I HATED this question

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My least favorite question:

Back when I worked at an investment bank, one of my LEAST favorite interactions was telling people what I did for a living.

I'd be at some type of social gathering: a family get-together, a night out with friends in NYC, an unofficial high school reunion etc. and the question would inevitably arise: what do you do for work?

Now, early on, this question was my dream. A non-trivial part of what had attracted me to a big bulge bracket bank was the fact that I could TELL people that I worked at a big bulge bracket bank.

However, as time passed and I got ~12 months in the excitement faded. Instead of champing at the bit to answer the question, I would get a pit in my stomach when the "work conversation" arose.

The reason for this was simple: I wasn't being true to myself.

Finance wasn't exciting to me. I didn't dream of being an MD. Nothing I did during the day was moving the corporate needle. And yet, I was still in the job. Willingly accepting dissatisfaction in exchange for money and prestige. It felt dishonest.

Nothing highlighted this for me more than when I finally quit and became an SDR at a Series A startup.

Despite taking an insane pay cut (my bonus at the bank was $105,000 compared to my $80,000 salary at the startup), becoming THE most junior employee at the company, and giving up any and all brand recognition, I couldn't wait to tell people what I did.

I was proud of it because it was a genuine representation of ME. Of the things that were exciting to me, and the path that I wanted to be on.

So, next time someone asks "what do you do," try to observe your emotional response. Are you excited to answer or do you feel a pit in your stomach?

Either way, listen to that feeling!

-Andrew