So what's your REAL job?

[Sunny Z]

Just going to throw this out there for conversation really.

I'm a Manufacturing Engineer for a food company.

What do YOU do to support your habit?

[86svo9L]

IT, GIS, & Network Management.

[sparkles]

Electrical Contractor

[c_mart_28]

Retail manager at Verizon. Been with the company for 8 years this summer.

[CROWN]

Tech, Tuner, Dyno operator. karl performance

[85XR7Project]

CNC Machinist making John Deere 9000 series front differential/oil pans at one of their suppliers.

[c_mart_28]

Poet, exotic dancer, petting zoo operator

Fixed.

[RedRocketZ28]

Research/Remediation Analyst for Wells Fargo. Work in the Jordan Creek building. I review home equity accounts to make sure others have done their job.

This isn't my ideal profession. Graduated college with my teaching degree but didn't find a job close enough to family and needed something to do. Been here 5 years now and it's definitely more lucrative than teaching and coaching. Also, this is my 4th different position since I have been here. Nice to be able to change things and move up every year.

In the summer I umpire softball on the weekends. Pretty good money and easy. Going to cut back on that this summer though. I worked too much last summer and didn't have time to enjoy doing things on the weekends. Need more time for boating this year if Saylorville is deeper than 10 foot.

[JacobS]

asphalt screed operator/laborer

[RandomHero]

Commercial Banker/Portfolio Manager at Liberty Bank in Downtown Cedar Rapids....for 5 more days.

[Scott]

Mechanical engineer for John Deere, 13.5 FT4 diesel engine base design group. Doing exhaust manifold casting and machine part engineering right now, touched a few different areas in engine design as well. Its the biggest engine Deere offers for use in big stuff like dump trucks, 9 series tractors, big combines, cotton pickers, large forestry equipment, marine, generators, and a few other weird things.. Cant get enough engine experience!

[Sleepy]

I work for an insurance company. I work in subrogation, the majority of what I do is contact commercial policy holders after they have had a claim or workmans comp claim and get them to pay their deductible. When I started doing this 5+ years ago I did not think I would still be doing it now. However its not bad work and it pays the bills.

[garyLT1]

I'm a commercial salesman that sells anything and everything to apartment complexes, from hardware to chlorine i sell it and if the apartment is in Des Moines or surrounding areas most likely the buy supplies from my boss or me. Great job to have but too much stress sometimes.

[SledgeWS6]

Welfare Reciepent

[Drifte]

Commercial Banker/Portfolio Manager at Liberty Bank in Downtown Cedar Rapids....for 5 more days.

Where ya goin?

[RandomHero]

Verizon Wireless

[93stang5oh]

IT/Application Analyst for Iowa Health System

[Clinical]

Unemployed lazy UNI student - living off saved money, grants and financial aid

When I go back home during the summer I'll probably go back to one of my old jobs at Advanced Auto or deliver pizzas again since my car is pretty delivery friendly again. Next semester I plan to probably work in UNI's library or something.

[85XR7Project]

Unemployed lazy UNI student - living off saved money, grants and financial aid

When I go back home during the summer I'll probably go back to one of my old jobs at Advanced Auto or deliver pizzas again since my car is pretty delivery friendly again. Next semester I plan to probably work in UNI's library or something.

Why not get a job at Advanced Auto on University? Its like 5 min away from campus. Otherwise if you can swing full time I'd let you use me as a reference at the shop I work at.

[MurderedSnake]

Welfare Reciepent

hahahaha

[Sunny Z]

Neato. I assumed some Engineers, some IT folks (the people who post all the time because they don't do anything at work) :), and a few randoms.

[Larsons Fox]

Collision technician/Painter at Teds in Des Moines.

[AutoMods]

I used to be heavy into computers. spent a lot of time learning programming languages, web design, building computers. wasted time with linux. Got a bachelors degree in computer science from UNI in 2001 while working in UNI's IT center. Programmed for 4-5 years at a smallish company in Cedar Falls. Then started slinging car parts full time Eccommerce ever since.

[Domestic Disturbance]

Model/rapper

[tylers88]

Load train cars with bean meal

[derek072887]

I used to be heavy into computers. spent a lot of time learning programming languages, web design, building computers. wasted time with linux. Got a bachelors degree in computer science from UNI in 2001 while working in UNI's IT center. Programmed for 4-5 years at a smallish company in Cedar Falls. Then started slinging car parts full time Eccommerce ever since.

