Social experiment on job title vs corporate brand identity

[Cheesesteak Cravings]

I say I'm an electrician. I was able to start a nice conversation with 2 extended family members who were also electricians that I did not know well.

Until my father-in-law mentioned I was a union electrician. That's a 4 letter word in Texas. Got real quiet, real fast.

[prospectheightsresident]

The only time I'd have a problem with this question is if I get the vibe that the person asking the question would want nothing to do with me if I had a more humble position and job. Those types of people are to be avoided like the plague. I've dealt with multiple people like that in the past . . . folks who don't pay me any mind until they find out that I attended a prestigious university, have "x" degree, and am employed for a particular institution. If you would look down on other people who are not in my situation, we are definitely not a match.

But, to answer the OP's question, I state my place of employment and title (i.e. "I am an "x" in the/with the "y") as I figure that's common and is something I've always done. This is whether I was a dining services worker in college or was with the job I have now.

[GraceKrispy]

Hmm. Interesting question. I think (for me) it depends on who I'm talking to. If I'm talking to someone who is in my line of work, I specify place. If I'm talking to someone not in my line of work, I give general job title. Sometimes there is a follow-up question, sometimes not.

I am proud of my occupation, and it does define me to some extent. This is a career I've been striving for. However, I do not want to talk about it and what I do when I am in social company. I'd rather talk about other things and save my work talk for work.