Comments on: Why I Hate the Question “So, what do you do?” http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/06/20/102161_so-what-do-you-do.html Bridging the gap between saving money and investing Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:38:31 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Rachel http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/06/20/102161_so-what-do-you-do.html/comment-page-1#comment-380367 Rachel Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:39:24 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/06/20/102161_so-what-do-you-do.html#comment-380367 I totally understand how you feel about that comment. I write screenplays for film and while I'm still "a newbie".. which really means I haven't technically sold one yet... Working at selling screenplays is a full time job in of itself. I have an agent and good connections, but you still have to be flexible and available to make calls, smooze, and generally take charge of your goal. When I tell people I'm a writer.. they think books like you said. Even if I say I'm a screenwriter they say, "Do you have anything published?" And then the irritation of wanting to scream... I said SCREENwriting. lol.. and then I find myself back at that position of.. how do I answer that question. Eh, I figure sticking with writer works. Who cares what all those people think anyway! :) Thanks for the article! I totally understand how you feel about that comment. I write screenplays for film and while I’m still “a newbie”.. which really means I haven’t technically sold one yet… Working at selling screenplays is a full time job in of itself. I have an agent and good connections, but you still have to be flexible and available to make calls, smooze, and generally take charge of your goal. When I tell people I’m a writer.. they think books like you said. Even if I say I’m a screenwriter they say, “Do you have anything published?” And then the irritation of wanting to scream… I said SCREENwriting. lol.. and then I find myself back at that position of.. how do I answer that question. Eh, I figure sticking with writer works. Who cares what all those people think anyway! :)

Thanks for the article!

]]> By: arize arize http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/06/20/102161_so-what-do-you-do.html/comment-page-1#comment-348690 arize arize Fri, 27 Jun 2008 03:57:03 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/06/20/102161_so-what-do-you-do.html#comment-348690 Just smile and pretend that you didn't hear the question. In fact, I do this often when I run into guys who are interested in showing off their new mundane stuff. I simply smile and act like it is unimportant to me. And it is unimportant because it is not a goal of mine. Just smile and pretend that you didn’t hear the question. In fact, I do this often when I run into guys who are interested in showing off their new mundane stuff. I simply smile and act like it is unimportant to me. And it is unimportant because it is not a goal of mine.

]]> By: Dody http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/06/20/102161_so-what-do-you-do.html/comment-page-1#comment-348685 Dody Fri, 27 Jun 2008 03:44:45 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/06/20/102161_so-what-do-you-do.html#comment-348685 Youe an independent contractor, that s what you "do". AKA self employed. Youe an independent contractor, that
s what you “do”. AKA self employed.

]]> By: Cheryl Cavender http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/06/20/102161_so-what-do-you-do.html/comment-page-1#comment-348034 Cheryl Cavender Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:35:45 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/06/20/102161_so-what-do-you-do.html#comment-348034 When forms ask for "Occupation" I put down "Domestic Administrator". Definitely a more accurate description of what I do compared to "Stay-At-Home Mom" (I'm on the go and not home much) or "Housewife" (I'm not married to my house, I'm married to my husband.) Most people reading "Domestic Administrator" love the term (doctors, nurses, tax prep.) When forms ask for “Occupation” I put down “Domestic Administrator”. Definitely a more accurate description of what I do compared to “Stay-At-Home Mom” (I’m on the go and not home much) or “Housewife” (I’m not married to my house, I’m married to my husband.) Most people reading “Domestic Administrator” love the term (doctors, nurses, tax prep.)

]]> By: Living Off Dividends & Passive Income http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/06/20/102161_so-what-do-you-do.html/comment-page-1#comment-347904 Living Off Dividends & Passive Income Thu, 26 Jun 2008 07:31:51 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/06/20/102161_so-what-do-you-do.html#comment-347904 I got asked that very same question recently. I replied "I go to the beach, read a lot of books and usually get drunk by 5". All of a sudden everyone wanted my job! I got asked that very same question recently. I replied “I go to the beach, read a lot of books and usually get drunk by 5″.

All of a sudden everyone wanted my job!