Everything he^ doesn't want to do.....

[Clinical]

Why not get a job at Advanced Auto on University? Its like 5 min away from campus. Otherwise if you can swing full time I'd let you use me as a reference at the shop I work at.
pretty heavy schedule and still getting accustomed to everything up here, figured I'd wait till later in the semester or else just till next semester. Problem is I go back to Burlington about every weekend and I need to find a place that doesn't mind me just working week days. So far though I've been thankful I haven't had a job up here this first semester, I'd never get anything done.

[bfoster50620]

EDIT

Tell me you work for Karl's doing the install work???

[slow ride]

Electronics tech at Rockwell way back in 99' and in 01' started as a product developemnt specialist for Deere. Did that for 10 years and switched to a salaried tech author writing diagnostic manuals for all the large frame tractors with focus on engines, lighting and cab electronics. Finishing my check box to get a BS, but not in mechanical engineering like I would want since no schools close cover it which sucks.

[JacobS]

this thread makes me feel very blue collar...

[Newgen]

I work at MetLife in the annuity client services dept.

[Deimos]

this thread makes me feel very blue collar...

Tell me about before the job assessment I moved barrels of oil.

[chayxse]

I do furniture design and fabrication for a company that sells tire chains.

[Sunny Z]

I do furniture design and fabrication for a company that sells tire chains.

This makes no sense. I like it. Can i get a coffee table that will handle 8" of snow? Thanks.

[96-eclipse-gst]

I used to be heavy into computers. spent a lot of time learning programming languages, web design, building computers. wasted time with linux. Got a bachelors degree in computer science from UNI in 2001 while working in UNI's IT center. Programmed for 4-5 years at a smallish company in Cedar Falls. Then started slinging car parts full time Eccommerce ever since.

Look how that turned out for you, you BUM!!!

Owner of ATS Automotive, started out after high school as a customer service advisor, moved in to the shop, worked at a few dealerships before starting my own company.

[Sunny Z]

this thread makes me feel very blue collar...

Nothin wrong with that!

[sparkles]

Need more time for boating this year if Saylorville is deeper than 10 foot.
Amen

[c_mart_28]

EDIT
You know I don't single you out just to start arguements..

But, show me what you mean. A picture speaks 1000x words. Otherwise a statement like this is just inflammatory and unnecessary.

[tylers88]

this thread makes me feel very blue collar...

Me too. I leave work dirty more days than not

[85XR7Project]

Me too. I leave work dirty more days than not

Dude, I work with grey iron, most days I go home BLACK...

[TbTalon94]

I manufacture a few different roof coating products and I build the equipment necessary to spray them. Fairly new and small portion of the roofing industry right now, building the company as we go and hopefully take over a good fraction of the roofing industry.

My "official title" is Director of Equipment Development....but I do a whole lot more then just develop/build equipment lol.

[93stang5oh]

I mean, if you're ever in a new CRPD or MarionPD car.

Never been and hope to keep it that way! :)

[JacobS]

Me too. I leave work dirty more days than not

about mid summer i say fuck it and just go to work dirty...its easier to accept it that way

[lenny]

We very well may know each other depending on how long you've been doing that. I'm more on the fueling/emissions system side though.
-Dan

[lenny]

Why not get a job at Advanced Auto on University? Its like 5 min away from campus. Otherwise if you can swing full time I'd let you use me as a reference at the shop I work at.

Me, my roommates, and a bunch of other buddies worked there part time when we were attending UNI. Funny shit I tell ya. Good times at that place
-Dan

[8204Cobra]

I work maintenance at an ethanol plant here in Cedar Rapids and run a part time auto repair deal to help support the hobby

[lenny]

You guys ready for the book?

