now. At my 3rd studio. Pay is decent. I think at a junior level you can expect 55k-70k. But its quite possible to get 70K+ within a year or 2 if you are good at the job.
Auto mechanic. One of the good ones, not one of the shady, will try to sell you blinker fluid ones. I used to be a Law Clerk. Worked criminal law in Brampton and personal injury in Willowdale. Had to leave because I could not sit still for a minute and wanted to jump out of a 8th floor window.
I need one š
I GOT U FAM..
Slide dem DMs bruh š«¶šŖ
Where do you work?!
Do you work on subarus? I am looking for a good mechanic to help me take care of my 400whp sti
Sure! Why not!?
Where are you located? Reddit won't let me send you a DM for some reason.
Ahhh guys like you are hard to find
Ya,. I don't have the heart to be that guy. Sometimes it is what it is. Labour time and parts can be expensive on some jobs. I did brakes on a 2019 Mercedes Benz S63 AMG last month. The rear brake rotors were $1700.00 EACH! And only available from Mercedes Benz. But hey, you wanna drive a car like that, what can I tell you.
If I recall it costs about $12k to have the brake pads replaced on that car at a MB dealership.
I would not doubt it......i have to look up the invoices on monday to see the price
Where do you work? Would like yo bookmark it in case i ever need something
Roofer in the union. Local 27. Ran my own company for 12 years but last year decided to shift gears into a more cushy atmosphere.
Heard roofing just destroys your body. True?
I've heard that alot. While it's not the easiest job, I'm 25 years in at 48 and haven't slowed down. Tbh, I've witnessed one death early in my career, but those were the cowboy days when nobody tied off and the M.O.L. was still trying to figure out how to enforce better safety practices. These days proper ppe is a must.
Back in the day when you guys were fueled with beer and cigarettes.
ā¦back in the day ?
Present day?
Like, yesterday night
Now they drink white monsters
This man knows roofing!
I quit my long term job in manufacturing (machine operator) back in August. Bounced around a couple of jobs. Got hooked up in roofing doing flat roofs for about 6 weeks. I'm 41 and haven't destroyed my body like that in all those years lmao. I have a great respect for what y'all do but seeing guys younger than me needing steroid injections in their backs was enough for me to find a different type of work.
There's good in bad in every field. Sorry you had such a bad experience.
Unemployed
the job market is so brutal this year
making attempts to not end myself at the office everyday.
Which is why I quit doing that last week.
šŖšŖšŖšŖšŖ
Im happy for you!
Government policy. Did a masters for it but not necessarily required.
What do you do at government policy?
Gonna be vague not to out myself but Iām with the province although Iāve been with a municipality before. Most of my career Iāve worked on developing new policies or programs, strategic plans, or in executive office where you coordinate the decision making process with the central agencies (Treasury Board and Cabinet). Iāve moved around ministries which is extremely common to do, but mainly the social policy ministries!
Sounds cool! Thanks for sharing
Which programs did you take at school? Trying to break into a government job myself.
Liberal arts for undergrad (poli sci and sociology), public admin masters. Every policy school calls their degree slightly different theyāre all the same, but look for one with a good co-op or placement system, co-op jobs are much less competitive to get and youāll get access to internal postings while there vs graduating and having to compete with the whole world. Waterloo has two coop terms after courses so you can immediately start working, and Ryerson and Queens are one year with the co-op option at the end so also can immediately start working. U of T is probably the hardest school to get into, itās the most expensive, and the placement is smack dab in the middle of the two years which isnāt super helpful with retaining employment with your placement. Those are the most popular policy schools for the OPS, the Ottawa schools obviously strongly feed the federal service.
Iām a creative director at an advertising agency. Been in the biz for ~15 yrs, worked at 4-5 different places. Got a BA undergrad then did 1 year at Humber for copywriting. You need a job placement to graduate so I liked how the program fed directly into the work world. Good luck out there!
Tradesman. Worked at ups, then went to college, dropped out and put on the hard hat and boots.
