People ask you what you do for a living so that they can calculate the level of respect to give you.

I don’t use it as a measure of respect, but I am interested in if they enjoy/value what they do. it’s cool when I find out we’re in similar fiends and have common ground. Networking is helpful. I do notice that I don’t click with people who have settled into jobs they dislike, not because of whatever the job is, but a difference in our personalities.