Went to School at UNI for Finance/Economics. While attending school there, I worked over the weekend for Advance Auto Parts on University. I absolutely loved that job even though the money sucked. The hilarity of the customers left me with some great stories! During the week, I worked in the early talent program for John Deere Engine while also attending class. Started by working in their accounting A/P group but my mechanical aptitude was acknowledged, and I was moved to Dept 908 (Quality Engineering). Lots of my work is still in the factory. All of the wireless gages and measuring equipment (the new GROB 650 block line, the 450 block line) were the brainchild of me. The wireless “garage-door opener” to allow operators to move around to different stations and be able to control the quality inspection stations was mine. Most of the leak testers were mine. The air-gages in the factory were tweaked in some way shape or form to work more efficiently and more accurately (while also being able to utilize SPC data more effectively and timely, etc). Things looked really bright! I was a young employee with a finance background who was also capable of engineering and implementing any pipe-dream project with more software and hardware tech than the factory had seen to that point.

The sad part of this story is that the economy was in a state of disarray while I was at Deere and the company was under a “hiring-freeze.” Because of the hiring freeze, I was not allowed to make the transition from ETP to Quality Engineer even though it was requested by quite a few people (position changes and “new-hires” were forbidden by corporate during the economic downturn). In the winter of 08-09 (my senior year in college), I severely fucked up my shoulder (previous injury was worsened by an accident) and had to drop out of school for surgeries and recovery. At that time, I had to relinquish my position in the early talent program due to not being a full-time student for the semester. I was VERY bitter. Most of the people who worked around me were VERY bitter as well (I was in the middle of some big projects). Just goes to show how unintelligent the majority of HR people actually are.

I took a semester off of school, and found employment with my current company while finishing my BS in Finance at UIU (had bills to pay just like the rest of us). Along with being a MASSIVE supplier consolidation company, we are also a supplier of sub-assemblies, fueling systems, and aluminum die-casts to John Deere, Cat, Cargotech, Fisher/Emerson, etc. We are actually the 7th largest supplier to John Deere by sales dollars. I started out as a QA then got promoted to Quality Manager. An opportunity came up in the past 6 months for me to be promoted again to Product Manager of our European operations. I accepted the promotion. I will travel to Germany in August of this year for a two month stint/transition period. I move for “good” for the two year assignment as PM in October/November. I finished my degree. I am a member of ASQ and qualify to take my ASQ-CQE exam in August. I’m 27, I love my job, and I’ve been all over the world (China, Mexico, South America, Europe, etc).

My previous employer has since tried to get me back and approached me twice with an opportunity. I didn’t accept.

-Dan

[sparkles]

EDIT

I'm sure your work is good and up to par, but you're failing to answer his question. A question which I'm kinda wondering the answer to as well. What makes you say that Karl's work is a joke? Have you personally worked on vehicles that Karl's has done. Fixed problems with their installations? Not saying you haven't, but you need to explain why you're making the statement that you did. I personally can't vouch for the quality of other electrical companies, unless I'm fixing or repairing something that they initially did. If I'm not, I can only assume they do the same quality of work that I do. I guess we're just asking you to elaborate a little on your personal dealings with cars coming from Karl's.

[sparkles]

Also, listening to all this JD factory talk is making me nostalgic about the short stint I did here in DM. And not in the good way.

[MoncefA33]

Design and sales of point to point, mesh/PtMP, and backhaul networks at the carrier/enterprise level.

Also sales of bandwidth management and optimization products.

[Jappbox]

Allot of you know, But I own a Insulation/Construction Company. Very small but I'm looking to expand. I'm getting more into New Construction and building Energy Star homes. Starting with my own for testing purposes. I'm also considering Buying into my Uncles Plumbing/Heating/Cooling Company. Then all I need is a Electrician and ill be a 1 stop shop for new homes, remodels, Insulation work.

In the close Future I might need to hire 1-2 more Guys with a Construction background for Framing and general construction work. That is if everything goes well and my estimated budget works out well, I might be building and selling new homes full time by 2014.

[lenny]

Allot of you know, But I own a Insulation/Construction Company. Very small but I'm looking to expand. I'm getting more into New Construction and building Energy Star homes. Starting with my own for testing purposes. I'm also considering Buying into my Uncles Plumbing/Heating/Cooling Company. Then all I need is a Electrician and ill be a 1 stop shop for new homes, remodels, Insulation work.

In the close Future I might need to hire 1-2 more Guys with a Construction background for Framing and general construction work. That is if everything goes well and my estimated budget works out well, I might be building and selling new homes full time by 2014.

