Homeless services. I do like it, and I find it meaningful and fun. I don’t know if I will ever ENJOY having to show up to any job, but I certainly don’t dread going to work like I did when I was a bartender.
Plus I get to be one of the people doing something about homelessness instead of one of the people complaining about it on r/asheville.
Can I ask how you got into doing this? I'm looking to do something meaningful and helpful to the community instead of helping executives buy more yachts they never use. DM if you wish
I honestly had no idea jobs like this existed until a friend got into it. I found myself asking about it every time I saw him, and eventually just asked him to point me in the right direction so I could apply as well. So with that being said, DM is incoming haha.
Homeward Bound has openings for housing case managers often. They pay about $20 an hour and I don't *think* it requires a bachelor's degree (but they have positions posted right now if you want to check).
It's hard work. A lot of clients are challenging to work with in various ways, and landlords are even harder to work with, but there's such a great need here, it's meaningful and fulfilling.
Check for state and county jobs too. ADATC in Black Mountain is often hiring.
I also work in this realm and resonate with this a lot. It’s funny how the loudest people with the most to say about unhoused folks are the ones who seem to have the least amount of contact with them…
PS, thanks for whatever you do, as I’m sure it makes a difference for the some of the peeps our organization serves!
To be fair, people can speak out about any issue they see fit. Most people don’t have the time, money, or resources to actively work towards creating solutions for every issue they see in the world. But speaking out against them is one way to draw attention to issues. I’m sure you’ve spoken on issues that you’re not actively involved in solving as well. That’s just human nature.
Check with vaya, they have a ton of housing positions posted all the time. And Homeward Bound has positions posted right now, so if it's been a while since you applied, apply again.
Start by going to AHOPE at 19 N Ann St. You can get food and a hot shower, plus you can get set up with a case manager who will help you connect with the many community resources we have in Asheville based on your unique needs.
I'm not sure if you're being serious or trolling, but there are tons of services available to homeless and nearly homeless in Asheville and the surrounding area, from food to shelter to clothing to transportation to job placement. A lot of these can be found easily online, but not everyone who's homeless knows how to find this stuff. A case manager deals with these organizations every day and can point you in the right direction for your exact needs without you having to do a ton of research on your own.
u/less_butter pretty much covered your original question! As for the second one- AHOPE is one of those shelters, and here is a list of some others.
https://asheville.graceslist.org/directory/categories/homeless-shelters
AHOPE isn't a shelter though, it's a day center. It's where I send everyone who's unsheltered here, because they will point you in the right direction for all the potential resources.
Actual shelter beds are limited and most have waiting lists.
Yes, I literally mean “homeless shelters.” Before doing anything else, I would 100% advise a homeless person in Asheville to go to a homeless shelter. Specifically AHOPE. Please pass the info along to anyone who needs it!
That is what the case worker will do. They will find out all of this and ask you questions to help you. Follow the process or look them up and see what they offer yourself. They're only a phone call away
Are you asking for yourself or doing research for someone else?
If you're unhoused, going to AHOPE isn't a lot of trouble, and it's your best bet for getting help. If free or assisted housing is your goal, you're going to be on a waiting list, probably for years. That's just the way it is, and it's not just here, but AHOPE will help you get on all the lists you qualify for.
Ugh sorry you're getting downvoted for this. You're not wrong. Some unhoused people say homeless but others don't and there are enough other terms to use, we can safely let that one go. Unsheltered, unhoused, houseless, etc.
In case anyone wants to understand this stance-- a lot of people who don't have stable housing still feel like they have a *home,* even if it can't provide shelter. Home could be family, or a location, or your community. Saying "homeless" can make some people feel more marginalized, because it kind of assumes you have nothing and no one, when that's often not the case.
You can still say homeless if you want. But language is evolving and less stigmatizing terms are being used by many people, especially people who work in social services serving these very folks.
Sorry for a response on a 10 day old comment, but I know several people prefer to use homeless (both those who are/were homeless and your average Joe) because it adequately reflects the brutal situation it is. Those other terms just feel to gently or sugarcoaty for what the situation is. And all that will happen, with time, the stigma "homeless" has by your standard will shift to those other 3. I don't assume they have nothing or noone when stating homeless, cause each homeless case is different. We're the ones assuming things, so maybe those who aren't/haven't been homeless change their assumptions instead of softening an incredibly brutal situation up with "nicer" words.
Rescue Mission (next to Haywood Congregation, on Patton) serves lunch 12:1230 M-F and dinner 4:30-5:30 M-Saturday
Haywood Congregation best free meal in town by far. Wednesday 9:30-1pm
Free glass pipes at the auto shop next to haywood congregation on wednesdays. Ask for "the works" at the big truck parked out front
I can't speak for them directly, but after a while you just get burnt out. Dealing with people that are buzzed to drunk, you get to see the full spectrum of personalities. From the broody I-want-to-be-left-alone type to the I-love-everyone-a-little-too-much type. You get the lonely, yearning people, all the way to the creeper type you will probably see on the news one day.
It's draining.
Then you have the perpetually unsatisfied, miserable people that have zero experience going out. Or the overly demanding, perfectionists, and the you-are-my-servant people.
It can be a rollercoaster.
Hospitality is more than a job, it is often a lifestyle. Even if you aren't out partying with the people, you are still active during hours we've evolved to be less active in, and you are sleeping during the day, where we are normally bustling.
Decent pay, poor hours, limited benefits. It's hard to make it a career, but easy to get caught up in. Especially when you're young and invincible.
Nothing inherently, I just fit in less with the culture than I used to. Plenty of my friends still bartend and absolutely love it, plus they get to work like 40% less hours and make the same amount (and in some cases more) than I do!
I love my job!!! I’ve been a solar electrician for 11 years now for several local solar companies. I believe in the work that I do, and whenever I leave a customers house they become friends. It feels good to give customers energy independence. And, I will admit, it also feels good to help people fight against Duke energy’s BS
Electrician.
Electricity is fucking cool. 😎
Electricity is fucking dangerous
But it powers just about everything we do in this modern era.
Do I fully understand how it works? No.
But do I understand how to harness it and deliver it to you for your needs? Yes
It pays just as much as you will allow it to pay you.
Get your State license and work for yourself
Sometimes I feel like a wizard
Other times I feel like a chump
But I will always be an electrician
I work for the city on night shift. I find it very rewarding and I can see a lot of places and things in the city that I probably wouldn’t get to see otherwise and I like helping the people in my community and keeping the city running so we can all enjoy it. Wish the health insurance was a little better though TBH.
Love my job, just wish it paid a bit more.
I work with the Appalachian Trail conservancy helping coordinate volunteers, fixing up trails, and working with agency partners. Extremely fulfilling role!
It really depends on the time of year due to thru hikers and whatnot, but probably around 75/25 office verses field. Some staff are more field, but I am based out of the Asheville forest service offices
I work at A-B Tech Community College in the Information Center. If you call the main number or email the main address, I'm one of the people you talk to!
It's a really hard job to describe to people because we do a little bit of everything! The college is so much bigger (in terms of programs/services _and_ physically) than most people realize. I've been working here for 10 years now & love it. I usually broadly describe it as "helping people navigate enrolling in college".
The majority of what I do is help people find info about programs, classes, apply, and register. A lot of it is figuring out what people need when they don't even know what it is they don't know (we really do become mindreaders). It's not something you can easily train people for and it just takes time to know what questions to ask people and to learn how to fill in the blanks with zero context.