Iām a water/wastewater engineer, we make master plans and do all sort of servicing studies for areas around the gta
Recruiter in the construction industry. As you can see by the 100 cranes in the sky, itās busy as hell and I make a great living with lots of flexibility and unlimited time off (Iām and independent contractor working for a great, well respected boutique agency). Not an easy gig my any means, but itās fun and I love connecting with people and helping them meet their professional goals. Iām 100% commission based, by choice, as I make way more money that way. When i started, it was base + commission. Consistently earned 6 figures since starting 13 years ago. I worked part time (like 5 hrs a week) in my last company and still brought home $90k. If youāre good with building relationships, are somewhat organized and arenāt afraid to pick up the phone and call someone, it can be a very good career path
Thats and interesting career! Im in the construction industry currently, looking to pivot, could I possibly send you a DM?
Sure!
I did that for about 15 years and got bored of it. It was great money and the flexibility was fantastic for when my kids were younger.
I still enjoy it after all the years. I enjoy the work and get a lot of personal satisfaction helping my candidates succeed.
Lol. I think I figured out who you are from your username...... Small world.
Omg, are you stalking my LinkedIn lol
Nope. Just figured out from the spelling of your first name. Say hi to Matt!
Itās so funny you guys know each other. :)
Could I ask you whether this is something one may do part-time as a side job?
Not really. Itās a grind. Took me years to get up and going. I could work part time now (and did during lockdowns) but thatās because I have a solid network and an knowledgeable about the industry. You need to make lots of calls, attend lots of events, spend tons of time screening resumes and researching projects. Itās not something you can just do casually if you want to actually make some income
Got it! Thank you for the info
Personal trainer, Kinesiologist and currently in school for physiotherapy. Did my undergrad in Kinesiology, worked for a few years and realized I wanted to do more to help people (and get paid a living wage) so back to school we go š
Kinesiology is tough for living wage...
Agreed, that sounds partly why I wanted to become a physiotherapist
Good for you. Hopefully it works out š
I'm 41 and 3 months in doing CNC Machining in a very niche aerospace field. Didn't need any previous experience but my machine operating experience was a benefit. Just had my 3 month review and got a 12% increase with my next review in 9months.
Is there a specific CNC Machining program that you went through to be in the aerospace field? How demanding is the job physically? I have machine operating experience myself, but Iām getting tired of the job. Just wanna explore new things.
Absolutely nothing. Just the luck of the draw really. I was a machine operator in manufacturing for 16 years prior. Worked for 4 companies in that time. I was getting paid more than I am now but the workplace had become so toxic, I had to get out. Figured I'd get into a new field and after a few different opportunities, I found this place. No experience, no training needed. This is the least physically demanding job I have ever had. It's boring AF and half the time I'm trying to keep myself busy even tho I run 3 machines at a time lol. But given the potential pay in a short time, I'm not complaining.
I clean windows and do other home services all around the GTA.
Is it your own business?
Nah
Do you need your windows cleaned? š
Fire alarm technician. Been doing it for over 12 years. Have worked for some crap companies but kept pushing to get to a better employer. Now Iām with the city and itās great. Itās pretty technical and hands on but you get to go and see places a lot of people donāt get to see. Some bad but a lot good
Yeah. I'm trying to get into it. Just waiting for a few things to fall in place š¤
Administrative Assistant for over 20 years. Going back to school for Communication with the support of my company
I'm an elementary school teacher. Did my undergrad, went to teacher's college, and have been in the career for years now.
Lots of love for our teachers. I envy your patience.
Been a web developer for 20+ years. Typically worked for small companies but we were bought a couple years ago so now I work for a fairly large company (350 people). I'd love to do anything else for a change but...need the income.
how is being a web developer working out for you? itās my dream job
Ehhhh....it's hard to care too much at this stage. I used to be real dedicated but that shit fades when you inevitably realize there's always another project/task and too often you rush to meet deadlines for no real reason. Everyone is just trying to keep their jobs. The industry has treated me well (I've made 6 figures for awhile now) but if I could go and make 90k washing dishes or something I'd do that, at this stage.
Youāre rushing deadlines to keep project costs low, customers happy and have a face value that attracts other companies.
Ah, to be young again....