Nice... When I come back to the states, maybe you can build one for me (depending on where I get re-located)
-Dan

[derek072887]

EDIT
So you can name drop a company and talk shit about them for no reason but you can't tell us where you work? Come on spit it out

[Sunny Z]

I haven't been in DSM that long, but I don't hear very many good things (at all) about JD. There are several people who work for our company who did time at JD.

[lenny]

I haven't been in DSM that long, but I don't hear very many good things (at all) about JD. There are several people who work for our company who did time at JD.

I really wish I could share my true opinion about them. But, seeing as they are worth about $190 million in annual spend with my company, that probably wouldn't be the best of ideas.

-Dan

[LT1Dan]

So you can name drop a company and talk shit about them for no reason but you can't tell us where you work? Come on spit it out

My guess would be Graybill in Hiawatha...there aren't a ton of places building police cars around here.

[Scott]

I haven't been in DSM that long, but I don't hear very many good things (at all) about JD. There are several people who work for our company who did time at JD.

There is SO many areas of JD making a blanket statement really holds no water. They have factories all over the place doing so many different things and run by so many different groups the only thing they have in common is the name. Just sayin.

Not sure what they do there, you can be in a foundry getting filthy, or stuck in a cube farm like me with a cake job. I could see how some factory wage workers in certain situations might have different opinions

[Scott]

So you can name drop a company and talk shit about them for no reason but you can't tell us where you work? Come on spit it out

The guy is amazing, he builds EVERYTHING in cop cars. I guess the electronics and mounting solutions we designed for cop cars at rockwell are just thrown out the window so his custom fabbed stuff can replace it cuz everyone else makes junk

[lenny]

There is SO many areas of JD making a blanket statement really holds no water. They have factories all over the place doing so many different things and run by so many different groups the only thing they have in common is the name. Just sayin.

Not sure what they do there, you can be in a foundry getting filthy, or stuck in a cube farm like me with a cake job. I could see how some factory wage workers in certain situations might have different opinions

Des Moines Works (actually north of DSM by a good bit, located in Ankeny) makes tillage equipment, and flip flops back and forth between self-propelled sprayers (Tetons, 47, 48, 49) and cotton pickers depending on the time of year (this requires them to build to a forecast rather than firm orders, something Waterloo doesn’t do). The facility itself is very old. It actually used to be an ammunition manufacturing facility back during the World Wars. In comparison to any facility in Waterloo (foundry included), Des Moines Works is old, dark, and dirty. Jacobsen Warehouse, where all of the components are stored (known simply as “Jake” to a lot of people) is in East Des Moines and is an absolute pile of shit.

To be honest Scott, you work at Power Systems/EW. That’s the place to be at Deere. All of the JDPS facilities are very clean, well lit, modern, and have a TON of tech. Saran (the oldest JDPS facility that I know of) even looks pretty good. MJD (a facility Sam Allen built in the late 90s) is arguable in one of the most dangerous and run-down geographical areas in the world, and even that is a beautiful facility and you can definitely tell that they copied basically everything from the JDPS Engine Works facility in the ‘Loo.

-Dan

[lenny]

If I ever do go back to Deere, it will be within the Power Systems group, or JDES (Phoenix). Those are the nicest facilities, have the smartest and most well-versed employees, and the place where the coolest stuff gets designed, tested, and built. Not every other SBU is all peaches and roses....
-Dan

[Scott]

yeah Im in PEC Product Engineering Center, I've seen Engine Works and Tractor Cab Assembly Operations and I have NEVER seen a manufacturing plant that even compares to them. I swear the tractor assembly building is cleaner than Rockwell plants where they put electronics together and very state of the art. If anyone has a few spare hours to tour one the plants here I highly reccomend it, it will open your eyes thats for sure.

It must be night and day difference because I have not heard people complain about it at all around here. Hell I drive 110 miles everyday to work here and love it. but I do design engines so how could you not

[sparkles]

Des Moines Works (actually north of DSM by a good bit, located in Ankeny) makes tillage equipment, and flip flops back and forth between self-propelled sprayers (Tetons, 47, 48, 49) and cotton pickers depending on the time of year (this requires them to build to a forecast rather than firm orders, something Waterloo doesn’t do). The facility itself is very old. It actually used to be an ammunition manufacturing facility back during the World Wars. In comparison to any facility in Waterloo (foundry included), Des Moines Works is old, dark, and dirty. Jacobsen Warehouse, where all of the components are stored (known simply as “Jake” to a lot of people) is in East Des Moines and is an absolute pile of shit.
-Dan
^This

Add the UAW portion to it, and it just wasn't my cup of tea. If you're one of the old boys, like my grandmother's husband, and work there for 40 years, I hear you got it good. I came in in 2002 and absolutely hated it. Granted, they stuck me painting, which I specifically told them I didn't want to do.

