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Old 06-11-2007, 03:30 PM
 
12 posts, read 49,511 times
Reputation: 13

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I'm very curious about various occupations in AK. There seem to be a lot of jobs in AK that are rarely seen in the lower 48.

If you don't mind, name your occupation.

I'm in IT. In other words, a computer geek. I work on computers and computer networks.
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Old 06-11-2007, 05:04 PM
 
Location: Naptowne, Alaska
15,603 posts, read 39,650,043 times
Reputation: 14881
I'm a drilling consultant on the northslope. Meetings, data collection, spreadsheets.
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Old 06-11-2007, 05:41 PM
 
Location: On way to TX
144 posts, read 742,073 times
Reputation: 65
I work at a small "bush"-type airline. Normal job - Human Resource/Compliance, but Alaska-type company. Our bread and butter is the commuter flights into the Native American villages.
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Old 06-11-2007, 05:57 PM
 
Location: Seward, Alaska
2,741 posts, read 8,854,577 times
Reputation: 2022
I'm the electronics tech at a max-security prison. Work on anything and everything electronic here. (but not computers) They're gonna hire another E.T. later this year...(PM me if you're interested)

Bud
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Old 06-11-2007, 07:36 PM
 
3,774 posts, read 11,179,453 times
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Power systems specialist for Bush communities and UPS systems for cities. Battery plants for phone systems and larger power utuilities.
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Old 06-11-2007, 08:59 PM
 
12 posts, read 49,511 times
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Wow. My job seems boring in comparison to all of you guys...

Thanks for the input so far... none of your jobs seem "normal" to me in the context of what I'm used to, but that's another reason that Alaska and Alaskans are interesting.

I imagine all your jobs are tough in some ways while still being fun, boring, tedious in others. My job is largely the same day in, day out. Lather, rinse, repeat. One of the reasons for my desire to move to Alaska, is that while I may have a day job that could potentially be dull or tedious, the area is definitely not. I've been considering this since 2004, so not an overnight whimsy. I have a child about to start school, so this makes proper decisions like moving that much more serious and time consuming.

I hear kids tend to grow up faster in Alaska. Is there any truth to this, and if so, why? What other things should I be considering in terms of my kid and moving to Alaska that I may be overlooking?

Thanks...
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Old 06-12-2007, 11:39 AM
 
Location: Cordova, Alaska
201 posts, read 820,141 times
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My husband is in the Coast Guard, it's brought him to AK many times before but this will be our first time actually living there.

I'm a paralegal, :/ Not expecting to get a lot of use out of that...
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Old 06-12-2007, 11:51 AM
 
Location: Naptowne, Alaska
15,603 posts, read 39,650,043 times
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Well I started working the commercial fishing boats at age 13. And the local fish canneries in the Kenai area at age 14. Back then half the school would skip and go work at the canneries! They were so shorthanded they would hire us to squeeze herring, build boxes, push freezer racks...anything.
Right out of highschool I worked out of Wrangell and Petersburg for the forest service. Then joined the Army and spent 6 years stationed in AK. I also snuck in about 8 years of residential construction. Then...I found my calling. The oilfeild. I have about 16 years as a roughneck on nearly every rig in the state, including the off shore platforms. I had to resort to selling firewood a time or two also. My brothers and I even picked and sold berries back in grade school. If theres a will...theres a way!
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Old 06-12-2007, 12:53 PM
 
Location: On way to TX
144 posts, read 742,073 times
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I have a gradeschooler... re: your question it depends where you go! I don't know about faster... but 'different'... maybe more independent? Adventurous sounds like a cliche, but I think it would apply here. I have met a lot of teenagers (children of friends) who are doing some cool stuff, they really "get out there" - go independently on hunts or on overnights in teh wilderness on snow machines or 4-wheelers. Responsible would also apply just because of the increased level of risk involved in teh activities - ie if you forget your equipment you're pretty screwed! I couldn't have done that as a 16yo. I notice in the gradeschoolers that they are much more active in the outdoors - mine is a better fishermen than I, a better shot than I (can shoot living/moving things - rabbits, birds). Also - and this probably is of interest - lots of alternative lifestyles. Whatever the word 'hippie' brings to mine, it applies. The elementary school we are at has the highest test scores in the district (for what it's worth!) and I have never seen so many dred locks and tie-dye and organic-only lunches in my life among 2nd graders. Most of these families, who have become friends even though I eat KRAFT MACARONI AND CHEESE, are really into their kids - all facets of education, which is great. OK so for what it's worth.
Anyway overall it's weird up here, but not 'that weird'. I was on the soccer field last night with the rest of the mothers. ha.
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Old 06-12-2007, 06:15 PM
 
12 posts, read 49,511 times
Reputation: 13
Rance, you've done it all, man... Congrats. Sounds like you love what you do now.

Out Of Alaska, what part of AK do you live in?

My daughter likes being outside, but it gets too hot here in the summer (105 is normal for weeks on end). There are scorpions, tarantulas, hornets, and numerous poisonous spiders and snakes here, so playing in the woods and tall grass is not a smart idea. Winter here is just dull overcast that drops down into the 40s and maybe low 30s.

I like hunting and fishing, shooting, and hiking, and AK offers an abundance of all this and more. I would love to see my daughter be able to ride a toboggan down the street with other kids, make giant snowmen, have snowball fights, etc.

Rance, the more I read about the peninsula, the more I like. Juneau seems so restrictive in comparison. I'm just hoping I can find a job somewhere that needs computer people. I'll be looking at state jobs first.
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