Engineering

I think I may have mentioned I was recruited right off my College Campus for my job. Ma Bell was desperate (to put things politely) for computer skills, and I had them in spades.  Getting a job offer that paid 1/3 higher than anybody else's was pretty compelling. 

Heck, my degree was in designing - at the circuit level - central control computers. No walk in the park.

So I got to my job: configuring computer-controlled central telephone switching offices based on a Bell Labs-designed piece parts. Not quite designing the next-generation computer, but they were paying A LOT. 

AND, as an engineer, I had my own phone. Engineering Associates (2-year degrees) had to share one phone per 4. Ma Bell really knew her perks.

Just to remind you, we were the phone industry, and they chintzed out on employee phones.

Oh yea, the French now own us. They find it much, much easier to downsize by getting rid of US employees since firing Frenchies is such a nosebleed. I got out while the getting was good.