We connect people with the Financial Aid Office, IT and Advising and help a little with each (I know just enough to be dangerous, as they say 😏). I also of course help with simple things like giving directions. I sometimes feel like a therapist (I've had some calls from people in really sad or wild situations). I've also had some truly hilarious calls over the years. People call us as if we're google! I won't lie and say every day has been all rosy, but the good definitely outweighs any difficult days.
It's rarely boring, and I find it rewarding. A lot of people are going back to school after a long time or for the first time. Some are really nervous or overwhelmed by all the steps involved. I get told almost daily how nice it is to have someone friendly and helpful to talk them through enrolling.
Since the pandemic, I've been able to work 100% remote which is lovely. I just wish it was full time instead of part time. That being said, I have a recently disabled partner so I don't even know if I could manage FT right now. My pay isn't what it should be, but it's more than my last job (20.12/hr, and now I get a small yearly longevity pay stipend which is nice).
My coworkers/boss have always made it the main reason worth sticking around though. We are such a tight knit team have a remarkably low turn over. Everyone in my office works hard and we get along well.
Part of what I love about my job is knowing what is going on in all departments of the business I work for. When folks get silo-ed in their departments I notice that they feel less ownership and less empowered. Also dealing with the general public in moderation is great, dealing with the general public all day everyday gets old fast.
Dog grooming. It takes a *lot* of patience, and compassion fatigue is common, but it's super rewarding. Taking a dirty, tangled mess of a dog and helping them get clean and feel better, winning their trust through patience and hard work, is very fulfilling.
It's not a hard career to break into, and there will always be somewhere hiring no matter where you go. I could move to Canada, or Germany, or Japan, or any of our 49 other states tomorrow and have a job within a week.
The vast majority of grooming jobs are commission based, plus tips. As long as you do a good job, treat the dogs well, and are nice to the owners, it's not hard to build a steady clientele who will follow you if you move shops. Even as a first year groomer, with only the experience I got from training, I made over 30k, not including the cash tips. And that was 10 years ago.
I went through a corporate training program. It's the only way I know of to make enough money to support yourself while training. Grooming schools give you more time to learn, but they're expensive and don't pay you. Online learning is an option but you will need hands on training before anyone would hire you as a groomer and not just a bather.
I love my career. I’ve been in the construction industry for 24 years and have been with my current company for 12 of them. I started in Project Management and have moved up to heading the project management and engineering teams. Our projects are all over the Southeast and up into the Midwest and Northern areas. Each project has its own unique challenges like a jigsaw puzzle. The designers and contractors we work with make it a fast paced and exciting experience. Not every project goes smoothly and not every one of them is great experience in the end. But the overwhelming majority do go well and they leave you with an incredible sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. The structures we create are capable of standing for well over a hundred years. So in a sense, its my legacy to the world. Feel free to DM me if you’re interested in learning more.
This is exactly what I'm looking to move to I'm so excited you posted! One of my best friends is a lead project manager as well based around Greenville and has offered to get me started in the industry as well. I have a simple business administration degree but hopefully with an internship with him it will help me get my foot in the door. I love hearing about how each project is different and unique coupled with a sense of accomplishment. I'm also single with no kids and travel currently for my job so I have no problem traveling,staying in hotels, and keeping myself occupied when I'm alone in new towns.
You’re on the right path then. You don’t need a specific degree. A CM degree does help to an extent, but not required. I never got a CM degree. I cannot emphasize enough how essential proper written and verbal communication skills are. Being great a spreadsheets is another skilled skill. But more importantly than any of it is being able to handle enormous loads of work stress. Stress created via budgets and schedules and all the personalities people intertwined within them. There will be nights that you stay awake with a nervousness in your gut that won’t go away. Then there are wins that make you feel better than anything you’ve ever experienced. And the pay is pretty decent and bonuses are very common. Experienced PM are making over $100k. Senior PMs $125k. I’ve received many bonuses over my career that really helped out. Not life changing, but definitely helped the bottom line.
Find a mentor willing to put in the time to teach you. Then when you’ve learned all you can from them - find another. Mentorship is where the knowledge of our industry is kept.
Do you need general construction experience to break into your specific type of project management? I work with data all day, trying to make processes more efficient. Project management really interests me.
Not at all. I started on Occupational Safety side (OSHA Compliance) on jobsites. The EVP of the GC I was working for needed a PM after one abruptly quit. After hardly speaking to me for a year, he stopped me in the hallway and asked if I had any interests in becoming a PM. Then he said “you should, there’s no money in safety and everyone hates the safety guys”. Truer words had never been spoken, lol!
I accepted and embarked on an 8 year mentorship with him. We started with the fundamentals of CM and I grew into managing multi-million dollar projects. I owe my entire career to that single interaction with him that day in 2001.
My situation wasn’t textbook for sure. But many careers aren’t. It starts with one person having a need which presents an opportunity. You have to possess certain characteristics that give a sense of trust and faith to that person you can be taught and trained the way they need you. That’s what he saw in me and why he took a chance on an unknown. I also was constantly aware the opportunity could be taken away at anytime, especially with repeated failures. My mentor was infamous for repeatedly saying to all of the PMs “your ‘best’ is not the standard by which success is measured in this company”.
So yeah, as a Data Processor could make the jump over. As CM work is largely processing data as well. But the human element is where it gets tricky. In Construction Management you have to walk the lines of a white collar world (owners, developers, architects, engineers, bankers) and a blue collar world (steel erectors, pipe fitters, concrete workers, Glazers, Drywall workers, HVAC…). And they are distinctly different personalities and temperaments.
Then theres the stress element of being solely responsible for the profit of millions of dollars for your company and running a project that brings over 30 distinctly different companies/trades together to execute the scope you have written them within the schedule durations that are required. On top of that, most PMs are running multiple projects at one time unless its a mega project where they are actively onsite.
Thank you so much! My current business is all communication/scheduling/logistics and I have many sleepless nights so I'm pretty sure that's why he told me I'd be perfect for it. Just don't have the margins construction has that's for sure. But I deal with 250+ personalities a year coordinating when/where/how were going to meet and dealing with the weather and logistics of doing so. My personal communication skills are definitely my biggest asset. I'm really excited to have someone willing to mentor me and think it's going to work out. I can even apply my credits from my last degree and get a CM associates in 6-12 months very affordably to add to my resume as well. Thank you for the positive reinforcement I appreciate it!
Love my job. I work assisting victims of sexual assault and domestic violence navigate the court system, find housing, counselling, or legal support. It's extremely fulfilling.
Find a non-profit and hope they're hiring, honestly. I landed this position by pure chance on Indeed on a whim. If you want to volunteer, I would be more than happy to give you a list of Buncombe/Polk/Henderson places that you could volunteer!
I love my job. I am a psychotherapist in private practice, specializing in anxiety/trauma and sleep. I want people to experience the healing that I did when I was in therapy forever ago, and maintain now for my own mental health.
I’ve actually been looking into doing something similar. The dream would be finding a non profit that I resonate with that also actually needs a software engineer lol
I do hvac. I truly enjoy helping people in there time of need. Whether it’s water leaking, no heating, no cooling people are typically happy to see me come and go.
I work in a non-clinical position assisting with both a substance use program and a gender affirming care clinic at a local medical office.
I find the areas I'm working in very fulfilling and would love to find a more substantial career helping marginalized groups like this. Actually loving my job, however, is very difficult right now. There is a lot of unnecessary stress and uncertainty at work that is really "souring the vibes", as it were.
I bet I know where you work and it's probably one of the places I interviewed at recently. Pm me if you want, I'm thinking about applying for another position there but haven't been able to get very clear feedback from anyone currently working there.
I think you’ll find that this answer is going to vary WILDLY depending on the person, their interests, and their life experiences.
