Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: What was your favorite job?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–20 of 32 posts

Re: Ask HN: What was your favorite job?

#11

Post by mixto »

ogou wrote: post #9

In high school I worked in a Fotomat booth in the parking lot of a grocery store. It was at the end of that era when people would still drop off film to get developed and pick it up a few days later. So, it was not busy at all and I was in the little booth by myself for my shift. I did my homework, read a lot of books, listened to music, and skateboarded around the booth. It was great. As for your specific question,…

I like the framework of impact, thanks for that. I'm not too interested in the "buzzword careers" unless they have a mission I can really align with.

Re: Ask HN: What was your favorite job?

#12

Post by DANmode »

Auditing hung and underground utility lines, and related and low-voltage equipment.

Almost as disproportionately paid as tech, if not more, depending on your niche.

Great exercise, engaging. Flexible schedules and methodologies. Can be performed on a bicycle or e-bike(!!).

If you know what geocaching is, imagine being paid to do it!

If you've ever wanted a well-paid career that you're in control of, that's a good one - if you can get it.

This is one of a short list things I'm very interested in starting for myself.

If you're intrigued, and are or could be US-based, let me know; I'd love one or two likeminded partners for stability!

Re: Ask HN: What was your favorite job?

#13

Post by gaws »

schwartzworld wrote: post #10

For a summer I dated a girl whose dad sold rugs in parking lots. If you lived in New England at that time you know the guys I'm talking about. There were a bunch of them, who all bought rugs from the same supplier and set up large displays. The girl's dad set us up with our own rug display in a parking lot somewhere like an hour away. Every Friday he'd drive us out there and leave us until Sunday. We would set up the…

> And on top of it all, I got to spend all that time with someone I was crazy about.

Did the relationship last?

Re: Ask HN: What was your favorite job?

#14

Post by schwartzworld »

gaws wrote: post #13
schwartzworld wrote: post #10

For a summer I dated a girl whose dad sold rugs in parking lots. If you lived in New England at that time you know the guys I'm talking about. There were a bunch of them, who all bought rugs from the same supplier and set up large displays. The girl's dad set us up with our own rug display in a parking lot somewhere like an hour away. Every Friday he'd drive us out there and leave us until Sunday. We would set up the…

> And on top of it all, I got to spend all that time with someone I was crazy about. Did the relationship last?

Not even into the fall, but it's probably for the best.

Re: Ask HN: What was your favorite job?

#15

Post by ian0 »

I worked in a small inner-city video rental shop during the dying days of video. It had a staff of 4-5 amazing characters - We ate popcorn, drank vodka, watched hundreds of random movies (black spine chosen at random from the back of course).

We would stay after hours, well into the night, with film nerds and random people with nowhere else to go. Our boss, the manager of the branch was a nuclear physicist turned asylum seeker - who had our backs, brought us take outs and was an all around gent.

This was during college for me. I had some great, interesting, jobs afterwards both in tech and other random things. But I think this will always be my favorite. Those I keep in touch with seem to agree.

Re: Ask HN: What was your favorite job?

#16

Post by ian0 »

housemusicfan wrote: post #2

Jeff Bezos has been quoted as saying his favorite job, or one he learned the most from, was working the breakfast shift at McDonald's in high school. He allegedly can still crack dozens of eggs like a pro.

Did a stint at mcdonalds for a couple of months when I was in school. Honestly theres a lot you can learn there if you keep your eyes open, it definitely made an impression on me. The standardisation of every process down to minute detail, equipment, ingredients, logistics, and people - from junior to management and those guys they fly around to fix things. Its a machine.

Obviously pretty dystopian and my experience there were close to zero ethics. They used to try and bribe the smartest young kids by offering company cars if they quit school and trained as managers. The owner even tried removing the small change from the tills as most people don't complain if they are short a tiny amount so he could squeeze that little extra (not a viable strategy btw as a tiny minority will freak out publicly).

Re: Ask HN: What was your favorite job?

#17

Post by mixto »

ian0 wrote: post #15

I worked in a small inner-city video rental shop during the dying days of video. It had a staff of 4-5 amazing characters - We ate popcorn, drank vodka, watched hundreds of random movies (black spine chosen at random from the back of course). We would stay after hours, well into the night, with film nerds and random people with nowhere else to go. Our boss, the manager of the branch was a nuclear physicist turned asy…

Wow, that's amazing. Do you have any favorite lesser-known movies you watched during that time?

Re: Ask HN: What was your favorite job?

#18

Post by happyjack »

I'll stick to the favorite job that's "in my career" to keep with the theme I sense OP is wanting.

I did a lot of manual / hard labor in middle, high school, and college, and studied engineering.

My favorite job was about 6 years out of college where I got to combine all those. I was doing contract applied research for the private sector. Along with engineering systems and designing experiments, I was also machining, turning wrenches, taking samples, etc.

I find myself most happy when I'm running around / working with my hands at least 3 days a week and doing office / design work the other 2 (on average).

Re: Ask HN: What was your favorite job?

#19

Post by DANmode »

DANmode wrote: post #12

Auditing hung and underground utility lines, and related and low-voltage equipment. Almost as disproportionately paid as tech, if not more, depending on your niche. Great exercise, engaging. Flexible schedules and methodologies. Can be performed on a bicycle or e-bike(!!). If you know what geocaching is, imagine being paid to do it! If you've ever wanted a well-paid career that you're in control of, that's a good one…

If you like the outside, but not the exercise, a good portion can be done from a vehicle, as well!

Get in touch, internet stranger, no matter what year you find this.

Re: Ask HN: What was your favorite job?

#20

Post by ian0 »

mixto wrote: post #17
ian0 wrote: post #15

I worked in a small inner-city video rental shop during the dying days of video. It had a staff of 4-5 amazing characters - We ate popcorn, drank vodka, watched hundreds of random movies (black spine chosen at random from the back of course). We would stay after hours, well into the night, with film nerds and random people with nowhere else to go. Our boss, the manager of the branch was a nuclear physicist turned asy…

Wow, that's amazing. Do you have any favorite lesser-known movies you watched during that time?

Sure, the below stick with me, Im not sure if they class as lesser known, they were to my uncultured self..

- Black Cat, White Cat (1998), serbian comedy

- Brother (1997), russian revenge flick

- Kontroll (2003), hungarian sci-fi/fantasy

- The Return (2003), russian drama

- Dead Man (1997), US western/art

- Three colours Blue (1993), french drama

- Paris, je t'aime (2006), short film compilation

As a bonus if you like smoking with friends Darby o Gill and The little People (1959) is an (inadvertent?) slapstick-comedy/horror from disney.

Post reply on HN