Below are the responses we received when we asked you all what you did for work in the 2020 Autostraddle Reader Survey.
AND WOW going through your responses was so heartening. The gays really are everywhere! On a Very Important note, this survey was anonymous, so I’m also left wondering who our cheesemonger is. So if you are a cheesemonger, you have to tell me, okay? Thank you.
Just as an FYI, if we had multiple people responding with the same job, I wrote, for example, “x3” so that if that’s you, you know you have company! Did you not respond to the survey? Go ahead and tell us about yourself in the comments!
Jobs You Fascinating Weirdos Have:
- 911 Dispatcher
- Academic advisor
- Academic in gender studies
- Academic publishing production coordinator
- Academic researcher
- Academic [Assistant, in Gender Studies, Publishing Production Coordinator, Researcher]
- Accountant (x6)
- Accounts Payable Client Onboarding (yes, I know, wtf even is that)
- Actor (x3) including one “Actor, Communications Coach, Consultant, Grantwriter, it’s a lot”
- Addictions clinician
- Adjunct lecturer @ a big university
- Admin / Admin Assistant, Unspecified (x4)
- Admin Assistant
- Admin for Planned Parenthood
- Administrative support in medical education/higher ed
- Administrative work for an accounting firm
- Administrator (x3)
- Admissions. I trick you into attending grad school
- Adult education specialist at homeless shelters
- Adult reference librarian
- Aerospace Engineer for flight simulation (mostly programming, just a fancy name)
- App Developer (PHP/Java/JavaScript)
- Archive Assistant (x5)
- Archivist (x4)
- Art Conservation
- Art Director
- Art teacher
- Artist, Teacher, Set Designer
- Artistic research / performance artist
- I run a support group for trans folks in my community through the local queer community center
- Assistant at literary agency
- Assistant Buyer
- Assistant curator, visual resources center
- Assistant Director (Film/TV)
- Assistant Paralegal
- Assistant Principal
- Assistant Professor or Assistant Teacher, unspecified topic (x3)
- Assistant teacher
- Associate Attorney
- Associate Director of Internship Services
- associate publicist at a publishing company, and I work on audiobooks for children and teens
- Asst. English Professor
- Athletic Trainer
- Attorney (x6)
- Baker (x2)
- Barista :)
- Barn manager
- Bartender
- Behavioral ecology PhD candidate
- Billing specialist at a primary care practice
- Bioassay Development
- Biological Technician
- Biotech
- Book Designer
- Book Editor
- Book Indexer & Seed Wholesaler
- Book Publishing
- Bookkeeper
- Building Management for a student union
- Business Analyst
- Business Applications Engineer
- Business Development Manager
- Campaign specialist at a political news site
- Cancer biology research scientist
- Canvasser for a liberal organization getting out the vote
- Case Manager (x3)
- Cashier
- Cheesemonger (yes really)
- Chemist
- Children’s librarian (x2)
- Civil engineer
- Civil Engineering Graduate
- Civil rights lawyer
- Claims Analyst
- Classical singer, also arts & culture writer
- Classroom teaching assistant
- Clerk (filing, data entry, switchboard, etc)
- Client Support Services for Lab Medicine at a major hospital
- Clinical dietitian
- Clinical Research Project Manager
- Clinical Social Worker (x5)
- Clinical supervisor at Children’s mental health agency
- College Administrator
- College Instructor (x3)
- College Professor (x3)
- Comedy writer
- Comms and Engagement
- Communications
- Communications officer (x3)
- Communications Strategist
- Communications/PR
- Community college arts administration
- Community Engagement Program Manager
- Community Management
- Community Outreach & Casework
- Community Support on an app/website
- Community Support Worker
- Complaint and incident investigations in a hospital
- Computational Biologist
- Computer programmer
- Computers
- Conservation Agent (wetlands protection)
- Constituent services for a state Senator
- Construction Project Manager
- Consultant (x3)
- Contact center coaching and training our agents
- Content creation, social media management, copywriting
- Content Designer
- Conveyancing
- Copy editor (x2)
- Corporate Communications
- County Public Works Engineer (Construction and Drainage)
- CRM Consultant
- Cultivation Manager in the cannabis industry
- Curriculum development/instructional design
- Customer service (x2)
- Customer Service Specialist (front desk/receptionist/non-emergency call taker)
- Customer Success Manager
- Cyber Defense Educator
- Cyber security
- Dancer
- Data Analyst (x4)
- Data Engineer
- Data Scientist (x3)
- Data systems manager
- Database Admin
- Dentist (x2)
- Deputy Attorney General
- Design
- design brands, sign systems and other large scale 3D graphics. I am a senior person within my studio with lots of project management and art direction responsibilities.