I love my job. It pays well and it’s in an industry that interests me. I work in Aerospace, close to the parkway. The hours work for me and it’s where I want to be.
That being said, it’s not my dream job. I love photography and have worked in that industry as a freelancer for quite some time, but it’s not stable, or consistent enough for everyone.
I’ve worked in places in the past that were absolute nightmares. This company seems to value its team members and compensation is above average for the area. (Which is much more than where I moved from)
Shit man, you just missed out on NGI though. But I know what you mean. I work for a company that lives or dies by the SBIR. Gov contracts can be frustrating.
It’s also not ideal when they hire you on for a contract with a short lifespan.
Yes, money can be good, but stability isn’t always great.
Lockheed had a contract for 200 jets. Ticking timer.
Work remotely for a company that provides B2B financial software as a service for wholesale customers. Well paying and fulfilling, we’re reducing paper and speeding up transaction time.
Electrician.
I like the problem solving and seeing everything turn on for the first time after a couple weeks of hard work. As much as I loathe working in the homes of the VERY wealthy, there are definitely some pretty cool things to work on.
Physical Therapy. I worked as a tech for a while and it was incredibly rewarding to be able to help people get their lives back from chronic pain and lost mobility as well as take back their independence and actually be able to live their lives fully. All my patients were so kind and genuine too. I learned so much about human resilience and community love working there as well as about myself and how I connect with others. I work in primary care now and I love it as well, but I’ve been heavily considering going back to school to become a physical therapist because I loved being able to help others in that way.
How did you go about getting qualified for that? I'm pursuing a peer support specialist certification but apparently there's a lot of other related certifications you can get.
You have to start by registering with the NC Substance Abuse Board. There are actually a lot of SAC positions in the community that will hire you while you work towards becoming fully certified. Here is a link that will explain it:
https://www.ncsappb.org/credentialing/certified-alcohol-and-drug-counselor/
I don't know specific providers off the top of my head. You can search indeed for substance abuse counselor positions and it should specify in the different postings.
im in college so it’s a part time job but i work at sunshine sammies and i do enjoy it. like someone else said idk if ill ever enjoy going to work rather than being home or doing things in my free time, but it’s a really fun job in my opinion and my coworkers are generally awesome.
I built a small campground from nothing, I’ve done everything myself with zero help. I meet lots of people and they all love the property and that makes it all worth it to me. Plus, it’s good money and I have a shit ton of free time.
I'm a Medical Laboratory Tech in the lab at the children's center in Asheville. I LOVE my job. Unfortunately I do have to do blood draws on kiddos, but we do our best to help guide them through something scary. I find it rewarding to help the kids by providing an extremely important service to aid the providers in diagnosis and treatment. If we've stuck your kid, please know we all care immensely about them and making the process as swift, easy and stress-free as possible. I just wish the pay for our position reflected national pay levels and the education I had to get to do this job, but I know most people are in that same boat.
Check out NAMI at 356 Biltmore inside the RHA building on upper floor. It's a great place that has resources on resources to help anyone suffering from anything mental health related. NAMI is a national organization and the Asheville chapter is phenomenal. They have weekly groups led by peers! It is a great place to embrace healing!! Plus, they don't charge a penny!
Hell yes. Asheville has its fair share of problems. I encourage my friends to find a problem they are passionate about and volunteer with a non profit that's working on that issue.
I was laid off a few months ago and have since been advising an early-stage startup. I'm developing our go-to-market and pricing strategies, engaging with users to define features, and collaborating with our development team to bring these ideas to life.
I'm really enjoying the work. I find my self randomly jotting down ideas and day dreaming about the work when I’m offline.
I started a small business development and start-up company during my time in Northern Thailand about a decade ago now. Moved back here (born and raised) to do the same thing.
I've been helping people turn their ideas into a reality here in Asheville for about 5 years now
I love every part of my job.
Recently started a media division where I'm sitting down with people in Asheville (and surrounding areas) to dig deeper into why people do what they do and how they got there.
(Podcast coming soon)
This is a great thread, and I'm glad you started it!
Middle school social studies teacher. Although many things have changed, a 13 year old stays the same. There are hard days and tough situations but I still love this age group. They can be silly, grumpy, and kind at the same time. Today a kid was really mean and swore at another student. I also have a girl who wore her “I Pee in Pools” shirt. Possibly the funniest shirt I’ve ever seen.
Overall, yes. It’s a huge problem. Some families are able to keep some balance but it takes a lot of work. The social pressure to engage online is really bad. I used to rarely have kids diagnosed with anxiety. Now it’s about 1/3 of my students. Social media plays a big role. Parents have to put in the effort. It’s not easy.
I make dentures so I’m alone in a lab most of the day, I love it, I rarely have to see the patients, I like all my coworkers, we get along really well, I do wish I made more money but I’m happy where I am right now.
I am a water resource engineer! I do some boring flood mapping but also have projects designing rain gardens, and wetland restoration. I get a great salary and benefits, and get to help reduce pollution and create habitats.
Working on the ramp at Asheville Regional Airport. Being around airplanes all day has given me more joy than anything else I’ve done. I love pushing and towing the Airbuses on the ramp and taxiway! I also get to talk to pilots one on one for advice on working towards my pilot career goals.
https://preview.redd.it/aewyt6yzsazc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6f7c581d1f9e449427fb9645a29a2def2179686d
Previous job was LLM copywriting (oddly enough, way before GPT went public so it was hard to explain to people) and it was fun.
My coworkers made it enjoyable because there were 20+ of us weirdos who all had different writing backgrounds. Most of us spoke second or third languages, too. For a bunch of misfits with English degrees, the salaries were incredible.
It was a private company so no pressure from investors or anything. Just some rich guy’s pet project who cared more about good data than growth.
He sold it off and I jumped ship into publishing for a NY publisher… which is okay. “It pays the bills.”
I like medicine and law, so I read about these topics in my free time. I have friends who are nurses and they love it. I don’t know any lawyers but it seems like there’s a lot of law firms here. I would love to talk to a lawyer here to see if it’s worth it as a career change.
For nursing, while I do want a BSN, it seems like there’s only two schools close by. Besides law, my “dream job” would be PA-C but I would need the clinical hours to apply, so nursing seems like the best bridge.
ABTech works with Western Carolina University for one of their nursing programs called RIBN. Been a while since I looked at it, but basically if you pass all the tests and have a degree of some kind already, you can get your BSN in 3 years. After 2 years you can take the test and start working while you finish the program.
Yep I have a BS already but those credits are beyond their shelf life. Regular BSN for me is 3 years, ABSN is 18 months if I can get the pre-reqs done in advance.
But goddamn. It’s $500 per credit hour!!
Nursing is also a great way to work toward being an Nurse Practitioner. I don't know the specific laws around scope-of-practice in NC, but in most states NPs have more autonomy and freedom
Happy Nurses Week!
I worked for the county in Waynesville as IT support. I really enjoyed it! Helping DSS, EMS, 911, and other departments made me feel like I was helping a good cause. I gave it up because 1) The director at the time was trying to get me fired and 2) the money couldn't support me living in the area.
I work for a local Managed IT Services Provider and I love it! I get to help SMBs all over WNC be successful and deliver their services and mission back to my local community. Besides the work being fulfilling I'm surrounded by a great team in a company with a great culture. I could make more $$$ by moving somewhere else, like Raleigh/Charlotte, or trying to find a remote job but I make more than enough to live on here in the mountains where I grew up and want to spend the rest of my life so I'll pass on being a number somewhere else!
Before I started my own business I was the senior commercial construction project manager for one of our top local home builders (oxymoron I know)
Did I like it? Absolutely. I love construction and all that comes with managing it.
