OT: When someone asks what your job is.

micky · Feb 10, 2014

As a systems integrator, automation specialist/engineer, programmer, etc. When someone asks what do you do, how do you explain it? How do you explain your job to people who are not familiar with the field of work we do. It's not as clear cut as say a dentist, a doctor, or a barber.

If I say systems integrator, I get the deer in the headlights look. Go with automation specialist and they assume I work with robots all day, which can true. Say programmer and most assume you peck away at a keyboard all day writing lines of code, which happens sometimes.

Sometimes I think of myself more of marriage counselor between operators and machines trying to get them through life without killing each other.

So what is your job?

osmanmomin · Feb 10, 2014

Talk to them that u,

JesperMP · Feb 10, 2014

"When you see something cool from a factory or production somewhere and think how did they make that work, then that is what I do."

Or
"I play with Lego's all day long and I get paid for it.
"I get paid to go to exotic places around the world."
"100s, no 1000s of people depend on my work."
"There are only 3-4 other people in the world that can do exactly what I do."
"It is somewhere between rocket science and brain surgery"

dploof23 · Feb 10, 2014

micky said:
As a systems integrator, automation
Sometimes I think of myself more of marriage counselor between operators and machines trying to get them through life without killing each other.

I like it!

I think in my shop It's more like I double as an anger management counselor and a day care chaperone...

Dave

Steve Bailey · Feb 10, 2014

I tell people that I help to keep manufacturing jobs from moving away.

RonJohn · Feb 10, 2014

When somebody asks me what I do for a living, I usually tell them that I've been asking myself that same question for years!

If I say systems integrator, I get the deer in the headlights look.

I agree that "system integrator" results in blank stares. The simple response: I design/program/commission the electrical controls to help people make their machine/process/plant run better & safer.

"I get paid to go to exotic places around the world."

Yea, that's what my WIFE thinks!!!

Jeff23spl · Feb 10, 2014

great ones!

for me it really depend from who is asking...
I will give more detailed infos to another technician
I will keep it easy if i got the question from polite peoples that just ask to spend the time wasted beside you in an airplane for exemple...
I will keep it clear but looking very complicated if i got the question from a cute girl or from a guy that want to compare my job to his one...

I sometimes say: i change machine from manual operating to automated reducing injury and physical effort to everyone to permit them to learn more skills to do easier job than mannually repeating the same thing everyday for 8 hres a day all their life...

abhyudaya.sandeep · Feb 10, 2014

well said friend...

micky · Feb 10, 2014

JesperMP said:
"It is somewhere between rocket science and brain surgery"

I'm gonna see what this response gives the next time someone asks.

chud · Feb 11, 2014

micky said:
I'm gonna see what this response gives the next time someone asks.

It will get the same result i give when asked to do a private job and fix a friend;s house electrical problems.............laugther

Brijm · Feb 14, 2014

Short answer... You make the machines go.

Longer answer... You program and troubleshoot machine controls.

Much more than that, seems to confuse many.

Ned_Flanders · Feb 15, 2014

Knew a salesman who had "Acrobat,Diplomat and Doormat" on his business card!

RoTaTech · Feb 18, 2014

I have lately said "you know the TV show 'How it's made'?, well, I'm one of the guys who makes those machines make."

OT: When someone asks what your job is.

micky

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osmanmomin

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JesperMP

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dploof23

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Steve Bailey

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micky

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RoTaTech

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