Topic: So, what do you do?

I've been thinking for a while it would be quite cool if we could all get to know a little more about our fellow Push Squarers and what they do in the real world! So, in this thread I'm asking the following questions:

• How old are you?
• What do you currently do (job / education etc)?
• What do you want to do?

I'll get the ball rolling! I'm 22, working as a software Test Analyst for a large UK insurance company. I've been there just over 5 years, although only the last couple of years have been in testing. The rest of that time was in a claims assessment role - got out of that as soon as I could, as I am much more comfortable on the IT side of things!

My ambition, as I expect it is with a lot of people on here, is to work in the games industry. Currently my aim is to use my software testing experience and qualifications to try and land myself a full time job as an in-house QA Tech (forget contracting, heard too many horror stories), and then at some point further down the line I'd ideally like to diversify into production. Although I could probably make a lot more money if I stayed testing in my current industry, I'd happily trade the extra cash for the chance to work in the industry I'm passionate about - seeing my name in the credits of a great game would make it all worth it. The area I live is a bit of a game dev hotspot, so with perseverance and a bit of luck I'm confident I can make it happen! My ideal place to work would be Media Molecule - they seem like such a fun bunch to work with, as well as being incredibly innovative. Also, they are right on my doorstep - bonus! One day haha, one day...

Anyway, yeah, do share. It's good to get to know each other more, the more of you the better!

Hi Steve and Kyle!

I'm also Kyle, senior property and accounts manager for a couple of lettings and estate agents in west London, been in this kind of business for around 7 years. If you want to know anything about residential lettings I can help!

Sometimes wish I did something a bit less stressful for a living but generally love what I do so no complaints

My hobbies are just that and I wouldn't really want them to become my work. I'd have loved to have studied to be something like an astronaut, doctor or lawyer, but hey, I guess I played too much Counter-Strike as a teen!!

Cool thread! Hi Steve, Kyle, and Kyle! I'm Steve!

I'm 25 and I'm currently working for my dad at his little business. I do things like answer the phone, book appointments for Dad, type up reports and then some general filing/inputting. I don't really like it, but it's just a stopgap while I figure out what I'm going to do next.
I live in Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands, and the main industry is finance. Finance is the dullest industry I can think of. It's where the money is, but I want to be doing something a little more creative.

Yesterday I sent off my application to start a course in marketing. I've been trying to get into it for years with no success due to a lack of any degree. I'm hoping to earn a qualification or two and wind up in an advertising agency, or possibly do marketing in-house at Specsavers (yes, the headquarters for Speccies is on a tiny island!)

So that's where I'm vaguely aiming. Aside from work, I obviously review a game or two every now and then for Push Square (writing is something I've done on and off in my spare time) and I also do a lot of amateur theatre. Right now I'm rehearsing for Terry Pratchett's Guards! Guards! (I'm Lupine Wonse, for those who've read it) and I'm also helping produce it! Then there's choir, which is way more fun than you think. I'm a busy bee

Haha what a start to the thread! If there are any more Steves or Kyles out there this is going to get really confusing!

@Quintumply: I would SO come and watch that if it wasn't in Guernsey! Love a bit of Pratchett currently attempting to read (in many cases re-read, but about half are new to me) all the Discworld series from start to finish (in publication order), but I'm not overly far yet as I've slacked off on reading for the last month or two. Funnily enough though, I'm currently on Wyrd Sisters, which means that only Pyramids to get through before I'm actually on to Guards Guards myself!

Good luck getting in to marketing, it's a really competitive industry which is why it can be hard to access without a degree, but I know a few people working in it who absolutely love it. Worst case scenario I would recommend taking a more basic admin job at your desired employers, and working your way up from there. The pay won't be as good, and it will probably be dull at first, but you'll get to know the business and get your foot in the door while meeting all the right people. For folks like us without higher education qualifications, it's much easier to start slightly lower and then work your way up internally (eg I had no testing/IT experience prior to starting my current role, but internal applicants with business knowledge do seem to be favoured quite often)!

Nice topic.

I am Marco, 32, I was born in Torino, Italy, but in 2010 I moved to Switzerland, looking for a job after getting a Msc in Telecom Engineering. I spent 4 years in Academic Research, 4 years that told me that I need more human contact than the everyday working life in University as researcher can give to you. So I am now employed as IT Engineer, I travel a lot and I administer the network of a Pharma Company here in Switzerland.

