So, what would you call Mac's job? What would be the real name for a job like his? Or the closest thing?

Well his official title in the show was field operative. But I think a more apt title would simply be trouble-shooter.

Pete said it best MacGyver is a trouble shooter.

He always said he was "kind of a troubleshooter"

I know I posted about this quite a while ago, but about Mac being a "field operative" or "trouble-shooter".... are there jobs like his in real life? If so, what would you call those? I feel like that would be a pretty adventurous and fun job to have.

Hmm... good question, but I think the answer is probably who knows.

I know someone who travels around to FedEx/Kinko's stores as a "trouble shooter", fixing whatever it is that's broken or causing problems, and someone who works for a window company who has a similar job. But those things a quite a bit different than what Mac does, even if they sorta share the same idea.

I'm sure some sort of company like the Phoenix Foundation exist. They might have their own "MacGyvers" that work for them too, even if their task arn't as varied or adventurous.

Not an answer to your question, I know. Just my own thoughts.

Due to a very turbulent time of the last couple of months at work I was thinking of a change of job. There wasn't exactly anything else I can see myself doing, even now. But a MacGyverish job was also one of the options I considered, but the closest thing I found were mostly volunteering jobs. Also out of the country. Like help building schools and stuff in where ever in the world you want like Asia or South-America. The problem with those organizations I have is that apparently you have to pay for your own plane ticket if not your own food and if you're in a guest home, even too. They say that money is to pay their own employees. That something that troubled me. You don't get paid for the work, but you work for six hours a day and get weekends off, so plenty of time to do other stuff and it's the experience that matters.

You can also decide for yourself how long you want to go from one or two weeks till six months.

I think if you want a job like Mac's get a couple of degrees first in science and stuff. Of course doing studies is something else that stealing documents back.

I just think finding a think-tank might be harder than we all think.

I don't think I'd like Mac's job, whatever it's called.

I prefer safer jobs like teaching large groups of small children, all of which are armed with small squeaky musical instruments.

Wait...did I just say that...?

Still, I'd rather deal with strnged instruments in the hands of adolescents than get shot at every day of my life.

"MacGyver is kind of a ... troubleshooter." - Pete (Lost Love)

"I'm not trying to be mysterious about it, it's just that what I do is tough to explain." - MacGyver (Jerico Games)

"I had this contract with Pete Thornton's outfit that says I take only those jobs I wanna take. Now, you'd think I'd say 'no' once in a while." - MacGyver (Countdown)

Troubleshooter

trouble shooter? Ive never heard about this before. Is this something from the USA or is it a known term in the rest of the english speaking world as well?

If you think about any job you take can be a Troubleshootering job.

I would say a known term in the rest of the world. I've heard it all my life.

ah, ok, first time I heard it myself. Its strange, I wonder whats the spanish translation

well obviously theres... "Solucionador de problemas de". But is there a word for a person who has special skill in discovering and eliminating/resolving problems in a certain area of expertise?

not really, I think "mediador" was the best answer someone gave me in another forum, but it doesnt quite convey the complete meaning of what a trouble shooter in english means. I dont recall this profession even exists in the spanish world, or if it does, its certainly under the radar.

Yeah mediator is a person who assists in negotiations and conflict resolution.

Troubleshooter is a specialist who is brought in to find the cause of a difficult problem and fix it. They are normally the last resort.

But the word itself has a very broad meaning to cover anyone who solves/fixes problems on a regular basis. The computer tech you call to your home to sort out your computer problem is a troubleshooter.

Even the process of working through a problem which doesn't have an obvious cause is widely refereed to Troubleshooting.

<<<<< Take a look at your title under your avatar.

yes my rank is now an ironic twist, doubly ironic since we actually need a trouble shooter to tell us whats the spanish equivalent

I dont think that specialist exists per se in spanish as a separated profession. Ive worked as a system and computer engineer and i was the closest thing to a trouble shooter, but my title was and still is a systems/network/computer engineer and never got paid a bonus for any of my many MG moments

Troubleshooter isn't a job title of it's own, it's more of a description, like saying a person is a volunteer or does volunteer work

"Good looking, long haired fixeruparah"

In other words, he can fix anything and has the good looks to go with his skills.

lol

General Handyman or Mac of All Trades

"Troubleshooter" ~ as suggested by a few on here ~ was also the first answer that sprung to mind for me, as well...

Having handyman/D.I.Y./innovative abilities ~ as well as a strong background in some kind of Science, Engineering, Medical or Agricultural discipline;
along with some kind of emergency/military/disaster "first responder" experience ~ would seem to be common pre-requisite
for producing the kind of "trouble shooter" that we see being employed to "fix" certain kinds of problems..