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I hate when people ask what I do for a living

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vickygleitz
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09 Mar 2014, 12:09 pm

Mostly people ask me if I'm retired so I don't have to deal with that awkward question. The question works to my advantage. I tell them that I am but that I still design jewelry and bake homemade cookies and such for people who want homemade but do not have the time to bake. Then, they ask me if I designed the necklace I am wearing. I tell them yes and ask if they would like to see more of my creations. Then, when I retrieve jewelry samples. I also grab some cookies out of the freezer for them to taste, and an Avon book.

Then, while eating cookies, they buy or custom order some jewelry, sometimes order cookies[or buy on spot if there are enough cookies in the freezer] and tell me that if they find something in the Avon book that they like that they'll order it online from me.

I guess you could say that being asked that question is HOW I earn money.



structrix
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17 Mar 2014, 9:21 am

I wouldn't think too much about it. It's normal for people to ask what you do although, in the UK this is considered rude. Just come up with a way to answer the question that is satisfactory to you.


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StarCity
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17 Mar 2014, 2:54 pm

I also dislike being asked that question, hence why I don't ask other people it as I don't want to cause them to feel awkward.

As at the moment I do some voluntary work, I usually say "I am not in paid employment at the moment but until I am I work as a volunteer. Volunteering enables me to be an active member of the community, and do what I can to make a positive contribution towards the betterment of society".

They can't argue with that.


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18 Mar 2014, 1:30 am

I don't like because what follows is suggestions that I have already tried, are are just wrong for me, or that I have heard before many times. Then I have to pretend to be appreciative


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Maywynn
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20 Mar 2014, 3:41 pm

EzraS wrote:
And kids get that too. Not me but my friend and my cousin. "what school do you go to, how are your grades, do you play any sports?". What happened to Mind Your Own Business?

Too true. Now I'm older, I get: "What A-Levels are you studying?" and "What do you want to do at university?" and "Where do you want to go to university?" (and sometimes, because I go to grammar (college prep) school, one sometimes gets: "Are you going to apply for Oxbridge?")
(EzraS, just wait. Give 'em a few years.)
Because I look kinda borderline college/university-high school age, I sometimes get the "Where do you go for college/university?" questions.


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21 Mar 2014, 3:32 am

EzraS wrote:
What happened to Mind Your Own Business?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KurO1pJGU7A[/youtube]


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MPython
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21 Mar 2014, 6:13 pm

Hi,

Tell them that you're a forensic medical examiner and that you are so popular that people are "just dying to see you".

If the medical examiner part doesn't put them off asking any more questions, the ridiculous joke will.

Take care.