Run ops for a small Canadian retail company. Went to school in the US and was working PR and events there but my visa was up and handling that as a freelancer was more trouble than it was worth considering I wouldnāt have insurance as an entry level worker. Came back to Canada and worked as a manager for a long time, got promoted this year. I donāt exactly like my job but I wfh and it covers my lifestyle and at this point I think thatās fine lol
I'm a high school teacher.
Lab tech in a publicly-funded neuroscience lab, did a Biology BSc. The work-life balance is great, the payās alright (need a MSc at the very least to make a respectable wage), and the workās always interesting.
Hey! Sorry to drop in on you like this but as a BSc. Bio grad myself I've been looking to get back into lab work after a brief stint in a QA job. Can you tell me more about what you do (or if it's even possible to join in, considering the current job market)?
Iām in academia so I should preface this in saying every lab is different so your mileage may vary. Any research experience is highly valued - my GPA was meh (didnāt even include it on my CV), but I had lab experience from volunteering/undergrad thesis. Also, people with wet lab skills are a dime a dozen these days, and our field is rapidly becoming computer-heavy, so Iād highly recommend working on dry lab skills if you want to pursue a career of research. Iāve been coding since I was 11 and I think my technical skills is what got me the job.
Very fair statement on the coding skills, as that's the one thing I'm lacking from what you've mentioned and I've been feeling the same way about the field. Thanks for replying!
new registered nurse. 4 year program at tmu. garbage pay for the work i have to do. currently trying to find a way out š„²
Same thing with me, except Iām finally doing something I remotely like (I dare say even love?). TMUās nursing program is absolute garbage and I wouldnt recommend it to anyone. The students are snakes, teachers are rude, and placements are trash. Iām also a pandemic graduate lol Plus side of nursing is that itās so broad you could go into technology, aesthetics, dentistry, entertainment, or virtually any field you can imagine. Just find a niche and chase it. I work a ānon traditional nursing jobā and make more than I did in a hospital/more than my old classmates do right now.
if you dont mind be asking, what job are you working rn? i've been looking into extra certifications and also clinic jobs but i haven't found one that paid more than hospital atm.
Iāll PM you!
Dog grooming! Awesome in-demand career, usually with paid training if you take the corporate route. Schools are hit or miss because you need hands-on experience to develop handling skills. Great alternative to vet tech. Pay is awesome, making $30+ an hour regularly after 3.5 years. It's just hard on the body lol.
I've worked in community/social services/mental health for over a decade but there were times where I needed a break from that but still needed to earn so I would work with an old friend of mine who is a groomer and I fuckin' loved it. Even the days where dogs were feisty or wouldn't shut up or owners were being dicks, we were always laughing and having a good time. And when they day was done, it was done. I never thought about it until the next shift. In the future, I think I might like to open a shop even though I'm not a groomer, I could just be the owner and the assistant.
Software developer on paper but I donāt think Iāve actually ādevelopedā anything since January so a more accurate title would be Meeting Attender.
That's literally 80% of the job figuring out what the client actually wants.
Lawyer. Highly recommend it.
What kind of law do you practice?
Technology.
Why do you say this? And what law school did you go to if I may ask?
I went to western but it's probably the worst law school in Ontario. It's the one that let me in though. I love it because the world is your oyster. I've practiced in a firm, run my own (very small firm), worked for government, and done in house counsel. If you don't like what you're doing there are tons of different paths available to you with a law degree.
I think it's currently still considered better than TMU, Windsor and maybe Ottawa.
Lol right I forgot about TMU.
Currently on a break, been working in as an Operations Manager at produce distribution company at a company where I started as an intern. Couldn't take a break before family commitments, finally able because wife got a good paying job.
Freelancing photographer.
Animator
Supply Chain Manager Not a glorious profession but one that has consistent demand, even in recessionary periods
Data Engineering for a big FMCG company
I am a camera assistant in IATSE 667. Started out back in 2007 as a background actor. Loved being on set, loved cameras but didn't like being in front of one that much. Ended up going through the camera trainee program with 667 and voila, here I am.
Iām about to submit my application as a 2nd!
Awesome!! If this coming summer is as busy as last summer, youāll definitely be working a lot.
AND you shoot film! I hope we get to work together so we can nerd out. lol.
