If you weren't in IT...

[theeldergeek]

If (like many) you hadn't stumbled into IT, what else would you like to do?

I kind of 'fell' into IT back in the early 90's after fixing a few 386's for friends of friends etc. Configuring the IRQ's of sound and graphics cards etc back then was something I seemed to have a talent for!

A few more years 'fiddling' with PC's and generally becoming known as a bit of a guru with all things 'computer', I secured my first 'proper' IT job sometime around 1997.

But what would I have done differently if I had taken a different career path?

I wanted to go into the RAF as a dog handler, and then, I suppose, onto Mi5! Would love to work in undercover Customs and Excise at an airport!

Whilst I can't actually imagine doing anything else other than IT now, I do sometimes wonder if I had taken a left turn instead of a right way back then, where would I be now.

What about anyone else? What would have been your chosen career path if you could turn the clock back and go in a different direction? Or is IT your calling?

[kmount]

Medicine, but I doubt that would have panned out somehow.

Or, I suppose I should really say Welbeck, Sandhurst, somewhere else.

[garethedmondson]

paramedic

[russdev]

Theatre Tech (stage lighting) a career my brother in end went on to do so it is almost like I can watch that right turn play out

Russ

[sparkeh]

I was on course to be an academic before my PhD went pear shaped.

Still, I actually hated it and enjoy my work far more now so ended up alright

[TechSupp]

I didn't want to be a technician anyway. I wanted to be... a lumberjack!
Leaping from tree to tree as they float down the mighty rivers of British Columbia! The Fir! The Larch! The Redwood! The mighty Scots Pine!
The plucky little Aspen! The great limping rude tree of Nigeria!
The smell of fresh-cut timber! The crash of mighty trees!
With my best gal by my side, we'd sing, SING...

(come on... you all know the words now!)

[cookie_monster]

paramedic

Snap not quite sure what happened.

[SC-UK]

I didn't want to be a technician anyway. I wanted to be... a lumberjack!
Leaping from tree to tree as they float down the mighty rivers of British Columbia! The Fir! The Larch! The Redwood! The mighty Scots Pine!
The plucky little Aspen! The great limping rude tree of Nigeria!
The smell of fresh-cut timber! The crash of mighty trees!
With my best gal by my side, we'd sing, SING...

(come on... you all know the words now!)

He cuts down trees, he skips and jumps, he likes to press wild flowers. He puts on womans clothing, and hangs around in bars!


In all seriousness though, I very nearly went into commercial energy assessment training (how exciting I know!)

[KWestos]

I used to be an armament engineer, but now, probably a 'bikini straightener' on the scene of baywatch! (if it's still on that is)

[mattx]

Spirit Level Bubble Insert-er or dolphin trainer.

[witch]

Trained as a Merchant Navy Radio Officer but the recession of the early '80's and the decline in commercial shipping put paid to that.
Would have liked to go into Environmental Health or something ecological.
Now? I am fascinated by human behaviour (favourite book: Watching the English by Kate Fox - very funny) and would love to study anthropology or similar

[IanT]

Police Officer

[kmount]

I can't believe nobody has said Batman or Superman yet ... !

Oooh, Batman!

[webman]

When I was a kid I wanted to be a television cameraman.

Early into my teenage years, I wanted to be a radio presenter. After that I knew I definitely wanted to do something involving computers - at the time the main focus was on programming.

[tech_guy]

Tadpole Tester