...a mystery shopper

Name: Anonymous
Occupation: Super Secret Mystery Shopper

Note:  Mystery shopping isn't exactly a full-time career, mostly its just done for extra cash.

10 AM:  Power Yoga: the best possible way to start my day!

12 Noon: Check email for instruction of what my assignment for the day is.... Ooh!  Today, I'm checking out a popular burger joint.  Looks like I'm covered for dinner.  The key with going over the instructions is to really read and comprehend EVERYTHING they are looking for.  For this assignment they have asked that I order very specific foods.

2 PM: Phone call with my dad.  He and my stepmom just got back from a long trip to Italy.  I'm so jealous of all the yummy food they ate!

3:30 PM: Walk to the Metro station to catch the subway downtown.  I love using public transportation, because it gives me a chance to catch up on my reading.  Today I'm re-reading "Weetzie Bat" by Francesca Lia Block.  Such a sweet, modern fairy tale, that reminds me of how it felt to be 16.

4:15 PM: A quick visit to a local museum.  I often wonder why I don't take more opportunities to explore local culture.

6 PM:  Stop by my assigned restaurant.  Order food while carefully observing my surroundings.  I try to be discreet as I time the workers as they do their tasks.    Check out the bathrooms, the doors, the counters, even take note of what each employee is doing.  After ordering, I sit down and wait for my food.  Eat.  Take note of the time.  And off I go, back to the subway then home.

7 PM:  Fill out an analysis of my observations and email to my supervisor.

8PM: Meet up with my friends for drinks.

...a services product manager for a high tech firm.

Name: Sarah

Occupation: Services Product Manager

Wake up at 7AM - shower & get ready.  Getting ready is easy for my job because I work in high-tech so I don't have to conform to any real dress code.  Today for example I'm wearing jean capris and a white t-shirt.  I eat breakfast and am out the door by 8:30 AM.  On most days I usually go through the Tim Horton's drive-thru and get a medium half hot chocolate half coffee.  I pull into work around 8:50 AM.

I walk up stairs after greeting reception and spark up my computer.  My first hour of the day is usually dedicated to catching up on email - either from hardcore workers like my boss or other offices from from Europe.  I also receive a ton of industry trade e-newsletters that I like to keep on top of since my field is mobility and it's a relatively high-paced and always changing environment.  In the course of catching up on my email I usually check my schedule to see what meetings I have and figure out what I want to get done for the day.

10-12 PM I spend working on a technical presentation to be used by our technical presales team regarding a new software solution.  At 12 I go for a walk with my coworker around the Tech Park.  The city can feel so far away when you're walking through a corn field or by a secluded lake, which all happen to be lovely features of the Tech Park where I'm lucky work is located.  If I don't go for a walk I will often go to the gym which is also conveniently located across the street.

I get back to work around 1 PM and eat lunch while working at my desk on the technical presentation I was working on in the morning.  I meet with my Boss and some other Directors regarding a Request for Information (RFI) response our department is helping Sales formulate.  From 3-5 I work on gathering the appropriate materials I was assigned to prepare for the RFI response due immediately. 

5 PM I am out of there.  Onto other things like school or home sweet home. 

That's it, nothing too dramatic but I like it that way.  Most days I can leave my work at work.  Things don't get too demanding unless it's end of quarter or a task has been handed down to me by the President, in which case it's heads down until the task is complete.  I like my job, the relaxed work atmosphere, and the people I work with.  Did I mention there is a site-wide BBQ on Friday?