[Sunny Z]

Well that seems to be a hot button! Nothing against the green machine people, just relaying what I've heard.

I have nothing but positive things to say about my employer (General Mills). It truly is a great place to work. Things change so rapidly in the food industry that there is always something new for me to do - really helps keep it interesting.

[chayxse]

My guess would be Graybill in Hiawatha...there aren't a ton of places building police cars around here.

Exactly what I was thinking.

[slow ride]

After 97' things changed a lot of the wage side of things. Older guys keep all the good stuff, but everybody pays 2 hours back for dues even though the younger guys after 97' don't get the big benifits post retirement, make less money, etc. Wage guys have one of the best healthcare plans offered around these parts thats for sure. UAW decides how the money/benifits are split so it leaves a lot of younger guys bitter, but it's still a good job for sure.

During my time as a wage x60 I learned a lot of advanced engineering concepts at PEC in the wind tunnel, sound room (my favorite dealing with NVH), stress lab(strain gauges), engine dynos, drivetrain, plc controls, etc, etc. I can't complain about my newer job even though I've switched to cube land also. While not as fun it's a very good place to work, lots of paid holidays, freedom, lots of vacation, great 401k, good retirement, bonus, etc. Here I have potential to grow where on the hourly side I was at max for years.

All in all, I've made enough money at Deere to build a sweet house on a acreage in the woods, have toys and live comfortable. I'd like to get back into the engineering side of things, but sometimes the other jobs are actually more fun with better perks. I do enough engineering on my own to keep me happy on stuff I want to work on. Just got to know when to say when and be happy with the money vs stress. I know a lot about this place so if anyone wants to know more let me know, but I'd always recomend it as a great company to work for.

[lenny]

You boys used to work at PEC? (Insert OfficeSpace quote) "I bet we know a lot of the same people." Small world I tell ya.
-Dan

[85XR7Project]

I've spent a bit too much time at Westfield site, Drivetrain Operations and Engine works. I really hate having to go down there (As a supplier) we just get treated like shit. Of course the company I work for is a pretty big joke...

[oVa-Boost]

Full time drug dealer an part time pimpin hookers

[bfoster50620]

I've seen their work. As a matter of fact, there is a vehicle coming in next week that was built by them and we are fixing a ton of shit.

I guess I'm just kind of surprised. I strongly doubt that you are custom fabricating light bars, cages, radio equipment, etc on your own. If so, kudos to you but for the cost of installation by a shop such as Karls, I think you may be wasting a lot of your time vs keeping inventory on hand that is already built and ready to install.

We just received a Caprice done by Karls. Your comment about the Caprice being hell to get in and out of is odd to me, also being 6'1 and currently 240lbs, I fit in the back seat with room to spare. I can also recline the driver's seat far enough for Shaq to drive the car. If you are having trouble getting in and out of the front or back, you may need to re-design your custom work.

The Crown Vics were horrible to get in and out of, and we had several different brands of cages.

I haven't been impressed with Keltek which is another shop around here doing installs. They have been more than a headache it seems.

Either way, I know how much work goes into the installation and removal of equipment in these patrol cars, and I respect the work you do.

[lenny]

Getting in and out of the Impalas might have been worse...Especially when cuffed...Never again...
-Dan

[boostedsohc]

fitness tech.
repair fitness products. treadmill ellipticals weight machines all of the above.

[DustinsDuster]

ready for another blue collar job? i deliver beer for Fleck Sales. mostly in the Coralville/North Liberty area, but i have have a rural day that runs out to Eddyville. mostly bars in town, if you've had a Miller, Coors, Blue Moon, Fat Tire, Leinenkugals, Boulevard, Guiness, Killians, etc(the list goes on and on) at the Vine or Old Chicago on the Coralville strip, i probably brought it there.

on Fridays they have a cooler full of beer for the drivers, and once a month i get paid to sit and drink beer during our meetings. this last meeting they brought in our craft beer specialist and we tried and talked about Redd's, Third Shift and Batch 19. they even sent me home with a 6 pack of the new beers. i love my job.