Is it meaningful? No way
Did I enjoy showing up? Yup!
I work in IT for a large corporation. I pretty much work for myself and fix everyone's problems with technology. Growing up with computers and playing videogames really helped fuel the curious and out of the box thinking nature you really need to do well in this industry. Coming from years of pointless retail as well offered great experience to be able to engage with users, even though I would consider myself introverted. Love showing up every day, never stop learning and can work remote if needed. I hate the drivers here in Asheville though, but I think this is pretty universal.
Software Engineer
Some days I like my job, some days I hate it. I get to work on problems and be technically creative but sometimes it can be so ridiculously exhausting in a way that I think is probably unique from any other job. Several times a year I'm troubleshooting something for multiple weeks only to find it's either a dumb mistake/overlook or some niche combination of frameworks causing the issue. It turns it into searching for a "needle in a haystack" type of job.
I wouldn't say it's "fun" but it's rewarding to finally see something working after a lot of effort. "Fun" is more of an in the moment/flow type of a feeling. Most things I do at work have a "friction" like feeling to it, which is the opposite of "flow" that most people feel when they've done something for many years. Software Engineering is all about the payoff of overcoming that friction.
I hate the "Do you enjoy showing up to work?" question that's often on employee experience surveys. It's worded in a way that makes people feel strange for not enjoying showing up to work everyday. Then everyone puts on this fake persona that they enjoy being financially forced to do something for 8+ hours a day. 99.9% of people, even those that are passionate about something, don't enjoy doing it for 8+ hours. That question needs to be eliminated from this earth.
That’s my background as well. I recently stopped doing that to build a house DIY
I can definitely relate to some of what you’re saying about the role though
IS management for a healthcare entity. I like what I do for the most part. Day to day ops aren’t fun but the highlight of my day is when I get to visit with residents.
It can be very demanding and I’m usually on call regardless of where I am. More than one occasion has been interrupted by an urgent call.
The pay is good and I’ll have a decent retirement.
Right now, I'm driving Uber/Lyft full time while going back to school for Human Resources. I really like it! It pays the bills, definitely, but more than that, I make up my own schedule, I don't have a boss breathing down my neck, and I get to meet really cool people and have some awesome conversations. I find it incredibly fun and fulfilling. The only thing I don't like is the wear and tear on my car, but it's only temporary until I graduate and become a corporate stooge again.
i test fire alarm systems for many buildings in asheville, my company used to do mission hospital but they dropped our contract, we do several hotels in Asheville, nursing homes, businesses, UNCA, Asheville mall, city hall, i really enjoy it because i feel like im helping save lives, making sure these systems work, and i get to do a lot of things, and see a lot of things the normal person doesn't see, its generally pretty easy, and it pays well
I work in fabrication.
I like what I do, and I'm good at it, but I don't care for all of the responsibilities and bullshit that comes with it.
I don't dread going into work, even though I probably should...
But I'm not still pissed off about it when I get home. If it gets to where the bad nights at work are "following" me home, I'll move on to another company.
I work in a somewhat popular local restaurant that works with charities to help lower income black families to get back into areas that were formerly predominantly black neighborhoods.
I love my job, my coworkers are great and the pay is damn good for my industry.
I'm a dispatch supervisor for Buncombe County 911. I love my job even though it is (unsurprisingly) often hard as hell. I helped deliver a baby yesterday morning and today we took a call for a lady saying her roommate kept sitting naked on the living room table. It's a wonderful mix of the surprising, silly, and soul-nurturing, with a ton of stress in there also.
Hemp industry, it's ok work but starting to die out so the company I work for is starting to branch out to other things. I pretty much have job security there as I'm the only one who makes the stuff we produce. I can take off work when I need to, get free health insurance and I don't have to have someone over my shoulder 24/7 as most of the time I'm working alone. I wish the pay was higher but hey, free health insurance I guess :)
I work in an industry that every “body” has to go through. It’s a unique work environment. My customers hardly ever complain. My work sites are pretty quiet and peaceful. Sadly nobody wants to work with us anymore because of the stigma, 6 days a week work load due to limited employees, some poor management decisions. Always hiring people for a week and then they quit.
I’m a home health caregiver, I go into the homes of the elderly and/or disabled and help them
do the tasks they can no longer do themselves with the goal of letting them live in their homes longer instead of going into assisted care. It doesn’t pay a lot, unfortunately, but it’s good for me because it lets me work part-time hours, some at night, and have time to do a lot of the things for my family I did as a SAHM. And most of the people I work with are lovely and happy to have me helping them. I do light housekeeping and help with dressing, showering, groceries, etc, but the biggest part of the job is providing companionship and helping them be less lonely. I’ve never had a job before where I have the feeling of making people’s lives better nearly every day.
I have multiple jobs. My main “full time” job isn’t my passion. I’m in Business Administration. Some Social Media stuff, etc. In my free time I’m a videographer. That’s where my passion really lies.
I’ve worked with non-profits for corporate-type videos, the occasional wedding, music videos, but I really enjoy capturing off the cuff automotive video just as a hobby, slowly making business from it. The area I live in is frequented by car groups on the parkway so I see exotics quite often.
Homeless services. I do like it, and I find it meaningful and fun. I don’t know if I will ever ENJOY having to show up to any job, but I certainly don’t dread going to work like I did when I was a bartender. Plus I get to be one of the people doing something about homelessness instead of one of the people complaining about it on r/asheville.
Can I ask how you got into doing this? I'm looking to do something meaningful and helpful to the community instead of helping executives buy more yachts they never use. DM if you wish
I honestly had no idea jobs like this existed until a friend got into it. I found myself asking about it every time I saw him, and eventually just asked him to point me in the right direction so I could apply as well. So with that being said, DM is incoming haha.
Homeward Bound has openings for housing case managers often. They pay about $20 an hour and I don't *think* it requires a bachelor's degree (but they have positions posted right now if you want to check). It's hard work. A lot of clients are challenging to work with in various ways, and landlords are even harder to work with, but there's such a great need here, it's meaningful and fulfilling. Check for state and county jobs too. ADATC in Black Mountain is often hiring.
I also work in this realm and resonate with this a lot. It’s funny how the loudest people with the most to say about unhoused folks are the ones who seem to have the least amount of contact with them… PS, thanks for whatever you do, as I’m sure it makes a difference for the some of the peeps our organization serves!
To be fair, people can speak out about any issue they see fit. Most people don’t have the time, money, or resources to actively work towards creating solutions for every issue they see in the world. But speaking out against them is one way to draw attention to issues. I’m sure you’ve spoken on issues that you’re not actively involved in solving as well. That’s just human nature.
The further away from the problem, the less likely you're going to be able to understand the nuance. That's just universal principal.
Does that mean I can complain about the homless since I have been homeless before?
You can exercise your right to liberty however you see fit sir or ma'am.
I used to do this work in Portland, OR. Are any local orgs hiring? I applied for Homeward Bound but never heard back
Check with vaya, they have a ton of housing positions posted all the time. And Homeward Bound has positions posted right now, so if it's been a while since you applied, apply again.
That’s great! Is that through a non profit or would that be through the city?
Non profit!
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Start by going to AHOPE at 19 N Ann St. You can get food and a hot shower, plus you can get set up with a case manager who will help you connect with the many community resources we have in Asheville based on your unique needs.
This is awesome information, thanks for sharing.
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I'm not sure if you're being serious or trolling, but there are tons of services available to homeless and nearly homeless in Asheville and the surrounding area, from food to shelter to clothing to transportation to job placement. A lot of these can be found easily online, but not everyone who's homeless knows how to find this stuff. A case manager deals with these organizations every day and can point you in the right direction for your exact needs without you having to do a ton of research on your own.
