What else could you do? 5

[mechmama]

Just for fun, what else could/would you do if you left your engineering job? Or if your engineering job disappeared?

Of course there are the obvious alternative choices like project management, engineering management, technical writing,"consulting", etc., but what else would you like to try?

I know one guy who started a home insepction business, and our former marketing department manager was a registered PE. Then there is the software "engineer" I know who was a waiter after a layoff.

I think in another life, I would like to do something in education, maybe high school administration or a post-secondary training school. I see so many people making stupid choices, and I guess I sometimes feel inspired to help them. . .then I remember that I chose engineering to avoid all those people. . .

 

[Mr168]

cedarbluffranch: How long ago was that? I've been around the sport for about 12 years or so, and if it was in that time frame, I'd probably at least recognize the name! Heck, I grew up shooting with Emily Caruso who shot womens air in Beijing this year, and shot against and on teams with Jamie Beyerle, who shot womens air and smallbore in Beijing this year as well. I used to sit and shoot the breeze with most of the male juniors out at the Junior Olympics and in the NCAA matches as well. All this talk sure is making me nostalgic...

 

[cedarbluffranch]

Mr168: It was long time ago, probably when about 14 years ago or so. His last name was was Cody Voermans and he was an excellent shot!

 

[Mabee]

I'll probably go for farming and pretend to be Abraham, except for the fact that I'll not sacrifice my son!!

 

[knight185]

If I couldn't do engineering anymore, I would do some kind of law enforcement. I would prefer detective work over being a patrol officer.

 

[moltenmetal]

The cool thing about engineering is that it's one of those professions where you're unlikely to need to answer this question! A great many in the trades have to actually figure this out for themselves, once their bodies won't put up with the punishment any more.

The immediate opportunity for me would be home reno. I could make a good living just doing projects for my neighbours. Build up a stable of good subs for the jobs I don't like (or am no good at!) and take on the fun/choice bits myself. Wouldn't last, though.

I wouldn't be tempted to turn one of my hobbies into a living- saps the joy out of it right quick!

Sweetest gig? Optometrist- by far. Same number of years of education as it took for me to get my M.A.Sc., and to start they make twice the money. It doesn't hurt, so people aren't stressed out when they come to see you (ie. unlike the dentist...). The worst harm you can do is to give someone contact lenses that don't fit right- and the toughest thing you do during the day is to tell someone to go to the opthamologist so that THEY can tell them that they're going blind...Regular hours. No housecalls. No trauma to deal with. Unfortunately it would be a bad gig for me, because you REALLY have to like people to do it- that more or less counts me out!

 

[SLTA]

again, in no particular order:

archaeologist
crafter (cross-stitch)
mystery-book author
full-time mom

but my most likely: start an organization in support of women in the STEM programs at the local college.

 

[HotStab]

50% cave topographer
30% nature photographer
20% adventure writer
+
100% good father