Tuesday 20 March 2012

No Job, No Job Title

I've been asked a few times in the last week what my occupation is. Since finishing work on VR, I'm finding it a bit difficult to answer this question. Technically, I don't class myself as unemployed and won't be signing on. So what am I?

So far a few suggestions have been:
  • International Man of leisure or iMol for short (thanks to my girlfriend for that one)
  • Wannabe adventurer
  • Daytime TV watcher
  • Part time fitness enthusiast (gym goer!!!)
  • Professional sofa surfer
  • Retired (this was a slip of the tongue by me & didn't go down too well with the girlfriend oops!)
So why am I asking?
When I've been asked what I do for a living, I've replied with I don't work and I'm having the rest of the year off, this has led to some strange reactions. It's made me realise that job titles or occupations are commonly used to define how others initially perceive you. It seems strange that we are defined by a simple job title and that people judge you for what you are, not who you are.

If I had won the lottery or inherited a wad of cash from a long lost relative and did not have to work, would this be the same situation?

Students can say they are having a gap year and the older generation can say they are retired, but what can a middle aged man who's just taking a career break say?

Answers on a postcard...

Sonny

No comments:

Post a Comment