My dream would be to go back home and have a decent life there (which is not easy for youngsters) and maybe one day having a house on the coast and go fishing early in the morning, or making wine for family and friends. Apart Videogames, I love music, everything but Hip Hop, I love to go to concerts and I am a raver (psy-goa-trance). I love travelling and photography, two hobbies that go very well together!

Hi Steve Steve kyle kyle, I'm kyle Reese, I haven't been born yet but for a day job I terminate terminators but I Wanna live in the 80's

My name is Joe, I live outside of Philadelphia, USA. I am 32 years old and I do medical research at a small lab near my house. Hopefully, one day I will be the owner of a bar/arcade mix, combing 2 of my favorites past-times; drinking and video games.

@Bad-MuthaAdebisi: You nearly had me there

@Clay_Davis83: That is definitely what I'd love to do if I fail to make it into the actual games industry. I spent quite a while last year researching the idea, and there are definitely examples of it working - Loading Bar and (more recently) Four Quarters in London, as well as Mana Bar in Australia. Again, living where I do in Guildford (Surrey, UK) I figured it could be pretty feasible too as there are quite a few dev studios nearby who would hopefully make use of the place!

Hey everyone, I'm Shane but everyone calls me Hego (a nickname that has nothing to do with Lego funny enough ), i'm still in college, training to be a post-primary school teacher in English and History

@Hego: Is post-primary junior school?

Am I think in American terms its high school, in Britain it would be college/ secondary school I think? Basically teaching kids from age 11 to 18/19 I should point out I'm from Ireland, where it's called secondary school, the one before you go to universities

@Hego: I don't think I could ever have even begun to contemplate the idea of wanting to teach secondary school, especially while I was still there myself. The things some of those teachers had to deal with, no way I'd sign myself up for that! Fair play to you though are you planning on staying in NI after college, or are you going to head somewhere else for your degree?

I'm 17-20 (not saying me age on the Internet), and I put balances in windows (they hold the sashes in) and shrink wrap windows as well at my job. I don't know what my dream job is yet, but I do plan to go to college. I plan to serve a two year mission for church in a few months before I go to college though.

Well, In case you didn't know already I live in sunny California in the US, so if you didn't know that, that's why it seems Why I keep odd hours because I am 8 hours behind you guys.

Currently I am a Supervisor for a thrift store in the book processing department which entails doing quality checks over donations, keep up with the current prices, training others, as well as other Supervisor type stuff. It's not the greatest job in the world but I enjoy it.

I have a 15 year old son that just started high school (funny enough it's the same high school I went too) and been divorced now for about 4 years.

My dream job has always been a writer of some sorts either novels or coming up with a story world and background for a video game. Sadly because I screwed around in high school and shortly afterwards I didn't have the funds or grades to go to a school for that sort of thing then I got married to early and had a kid so yeah.

Anyway besides video games my hobbies include, Dungeon and Dragons, soccer and martial arts. I do hold a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, a green belt in Pang Gai Noon Ryu Karate, have taken Tai Chi, Jui Jitsu, and Okinawa Weapons.

So that's basically me in a nut shell.

@Hego: Ah. I am UK, it's always gone nursery/primary/junior/secondary/college/uni in my mind!

To my knowledge, teaching any years are tough so fair play. I'm not sure I could hack Sunday evenings and Monday mornings as a teacher but hey there is something for everybody!

@SteveButler2210: I'm actually from the republic of Ireland, not our noisy neighbours west of Ireland to be more exact. Ya to be honest it can be an extremely difficult job, but I love being able to help kids achieve their goals, all the while talking about two subjects that I really enjoy, particularly history also it has great holidays and work hours which will help as i'll eventually inherit a farm from my dad am I'd like to stay in Ireland and just travel on holidays but the way things are right now, it looks like I'll have to immigrate to the UAE mostly likely (lots of Irish teachers getting work there) or maybe even Japan which would be kinda cool

@Jaz007: what would you like to study in college? If you don't mind me asking

@kyleforrester87: I like to think my love of gaming and sports can help me win the kids over I plan to basically compare Shakespeare tragedies to Game of Thrones all the time Can't lose!