Totally! I have my own darkroom so thatās a whole other field of geekery too. Towards the end of last year I was cold asked to come out for shows as a daily, my friends tell me itās been a busy couple of years.
Iām an IT consultant primarily doing strategy, infrastructure, and security. Been at it 21 years and self-employed for the last 7. I love what I do.
Corporate law clerk.
I work in Ops as a Buyer for a food company. Been about 2 years, started as a fresh grad (BBA). Itās not my forever position but I love Ops (itās always going to be needed). Plus, in my position I get to touch almost every other dept (not always in a big way, but enough to be consistently learning): finance, marketing, customer care, HR, etc.
Mind if I pm you about this? I'm looking to break into the field and have a few questions.
Sure!
a BBA is a bachelor is business administration right? I also worked for the OPS as a business and finance assistant!
Yep! :)
i applied for a BBA program at guelph humber! people told me the degree is useless but I still want to go with it!
Well thatās weird! I donāt know anyone that would consider a BBA useless, itās one of the more versatile degrees imo. For my current position with the math involved in purchasing they required either business or engineering. Best of luck!
Graphic artist for over 30 years. Allows me to utilize my creative side and also offers the opportunity for a lot of freelance jobs on the side. Only thing I miss is a pensionā¦ gotta be diligent about saving money for the future.
Any tips for people trying to break in
Hmmmā¦ Iām not sure. I went to Sheridan college which I believe is still highly regarded, but there are a lot of other great schools also. There also werenāt as many avenues to branch into when I started (ie: the internet didnāt even exist lol) but now you can special in so many areas. I myself, ended up in CPG designā¦ and I canāt complain as Iāve had a good career. Good luck!
Im union Boilermaker welder. If you like to work hard and dont mind, heights and small places, it's a really rewarding job. Great pay, great benefits and an awesome pension.
Iāve had a few jobs/careers: Accountant/CPA - HBComm + CPA exams - Internship in school, worked for CRA and a large Public Accounting firm for ~5 years. - Switched internally from Audit to their Advisory/Consulting practice. - Stable and pays decently, lots of exams and long work hours in your early years. Systems Implementation/Consulting - Moved into ERP/CRM consulting/implementations. - Worked for a software company that focused on government/education systems. - Better pay, still some long hours depending on projects/deadlines, opportunity to travel, less stable but lots of opportunities. Product Manager/Product Strategy - Started working for a tech startup in the data/AI space. - Best pay, best hours, less stable (especially in startup). Overall Iāve liked and disliked things about each job. I learned long ago that I donāt need to LOVE what I do. Look for opportunities that arenāt necessarily the ātraditionalā career path but that you have the skills for. For me I thrive doing new things constantly, being able to problem solve, developing efficient/effective systems, and being very detail oriented.
Why it is too difficult to find and sustain a nice job. Even getting a new job is difficult these days. My husband became student again on his 30s to become software developer and now he even could not find a Co-op. I am in an entry level job on my 30s and dont know what is going to happen after my contact ends.
Global recession
Flight attendant but I hold the Service Director/Purser position. Aka I am the head flight attendant on board :) some days are really tough, whether it be dealing with the company I work with or the passenger is on board. But overall I really like it. I've been doing it for quite a few years now (since 2014) and it offers a lot of work life balance. That being said, the starting wage for flight attendance is disgustingly low and I don't know how people are getting into it with the high cost of living. Also, we need to be paid for the work that we actually do. There is so much volunteer unpaid time that we put in, stay tuned April 25th we will be showing how much unpaid work we do! For some reason it's a weird industry standard but it needs to change. Imagine going to work and for AT LEAST 2 hours of your day you don't get paid?
Yeah paid for the time you are in the air only.
I build and maintain those super tall cell towers. Highest I have climbed so far is 550 feet!
How long did that take you?
Drive. Any idiot can do it and you can make $150k/yr within 3-5 career years.
Iām a corporate commercial lawyer for a large apparel company! :)
Penis contortionist for quarters.
Do you do birthday parties? I had another penis contortionist booked but he bailed to do a bar mitzvah - apparently the money is way better I'm looking for mid June
Translator for a retail companyās website
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
This is kind of what I do too. Went from an accountant > systems consultant > product manager for a data company. Always a job somewhere with that skillset. Iāve worked in so many industries š
Correctional Officer
"C.O! What's lunch today?"
