What Is Your Profession?

[Kelly G]

In my first life I worked for 31 years in the oil and natural gas business for a couple large international companies. The last half of that career was as a field operations manager. I was the only fp user in my field location. There were several fp users back at the regional office, Denver, then Houston. The beauty of that was when I retired, I received three very nice pens as parting gifts.

In my current life, I've worked in vocational Christian ministry for the last 10.5 years; I managed to stay retired for three months. I've had a few colleagues over those years who were fp users, but none at the moment.

I write my sermons primarily on the computer, occasionally taking reading notes with my fp. Fp's were my mainstay tools for note taking during my three years in seminary and I took copious reading notes. I have gifted fp's to several young people in baptism classes; they seem quite fascinated by the pens. I don't think the habit has persisted with them. I keep several Jinhao X450's around for that purpose.

[Water Ouzel]

Retired Silicon Valley technical writer, occasional contract editor. Once we finish the inside of the house, it'll be back to landscape and close up photography.

 

Lured my wife and a few middle-school and high school students to fountain pens in the past couple of years.

[mamajones]

Really interesting answers -- a very diverse group!

 

Another college professor here: English literature (medieval) at a small liberal arts college.

 

Only other FP user I know of at my college is in my department: a poet and literature PhD who is retiring this year. We have shared some of our favs, especially when I get something new. Most recently he showed me the first pen his wife gave him more than 40 years ago, which he still uses (of course).

[mauckcg]

Homer Simpson in training. Technical title at the moment is Licensed Reactor Operator Initial Trainee.

 

So far I am the only one i have seen on site using FP's.

[Bill Wood]

43 years as a broadcaster. Now waking up at 4 am and doing a morning show. I always looked for pens that wrote with a dark line and found a fountain pen was best for reading. Happy to say I still love my job.

[ParkerDuofold]

So we essentially learned that we are all over the place

[lisadan]

Government employee, with foreign military background. I used fountain pens during my military career when I had desk jobs, but not while in field or front line units, and was the only one around using them.

Currently I work on a computer in an almost completely paperless environment. I still carry 5-6 inked fountain pens in my bag and use them to take short notes (even the signatures are electronic, except for some HR forms)).

I converted one of my fellow workers to FP, but not sure if he still uses it, and gave a former supervisor a FP and ink when he was promoted, and for a while he used it for signatures and to impress other managers, but that's about it. I don't know anyone else, other than members of this forum, that uses fountain pens.

[VivienR]

Working as a Software Engineer. At my previous place I was the only one whom used fountain pen. Currently working for an international company and although I did not seen anyone using, the person from the HR department mentioned, that he like to use fountain pens, in the reaction to my pen.

[inkyelbows]

Thanks for this thread - it's fascinating to read about the wide range of professions here on FPN!

 

I'm a former computer programmer/analyst who is now a full-time children's book writer and illustrator. I only discovered fountain pens in October but have fallen very very hard. Since "coming out" as a fountain pen user, I have had many of my fellow book creators talk about their fountain pens as well!

 

Debbie

[MissChief]

Curmudgeon. Pays poorly, but job satisfaction is high.

Ha! That's what I call my husband. At one time, he wanted to open a coffee shop; it would have been called Curmudgeon's.

[Pichak]

I am a grade 9 student in Thailand and of course I always use fountain pens for my note and lectuer. However I have never seen any teacher or student at my school use fountian pen.

[mitto]

Retired thrice. By training I am a researcher and a writer. Last post held was Director General (Research & Reference) in a Ministry of the Federal Government. I have been using fountain pens eversince grade II in Primary School as use of ballpoints was not (and still is not) allowed until one finished high school in this part of the world.

 

A set of desk fountain pens, usually in blue and burgundy, is a mandatory adornment on the desks of all government officers and these are supplied by the stationery section of the concerned department free of cost. So use of fountain pens is pretty common over here.

[orfew]

Another academic here. I am a lecturer at a university. I mark papers with a fountain pen. I also jot down quick notes to myself at the beginning or end of my lectures. There are several of us at the university who wander around with Fps in their pockets.

[PenPaper52]

 

Teacher but of late lady of leisure...made it my purpose in life to do what I love to do.

Sculpting, making jewellery and more of that kind a thing.....FP being part of that.

 

The only other person I knew who used a FP was my Dad.

 

 

Stay safe!

 

Rita

[pajaro]

Retired IT manager. I potz around with stuff. Studies in comparative literature. Avoiding the work of writing with pens.

[micalela1]

I'm the associate director for parking & transportation services at a university. My diector is fairly new to fountain pens. She has two so i share my enthusiasm with her. And whoever else will listen to me

😆

[FromTheNetherlands]

Educational student here (studying to become a Biology teacher). At the moment I am teaching three classes (consisting of 15-16 year olds) in Biology.

 

Use fountain pens daily and many of my pupils/students are amazed by them (I got reactions like: 'WOW, my granddad uses one of those' and when I am writing cursive: 'What did you write there? My granddad writes that way but I can never read what he is writing').

 

And I write quite legible. Not perfect, but perfectly legible.

 

None of the pupils/students have learned to write with fountain pen, all they learned is to brutally attack the paper they write on with a ballpoint - trying to pierce the paper.

 

More about writing: I saw some written work of students (same class, same level of education) from about 7 years ago. Some even wrote legible cursive. The others wrote quite nice. 7 years later - now - the average level of legibility has decreased dramatically. For some 'written art pieces' teachers ask their colleagues for help trying to decipher what has been drawn there .

 

Allright, no more complaining...

[Dramation]

I'm a chef, I've never seen another chef using a fountain pen.

 

My "good" pens are strictly for home (journal writing, pen pal writing, practising calligraphy) & business / Justice of the peace use ( interviews, signing documents that sort of thing). In saying that I have a Parker sonnet that I use at work for writing prep lists, order sheets, counting the till, rosterong etc.

Edited January 9, 2017 by Dramation

[Jamesbeat]

Head of estimating department at a construction company.

Surprisingly, I am not the only fountain pen user - one of my bosses is too. He uses a Lamy Safari mostly, but I have given him a couple of Jinhaos and Heros to mess around with (I usually order several when I buy Chinese pens).

 

I also interviewed a guy today for a job, and he commented on my pen.

I don't use expensive pens at work because I'm worried about people damaging them, so I was using a Baoer 388.

He was very surprised when I told him it cost less than $3 shipped.

He told me that he bought his first one recently, a Pilot Metropolitan.

Edited January 13, 2017 by Jamesbeat

[ppdiaporama]

IT Service Desk Manager