- Design Research & Strategy
- Designing satellites so you can check the weather
- Development & Communications Manager for a food bank
- Digital Marketing (x2)
- Director
- Director of Development & Evaluation for a nonprofit that serves young people experiencing homelessness
- Director of Student Relations for a tutoring company
- Diversity and Health Equity Project Assistant
- Doctor (x8)
- Dog walker/pet sitter
- Doordash, PostMates, Instacart, Rover plus I do other gig work
- Editor and Proofreader
- editor for a small children’s book/educational resource publisher
- editor for text books (secondary school). I hope that counts as “education”, although I’m not teaching myself
- Editor, Executive Correspondence Unit
- Editorial assistant
- Education Manager
- educational services representative, as an adjunct faculty member teaching flute at a community college, and as a private flute instructor
- Electrical Engineer for a government contractor
- Electrician
- Elementary School Teacher (x4)
- Emergency Medical Dispatcher – Ambulance
- Employability officer
- EMT at events (concerts etc)
- EMT Program Coordinator but now in a Masters of Nursing Program full time
- Energy policy advocate
- Engineer (x4)
- Engineering Intern
- English as a Second Language Teacher
- English teacher (x6)
- Environmental Consulting / Planning (x2)
- Executive Assistant
- Executive chef
- Executive Director of a 501(c)(3)
- Executive Secretary at University LGBT Resource Center
- Eyebrow specialist – I work in a salon
- Family Engagement Specialist
- Farm and Garden Educator
- Farm worker (x3)
- Federal public health policy
- Finance (x2)
- Fine Art Admissions Counsellor – higher ed administrator/student affairs
- finishing my PhD this month and starting a research position in August
- Floral/event designer, and artist.
- Forest Fire Ranger
- Forester
- Foundation medical student
- Founder/CEO
- Costume Designer
- Editor
- freelance work in the NFP sector
- Freelance writer/editor; poet; events manager; casual retail salesperson
- Freshly-Minted Associate Attorney
- Front End Software Engineer
- Frontend Developer
- Fund development specialist at my local humane society
- Fundraising
- Fundraising for a healthcare nonprofit
- General Manager/HR
- Girl scout troop leader for underserved girls and substitute teacher
- Graduate Student (x9)
- Graduate {Research,Teaching} Assistant (TBD next semester)
- Graduate Student Instructor / Worker / Researcher (x7)
- Grant writer for human services nonprofit
- Grants & Evaluation Manager at a community development agency
- Grants administration
- Grantwriter (technically an Assistant Director of my specific department)
- Graphic Designer (x2)
- Graphic Designer for a coffee company
- Grassroots Organizer
- Grievance Officer for a union
- Grocery Stock Clerk
- Health Care Advocacy and Communications
- Health care research
- Healthcare communications
- High school Arts teacher
- High school Environmental Science Teacher
- High school German teacher
- high school History teacher (2x)
- High school Substitute teacher
- High School Teacher (x5)
- Higher education access programming for underserved urban public high school students
- Historic preservation
- Homelessness and mental health strategy for municipal government
- Homeschooling gardener
- Hospice social worker
- Hospital admin assistant
- Hotel Front Desk Clerk & Public Librarian
- Housing Office Team Lead
- HRIS Consultant
- Humanitarian/development researcher and activist
- I operate a particle accelerator at a government lab
- I run an outdoor ed program for the Y
- I run the arts programs for a middle school and high school
- I support a peer-to-peer activist and consciousness raising community of folks with developmental disabilities
- I was a lifeguard as well as a student *sobs in nonessential worker*
- I was a payroll processor. Now I’m freelance writing.