[Sunny Z]

That sounds like a pretty sweet gig! Pretty risky drinking with a CDL unless you have a driver. Those restrictions are tough!

[sLoWnStEaDy]

The guy is amazing, he builds EVERYTHING in cop cars. I guess the electronics and mounting solutions we designed for cop cars at rockwell are just thrown out the window so his custom fabbed stuff can replace it cuz everyone else makes junk

show me where I said that... Since we going about it like that, I'll assume when you say you "built an engine" you designed and cast/forged your own pistons? cast/machined your own block? ground your own cam? designed and built your own engine management system?

No... I won't, because I am not a fucking cunt like you. :)

[LT1Dan]

EDIT

?

[Scott]

show me where I said that... Since we going about it like that, I'll assume when you say you "built an engine" you designed and cast/forged your own pistons? cast/machined your own block? ground your own cam? designed and built your own engine management system?

No... I won't, because I am not a fucking cunt like you. :)

Well I do design "mostly modify" casting's for John Deere including engine blocks, exhaust manifolds, cylinder heads and other misc castings and machined parts. I just measure and assemble my own engines, but I did have my pistons custom made so I sorta designed those, and the cam specs.

lmao at LT1Dan's post.. slownsteady, just the way you come across sometimes makes me roll my eyes. Sorry man Im sure you do fab up alot of stuff and do ALOT of wiring with is respectable on its own, but you dont need to blow it so far out of proportion that it sounds un-believable and discredit yourself. Because I did have a hand in designing mounting solutions for the rockwell on-board computers in some police cars, they are production parts not one off custom fabs brackets in every car. Just sayin.. Sorry to dis-respect, sometimes I just go off at the wrong time I guess

[RedRocketZ28]

I hear Karl's is hiring ;).

[sLoWnStEaDy]

I hear Karl's is hiring ;).

LOL I'm good on the job front.

[Drifte]

Me, my roommates, and a bunch of other buddies worked there part time when we were attending UNI. Funny shit I tell ya. Good times at that place
-Dan
I had an awful time there working for Smiley. It was fun while he wasnt around, but he just always rubbed me the wrong way. Met some good guys though, and came across a lot of locals into the scene. I'll never forget the most impressive sleeper Ive ever seen. Guy comes in for an alternator, says its a custom application and pops the hood of his idk early 80's 4 door boat with a very impressive built motor.

[mark87supra]

I am a manager of a paint and body shop supply company.

[Ricky]

I don't have a job. I just go to school full time at UNI and living off of my house and corvette money from selling them. Also unemployment money and my severance package from being laid off.

[slow ride]

You sold all that stuff to go to school? I hope you pick a degree that actually produces a good job outlook. So many people go to school for useless crap it's crazy then have to pay back all that debt.

[Clinical]

I don't have a job. I just go to school full time at UNI and living off of my house and corvette money from selling them. Also unemployment money and my severance package from being laid off.
you serious? that blows man.
On another note, is your impreza a white 2 door that sits out like 2 blocks from UNI straight down from Lang/Seerley? cause if so i walk past it every day to class drooling.

[DustinsDuster]

you serious? that blows man.
On another note, is your impreza a white 2 door that sits out like 2 blocks from UNI straight down from Lang/Seerley? cause if so i walk past it every day to class drooling.

unless he got another one, he had 4 door WRX.

[AutoMods]

I hope you pick a degree that actually produces a good job outlook. So many people go to school for useless crap it's crazy then have to pay back all that debt.

you mean you can't just do what you love like my high school counselor said? I have a quadruple major in fine arts, philosophy, history and music. The job market was rough so i went back to get my Doctorate....besides my loans will be on Forbearance as long as i'm still in school .

[Clinical]

unless he got another one, he had 4 door WRX.
yeah I remember the WRX, just was going off the 2000 2.5 RS in his sig

[Drifte]

yeah I remember the WRX, just was going off the 2000 2.5 RS in his sig
Yea that would be him