I think our paths crossed in other places, too. Didn't you once work for Merrill, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith? It is an insanely small world sometimes.
I worked as a High School languages teacher - English and German for 25 wonderful years until I retired at age 60
I had two professions at different times of my life and enjoyed both. Funeral Director/Embalmer--Sales Manager CLU ChFc
Guess I never had a profession, merely a series of jobs from pushing concrete in a wheelbarrow up three levels in the construction industry, to a cementer in the oil industry, to an accounting clerk with a electrical utility, buyer, purchasing manager in manufacturing, and finally a sales rep, then sales manager in agriculture industry. Then retirement…
Went to school and became a Broadcast and Audio Engineer but only worked at that for a few years. Construction trades, rancher, and professional driver sum up my working days for the most part.
I am like Bill, no 'profession'. I was cow milker after college. Milked cows at a couple of barns, cleaned equipment, learned to like country music...(told my dad not to send me to college). I started an antiques and estate sale business which was fun. Today there is no market for antiques. But there was back in the 80's. I cleaned horse barns and learned a lot watching clinics and handling horses. Cleaned houses although you would not know it from mine. I don't like stress and liked physical labor and going home without my work on my mind.
Electronics technician maintaining equipment used in manufacturing such as TV translators, solid state devices, oil exploration equipment, CDs and DVDs, and defense. Semi retirement found me in a snack food warehouse and mobility equipment manufacturer for the aged and handicapped.
A profession is a paid job that requires special training or a particular skill. I am guessing that some of the jobs that you had required training and skills. When I was a paper bag machine adjuster, I considered those who ran the machines and those who performed maintenance or repairs on them to be professionals, despite the fact that the job didn't require a degree or even a license. On the other hand, the entry-level people who stacked the completed bales onto a pallet probably didn't qualify.
Just about everything but a waitress or a store clerk. I've been an office manager, on the staff of a large metropolitan newspaper, director of a non-profit organization, professional fundraiser, executive assistant, typist, switchboard operator, I was even a "professional patient" at the medical school for a while.