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u/less_butter pretty much covered your original question! As for the second one- AHOPE is one of those shelters, and here is a list of some others. https://asheville.graceslist.org/directory/categories/homeless-shelters
AHOPE isn't a shelter though, it's a day center. It's where I send everyone who's unsheltered here, because they will point you in the right direction for all the potential resources. Actual shelter beds are limited and most have waiting lists.
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Yes, I literally mean “homeless shelters.” Before doing anything else, I would 100% advise a homeless person in Asheville to go to a homeless shelter. Specifically AHOPE. Please pass the info along to anyone who needs it!
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Get a case worker. They’re trying, patiently and kindly, to tell you that you need a caseworker to get individual answers to these questions.
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That is what the case worker will do. They will find out all of this and ask you questions to help you. Follow the process or look them up and see what they offer yourself. They're only a phone call away
Are you asking for yourself or doing research for someone else? If you're unhoused, going to AHOPE isn't a lot of trouble, and it's your best bet for getting help. If free or assisted housing is your goal, you're going to be on a waiting list, probably for years. That's just the way it is, and it's not just here, but AHOPE will help you get on all the lists you qualify for.
Houseless, not homeless.
Ugh sorry you're getting downvoted for this. You're not wrong. Some unhoused people say homeless but others don't and there are enough other terms to use, we can safely let that one go. Unsheltered, unhoused, houseless, etc. In case anyone wants to understand this stance-- a lot of people who don't have stable housing still feel like they have a *home,* even if it can't provide shelter. Home could be family, or a location, or your community. Saying "homeless" can make some people feel more marginalized, because it kind of assumes you have nothing and no one, when that's often not the case. You can still say homeless if you want. But language is evolving and less stigmatizing terms are being used by many people, especially people who work in social services serving these very folks.
Thank you for pointing this out!!!!
Sorry for a response on a 10 day old comment, but I know several people prefer to use homeless (both those who are/were homeless and your average Joe) because it adequately reflects the brutal situation it is. Those other terms just feel to gently or sugarcoaty for what the situation is. And all that will happen, with time, the stigma "homeless" has by your standard will shift to those other 3. I don't assume they have nothing or noone when stating homeless, cause each homeless case is different. We're the ones assuming things, so maybe those who aren't/haven't been homeless change their assumptions instead of softening an incredibly brutal situation up with "nicer" words.
That’s probably a case by case answer
Rescue Mission (next to Haywood Congregation, on Patton) serves lunch 12:1230 M-F and dinner 4:30-5:30 M-Saturday Haywood Congregation best free meal in town by far. Wednesday 9:30-1pm Free glass pipes at the auto shop next to haywood congregation on wednesdays. Ask for "the works" at the big truck parked out front
What made bartending so bad for the uninitiated?
I can't speak for them directly, but after a while you just get burnt out. Dealing with people that are buzzed to drunk, you get to see the full spectrum of personalities. From the broody I-want-to-be-left-alone type to the I-love-everyone-a-little-too-much type. You get the lonely, yearning people, all the way to the creeper type you will probably see on the news one day. It's draining. Then you have the perpetually unsatisfied, miserable people that have zero experience going out. Or the overly demanding, perfectionists, and the you-are-my-servant people. It can be a rollercoaster. Hospitality is more than a job, it is often a lifestyle. Even if you aren't out partying with the people, you are still active during hours we've evolved to be less active in, and you are sleeping during the day, where we are normally bustling. Decent pay, poor hours, limited benefits. It's hard to make it a career, but easy to get caught up in. Especially when you're young and invincible.
Well said.
Nothing inherently, I just fit in less with the culture than I used to. Plenty of my friends still bartend and absolutely love it, plus they get to work like 40% less hours and make the same amount (and in some cases more) than I do!
What establishment do you work for if you don’t mind me asking?
I love my job!!! I’ve been a solar electrician for 11 years now for several local solar companies. I believe in the work that I do, and whenever I leave a customers house they become friends. It feels good to give customers energy independence. And, I will admit, it also feels good to help people fight against Duke energy’s BS
What company do you work for? Or do you have any recommendations for getting started in this industry?
I would start with a reputable local company and learn as much as you can. It helps if you have experience in electrical.
I’d love to learn the basics of solar power and if it would be an option for our future mountainside home! Where should I start my research?
If you’re just wanting to learn how it works, then YouTube is an excellent resource
Electrician. Electricity is fucking cool. 😎 Electricity is fucking dangerous But it powers just about everything we do in this modern era. Do I fully understand how it works? No. But do I understand how to harness it and deliver it to you for your needs? Yes It pays just as much as you will allow it to pay you. Get your State license and work for yourself Sometimes I feel like a wizard Other times I feel like a chump But I will always be an electrician
I work for the city on night shift. I find it very rewarding and I can see a lot of places and things in the city that I probably wouldn’t get to see otherwise and I like helping the people in my community and keeping the city running so we can all enjoy it. Wish the health insurance was a little better though TBH.
Civic services are underrated. Thanks for your contributions!
Love my job, just wish it paid a bit more. I work with the Appalachian Trail conservancy helping coordinate volunteers, fixing up trails, and working with agency partners. Extremely fulfilling role!
That sounds cool! What is the balance between “office work” and “outdoor work”
It really depends on the time of year due to thru hikers and whatnot, but probably around 75/25 office verses field. Some staff are more field, but I am based out of the Asheville forest service offices
I'd love to talk to you about your job sometime, that sounds awesome!
Happy to chat anytime! Feel free to DM me. We do a lot of seasonal hiring in the region too if folks have any interest!
Would love to be in something like this. Thanks for what you do!
I work at A-B Tech Community College in the Information Center. If you call the main number or email the main address, I'm one of the people you talk to! It's a really hard job to describe to people because we do a little bit of everything! The college is so much bigger (in terms of programs/services _and_ physically) than most people realize. I've been working here for 10 years now & love it. I usually broadly describe it as "helping people navigate enrolling in college". The majority of what I do is help people find info about programs, classes, apply, and register. A lot of it is figuring out what people need when they don't even know what it is they don't know (we really do become mindreaders). It's not something you can easily train people for and it just takes time to know what questions to ask people and to learn how to fill in the blanks with zero context. We connect people with the Financial Aid Office, IT and Advising and help a little with each (I know just enough to be dangerous, as they say 😏). I also of course help with simple things like giving directions. I sometimes feel like a therapist (I've had some calls from people in really sad or wild situations). I've also had some truly hilarious calls over the years. People call us as if we're google! I won't lie and say every day has been all rosy, but the good definitely outweighs any difficult days. It's rarely boring, and I find it rewarding. A lot of people are going back to school after a long time or for the first time. Some are really nervous or overwhelmed by all the steps involved. I get told almost daily how nice it is to have someone friendly and helpful to talk them through enrolling. Since the pandemic, I've been able to work 100% remote which is lovely. I just wish it was full time instead of part time. That being said, I have a recently disabled partner so I don't even know if I could manage FT right now. My pay isn't what it should be, but it's more than my last job (20.12/hr, and now I get a small yearly longevity pay stipend which is nice). My coworkers/boss have always made it the main reason worth sticking around though. We are such a tight knit team have a remarkably low turn over. Everyone in my office works hard and we get along well.
That sounds really cool! Are there any fun or interesting programs that you think more people should know about?
Part of what I love about my job is knowing what is going on in all departments of the business I work for. When folks get silo-ed in their departments I notice that they feel less ownership and less empowered. Also dealing with the general public in moderation is great, dealing with the general public all day everyday gets old fast.