- I write trainings for corporate employees. It’s only slightly soul-crushing.
- I write trainings for large corporations. Why yes it IS quite soul crushing how kind of you to ask!!!
- Immigration legal service paralegal
- In my day job, I edit training content for pharmaceutical sales reps (Big Pharma… blerg). I also have a couple of education-sector editing side hustles.
- Inside Sales for an Automotive supplier (but I just got a promotion and am moving departments!!)
- Inspiration writer/performer/speaker
- Insurance claim adjuster
- Insurance Claims Adjuster dreaming of being a sex educator
- Intern in a law office
- Inventory Manager at a used book store
- Investment Banking
- IT Analyst / Engineer / Support / Security Specialist / Consultant (x6)
- It is an emerging discipline I am helping to create that doesn’t even have accurate job listings in the world today
- IT Tech. Being a stereotypical transgirl and all.
- Jewish non-profit event planning/programming director
- Journalist / Reporter (x2)
- Lab technician (x2)
- Landscaper/Gardner
- Language consultant
- Law student
- Lawyer (x12)
- Lead bookseller at an independent bookstore
- Lead Designer at a small media & events business
- Lead Writing Tutor at a community college (making resources, wrangling student tutors)
- Lecturer I of Spanish
- Lecturer in English
- Lecturer, Department of Biological Sciences
- Legal assistant
- Legal fellow
- Legal/finance hybrid kind of role
- Librarian or Library Director or Coordinator or Manager or Assistant or Technician (x32)
- Light technician/design in theatre
- Litigation paralegal
- management consultant
- Manager
- Manager- Insurance
- Manager of a travel company
- Manager of Institutional Research at a university
- Manager, Area Control Centre Operations
- Managing editor of a local newspaper
- Marine Biologist (x2)
- Marketing or Marketing Lead/Manager/Coordinator (x6)
- Marketing at an Audiobook Company
- Marketing lead / graphic designer at a theatre company
- Marriage and Family Therapist
- Massage therapist
- Materials Engineer
- MBA student
- Mechanical buildings consulting engineer in training
- Mechanical Engineer (x2)
- Media & PR Manager
- Medical editor
- Medical Laboratory Scientist
- Medical Research
- Medical student
- Medical writer
- Middle school Teacher (x3)
- Montessori teacher
- Most recently – HS math teacher. Currently – math grad student
- MSW student – previously worked in social services with trans/GNC immigrants
- Museum Curator
- Museum Educator/Manager
- Music Educator / Instructor / Teacher (x3)
- Musician & Composer
- Nature Reserves Manager
- Network Engineer
- NICU Nurse
- Night Auditor at a hotel
- NLP research
- Non profit director
- Non-emergency medical driver
- Non-profit strategy
- Nurse practitioner
- Nurse’s aide
- Office assistant and part-time tutor
- Office manager (x2)
- Office support for a construction company
- Officer in USAF, basically project manager for future programs in my careerfield
- One part copy-editor, one project manager for peer-reviewed scientific papers
- Online educational developer/adjunct professor
- Online learning designer
- Online sales and inventory management
- Opera singer aka professional superspreader
- Operation agent
- Operations + Executive Assistant
- Operations Director
- Operations Manager at a Theatre
- Operations Manager at public affairs and comms firm
- Ophthalmic technician
- Oral historian, a content creator for my university, and a camp counselor at the moment
- Organ transplant
- Organizing Director
- Outdoor educator (x2)
- Outpatient physical therapist
- PA/Admin
- Paleontologist (x2)
- Paralegal (x2)
- paralegal at a nonprofit immigration law firm
- Parent
- Parent, finance manager, secretary
- Park Ranger
- Part time pastor, part time journal managing editor, also grad student
- Pastry chef