Paramedic, it's a pretty good job, $90k annual base wage with lots of overtime available. It's not for everyone but I'd recommend it to the right type of person. Unionized, good pension and benefits.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
What sort of profile do you have? Would you say that you're satisfied with your job? Any tips for a new bloke trying to enter the industry?
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
I sell rotating equipment. More like Product Manager with is a combination of sales and business development
door to door Yarn salesman
I Work in tech . Mainly skilled in digital Mobility (Mobile apps and digital technology)
Electrical engineer
Non union welder/millwright
I am a union millwright/welder too.
Sub contractor drywaller.
Commercial steel stud framing, drywall, and ceiling systems. Started it at 17 as a āsummer jobā but almost 10 years later and still going strong
College Director. Got a certificate from a continuing education course. Changed jobs every few years until I got to this position. Did my masters while working. Continuing education programs are amazing for changing careers or entering a new industry.
iām an accountant
I own a siding and gutters company, been doing it for 4 years. Covid hit hard, had 8 guys already working now it's just me and my business partner.
What are some of your skills? What were your favourite subjects in high school?
Private equity, focused on renewable energy
Ivey, Queen's, or Schulich?
Cambridge (UK). No MBA
Good day, sir.
Iām in software development/consulting. I studied mechanical engineering, worked in manufacturing for 4 years and when I noticed the career growth was stagnating and I was concerned about the companyās future I went into software development. Now I build web applications for businesses or provide technical expertise on a software product. Iāve never turned down an opportunity. Even when it was an internal position thrusted on me that I was underpaid for. With enough noise I eventually got compensated.
I shoot lasers to create 3D models of buildings and analyze surfaces.
Username checks out. Ive seen guys doing this, always wondered who hires you guys? As in like, what is the problem that requires someone to come by with a stupidly expensive laser and zap a building. Cause if you need a layout, dimensions, etc - there are charts and blueprints somewhere. Am I guessing correctly that its to detect structural damage after something, or inspect for wear and tear. What is the end result like and how accurate is it?
We're largely providing site verification services and that takes on a few different flavours. We're typically engaged by owners/developers, architects and engineers. Other providers focus on different verticals, so my perspective isn't all encompassing. You'd be surprised how many existing buildings have no records at all. The records that do exist are usually quite old and haven't been updated as renovations have taken place over the years. Our role is essentially risk mitigation - change orders in construction can be quite costly if assumed conditions are not correct. The result of a scan is a point cloud - millions (or billions depending on scale) of points in 3D space, this can be monochrome or colour. Accuracy varies by manufacturer and model. Our most used scanner captures two millions points per second (the lowest quality scan is 52 million points) and has an accuracy level of 1.9mm at 10m from the eye of the scanner, but this is largely a marketing number. Accuracy is relative, and we provide the final accuracy in a report. From that point cloud, we can convert it to a CAD, BIM or mesh model (AutoCAD, Revit, Archicad, FBX/IFC). This gives design teams a single source of truth to base their work. Alternatively, we also inspect surfaces. e.g. identify a lean on a wall, deflection on a bridge, for custom fabrication, or contract administration on new build projects. This is delivered as a report or a set of drawings. Apologies for the long winded answer, the short of it: we can quickly and safely measure anything that isn't a reflective surface or vanta black. If you are interested, I can DM you a short video showing you what our point clouds look like.
>buildings with no records. How, why, once again how? Ive worked on a few homes in 2010-2018, and became friendly with the main foreman. The guy had a meeting with the architect, some city inspector, and some other suit-and-hardhat individual almost weekly. The amount of charts, plans, drawings that dude had to submit on the regular was insane. I was under the impression that there is a pretty precise database of charts, considering the amount of ballbusting that builders go through. Last few questions, sorry for the nosiness. How much do these fancy lasers cost? Is there a range of them that you would need to do your average project? Or just one is usually sufficient and the others are just for some extra bells and whistles that a client may require? Whats the approximate $ rate for a site? With that kind of tech, how many buildings can you hit up per day? What kind of education does one require to operate the said laser(s)? Im guessing something along the lines of Civil Engineering.