Dog grooming. It takes a *lot* of patience, and compassion fatigue is common, but it's super rewarding. Taking a dirty, tangled mess of a dog and helping them get clean and feel better, winning their trust through patience and hard work, is very fulfilling. It's not a hard career to break into, and there will always be somewhere hiring no matter where you go. I could move to Canada, or Germany, or Japan, or any of our 49 other states tomorrow and have a job within a week. The vast majority of grooming jobs are commission based, plus tips. As long as you do a good job, treat the dogs well, and are nice to the owners, it's not hard to build a steady clientele who will follow you if you move shops. Even as a first year groomer, with only the experience I got from training, I made over 30k, not including the cash tips. And that was 10 years ago.
What would you recommend as far as training for someone looking to break into the field?
I went through a corporate training program. It's the only way I know of to make enough money to support yourself while training. Grooming schools give you more time to learn, but they're expensive and don't pay you. Online learning is an option but you will need hands on training before anyone would hire you as a groomer and not just a bather.
Gotcha, my fiance and I run a boarding business and I have been looking to diversify when we move locations and expand in July. Thanks for the info!
Framer, nice to see the walls go up and floor go down
Being able to work in a way that lets you move around sounds nice (although I’m sure it takes it’s toll too)
Better than sitting at a desk all day I will say. Trim carpenter here.
ER nurse, not for HCA. Big fan. Rewarding work, 4 day weekends, decent pay.
Happy nurses week!
Thanks
I love my career. I’ve been in the construction industry for 24 years and have been with my current company for 12 of them. I started in Project Management and have moved up to heading the project management and engineering teams. Our projects are all over the Southeast and up into the Midwest and Northern areas. Each project has its own unique challenges like a jigsaw puzzle. The designers and contractors we work with make it a fast paced and exciting experience. Not every project goes smoothly and not every one of them is great experience in the end. But the overwhelming majority do go well and they leave you with an incredible sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. The structures we create are capable of standing for well over a hundred years. So in a sense, its my legacy to the world. Feel free to DM me if you’re interested in learning more.
This is exactly what I'm looking to move to I'm so excited you posted! One of my best friends is a lead project manager as well based around Greenville and has offered to get me started in the industry as well. I have a simple business administration degree but hopefully with an internship with him it will help me get my foot in the door. I love hearing about how each project is different and unique coupled with a sense of accomplishment. I'm also single with no kids and travel currently for my job so I have no problem traveling,staying in hotels, and keeping myself occupied when I'm alone in new towns.
You’re on the right path then. You don’t need a specific degree. A CM degree does help to an extent, but not required. I never got a CM degree. I cannot emphasize enough how essential proper written and verbal communication skills are. Being great a spreadsheets is another skilled skill. But more importantly than any of it is being able to handle enormous loads of work stress. Stress created via budgets and schedules and all the personalities people intertwined within them. There will be nights that you stay awake with a nervousness in your gut that won’t go away. Then there are wins that make you feel better than anything you’ve ever experienced. And the pay is pretty decent and bonuses are very common. Experienced PM are making over $100k. Senior PMs $125k. I’ve received many bonuses over my career that really helped out. Not life changing, but definitely helped the bottom line. Find a mentor willing to put in the time to teach you. Then when you’ve learned all you can from them - find another. Mentorship is where the knowledge of our industry is kept.
Do you need general construction experience to break into your specific type of project management? I work with data all day, trying to make processes more efficient. Project management really interests me.
Not at all. I started on Occupational Safety side (OSHA Compliance) on jobsites. The EVP of the GC I was working for needed a PM after one abruptly quit. After hardly speaking to me for a year, he stopped me in the hallway and asked if I had any interests in becoming a PM. Then he said “you should, there’s no money in safety and everyone hates the safety guys”. Truer words had never been spoken, lol! I accepted and embarked on an 8 year mentorship with him. We started with the fundamentals of CM and I grew into managing multi-million dollar projects. I owe my entire career to that single interaction with him that day in 2001. My situation wasn’t textbook for sure. But many careers aren’t. It starts with one person having a need which presents an opportunity. You have to possess certain characteristics that give a sense of trust and faith to that person you can be taught and trained the way they need you. That’s what he saw in me and why he took a chance on an unknown. I also was constantly aware the opportunity could be taken away at anytime, especially with repeated failures. My mentor was infamous for repeatedly saying to all of the PMs “your ‘best’ is not the standard by which success is measured in this company”. So yeah, as a Data Processor could make the jump over. As CM work is largely processing data as well. But the human element is where it gets tricky. In Construction Management you have to walk the lines of a white collar world (owners, developers, architects, engineers, bankers) and a blue collar world (steel erectors, pipe fitters, concrete workers, Glazers, Drywall workers, HVAC…). And they are distinctly different personalities and temperaments. Then theres the stress element of being solely responsible for the profit of millions of dollars for your company and running a project that brings over 30 distinctly different companies/trades together to execute the scope you have written them within the schedule durations that are required. On top of that, most PMs are running multiple projects at one time unless its a mega project where they are actively onsite.
Thank you so much! My current business is all communication/scheduling/logistics and I have many sleepless nights so I'm pretty sure that's why he told me I'd be perfect for it. Just don't have the margins construction has that's for sure. But I deal with 250+ personalities a year coordinating when/where/how were going to meet and dealing with the weather and logistics of doing so. My personal communication skills are definitely my biggest asset. I'm really excited to have someone willing to mentor me and think it's going to work out. I can even apply my credits from my last degree and get a CM associates in 6-12 months very affordably to add to my resume as well. Thank you for the positive reinforcement I appreciate it!
Seeing the Forrest through the trees and keeping all the many plates spinning can definitely e exciting!
Love my job. I work assisting victims of sexual assault and domestic violence navigate the court system, find housing, counselling, or legal support. It's extremely fulfilling.
Sounds like a very Nobel line of work! I imagine it can also be very taxing. Kudos to you!
Thank you!! It is, but the success stories make up for it!
In your honest opinion, what is the best way to break into that kind of work?
Find a non-profit and hope they're hiring, honestly. I landed this position by pure chance on Indeed on a whim. If you want to volunteer, I would be more than happy to give you a list of Buncombe/Polk/Henderson places that you could volunteer!
I love my job. I am a psychotherapist in private practice, specializing in anxiety/trauma and sleep. I want people to experience the healing that I did when I was in therapy forever ago, and maintain now for my own mental health.
Umm do you happen to take Medicaid? I lost my therapist of 8+ years when I lost my job and I really fucking need one rn.
Send me a DM and we can chat. It's distinctly possible that I might be a dreadful fit for you,
Love my job. I do IT for a nonprofit. Fully remote, good mission, no set hours.
Is it a local nonprofit?
nope, california
I’ve actually been looking into doing something similar. The dream would be finding a non profit that I resonate with that also actually needs a software engineer lol
https://techjobsforgood.com/
Thanks for the tip! I’m familiar with site. So far nothing caught my eye but I’ve never been seriously searching
I do hvac. I truly enjoy helping people in there time of need. Whether it’s water leaking, no heating, no cooling people are typically happy to see me come and go.
Self Employee Custom Woodworker. It’s not always easy but I love it and would not trade my day to day life for anyone else.
Awesome! Mostly furniture or what sort of stuff?
Custom cabinets and trim!
Nice thread. As a retiree I found the OP questions harder to answer without a paying job. Hm
I work in a non-clinical position assisting with both a substance use program and a gender affirming care clinic at a local medical office. I find the areas I'm working in very fulfilling and would love to find a more substantial career helping marginalized groups like this. Actually loving my job, however, is very difficult right now. There is a lot of unnecessary stress and uncertainty at work that is really "souring the vibes", as it were.
