I start off by saying "I work in IT for an investment bank", which usually ends up with bewildered looks.
Then I say "I fix keyboards and mice for an investment bank", which usually ends up with some nervous laughs (some get it, some don't).
Then I say "I write software that run electronic trading systems, like stock exchanges". That's when most people get it. The others tend to think the finance world ends at their ATM.
Recently, the last sentence has ended up with dirty looks from those who probably think that people like me caused the current global recession. At this point I usually say something like "I don't work in credit derivatives".
Then I say "I fix keyboards and mice for an investment bank", which usually ends up with some nervous laughs (some get it, some don't).
Then I say "I write software that run electronic trading systems, like stock exchanges". That's when most people get it. The others tend to think the finance world ends at their ATM.
Recently, the last sentence has ended up with dirty looks from those who probably think that people like me caused the current global recession. At this point I usually say something like "I don't work in credit derivatives".