What do you do?

This is a common question that people are asked and ask on a regular basis. When you're asked this question, what's your answer? Why?

Some people try and talk themselves up or spin what they do into something impressive. Some people laugh the question off and change the subject.

There are many different ways that this question can be answered. What's your angle?

I'm a photographer. Artists are always sexy.

-deus-

For the past 2 years my reply to that question was "I'm a bum". But now I can say "I'm a student!"

I'm a student.

I'm a 3rd Divison H.H.S. member

translated: im a junior at my highschool

What do I do? I learn, then I will do something after the learning.

I detail cars.

Head computer technician.

Depends who it is. A casual eejit, I'd say "computer guy". Someone I want to appear intelligent to, "Partially Network administrator, couplied with civil engineering. I'm also a CAD technician."

Any questions regarding job or academic history are my cue to break off discussion with whoever's asking and avoid them entirely in the future.

Service Router for the Las Vegas Review Juornal. [News Paper]

I have to admit that I lie about this one alot. I usually avoid answering it or change the subject if I can, but if I'm forced to answer it, I just say something extremely vague. Something along the lines of "having my own business" or "investments".

If they keep prodding, I just make something up on the spot.

Come to think of it, I could save alot of grief by just coming up with something right now and using it from now on.

People that I know quite well I'd say the truth which is I'm a private detective. People I might end up following one day lol I tell I'm an artist which is also partially true. Or I'm dole scum. Which is also partially true.

I know that sounds complicated but basically I'm on incapacity benefits but I work voluntarily for my Dad's PI agency and I paint in my spare time.

I'd have to say 90% of the time I go with the dole scum option because that's the most true out of the three and you know that if someones a wanker they're going to fuck off as soon as you say that so you can sort of get a bit more of a feel of what type of person they are by how they react.

Drugs.

Oh I'm good at this one.

I work with fish... And yes I know that's a horrible way to talk about your colleagues but... Just kidding, yeah we pack fish. Haha

I've noticed that at college, the appropriate response to that is your major/minor (if yuh have one).

So, I say, "Computer networking."

Im a highschool student to adults, when Im trying to make myself look good, I say I work for Mcarren airport in sales.

which I do,I sell coffees at the starbucks in the airpot :P

I don't know. I... just, um...

Since I can't give an answer to this question, does it mean I'm like the guy in Office Space? Unmotivated? I do stuff, yeah, but I don't classify it as what I do.

"I'm a marine biologist" (or an architect).

Lion tamer or jewel thief. Never a dull moment after saying that.

I've never been asked this question actually but my answer would be im a student studying English literature, language, psychology, photography and modern history.

Eh

[This message has been edited by among_the_living (edited 09-10-2006).]

^someone's doing his AS levels...

Almost the same ones I did.

I normally say I'm a student, but occasionally I say I'm a singer/songwriter. Neither works very well.

I'll show them when I'm famous etc.,

"i'm a student." it's really the best possible answer.

What do I do? I ask you what you did today. Then I bust out a condom, because i'm that smooth.

I'm always torn on what to reply. I have so many possible answers. At the moment I'm a student, writer, poet, and work within construction.

Recently, I've been answering construction. I like that it seems to filter out people with certain attitudes.

quote:Originally posted by lauren7249:

"i'm a student." it's really the best possible answer.



No way. Astronaught is the best awnser.

quote:Originally posted by lauren7249:

"i'm a student." it's really the best possible answer.

It's not, because you're then interrogated on what you're studying. Then you have to mumble out all your embarrasing courses that only retards take at your age. Or just make shit up and have it snowball into a hyper-lie that you can't keep on top of.

And yes, I do speak from experience.

quote:Originally posted by Lord Sorpington:

^someone's doing his AS levels...

Almost the same ones I did.

I normally say I'm a student, but occasionally I say I'm a singer/songwriter. Neither works very well.

I'll show them when I'm famous etc.,

Hm, Im going Alevel but i guess 1yr in its an ASlevel then when you do the 2nd yr its a full Alevel....but yeah.

Alevels :O bawww.

I think anything other than "unemployed bum" is the best answer.

I guess I just do what I feel like.

quote:Originally posted by RevolutionNov7th:

It's not, because you're then interrogated on what you're studying. Then you have to mumble out all your embarrasing courses that only retards take at your age. Or just make shit up and have it snowball into a hyper-lie that you can't keep on top of.

And yes, I do speak from experience.





I'm proud of the courses I take though.

quote:Originally posted by SilentMind:



No way. Astronaught is the best awnser.



if you know how to spell it. :P

quote:Originally posted by lauren7249:

I'm proud of the courses I take though.

That's a good thing.

Student is an excellent answer; it's both humble and interesting. There are a variety of ways of saying that you're a student. You could say "I go to university" or "I'm studying such and such" instead. The simple statement of being a student is a solid answer.

Regularly, I answer student. It can lead to interesting conversations. You never know what someone may know about what you're studying. I've been surprised by quite a few people's knowledge.

I fell around inside women for a living.