]]> By: kathy http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/06/20/102161_so-what-do-you-do.html/comment-page-1#comment-345053 kathy Mon, 23 Jun 2008 04:03:39 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/06/20/102161_so-what-do-you-do.html#comment-345053 I always have fun with this one too. I photograph weddings, I do post-processing for another photography studio, I raise my daughter, and my husband and I farm, oh, and I have a herd of goats. I am also starting nursing school in the fall. My favorite answer at the moment, just because of the looks I get and the conversations it starts, is simply "i'm a goatherder". I always have fun with this one too. I photograph weddings, I do post-processing for another photography studio, I raise my daughter, and my husband and I farm, oh, and I have a herd of goats. I am also starting nursing school in the fall. My favorite answer at the moment, just because of the looks I get and the conversations it starts, is simply “i’m a goatherder”.

]]> By: Sue LaPointe http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/06/20/102161_so-what-do-you-do.html/comment-page-1#comment-343716 Sue LaPointe Sat, 21 Jun 2008 20:01:04 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/06/20/102161_so-what-do-you-do.html#comment-343716 Jennifer - Thanks for an excellent post - I've looked at this question, too. Mostly the responses I get now are "Wow! That sounds interesting!" Having such a 'mysterious' job also comes in handy when I'm out networking... chances are that if they don't know what it is, they don't need (or think they don't!) my services. I'm going to post a link to your post in my blog: http://buildathrivingwritingbusiness.blogspot.com/ Jennifer -

Thanks for an excellent post – I’ve looked at this question, too. Mostly the responses I get now are “Wow! That sounds interesting!” Having such a ‘mysterious’ job also comes in handy when I’m out networking… chances are that if they don’t know what it is, they don’t need (or think they don’t!) my services.

I’m going to post a link to your post in my blog:
http://buildathrivingwritingbusiness.blogspot.com/

]]> By: Texas Girl http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/06/20/102161_so-what-do-you-do.html/comment-page-1#comment-343351 Texas Girl Sat, 21 Jun 2008 12:24:25 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/06/20/102161_so-what-do-you-do.html#comment-343351 I admire you for living the way you do! This world today is far too materialistic and if more of us lived like our grandparents did, simply, debt-free, the world would be a better place. Personally the worse question to me when I meet somebody, after they find out I'm a SAHM, is "What does your HUSBAND do?" Now why on eatth would anybody care to know that unless they want to find out how much $$ we have? I admire you for living the way you do! This world today is far too materialistic and if more of us lived like our grandparents did, simply, debt-free, the world would be a better place.

Personally the worse question to me when I meet somebody, after they find out I’m a SAHM, is “What does your HUSBAND do?” Now why on eatth would anybody care to know that unless they want to find out how much $$ we have?

]]> By: jj http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/06/20/102161_so-what-do-you-do.html/comment-page-1#comment-342823 jj Fri, 20 Jun 2008 23:13:36 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/06/20/102161_so-what-do-you-do.html#comment-342823 I think this is definitely more of an American thing. It does come up in conversations in Europe but it's never the first thing people ask you. Plus, talking about work is boring! I think this is definitely more of an American thing. It does come up in conversations in Europe but it’s never the first thing people ask you. Plus, talking about work is boring!

]]> By: melwrc http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/06/20/102161_so-what-do-you-do.html/comment-page-1#comment-342740 melwrc Fri, 20 Jun 2008 21:14:54 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/06/20/102161_so-what-do-you-do.html#comment-342740 Most people don't ask "what do you do?" to size you up. It's a conversation starter for most. Most people spend at least 40 hours of their week working, so it's natural to be a first topic when meeting someone. I ask the question regularly. I'd be annoyed if I got one of the many glib answers being suggested. You have no reason to be ashamed or defensive for being a freelancer with a variety of income streams. Now if someone follows up your answer with a jerk response, feel free to act however you want. Just don't be the first one to act like a jerk. Most people don’t ask “what do you do?” to size you up. It’s a conversation starter for most. Most people spend at least 40 hours of their week working, so it’s natural to be a first topic when meeting someone. I ask the question regularly. I’d be annoyed if I got one of the many glib answers being suggested. You have no reason to be ashamed or defensive for being a freelancer with a variety of income streams. Now if someone follows up your answer with a jerk response, feel free to act however you want. Just don’t be the first one to act like a jerk.

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