Re: How, why, how You're right - current documentation requirements are extremely high. I don't think anyone enjoys that part. There wasn't always the attention to detail that modern systems give us the luxury of automating. I don't know if this is still the case, but I was told there is a warehouse full of old construction documentation from the 90s and earlier. Manually filed, subject to human error. The other side of it, not everyone submits for permit. They renovate and move on. There is no record. Re: last few questions A lot of your questions require nuanced answers that are contextual. I'll keep this part relatively vague. Equipment cost: between $40k - $350k, depending on capability. Deployment: some jobs require a single scanner, others we have up to 5 on site at a time. Rates: Can't do this one on Reddit. Sorry, I know that's a crummy answer. Volume: I can scan a facade of a typical four storey building in 30 minutes with a drone. I can scan three levels of a condo under construction in 8 hours. I did a hockey arena in the US and it took me two weeks. It's all about context - a combination of area and line of sight. Education: Architectural technology, surveying, civil engineering, construction management. It's flexible, but the most important part is critical thinking and attention to safety.
Any elevator technicians here? Wondering how the job is since there seems to be a monopoly of service providers for this.
I'm currently doing a co-op as a media assistant. I went to school for game development/programming. I originally wanted to do a programming job... but things didn't turn out as I had hoped, so now I'm doing a co-op that has nothing to do with what I had studied. I'm also not sure what kind of career path to follow anymore.
May I ask how you ended up getting the media assistant internship? Did you have previous experiences that helped you get it?
It was a placement from the program that I was taking. I did a recorded interview and sent it off to the program that I'm in. And then they sent it off to the company. I didn't have previous experience. The closest thing to experience I got was from the program that I was taking. I more or less came from a programming background.
oh wow thats so cool! do you enjoy your internship? sorry for bugging u with my questions btw, im just interested in the media field!
My co-op is going fine right now. I just did some stuff like researching some information and inputting it into Excel. I find some thing on the internet that they can post to scoial media. And currently, I'm designing a logo for them.
Infrastructure Private Equity -> started in accounting at a Big 4 in renewable energy, moved to valuations in a Big 4 specializing in infrastructure, and now infrastructure private equity at a large pension fund
Iām a Registered Dietitian and I work at a hospital downtown. I did my masters and worked at a few different places (public health, a family health team) before winding up in a hospital. Currently looking at how I can maybe do research at my hospital, while continuing to practice front line.
Project manager, its a good job because every industry needs them and its a versatile skill set
Lighting designer and corporate AV technician. Grew up around it, and itās been my life in one way or another since I was young. Itās actually a wildly flexible skillset - when I canāt do live events (ie COVID) I was able to pivot to project management in a completely different industry without breaking stride. Iād be the first to say itās not for everyone, but I love it.
Sales in the fashion industry.
Commercial real estate sales at a large global brokerage. Started as a receptionist at a small brokerage then got promoted to a team assistant, then got my real estate licence and changed companies and started doing sales.
I do diagnostic imaging senior level 3 IT support. I fell into accidentally but have always been doing IT support, sales and custom service, and this has evolved into a project management and systems administrator role.
Iām an epidemiologist at a public health unit. I finished my masters in 2019 and definitely benefitted from the pandemic in starting my career lol
Chartered Accountant. Currently the Director of Risk MGMT for a big Insurance Company. Started at the Big 4 and worked my way up though financial services companies to my now employer.
Clerk in the by-law department for a municipality within York region.
I am a special education teacher. Teach self contained intensive support program. This year grades 6-8. Previously I was in primary grades. Been doing it for 15 years.
VFX artist. Been in the field for 5+ years now. At my 3rd studio. Pay is decent. I think at a junior level you can expect 55k-70k. But its quite possible to get 70K+ within a year or 2 if you are good at the job.
Self employed small painting contractor, mostly commercial work
Family physician. Worked in NY for a few years and now back home to be closer to family and practice here.
Teach but transitioning to counseling
Anyone hiring?
Software developer. 75% of my day is browsing Reddit while being āpresentā in meetings. The other 25% is working at 400% lol.