Biotechnology, because there nothing else worth studying other than to improve the quality of life itself

well i worked offshore for about 9 years,and tattooed in my spare time,then my brother decided he wanted to open a tat shop,so i went in it with him,my plan was if and when the shop brought in more money than my regular job.i'd quit and tattoo full time,i blew my back out in october of 03,have had 3 back surgeries since then,so the shop became my full time thing.i got very lucky and the shop is doing great,doing well enough that we were able to hire 2 more artists because we couldnt handle the workload with just the 2 of us.wow.thats a lot of typing just to say im a tattoo artist lol

quote:Originally posted by lauren7249:



I'm proud of the courses I take though.

Yeah, me too. I'm in pharmacology and so I spend alot of my time explaining the differnce between a pharmacist and a pharmacologist. And there's some people who think that it has something to do with being a farmer too, lol.

quote:Originally posted by Enset:

People that I know quite well I'd say the truth which is I'm a private detective. People I might end up following one day lol I tell I'm an artist which is also partially true. Or I'm dole scum. Which is also partially true.

I know that sounds complicated but basically I'm on incapacity benefits but I work voluntarily for my Dad's PI agency and I paint in my spare time.

I'd have to say 90% of the time I go with the dole scum option because that's the most true out of the three and you know that if someones a wanker they're going to fuck off as soon as you say that so you can sort of get a bit more of a feel of what type of person they are by how they react.

you should get a custom door like the old private eye ones on your room.

quote:Originally posted by Sick_Boy:

Yeah, me too. I'm in pharmacology and so I spend alot of my time explaining the differnce between a pharmacist and a pharmacologist. And there's some people who think that it has something to do with being a farmer too, lol.



lol....so a pharmacologist is someone who is in the science of prescription drugs, right? not just the guy at the drug store window?

I kick ass for a living.

It's hard to get a job somewhere I'd like to work when I'm only 16. There's always fast food places, but that's not the type of job anyone really wants.

I own a custon house framing company and a tattoo shop. entrepenuer i guess.

quote:Originally posted by Sick_Boy:

And there's some people who think that it has something to do with being a farmer too, lol.

Somehow, I think that they must be wearing a cowboy hat. Or at least a large belt buckle.

quote:Originally posted by Euda:

I'm always torn on what to reply. I have so many possible answers. At the moment I'm a student, writer, poet, and work within construction.

Recently, I've been answering construction. I like that it seems to filter out people with certain attitudes.

Thus is born hypocrasy of the adult. As opposed to the teengirl's 'Complete Honesty' is always best...(from a gir-rrrl?! as if) To tell too much does give the world a handle on you.

People do say all sorts of things about how one should be & act. What they say, of course, is said to best effect & may have only a tentative relation to their actual reality.

Then again, what one says is diffrent in every new situation. Depends on what level of relation one has to the other(s). Guys you just met/started working with is one thing.

People you've known a long time? Another level.

Thus 'small talk' eg: weather/sports/movies/tv...

Give too much of yourself away? Will you get 'yourself' back?

For people at uni:

Mechanical Engineering, well, I'm enrolled in Engineering but I don't do any engineering subjects and I'm changing to Pharmacy next year if I dont make it into Med.

For others:

I go to uni.

[what do you study at uni?]

Engineering.

[isn't that like really really hard?]

no, not really, unless you are dumb.

[oh]

An astronaught? That's a 'space case' innit?

A pharmaceutical is a type of shop that sells tailored pharmer ceuts to pharmers?

[This message has been edited by moonmeister (edited 09-11-2006).]

Hmm, I have a few, depending on the situation:

Artist/Designer

Photographer

Student

Unemployed/benefit bludger

Sounds like our little kiwi bird is an...

Astronaught...

"I sit around takind drugs, going clubbing, reading, riding motorbikes and generally having a good time."

Then it's ALWAYS followed by "How do you afford this if you don't work".

Then I just say "The government pays for it, because they see me as unfit for work"

Yeah, it doesn't really impress chicks, but I tend to answer that question bluntly and honestly.

*edit* If I'm fucked, or the person asking isn't worth a sentence it usually goes like this:

Them: What do you do?

Me: Nothing

Them: What do you mean?

Me: I didn't know I was speaking in code, fuck.

I really need to do something.

[This message has been edited by arquin (edited 09-11-2006).]

I say...

I work in a hotel as senior night ops.

Fun at times but bloody difficult other times.

What do you do?

Apprentice Sparky- I like the sound of 'apprentice' , its fuzzy.

quote:Originally posted by thehighway:

Biotechnology, because there nothing else worth studying other than to improve the quality of life itself

The quality of life while studying it isn't so great though :P

Gotta love my "11 hour wednesday".

Your mum

I'm a 'computer-fixit guy'.

Never bothered giving myself a title. I guess I'm a computer technician.

Professional waste of air

Something you don't really wanna know.

^ This is my actual response to the "what do you do" question.

quote:Originally posted by thepiercer:

I own a custon house framing company and a tattoo shop. entrepenuer i guess.

very cool,but man how do you find the time to do both a framing business and a tattoo shop, my shop keeps me way to busy to even think about running another business,i seriously put in at least 80 hrs a week just making sure everything is running properly,i envy your energy i really do