I work as an apprentice cnc machine operator ( engineering ). always have trouble explaining what i do when asked and can never seem to say it in a way which would add value to me, can any of you suggest anything?, Otherwise i just end up resorting to a joke wen they ask and then they can find out later.

Thanks

Kenny :]

Make it sound like you enjoy it, you have a passion for it and talk about where you want to go with it.

Thanks man, i guess your right, I just hate getting the confused look when explaining what i do:P

Be passionate like Madals said and just tell them that you get to play with big machines all day (use some gestures to demonstrate size) and that it's a hell of a lot of fun! If you're keen on your job, even if it's as simple as making toothpicks, they'll think it's cool.

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"The 'Brick Walls' are there to allow you to prove how badly you want something!" ~ Randy Pausch

~ Rye

You know, having a fairly mundane job is not really that much of a hurdle as long as you can frame it with enthusiasm. It's possible to have the opposite problem, which actually seems to take a bit more thought to overcome. One of my friends is a firefighter, the other is an airline pilot. Traditionally, these two are great jobs for getting attention from women, but neither of them are as successful as one would think. I've seen them react when women ask them what they do. The pilot in particular kind of stumbles on the answer - women generally either call "bullshit" or assume he's out being predatory (in a bad way). Again, the solution is to frame the answer differently. Going too over the top with the enthusiasm when you actually do have an unusual, cool-sounding job can throw up a red flag ("this guy's a player/full of himself/whatever"), while downplaying it (presenting a weak frame) can result in outright disbelief. Any thoughts there?

This is where I show self interest. I would tell about the things I love about the job, what makes it something that I could do for the rest of my life and be perfectly content, why I can't wait to get up in the morning to go do it. You start showing some serious interest in it and she's not gonna call bullshit anymore, because you're not just saying, "OH! I'm a pilot! It's sweet!" You are giving details that make it hard to deny. It's just like when someone tells a lie, usually it is either very simple, or it is full of holes, but if there's tons of evidence to back it up, then people believe it.

_________________
"The 'Brick Walls' are there to allow you to prove how badly you want something!" ~ Randy Pausch

~ Rye

I have this same problem! I'm an engineer working on a construction site. I've tried numerous replies ie 'I'm an engineer' (instant DLV for some reason), 'I manage our blah blah technical' (they think I'm bragging), 'I work for (company name)' (its a fucked up name so they always ask me to repeat).

So now I just say 'I work in construction!' It's vague enough to cause intrigue so the conversation continues, and it still DHV's. Try keeping your first answer short so you can process what to say next, and it gets her asking more questions.

My point is talking about your job is never something I try and get on to because it inevitably leads to them bitching about their job, total mood killer. I keep it short, never return the question, and change to another subject.

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It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
-William E. Henley, Invictus