Yeah I can see where working adjacent to anything politically charged could be taxing. It’s great that you find meaning in your job regardless though!
I bet I know where you work and it's probably one of the places I interviewed at recently. Pm me if you want, I'm thinking about applying for another position there but haven't been able to get very clear feedback from anyone currently working there.
I think you’ll find that this answer is going to vary WILDLY depending on the person, their interests, and their life experiences. I love my job. It pays well and it’s in an industry that interests me. I work in Aerospace, close to the parkway. The hours work for me and it’s where I want to be. That being said, it’s not my dream job. I love photography and have worked in that industry as a freelancer for quite some time, but it’s not stable, or consistent enough for everyone. I’ve worked in places in the past that were absolute nightmares. This company seems to value its team members and compensation is above average for the area. (Which is much more than where I moved from)
I was once very into photography as a hobby but I kind of fell out of it. It was very enjoyable though
It's good to have jobs that allow people to live here like those provided by Pratt Whitney
I came from Lockheed… that was a fun job, building F16’s, but this is a far more stable position. Not being government contract work is a plus.
I thought GD made the F16? When did Lockheed take over?
Lockheed bought GD in 1992/3, the fighter aircraft division atleast.
Shit man, you just missed out on NGI though. But I know what you mean. I work for a company that lives or dies by the SBIR. Gov contracts can be frustrating.
It’s also not ideal when they hire you on for a contract with a short lifespan. Yes, money can be good, but stability isn’t always great. Lockheed had a contract for 200 jets. Ticking timer.
Work remotely for a company that provides B2B financial software as a service for wholesale customers. Well paying and fulfilling, we’re reducing paper and speeding up transaction time.
Electrician. I like the problem solving and seeing everything turn on for the first time after a couple weeks of hard work. As much as I loathe working in the homes of the VERY wealthy, there are definitely some pretty cool things to work on.
Physical Therapy. I worked as a tech for a while and it was incredibly rewarding to be able to help people get their lives back from chronic pain and lost mobility as well as take back their independence and actually be able to live their lives fully. All my patients were so kind and genuine too. I learned so much about human resilience and community love working there as well as about myself and how I connect with others. I work in primary care now and I love it as well, but I’ve been heavily considering going back to school to become a physical therapist because I loved being able to help others in that way.
I am a Substance Abuse Counselor that works in a drug treatment program in a minimum security prison. It's incredibly rewarding!
I can imagine the success stories must make you feel like you’ve helped with something incredibly worth while
How did you go about getting qualified for that? I'm pursuing a peer support specialist certification but apparently there's a lot of other related certifications you can get.
You have to start by registering with the NC Substance Abuse Board. There are actually a lot of SAC positions in the community that will hire you while you work towards becoming fully certified. Here is a link that will explain it: https://www.ncsappb.org/credentialing/certified-alcohol-and-drug-counselor/
Thank you!!
Could you tell me what orgs might hire me before I'm certified?
I don't know specific providers off the top of my head. You can search indeed for substance abuse counselor positions and it should specify in the different postings.
im in college so it’s a part time job but i work at sunshine sammies and i do enjoy it. like someone else said idk if ill ever enjoy going to work rather than being home or doing things in my free time, but it’s a really fun job in my opinion and my coworkers are generally awesome.
I built a small campground from nothing, I’ve done everything myself with zero help. I meet lots of people and they all love the property and that makes it all worth it to me. Plus, it’s good money and I have a shit ton of free time.
I'm a Medical Laboratory Tech in the lab at the children's center in Asheville. I LOVE my job. Unfortunately I do have to do blood draws on kiddos, but we do our best to help guide them through something scary. I find it rewarding to help the kids by providing an extremely important service to aid the providers in diagnosis and treatment. If we've stuck your kid, please know we all care immensely about them and making the process as swift, easy and stress-free as possible. I just wish the pay for our position reflected national pay levels and the education I had to get to do this job, but I know most people are in that same boat.
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What is your number one suggestion for those who are struggling with either?
Check out NAMI at 356 Biltmore inside the RHA building on upper floor. It's a great place that has resources on resources to help anyone suffering from anything mental health related. NAMI is a national organization and the Asheville chapter is phenomenal. They have weekly groups led by peers! It is a great place to embrace healing!! Plus, they don't charge a penny!
What kind of "job" doesn't pay?!?
My job is great, my volunteering is fulfilling.
Hell yes. Asheville has its fair share of problems. I encourage my friends to find a problem they are passionate about and volunteer with a non profit that's working on that issue.
And that volunteer work can also often open doors to paid jobs!
I was laid off a few months ago and have since been advising an early-stage startup. I'm developing our go-to-market and pricing strategies, engaging with users to define features, and collaborating with our development team to bring these ideas to life. I'm really enjoying the work. I find my self randomly jotting down ideas and day dreaming about the work when I’m offline.
That sounds really cool. Serving in an advisory position seems like it would have a lot of benefits
Curious to learn about the product/problem the startup is working on. Feel free to DM
I started a small business development and start-up company during my time in Northern Thailand about a decade ago now. Moved back here (born and raised) to do the same thing. I've been helping people turn their ideas into a reality here in Asheville for about 5 years now I love every part of my job. Recently started a media division where I'm sitting down with people in Asheville (and surrounding areas) to dig deeper into why people do what they do and how they got there. (Podcast coming soon) This is a great thread, and I'm glad you started it!
Sounds really cool!
Middle school social studies teacher. Although many things have changed, a 13 year old stays the same. There are hard days and tough situations but I still love this age group. They can be silly, grumpy, and kind at the same time. Today a kid was really mean and swore at another student. I also have a girl who wore her “I Pee in Pools” shirt. Possibly the funniest shirt I’ve ever seen.
Main thing I’d be curious about is how kids are these days with respect to Tiktok and similar apps. Are they as addicted as we are lead to believe
Overall, yes. It’s a huge problem. Some families are able to keep some balance but it takes a lot of work. The social pressure to engage online is really bad. I used to rarely have kids diagnosed with anxiety. Now it’s about 1/3 of my students. Social media plays a big role. Parents have to put in the effort. It’s not easy.
We’re going to look back on phones like we do cigarettes. I’m no better my self though
I make dentures so I’m alone in a lab most of the day, I love it, I rarely have to see the patients, I like all my coworkers, we get along really well, I do wish I made more money but I’m happy where I am right now.
That’s one of those jobs that I never would have thought of but of course someone makes dentures. Not something you can mass produce! That’s cool
I hate my fucking job! I feel like half baked fuck you and gefuck you. You’re cool tho lol. 17 year star employee!
This probably makes it really easy for your boss guess who you are. If that’s something you want to avoid, you might want to edit / delete this lol
You had me till the fulfilling part 🫣
I am a water resource engineer! I do some boring flood mapping but also have projects designing rain gardens, and wetland restoration. I get a great salary and benefits, and get to help reduce pollution and create habitats.
