Why don't people want to say what they do for a living?
Discussion
Never ever tell anyone who I work for or what I do. Its a secret.
Ok not really but Its one of the big Mobile operators and at the mere mention of it people will spend the night bending my ear about how s
t the service is. And they tell everyone else who I work for so they come and bend my ear as well. I need to hang out with smarter people, getting fed up with the stupid ones whos only question is 'I cant get service here can you take a look at my phone and fix it for me' 
ETA: And before anyone on here asks, there is a simple solution to mobile coverage. Have more than one phone. I have a company phone on the employers network, but they also pay for two other phones on competitors networks so that I can be contacted wherever I am. Mobile coverage in the UK is very poor.
Ok not really but Its one of the big Mobile operators and at the mere mention of it people will spend the night bending my ear about how s
t the service is. And they tell everyone else who I work for so they come and bend my ear as well. I need to hang out with smarter people, getting fed up with the stupid ones whos only question is 'I cant get service here can you take a look at my phone and fix it for me' ETA: And before anyone on here asks, there is a simple solution to mobile coverage. Have more than one phone. I have a company phone on the employers network, but they also pay for two other phones on competitors networks so that I can be contacted wherever I am. Mobile coverage in the UK is very poor.
Edited by Dodsy on Saturday 25th July 07:25
It is a dull conversation starter from dull people who cannot think of anything to say... Only the weather is more painful.
Talk about things which interest you instead.
I agree that understanding people's work when that enlivens them and fascinates them can be interesting; but it should flow from the conversation, not be the opening, party meeting, boring question.
So, anyway, what do you do for a living?
Talk about things which interest you instead.
I agree that understanding people's work when that enlivens them and fascinates them can be interesting; but it should flow from the conversation, not be the opening, party meeting, boring question.
So, anyway, what do you do for a living?
"What job do you do?" is just as bad as "what car do you drive?" or "what newspaper do you read?". There's a subtext nine times out of ten and it assumes one car, one 'job' and one newspaper. Not giving a precise answer could well be no more than a case of CBA.
Anyway, in keeping with the spirit of the OP - coronation flag seller. The work is a bit uneven but the holidays are great.
Anyway, in keeping with the spirit of the OP - coronation flag seller. The work is a bit uneven but the holidays are great.
It's on my profile if anyone is interested (here)
In conversation/meeting new people I used to be economical with the true, using a more generic 'safety adviser', which usually meant people would lose interest quickly!
These days I filter what I admit to depending on company.
I don't see it as an essential subject or taboo - sometimes it doesn't matter if the social occasion is something completely different. But then sometimes it's necessary to mention it, for instance 'I moved house to be closer to the office... where is that then?....' or to explain why I have lived in certain places.
In conversation/meeting new people I used to be economical with the true, using a more generic 'safety adviser', which usually meant people would lose interest quickly!
These days I filter what I admit to depending on company.
I don't see it as an essential subject or taboo - sometimes it doesn't matter if the social occasion is something completely different. But then sometimes it's necessary to mention it, for instance 'I moved house to be closer to the office... where is that then?....' or to explain why I have lived in certain places.
llewop said:
It's on my profile if anyone is interested (here)
In conversation/meeting new people I used to be economical with the true, using a more generic 'safety adviser', which usually meant people would lose interest quickly!
These days I filter what I admit to depending on company.
I don't see it as an essential subject or taboo - sometimes it doesn't matter if the social occasion is something completely different. But then sometimes it's necessary to mention it, for instance 'I moved house to be closer to the office... where is that then?....' or to explain why I have lived in certain places.
Safety man drives 320d shocker In conversation/meeting new people I used to be economical with the true, using a more generic 'safety adviser', which usually meant people would lose interest quickly!
These days I filter what I admit to depending on company.
I don't see it as an essential subject or taboo - sometimes it doesn't matter if the social occasion is something completely different. But then sometimes it's necessary to mention it, for instance 'I moved house to be closer to the office... where is that then?....' or to explain why I have lived in certain places.
