s/o Career question

[bookbunny]

Do you usually get certain questions from people when they find out what you do for a living?

Example: My cousin is an X-ray tech. When people hear that, they say stuff like "Oh man, my ankle has been bothering me lately. Do you know what it could be?" to which she replies "Umm... I don't have X-ray vision. I would need my machine to take pictures. And the doctor would tell you what's wrong."

My H is a cop, and people always think he wants to hear their sob story about getting pulled over/ a ticket/ arrested when "it totally wasn't their fault!"
So what kinds of questions/ responses do you usually get about your job?

[dvmmama]

Yep.

I'm a veterinarian and my extended family/neighbors/friends/random person on the street are always asking me to tell them what is wrong with their animals. Or what they should do? My answer is almost always take them to the vet.

[DefenseAgainstTheDarkArts22]

I work in HR so I get all kinds of questions going "this happened at work and I don't feel like it is right, is it?" Where I have to go "it is completely legal to make you take you break." But then I also catch myself when someone is complaining about work to say "completely legal. Oh, sorry"

[Pippin]

I work at a bank so everytime someone new finds out I usually have to hear about their overdraft problems and how its NEVER their fault and always the banks blah blah blah.

[mayflowers22]

I'm studying to be a pediatrician so now everyone calls and asks for medical advice! It gets old.

[rootbeerfloat]

Fortunately, no one understands what I do, so I get blank stares in lieu of questions.

[marytini]

Yes. I'm a PA, so I always get "curbside consults" as we call them. I don't mind sometimes, but I work in family medicine, and I still get people asking me questions that are totally out of my realm. Like "my mom was diagnosed with cancer and they want to put her on xxx chemo, WDYT?" Uh, that's why she is seeing a specialist.

[aurora]

Yes, but I quite enjoy telling people how cool my research is so they are probably more upset they asked than I am.

[llama]

When I was in college I was a Political Science major, which people apparently see as an invitation to debate current events and/or election stuff. Which is great, and which I love, but since I'm so far to the left I am practically a commie it doesn't usually go well.

Now I work at a nonprofit doing issue organizing for LGBT rights, which has pretty much the same problem. A lot of awkward looks and wishing they hadn't asked. Or just silence. Which beats the people who try to yell at me about how sinful it is. More sympathetic people also assume I am straight (I'm not) and make annoying comments about how nice it is that I dedicate my life to helping others. Never a dull moment but I LOVE what I do and feel very passionately about it so I don't mind too much.

[trigal]

I'm a teacher, so I usually get a rant about the public education system. And, if you haven't seen the headlines lately, apparently it's my fault.

I think the most annoying thing about being a teacher is that everyone else seems to think they know how I should be doing my job.

[GilliC]

I'm a computer programmer, so I get to field all the questions about people's computers. In some cases I can help, just because I've used computers a lot, but I'm actually terrible with computers. Part of the reason that I'm a good programmer is that if there's a way to make software crash, I can usually find it. Luckily, if I'm writing the software, I can also fix it. Otherwise, I'm SOL.

And I'm terrible with hardware. I've had hard drives fail, monitors break, and printers smoke.

[duckduck]

I'm an academic librarian. The first comment: "You must like quiet." Well, yes, actually, I do, but some librarians don't! This is followed by: "So do you like to read?" ...Yes.

And then next comes the "So what book should I read?" I'm an academic librarian, so I am no better equipped to give you a rec for one of the latest bestsellers than any other person who reads for her personal enjoyment. Now if you want a recommendation for a database or search string to use for researching the effects of PTSD among WWII POWs, I might be able to help you. Of course I don't mind talking about or recommending books, but it's annoying because this question almost invariably comes from a person who cheerfully announces at the same time that they "never read." It's like they consider giving book recommendations my party trick or something.

[chicacocodrilo]

I don't get questions about the job, just comments about the organization. It's usually along the lines of "Wow, that must be so cool!" or "Do you feel like you're making a difference every day?" or "I did this with the org once." I just kind of nod and smile, but my job doesn't put me on the front lines of the org's services, so I don't really get to see the inspiring parts of it all.

[cucca77]

I'm a nurse in general medicine so not only do I get the questions but there is an "expectation" that I will always be available to answer your (my family and friends) question about drug interactions and that I will change your surgical dressing once you get discharged and that I will sit with you in the ED if you ever go. I don't really mind it, but sometimes when I'm out having dinner with DH this is not a phone call I want to get!

[awick14]

I am a paramedic.

More people are interested in asking me questions about driving the ambulance with lights an sirens on. (so annoying) cause that's all I do in my job. Drive a taxi around with people dying in the back, not doing a thing to try an help them!