In thinking about the last 40 years of me being in the workforce, I thought about the reasons for change or even leaving the company.
Marine Corps Reserve
Signed up as a grunt in the 10th grade with parental permission, standard line animal. When I left High School, I went active duty into The Army.
US Army
Started off as a Military Policeman and then as a Dispatcher. Said something threatening about a Sargent that was overheard and reported, and was transferred into working as a Graphics Artist for the Battalion. Worked in Ft. Meade MD as an MP then Graphic Artist, Erlangen Germany as a Battalion Graphic Artist, and then Ft. Belvoir VA as a Post Graphic Artist. Unable to reenlist due to being 5 lbs overweight.
Graphic Artist
I worked part time in Alexandria VA while in The Army as a Graphic Artist, then when I got out, I was a Typesetter. Work declined so was laid off.
Car Salesman
For 2 months, talked to over 300 people but only sold 7.5 cars. Let go.
Security Guard
Gate duty. Let go when the contract ended.
Programmer
Worked part time as a Basic programmer mainly on Leading Edge (IBM compatible) and Franklin (Apple compatible) computers. Left briefly for some additional programming training then returned but left again when I was working more than he could afford.
Programmer/System Installer
Started off as a programmer working on Funeral Home and Point of Sales software. Then when the system installer left to start her own company, I took that over. When the company had issues with Employee taxes and the IRS, I bailed.
System Installer/LAN Admin
Worked installing networks and admining the company LAN. Also did some assembly of computers when needed. Company went out of business.
Tech Support/DBA/LAN Admin
Started off as a telephone tech support person, then moved to a DBA position briefly, then the company’s first full time LAN Admin. IT was outsourced.
LAN Admin
Company indicated I was to get a raise but when I mentioned just that I was getting a raise (not how much) to the others, the raise was pulled. I left the company.
LAN Admin/Trainer
Hired as a contractor to manage the LAN, refresh and provide support to others who had their own LANs, and support the Token Ring network folks. Company bought by another company.
LAN Admin/Trainer
Company advised me that when the contract ended, I’d be let go. Job search and moved on.
LAN Admin
Lots of changes as a contractor at this government agency. Started off as a LAN Admin but the company, which was a programming company ultimately, lost the position when the networks were consolidated into a central managed group.
Tech Support/LAN Admin/Unix Admin
Briefly provided Tech Support while the LAN Admin position opened up. Once it was available, I transferred into that group. After a bit, I was not happy with the work and planned on leaving but the company talked me into taking a Unix Admin position.
Unix Admin
Company was bought by a second company. As part of the transition, I was sent to Cisco training to get networking knowledge.
Unix Admin/Operations Engineer/Network Admin
Company left the contract and I was hired by the Prime Contractor. Started off as a Unix Admin but was brought in as an Operations Engineer to assist with the new contract with the customer. Then transitioned into being a Network Admin before leaving Virginia and moving to Colorado.
Tech Support/Network Admin
Worked in Athens Greece for 30 days assisting with the 2004 Olympics. Left as it was a 30 day contract.
Unix Admin
Managed Unix systems. Contract ended.
Unix Admin
Managed Unix systems. Company was very “cog in a machine” and folks were let go without warning. As I’m not comfortable with that sort of environment, I left.
Unix Admin
Managed Unix systems. The company had been purchased by a larger company a few years before I started but hadn’t exerted any control other than budgetary. Eventually the larger company started pushing for more control.
Operations Engineer
Moved into the ‘Build’ role of the company transition to a ‘Plan/Build/Run’ model. The definition of Build matches an Operations Engineering type role.