Do you love or hate when people ask you questions in your career field?

jenna8984

@pinkcow13 Yes! There is a large insurance company in my small town so it employs a lot of my friends. They do so many crazy things like claims and subrogation, none of them are in sales. @janiv123 Good luck in med school! My best friend/ maid oh honor is in her 3rd year right now and she is actually what made me think of this question. I had a weird heat rash thing going on and I was debating sending her a picture of it but then I'm like "is that annoying?" hahah

l9i

I generally don't get annoyed too much, but also don't see the point.  Working in IT, most don't understand the nitty-gritty of the job.  The biggest question that annoys me is always "you work in IT so you can fix anything wrong with my computer".  Also, sometimes people crack at the industry I work in but I do I very good job of turning that back around.  Overall I find it's not very interesting to others and that's fine with me.

jenna8984

@jdluvr06 For what it's worth, my artist hates those shows. He says it's not going to be good work if he is forced to do in a specific time period. He needs to take his time and if that means 9 hours, that means 9 hours. He said he would never squeeze it into 6 hours and compromise his work. He also is so talented and in demand that he currently has a 14 month wait list.

Senecaf

My job isn't interesting. I work for a car rental company, people generally just ask for discounts.

ashleigh816

I absolutely love talking about my work. I'm an esthetician and a total nerd about skin, so I always LOVE talking about treatments or product lines or ingredients. In fact, when someone does ask me questions, I warn them that I get really carried away and to just stop me any time they get bored.

mysticl

I'm a social worker (on hiatus as a stay at home mom right now) who spent a couple of years working in a residential treatment facility for children and adolescents with mental health and behavioral issues.  Then I spent several years working in therapeutic foster care (same population).  I love talking about it as long as you are willing to listen to what I have to say and not jump to conclusions about my kids (every last one is and always will be mine), their biological parents, and the system.  When I can educate someone about children's mental health and welfare in this country it's a really great feeling.  

garnetandgold60

I'm a social media manager for a company and when someone asks me about my job a lot of the time it's in a condescending way, "So, you just sit on Facebook and Twitter all day?" "So you get paid to do nothing?"

Admittedly, many people I work with call me "the Facebook girl," but as a friendly joke.

I think I might start introducing myself as an online marketing person, that way when I start talking about SEO and all that fun stuff I might not get so many "jokes."

Inkdancer

larrygaga said:

I'm a social worker studying to be a therapist, and I really don't like getting asked questions. It's usually people wanting me to diagnose them or others with some crazy mental illness, and which drug would I recommend? Social work therapists don't do either of those. Especially when it's based on a 5 minute run-down of the person. I had a professor tell me that I can't be my family's therapist. 

I also hate when people try to get me to tell them the craziest thing I've seen so far. Social workers have very strict confienditality rules, and why would I make my clients your entertainment? Gross. 

I don't mind when people ask me how certain organizations or programs work, and how to access them. That is not a big deal.

Craziest thing? Well, one time this perfect stranger asked me to divulge details about my clients. Can you imagine???

jenna8984

ashleigh816 said:

I absolutely love talking about my work. I'm an esthetician and a total nerd about skin, so I always LOVE talking about treatments or product lines or ingredients. In fact, when someone does ask me questions, I warn them that I get really carried away and to just stop me any time they get bored.

@ashleigh816 Is it terrible that I refuse to put lotion on my face? I wash and then use clinique toner (which is basically just witchhazel) and then I love that tight feeling it gives my skin so I leave it alone. I feel like my pores are all nice and clean, why glom it up with lotion? But if I'm going to turn into a wrinkly hag, please suggest a face lotion lol. Truth be told I'm also just too damn cheap for most products. Anything sold in Sephora I think is a major rip-off. I won't spend more than $10 on anything for my face...which you probably find insane!

daria24

I don't mind when people ask (and they always ask) because I realize it's unusual (I'm a tv producer). Usually the first question is "how real is reality TV?"