- Payroll
- Payroll and billing for in home care company
- Performing arts critic
- Pet Care Associate at PetSmart
- Pet stylist
- Pharmacist / Pharmacy Tech (x2)
- PhD Candidate in Ecology
- Phd candidate, religion
- PhD researcher
- PhD Student and/or TA, unspecified topic (x6)
- PhD student (biosciences)
- PhD student in STEM
- Photographer
- Physicist
- Pianist/vocalist
- Pipeline Integrity Supervisor
- Planetary scientist
- Planner
- Playwright (x2)
- Policy Adviser
- Policy Analyst or (x3)
- Policy development
- Policy officer at medical regulator
- Political consultant (polling/survey research)
- Political staffer
- Post Doctoral Researcher or Research Associate (5x)
- Post Producer
- Post Production Manager
- Postdoctoral fellow
- Postdoctoral fellow in art history
- Post-doctoral researcher / research associate (x3)
- Preschool Director
- Preschool teacher (x2)
- Prior to the pandemic I was in shipping & receiving, now I wfh as a writer/editor
- Process, catalog and scan old images
- Produce Buyer for a national grocery store
- Producer
- Product Designer
- Product developer/designer/editor for a children’s educational company
- Product Manager (x5)
- Product Regulatory Specialist
- Product Support for GIS software
- Production Manager at a non-profit children’s theatre
- Professional Dance Artist & Arts Organizer
- Professor, Unspecified (x2)
- Professor, Science (x2)
- Professor, History
- Program Analyst/Auditor
- Program Coordinator at an education nonprofit
- Program Coordinator for a youth outreach program!
- Program Coordinator for New Students
- Program manager- ESL nonprofit
- Program manager for technical writing organization
- Program Officer in International Education Development (Non-profit)
- Program VP
- Project Associate and Data Analyst in International Public Health
- Project Director
- Project Manager (x11)
- Project manager for training program at a nonprofit
- Projectionist
- Proofreader (x2)
- Proposal Coordinator
- Prosecutor (x2)
- Prospect Research Analyst
- Psychologist
- Public interest law student, specializing in access to justice for children/juveniles and incarcerated populations
- Public programming/education for a museum
- Public sector Digitalization
- Publishing consulting/editorial
- QS for the office for cultural heritage preservation
- Quality management (professional services) in a university
- My job title is Collaborations and Partnerships Senior Standards and Quality Officer
- Queer youth worker
- RA/QA Specialist
- Radiographer/Sonographer-radiology tech in US
- Receptionist
- Receptionist at a reproductive health clinic (which provides abortions)
- Records Manager
- Registered Nurse (x6)
- Rehabilitation for senior citizens with low vision
- Research Analyst
- research and teaching assistant, writing center tutor, yoga studio staff and teacher, freelance professional photographer, childcare provider, full time women’s, gender, and sexuality studies and anthropology double major
- Research assistant (x3)
- Research Associate at a consulting firm
- Research chemist
- Research Data Analyst (education nonprofit)
- Research programmer
- Research project manager working in HIV and covid
- Research Scientist (biologist)
- Researcher
- Residence Hall Director
- Retail assistant at a high street store
- Riding instructor
- Sales Associate (x3)
- Sales Coordinator at a major children’s book publisher
- Satellite/Spacecraft Engineer
- Scheduler, House of Representatives
- School Counselor
- School Psychologist (x3)
- School-based behavior interventionist
- Science Professor
- Scientist (x2)
- Script supervisor
- Seismic data analyst
- Self-employed proofreader, teacher
- Senior editor at a travel trade publication
- Senior Engineering Specialist
- Senior Lecturer at a private university
- Senior Officer – administrative worker at a University
