When someone asks what you do for a living, are they usually trying to figure out how much money you make? (Page 2)
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or maybe... they're interested on what you're doing for an entire third part of your day... and almost every day of your life
I think that's a very considerable piece of information... lol
Why does it matter if it’s someone I don’t even know?
well you tell me... lol
why would you be engaging in the first place, with people you don't even know?
also, you never really get to know anybody ever... unless you engage with them first
Well in the most recent example. I was asked this by a dental hygienist when I sat down in her chair. This was my first time at this dentist’s office and I’d never met her before.
well, that could be just a personality thing... and it's very common when and with some people you're going to spend some time on, like a hair stylist is another example, or a barber
even if is just for 20 minutes they just like to strike on a conversation with you, and like I said, asking about what you do for a living is a very common thing to ask, at least in the USA... everyone seems to ask that
Not really, as it's not always an indication
I work in IT, but make more than several doctors put together. I also don't look like a typical IT guy.
I find people to be interesting. Often, I'm just curious what someone does for a living. I don't ask in order to figure out how much they make.
I just lie about how I'm doing in life to keep from looking like a loser. :')
Same! I’ve done that before also.
It depends on the situation and who you're talking with I believe. It could be just small talk asking what you do for a living or they're trying to sus out what you do and how much you earn.
Not really sure, but that's a good possibility. I think maybe "some" guys may be a bit insecure or intimidated.
I don't thing so, but I do not think they will be impressed with ditch digger as an answer... so to some extend I guess its true.
I don't think so. I think they are more trying to figure out more about your life. You spend 40 hours per week doing it, after all.
Yes. And they are trying to size you up if you are beneath their expectations, they won't ask you out.
Depends on the situation. Maybe they're making small talk or they want to know more about you
But when it comes to dating, they're probably thinking the money wise
I always thought it was a kind of small talk. I focus my questions on the actual work they do. Not the pay.
People just shouldn't ask that question, at all, and yet they do. Don't they realise it's rude?
It can be a bit intrusive. Especially if the person being asked isn’t proud of their job or income level.
No, they're wondering if what I do us interesting. Much if the time, they're just making conversation.
Nope just making small talk and it's easier to ask questions about what you do day to day
Not always sometimes they're just trying to get more or enough information about you.. Otherwise yeah they're trying to figure how much you earn and if your job is socially well respected or not
I think it's a lot to do with status in society. People judge you a lot based on that sadly - it massively identifies you.
I can't remember the last time anybody asked me of what I do for a living.
I don't.
School/jobs are a huge part of our life.
Very few people work their dream job. To quote the movie office space, " if that were true the world would have no janitors as no one wants to clean up s*** for a living" lol. So in actuality if you're trying to get a sense of who the person is. Asking what they do for a living is NOT the way to go about it. A job is simply a means to an end. As I used to say before I retired. " I work for _____ but I'm in the business of (my name). Because jobs follow their own self interest not yours. At best it's a loose partnership.
@ChiTown33 It's an interesting topic to see their views on a lot of things and why they choose that particular field, and what they actual want to do. The conversation of what someone does for a living can go quite a few different ways. You definitely can learn a lot about a person by bringing that question up.
I doubt it, I think most people are trying to just strike up a conversation.
Some, do like I do and say you run cock fights. The reaction is great