H HATES being asked about his work, because no one understand what he does (he's a U/X designer) and the more he tries to describe it, the more "wrong" people get it. And then people usually ask him about a computer problem they are having. He spends his day (mostly) designing Apple & Android apps, he has no idea why your email isn't working. 

ashleigh816

Ahhhh @jenna8984...and the tough part...I do have opinions! They're based on education and research, but take or leave it. If you don't like using lotions/moisturizers, it's your choice, but it's kind of like saying I don't like to eat vegetables? If that makes any sense? Hydration is a big key to skin health and staving off the signs of aging. So...that's my $0.02!

VulgarGirl

jenna8984 said:

ashleigh816 said:

I absolutely love talking about my work. I'm an esthetician and a total nerd about skin, so I always LOVE talking about treatments or product lines or ingredients. In fact, when someone does ask me questions, I warn them that I get really carried away and to just stop me any time they get bored.

@ashleigh816 Is it terrible that I refuse to put lotion on my face? I wash and then use clinique toner (which is basically just witchhazel) and then I love that tight feeling it gives my skin so I leave it alone. I feel like my pores are all nice and clean, why glom it up with lotion? But if I'm going to turn into a wrinkly hag, please suggest a face lotion lol. Truth be told I'm also just too damn cheap for most products. Anything sold in Sephora I think is a major rip-off. I won't spend more than $10 on anything for my face...which you probably find insane!

You should come with me when I go to Sephora and slap things out of my hand. I really shouldn't go in there unsupervised.

ashleigh816

@Magicink, I'm with you! My bathroom is overflowing with products!

VulgarGirl

ashleigh816 said:

Magicink, I'm with you! My bathroom is overflowing with products!

I was looking through my makeup this morning and realized I have 5 different mascaras. No idea why. Each slightly different but all fairly new. One is blue, one is violet, then I have two black ones, and for some reason a brown. I never wear brown mascara, so I'm not sure how I got that one. And I have no desire to count my lip stuff. So much lip stuff.

jenna8984

MagicInk said:

jenna8984 said:

ashleigh816 said:

I absolutely love talking about my work. I'm an esthetician and a total nerd about skin, so I always LOVE talking about treatments or product lines or ingredients. In fact, when someone does ask me questions, I warn them that I get really carried away and to just stop me any time they get bored.

@ashleigh816 Is it terrible that I refuse to put lotion on my face? I wash and then use clinique toner (which is basically just witchhazel) and then I love that tight feeling it gives my skin so I leave it alone. I feel like my pores are all nice and clean, why glom it up with lotion? But if I'm going to turn into a wrinkly hag, please suggest a face lotion lol. Truth be told I'm also just too damn cheap for most products. Anything sold in Sephora I think is a major rip-off. I won't spend more than $10 on anything for my face...which you probably find insane!

You should come with me when I go to Sephora and slap things out of my hand. I really shouldn't go in there unsupervised.

hahaha! I went with my best friend because she had a gift card. OMG. She spent hours in there trying things on her hand. I was like are you kidding me right now. She got a $55 eye shadow palette, $35 mask, and some other stuff. I was cringing and thinking of my $2.99 Cover Girl eye shadow lol

cupcait927

jenna8984 said:

MagicInk said:

jenna8984 said:

ashleigh816 said:

I absolutely love talking about my work. I'm an esthetician and a total nerd about skin, so I always LOVE talking about treatments or product lines or ingredients. In fact, when someone does ask me questions, I warn them that I get really carried away and to just stop me any time they get bored.

@ashleigh816 Is it terrible that I refuse to put lotion on my face? I wash and then use clinique toner (which is basically just witchhazel) and then I love that tight feeling it gives my skin so I leave it alone. I feel like my pores are all nice and clean, why glom it up with lotion? But if I'm going to turn into a wrinkly hag, please suggest a face lotion lol. Truth be told I'm also just too damn cheap for most products. Anything sold in Sephora I think is a major rip-off. I won't spend more than $10 on anything for my face...which you probably find insane!