- Senior Research Associate at a Public Interest Law Firm (we’re suing Trump it’s great)
- Senior Software Developer / Consultant
- Service Operations Manager
- Sewing Machine Technician
- Sex health educator & community worker for LGBTQ org <3
- Sexual assault prevention at a university
- Sexy Librarian
- Shelter Staff at Domestic Violence Agency
- Shipping/Receiving manager for retail
- Soccer coaching
- Social Media Manager
- Social Media Marketer
- Social media moderator
- Social Worker (x6)
- Social Worker at an addiction rehabilitation center (for men, I know)
- Sociologist in a prison
- Sociology Professor
- Software analyst
- Software Developer (x6)
- Software Development Manager
- Software Engineer (x23)
- Software Engineer at Twilio
- Software Product Manager
- Spatial Practitioner
- Special Education Teacher (x2)
- Speech Language Pathologist
- Speech therapist
- Sr. Research and Data Analyst
- Staff Attorney
- Staff writer of membership magazine for a national UK women’s charity
- Stage hand
- Stage Manager (x2)
- State level public health official
- Stay at home parent
- Student – math major
- Student of physical therapy
- Student Support in Higher Education (postgraduate degrees)
- Student Union Volunteering Manager- running the team that finds volunteering for students (UK)
- Student/Teaching Assistant/Producer/Musician
- studying for a Bachelors in Biomedicine
- Substance Use Counselor
- SUD/MH therapist
- Supervisor at UPS
- Supply Chain Quality Assurance
- Support Medicare programs
- Supportive Housing Worker
- Surgeon
- Systems developer
- Tarot teacher and reader, writer and theatre artist
- Teacher, Unspecified (x8)
- Teacher (ESL, French, Philosophy)
- Teacher and equity facilitator
- Teacher of children
- Teacher of students with visual impairments/orientation & mobility teacher
- Teacher Teaching on Call (substitute teacher) + book blogger
- Teaching Assistant
- Teaching Consultant
- (Tea) Brewery Manager
- Tech educator for seniors / web design
- Tech Recruiter
- Technical Support Consultant (self-employed, small business owner)
- Technical trainer
- Television editor
- Teller
- Theatre freelancer (director, lighting designer, stage manager, etc)
- Theatre lighting technician
- Theatre Producer
- Therapist / Social Worker (x6)
- This! I do this, but for companies like Google and Amazon and Best Buy. (my exact title is Manager, Quantitative Research, if that’s what you were looking for here)
- Toxicologist (x2)
- Trade and Investment Analyst for the UK Govt
- Trainee Lawyer
- Trainer of new staff!
- Translator (x4) (including one Yiddish translator!)
- Copyeditor, and fitness instructor
- Transportation Analyst / Planner (x2)
- Transportation Planner
- Tutoring and teaching at the college level
- Tutoring mentoring and casual data admin
- Unemployed artist living the dream!
- University Admission Assistant
- University archive
- University case manager
- University employee (Administrative Support & Adjunct Instructor)
- University faculty
- University lecturer (x2)
- University TA and instructor
- Urban Planner (x2)
- UX Designer (x3)
- Veterinarian
- VFX artist
- Visitor Services and Experience in a museum
- Waiter
- Wardrobe stylist
- Was a barista and coffeeshop manager
- Web Content Manager for Outward Bound
- Web developer (x2)
- Wildland firefighter
- Work at an NGO focused on health
- Working for a flexible packaging startup and doing a bit of everything: sales, marketing, finance, admin, operator :)
- Workshop facilitator/researcher
- Writer
- Writer, performer, teacher
- Writer-Researcher
- Writing tutor
P.S. Hey to my fellow fundraisers! I see you and love you! I’ve written many a grant in my life so hello also to my colleagues who specifically called themselves grantwriters! Let’s keep the organizations doing the work going. We’ve got this. 💖
