Comments on: So, What Do You Do?

By: Ashley

Ashley — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 14:10:16 +0000

i don’t answer similar what is your job?

By: Great Blog Content vs. Search Engine Optimization

Great Blog Content vs. Search Engine Optimization — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:17:07 +0000

[...] Yahoo Pipes and then I wrote a short, quick post about how I dread answering the question, “So, What Do You Do?” during the holidays when talking to non-technical family and friends. The [...]

By: What I Do And Why I Do It « Whuttup?!

What I Do And Why I Do It « Whuttup?! — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 10:49:47 +0000

[...] a bonus, here’s a funny read from Dawn Foster about what she does and her experience that is pretty similar to [...]

By: Mike McClure

Mike McClure — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 19:55:09 +0000

For me, the worst was when I was working a regular office job at Hewlett Packard.

I was a Business Intelligence Manager in the outsourcing division but all I got from most people was:
“Can you fix my printer?”

*sigh*

By: How Will You Survive the Holiday?

How Will You Survive the Holiday? — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:01:14 +0000

[...] and friends, which can mean that you will most likely be faced with the dreaded question: “So, what do you do?” from your less technical friends and family. I always struggle with how to answer this [...]

By: WebWorkerDaily » Archive The Language of the Web Worker «

WebWorkerDaily » Archive The Language of the Web Worker « — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:08:13 +0000

[...] the holidays, I talked about how hard it is to explain what I do to family members, friends, and other people living in the regular world who find our web worker [...]

By: Desirea

Desirea — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:06:07 +0000

I usually just say “I’m a computer programmer.” It usually scares them off of any other questions. If I get too deep, their eyes glaze over.

By: NatalieMac

NatalieMac — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:08:02 +0000

“I work with computers” is no good because then they just want you to fix their computer or figure out how they can use their neighbor’s secured WiFi.

“Front-end developer” gets too many smirks and suggestive questions about back-end developers.

So I usually settle with “I make web sites.” Half the people who hear that claim they need a web site but I don’t think I’ve ever actually gotten any business that way.

By: gwalter

gwalter — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:49:16 +0000

Funny, I no longer work in tech, but I have the same issues. I’ve always been told to break out of of the “label” and move into the actual doing. Hence, I coach people and speak motivationally.

By: Tamara

Tamara — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 18:39:53 +0000

Hi,
I ran across this as I was posting in Facebook…too cute. Very good article and I know just what you mean. I use all this social media stuff to promote my books and speaking career and my husband comes home and says, “What did you do today?” I say,
“chatted and promoted.” and you can just guess the rest of the conversation.
PS I used to be a vegan, but not anymore. I do, however, still eat 85-90% raw, organic…not this week tho!

Take care,
TD

By: #define SYSTEM_ADMINISTRATOR « Blogs are like opinions. Everybody has one…

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 23:07:25 +0000

[...] παραλλαγή αυτού του διαγράμματος. Γιατί όπως φαίνεται δεν είμαι ο μόνος που δεν μπορεί να απαντήσει απλά και περιεκτικά το [...]

By: workflow software

workflow software — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 21:49:07 +0000

Never be ashed of what you do. Look people in the eye and tell them you are a freelancer.

By: gamegrrrl

gamegrrrl — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 19:43:21 +0000

Try this one:
“I’m a college professor.”
“What do you teach?”
“Video game design. I also do game research, specializing in online games.”

Responses vary from:
-If over 40:
–glazed look
–”Don’t video game make kids violent?”
–”But aren’t those games addictive?”
–enthusiastic: “Oh! You have to meet my 14-year old son.”

-If between 40 and 18:
–Mostly curious, and seem to realize that it’s a good career track.

-If under 18:
–”Cool!”
–”Wow! You can do that for a living?”
–”Do you play [Guild Wars/World of Warcraft/etc.]?”

By: admash

admash — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 15:48:03 +0000

After many awkward moments and several canned speeches, I finally have narrowed it down to “web developer”.

But, that always leads into a conversation about websites, the cousin who uses frontpage, etc. as noted by a lot of the earlier comments.

So, I am thinking of using “internet programmer”, or simply “I write software for the internet”. That covers websites, web-apps, server admin and a host of other hats that I wear.

I will DEFINITELY be using “I try to call in sick but always get a busy signal”. :^)

By: Bram Pitoyo

Bram Pitoyo — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 10:14:50 +0000

Hmm… What about trying to slowly change the nature of the question?

Them: What do you do?
You: What don’t I do?
Them: Oh… (either becomes intrigued or runs away)

By: Amber Case

Amber Case — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 06:30:42 +0000

Thanks so much for writing this! I feel similarly, except my entire family asks me to teach them search engine optimization. I want to wear a T-shirt that says “No, I will not optimize your website!”.