You should come with me when I go to Sephora and slap things out of my hand. I really shouldn't go in there unsupervised.

hahaha! I went with my best friend because she had a gift card. OMG. She spent hours in there trying things on her hand. I was like are you kidding me right now. She got a $55 eye shadow palette, $35 mask, and some other stuff. I was cringing and thinking of my $2.99 Cover Girl eye shadow lol

@jenna8984 I'm with on the being cheap with your makeup. I cannot fathom spending a ton of money on makeup. I have two girlfriends though that can go into Sephora and spend a couple hundred bucks without blinking. If I had some slightly more expendable income, that might change but for now, give me my drugstore brands!

VulgarGirl

jenna8984 said:

MagicInk said:

jenna8984 said:

ashleigh816 said:

I absolutely love talking about my work. I'm an esthetician and a total nerd about skin, so I always LOVE talking about treatments or product lines or ingredients. In fact, when someone does ask me questions, I warn them that I get really carried away and to just stop me any time they get bored.

@ashleigh816 Is it terrible that I refuse to put lotion on my face? I wash and then use clinique toner (which is basically just witchhazel) and then I love that tight feeling it gives my skin so I leave it alone. I feel like my pores are all nice and clean, why glom it up with lotion? But if I'm going to turn into a wrinkly hag, please suggest a face lotion lol. Truth be told I'm also just too damn cheap for most products. Anything sold in Sephora I think is a major rip-off. I won't spend more than $10 on anything for my face...which you probably find insane!

You should come with me when I go to Sephora and slap things out of my hand. I really shouldn't go in there unsupervised.

hahaha! I went with my best friend because she had a gift card. OMG. She spent hours in there trying things on her hand. I was like are you kidding me right now. She got a $55 eye shadow palette, $35 mask, and some other stuff. I was cringing and thinking of my $2.99 Cover Girl eye shadow lol

I've got a mix of OMG that's fucking expensive for make up, and super cheap drug store stuff. But Sephora is so awesome because you can try it all out!!! I love Ulta too. Though I'm not sure I could $55 for eye shadow. I think my urban decay one was...$40ish...maybe $35.

jenna8984

 

MagicInk said:

jenna8984 said:

MagicInk said:

jenna8984 said:

ashleigh816 said:

I absolutely love talking about my work. I'm an esthetician and a total nerd about skin, so I always LOVE talking about treatments or product lines or ingredients. In fact, when someone does ask me questions, I warn them that I get really carried away and to just stop me any time they get bored.

@ashleigh816 Is it terrible that I refuse to put lotion on my face? I wash and then use clinique toner (which is basically just witchhazel) and then I love that tight feeling it gives my skin so I leave it alone. I feel like my pores are all nice and clean, why glom it up with lotion? But if I'm going to turn into a wrinkly hag, please suggest a face lotion lol. Truth be told I'm also just too damn cheap for most products. Anything sold in Sephora I think is a major rip-off. I won't spend more than $10 on anything for my face...which you probably find insane!

You should come with me when I go to Sephora and slap things out of my hand. I really shouldn't go in there unsupervised.

hahaha! I went with my best friend because she had a gift card. OMG. She spent hours in there trying things on her hand. I was like are you kidding me right now. She got a $55 eye shadow palette, $35 mask, and some other stuff. I was cringing and thinking of my $2.99 Cover Girl eye shadow lol

I've got a mix of OMG that's fucking expensive for make up, and super cheap drug store stuff. But Sephora is so awesome because you can try it all out!!! I love Ulta too. Though I'm not sure I could $55 for eye shadow. I think my urban decay one was...$40ish...maybe $35.

Luckily for me she's a bestie, so she's doing my wedding makeup for free with her high quality goods

wandajune6

I encourage people to talk to me. I've spent years working with health plans and physicians so I'm great at navigating health insurance and medical care.