Mike22233 said:
Safety man drives 320d shocker
yeah, well - 60 mile each way commute dictated being 'sensible' when I needed a car 3 years ago - it's now got 85k miles on it, so has been very much fit for purpose.
I used to have a GTV and Cooper S, so the Mrs was 'sensible' and had a 325! All had to go when we left the country for a while, no point in cars rotting on a drive.
I can't say I've ever come across anyone who has been shy to talk about what they do for a living, and I can't understand why someone would be unless they are ashamed of it. I love being asked about what I do for a living because I have a job that sounds very interesting and special, but in practice is insufferably mundane. Talking about it is about the only time I feel happy with what I do.
el stovey said:
blank said:
037 said:
I find it bizarre when people want to know what you do for a living.
Why swerve any conversation towards work?
Because some people actually have interesting and enjoyable jobs?Why swerve any conversation towards work?
I find it odd that some people are apparently defined by ( and define others ) by their jobs. How utterly boring. Are you really that lacking in imagination? It's like you meet someone and because all you do in life is work, that's all you can talk about.
You learn much more about people by finding out what they enjoy doing outside their job and what their interests are. I enjoy my job but I'm much more interested in talking about other things.
You meet a man who hand crafts guitars for a living. Do you not want to talk about it because it's his job? You'd rather hear about his stamp collection?
One man's hobby is another man's job. One isn't necessarily interesting and the other isn't necessarily boring.
When you tell people you work with sewage/empty septic tanks/waste pump stations etc the same old comments always pop up. 
I bet that is a sh!t job, ah so you are a turd burglar then, been in the sh!t lately etc etc etc........
Have you ever had a big nightmare and got covered in Brad Pitt? (yes)
Does it really stink? (varies)
There is much conversation about such a line of work, quite entertaining most of the time.
I bet that is a sh!t job, ah so you are a turd burglar then, been in the sh!t lately etc etc etc........
Have you ever had a big nightmare and got covered in Brad Pitt? (yes)
Does it really stink? (varies)
There is much conversation about such a line of work, quite entertaining most of the time.
Crossflow Kid said:
SidJames said:
Crossflow Kid said:
Impasse said:
Q "What do you do?"
A "Nothing which defines me as a person."
Maybe think of a more interesting topic of conversation. Like the weather. Or which route they took to get there. Enquiring about a person's job is sometimes a cliché too far.
It's also seen as incredibly rude in some circles on the basis its questioning someone's social and financial standing.A "Nothing which defines me as a person."
Maybe think of a more interesting topic of conversation. Like the weather. Or which route they took to get there. Enquiring about a person's job is sometimes a cliché too far.
Anyone defined by their work is rather dull anyway.
A guy I've known quite some time now through business, to have a natural conversation with can at times be really hard work......you know the type. So when working round his house for the first time, to make conversion, I thought I'd ask what he did for a living, to be told he was a Civil Servant and then he became very evasive.
Whenever I see him now I use it as some kind of sport to try to bring the conversation around to work to find out what type of Civil Servant he is...... 15 years on and I still don't know
Whenever I see him now I use it as some kind of sport to try to bring the conversation around to work to find out what type of Civil Servant he is...... 15 years on and I still don't know
Westy Pre-Lit said:
A guy I've known quite some time now through business, to have a natural conversation with can at times be really hard work......you know the type. So when working round his house for the first time, to make conversion, I thought I'd ask what he did for a living, to be told he was a Civil Servant and then he became very evasive.
Whenever I see him now I use it as some kind of sport to try to bring the conversation around to work to find out what type of Civil Servant he is...... 15 years on and I still don't know
His PA at work is called Miss Moneypenny, leave him alone. Whenever I see him now I use it as some kind of sport to try to bring the conversation around to work to find out what type of Civil Servant he is...... 15 years on and I still don't know
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