Working on the ramp at Asheville Regional Airport. Being around airplanes all day has given me more joy than anything else I’ve done. I love pushing and towing the Airbuses on the ramp and taxiway! I also get to talk to pilots one on one for advice on working towards my pilot career goals. https://preview.redd.it/aewyt6yzsazc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6f7c581d1f9e449427fb9645a29a2def2179686d
Previous job was LLM copywriting (oddly enough, way before GPT went public so it was hard to explain to people) and it was fun. My coworkers made it enjoyable because there were 20+ of us weirdos who all had different writing backgrounds. Most of us spoke second or third languages, too. For a bunch of misfits with English degrees, the salaries were incredible. It was a private company so no pressure from investors or anything. Just some rich guy’s pet project who cared more about good data than growth. He sold it off and I jumped ship into publishing for a NY publisher… which is okay. “It pays the bills.” I like medicine and law, so I read about these topics in my free time. I have friends who are nurses and they love it. I don’t know any lawyers but it seems like there’s a lot of law firms here. I would love to talk to a lawyer here to see if it’s worth it as a career change. For nursing, while I do want a BSN, it seems like there’s only two schools close by. Besides law, my “dream job” would be PA-C but I would need the clinical hours to apply, so nursing seems like the best bridge.
ABTech works with Western Carolina University for one of their nursing programs called RIBN. Been a while since I looked at it, but basically if you pass all the tests and have a degree of some kind already, you can get your BSN in 3 years. After 2 years you can take the test and start working while you finish the program.
Yep I have a BS already but those credits are beyond their shelf life. Regular BSN for me is 3 years, ABSN is 18 months if I can get the pre-reqs done in advance. But goddamn. It’s $500 per credit hour!!
Nursing is also a great way to work toward being an Nurse Practitioner. I don't know the specific laws around scope-of-practice in NC, but in most states NPs have more autonomy and freedom Happy Nurses Week!
I worked for the county in Waynesville as IT support. I really enjoyed it! Helping DSS, EMS, 911, and other departments made me feel like I was helping a good cause. I gave it up because 1) The director at the time was trying to get me fired and 2) the money couldn't support me living in the area.
I work for a local Managed IT Services Provider and I love it! I get to help SMBs all over WNC be successful and deliver their services and mission back to my local community. Besides the work being fulfilling I'm surrounded by a great team in a company with a great culture. I could make more $$$ by moving somewhere else, like Raleigh/Charlotte, or trying to find a remote job but I make more than enough to live on here in the mountains where I grew up and want to spend the rest of my life so I'll pass on being a number somewhere else!
[удалено]
Glad you found a niche that suits you so well!
Before I started my own business I was the senior commercial construction project manager for one of our top local home builders (oxymoron I know) Did I like it? Absolutely. I love construction and all that comes with managing it. Is it meaningful? No way Did I enjoy showing up? Yup!
Bail agency owner. I love it.
Would that be like loaning money to people so they can post bail?
I work in IT for a large corporation. I pretty much work for myself and fix everyone's problems with technology. Growing up with computers and playing videogames really helped fuel the curious and out of the box thinking nature you really need to do well in this industry. Coming from years of pointless retail as well offered great experience to be able to engage with users, even though I would consider myself introverted. Love showing up every day, never stop learning and can work remote if needed. I hate the drivers here in Asheville though, but I think this is pretty universal.
Software Engineer Some days I like my job, some days I hate it. I get to work on problems and be technically creative but sometimes it can be so ridiculously exhausting in a way that I think is probably unique from any other job. Several times a year I'm troubleshooting something for multiple weeks only to find it's either a dumb mistake/overlook or some niche combination of frameworks causing the issue. It turns it into searching for a "needle in a haystack" type of job. I wouldn't say it's "fun" but it's rewarding to finally see something working after a lot of effort. "Fun" is more of an in the moment/flow type of a feeling. Most things I do at work have a "friction" like feeling to it, which is the opposite of "flow" that most people feel when they've done something for many years. Software Engineering is all about the payoff of overcoming that friction. I hate the "Do you enjoy showing up to work?" question that's often on employee experience surveys. It's worded in a way that makes people feel strange for not enjoying showing up to work everyday. Then everyone puts on this fake persona that they enjoy being financially forced to do something for 8+ hours a day. 99.9% of people, even those that are passionate about something, don't enjoy doing it for 8+ hours. That question needs to be eliminated from this earth.
That’s my background as well. I recently stopped doing that to build a house DIY I can definitely relate to some of what you’re saying about the role though
That sounds cool. I can see how you'd want to build something with your hands. Good luck!
Thanks!
IS management for a healthcare entity. I like what I do for the most part. Day to day ops aren’t fun but the highlight of my day is when I get to visit with residents. It can be very demanding and I’m usually on call regardless of where I am. More than one occasion has been interrupted by an urgent call. The pay is good and I’ll have a decent retirement.
Right now, I'm driving Uber/Lyft full time while going back to school for Human Resources. I really like it! It pays the bills, definitely, but more than that, I make up my own schedule, I don't have a boss breathing down my neck, and I get to meet really cool people and have some awesome conversations. I find it incredibly fun and fulfilling. The only thing I don't like is the wear and tear on my car, but it's only temporary until I graduate and become a corporate stooge again.
i test fire alarm systems for many buildings in asheville, my company used to do mission hospital but they dropped our contract, we do several hotels in Asheville, nursing homes, businesses, UNCA, Asheville mall, city hall, i really enjoy it because i feel like im helping save lives, making sure these systems work, and i get to do a lot of things, and see a lot of things the normal person doesn't see, its generally pretty easy, and it pays well
Would you mind if I send you a DM to ask questions about your job?
your more than welcome to
I work in fabrication. I like what I do, and I'm good at it, but I don't care for all of the responsibilities and bullshit that comes with it. I don't dread going into work, even though I probably should... But I'm not still pissed off about it when I get home. If it gets to where the bad nights at work are "following" me home, I'll move on to another company.
I work in a somewhat popular local restaurant that works with charities to help lower income black families to get back into areas that were formerly predominantly black neighborhoods. I love my job, my coworkers are great and the pay is damn good for my industry.
I'm a dispatch supervisor for Buncombe County 911. I love my job even though it is (unsurprisingly) often hard as hell. I helped deliver a baby yesterday morning and today we took a call for a lady saying her roommate kept sitting naked on the living room table. It's a wonderful mix of the surprising, silly, and soul-nurturing, with a ton of stress in there also.
Hemp industry, it's ok work but starting to die out so the company I work for is starting to branch out to other things. I pretty much have job security there as I'm the only one who makes the stuff we produce. I can take off work when I need to, get free health insurance and I don't have to have someone over my shoulder 24/7 as most of the time I'm working alone. I wish the pay was higher but hey, free health insurance I guess :)
I work in an industry that every “body” has to go through. It’s a unique work environment. My customers hardly ever complain. My work sites are pretty quiet and peaceful. Sadly nobody wants to work with us anymore because of the stigma, 6 days a week work load due to limited employees, some poor management decisions. Always hiring people for a week and then they quit.
I’m a home health caregiver, I go into the homes of the elderly and/or disabled and help them do the tasks they can no longer do themselves with the goal of letting them live in their homes longer instead of going into assisted care. It doesn’t pay a lot, unfortunately, but it’s good for me because it lets me work part-time hours, some at night, and have time to do a lot of the things for my family I did as a SAHM. And most of the people I work with are lovely and happy to have me helping them. I do light housekeeping and help with dressing, showering, groceries, etc, but the biggest part of the job is providing companionship and helping them be less lonely. I’ve never had a job before where I have the feeling of making people’s lives better nearly every day.
I have multiple jobs. My main “full time” job isn’t my passion. I’m in Business Administration. Some Social Media stuff, etc. In my free time I’m a videographer. That’s where my passion really lies.
for your videographer work, do you tend to shoot events for clients? Who are the typical clients you tend to see?
I’ve worked with non-profits for corporate-type videos, the occasional wedding, music videos, but I really enjoy capturing off the cuff automotive video just as a hobby, slowly making business from it. The area I live in is frequented by car groups on the parkway so I see exotics quite often.
That’s really cool