But don't push me on what it's like to be at a startup. People have an incredibly romantic view of starting a company and only seem to want evidence confirming these beliefs. If you want to talk to me about starting a company, be prepared to hear how hard it is.

AlexisA01

Only if people ask, "Does it suck to deal with athletes foot". I feel like people only think of podiatrist for foot fungus. I do a lot correction surgeries and rehabilitation.

sarawifenow

I have so many people that ask me all the time for financial advice. I don't mind it, but after doing it 40+ hours a week, sometimes I just want to talk about what is on crap TV, not what mutual funds are performing well.

JaniV123

@jenna8984 it is not always annoying but it can be. She may be able to help you figure out if you should go to the Derm but med students dont necessarily have all the answers a physician might have. IF she is you BFF she may not mind lol 

gladyscf

It's hit or miss if I get asked anything. I'm a paralegal and we do estate planning, probate and real estate. Also a little with guardianships. 

I don't mind talking about it but I never want someone to take what I say as legal advice as that is a big no-no for a non-lawyer so I'm pretty cautious about my responses.

chkmeowt

I don't mind at all. I love helping people find information - it is at my fingertips and only takes a few minutes (most of the time) and if it takes longer, I love a challenge!

wandajune6

AlexisA01 said:

Only if people ask, "Does it suck to deal with athletes foot". I feel like people only think of podiatrist for foot fungus. I do a lot correction surgeries and rehabilitation.

That's interesting. I think of podiatrists mainly for surgical stuff. Between diabetics and old ladies in the family, podiatrists come up a lot in our house.

FI and I have joked a lot about inviting his to the wedding since he sees the doc so often!

Cookie Pusher

It's only annoying to talk about my job because it's within the sphere of politics, and everyone seems to have an opinion on everything related to politics. 

Also... Sephora is my Mecca. I could live in there. I've been buying cheaper makeup since I don't have to wear it to work anymore, but I still buy my Shiseido skincare.

chkmeowt

wandajune6 said:

AlexisA01 said:

Only if people ask, "Does it suck to deal with athletes foot". I feel like people only think of podiatrist for foot fungus. I do a lot correction surgeries and rehabilitation.

That's interesting. I think of podiatrists mainly for surgical stuff. Between diabetics and old ladies in the family, podiatrists come up a lot in our house.

FI and I have joked a lot about inviting his to the wedding since he sees the doc so often!

lol, i agree.  My mom is down to eight toes.... >:O

jenna8984

My mom's a travel agent so sometimes her and I get a little over zealous and forget our audience when talking about travel. The first time she met my future in laws she was raving about their trip to Singapore and Hong Kong and my FMIL was just like "um, we went to New Hampshire for a Nascar race". I've been trying to get better about being excited for people and their trips even if I think they are sucky destinations lol.

But she does get really annoyed when my friends call her for honeymoon advice, she goes through all this trouble to price out options in 3 different locations then a month later they say "oh I just booked something on priceline". I'm cautious now who I give her number to after that happened a dozen times.

clarke10

Cookie Pusher said:

It's only annoying to talk about my job because it's within the sphere of politics, and everyone seems to have an opinion on everything related to politics. 

Also... Sephora is my Mecca. I could live in there. I've been buying cheaper makeup since I don't have to wear it to work anymore, but I still buy my Shiseido skincare.

Same here to the bolded! I work in politics as well and people constantly want to have a political debate when they find out that's what I do.

thisismynickname2

I personally don't mind for myself, but I work in higher education.

I would draw the line with "professions" versus other types of careers and jobs. Lawyers, accountants, nurses, etc. offer specific services for the public.  Someone who works as, say, a financial analyst for some Fortune 500 is more likely to be asked opinions on the company itself, not about the financial analyst job.

I try not to ask my "professions" friends things because I don't think they should give me free advice or help. If they offer, that's a different story.