Whats your occupation and why is it so great (or not)? What would you reccomend...

[PowerTrike]

Right now I'm still in high school and really need to start deciding on where I want to go from there (trying to choose my final classes for next year right now) and I'm wondering what a lot of you guys finally ended up doing or what you would reccomend going into for a career choice. I thought I would ask in here because I probably share atleast some similar interests with the rest of you older guys. I'm almost positive that I will try to end up going to something like a 2 year tech school when I get my HS diploma. I love working on cars/engines and technical related stuff like wiring, electronics, ect. Where I'm at in MN there are quite a few good oportunites for Machinists, another field I've been considering getting into, but I'm not sure if I would like all of the precision and repetitive work? An electrician is another area I might be intersted in...Also wheres the money and rewards at? I'm sure there are some things, like small engines, I would like to get into but don't pay too well. I've been seriously considering taking a Mechanics program or getting in Heavy Equipment Repair (Diesel)....
I work at Ace Hardware now, Retail can be fun but not something I want to do forever...
Talked to some real helpful people in chat here a little off and on a while back but thought I'd make a post of it. Anyone care to share their personal experience or reccomendations?

-Nick

[ScottZJ]

Well I went to school and got a degree in respiratory theorpy. I worked in that field for 2 years part time while being a police officer. I didnt care for the kids dying on me so I left the hospital. I stayed on the force for 5 years and realized I needed another job(I was also a store manager for a grocery chain). I left that to mess with computers. That is where I am currently employed at the Dept of Defense. I do all the computers and networking for the Navy. Its a nice change from the others and I have a passion for this field.

[ClayW]

Well heres my 2 cents. I got a bachelors degree in college. I am currently a SR Enviromental, Safety & Health coordinator for Skanska USA Building. The largest or 2nd largest General Contractor in the US. 3rd largest in the world. My degree was in Industrial and Environmental Safety. If you have seen any of my work, aka my trikes, you can see that I like working with my hands quite a bit. Love it actually. I just decided that I didnt want to have to work my rear off as a mechanic or maintenance guy at a plant. My dad works as a maintenance tech at a plant and makes pretty good money. Around 58K or so. Thats not chump change, but he comes on every day smelling like a goat, and fingers cracking open from manual labor. I just decided that I didnt want to do that with my life. He was pretty upset at the time. I was not your typical college student. I graduated HS with a 2.5 GPA. Took 4 years of Agriculture. College prep. LOL. ANyway my wife, girlfriend at the time talked me in to giving it a shot. College that is. I did, and found out that I could do it. Long story short, I graduated with a 3.48 GPA. I got a job the week after I graduated making 32k. I was happy. Dad was pissed. That much money spent on college and that was all I could make. I explained to him that as I got experience, I would be worth more. Well after 2yrs of that I got a new job making 48k. Then after a yr of that I landed another making 58k. I have been with that company since then and im pusing 80k+ now.Thats after I got my professional certification. Im not trying to bragg at all. I just want you to know and see how if you have a college degree your value increases with time and experience, especially if your in the right field. In the trades you mention you can definately progress also. The prob is this. My dad even admits it now. By doing the Tech school route, theres a point you hit a ceiling mark for your type of work. Nothing can change it. You have hit the top. My boss knocks down 125k yr. So my ceiling is much higher than my dad ever thought. Just keep that in mind. If your ok with making a set amout thats fine. But there are other options out there. I have become a really good instructional safety trainer in all aspects of construction safety. In march I made 5500 dollars on saturdays training employees of other companies. Thats on top of my normal salary. Oh yeah and I get a cool grand a month for a truck from my employer. Just think about those things. Construction safety is a booming field that is growing by leapes and bounds. Just some thoughts for ya. By the way you can get loans for college thru the federal gov. You dont pay them back until you graduate and have a job. So thats my 2 cents. Excuse the typing. Im doing this on a tablet PC and its tough to type with a pen.

[brapp]

i droped outta high school, trie dto get my ged, and got a job as alaboror for a heavy equipment company now i run a 525 cat log skidder and a 963 cat with a root rake for out companies clearign crew.makin good money and wouldnt have it anyother way.

[Lomax]

I started (along with my dad) My own ATV and Truck Acc. shop. we just got done building a new store and things are looking very promising in our area. Its alot of fun but sometimes it can be nerve racking mixing your hobby with your job.

[smokinwrench]

Claw W said it correctly in my opinion.

I work for a Caterpillar dealer as a field tech. I've been turnign wrenches now for about 13 years. I love my job and what I do. There are days I so damn tired and sore after work all I want to do is go home and goto bed. Most days the last 2-3 years I troubleshoot wierd hydraulic and electronic problems, so I usually just use a laptop and a Fluke meter.

I have reached that ceiling pay in my field and I'm not sure what I want to do now. I make good money but I know my body can't do this kind of punishing work forever. I'm hoping to become a service rep where I just go around and talk to customers.

[bigyellow4x4]

heres my tail

i started out of high school selling auto parts at a NAPA jobber in town after 5 years (it take about 4 years of parts to be ok to be great you need 10 years at one place) i moved to a dealer "ford" in parts. Ilove my job money is ok for our small town 30k with room to go up to 58k manager, but it tkaes time and hard work. Mechanics make more money but you need to work for a good shop that always has work there for you (most work on flat rate) if you want to do that see if any dealership will but you throgh here tech school (he put about 2 kids throgh school ever year and pay for it all in return you sign contract you will work for us for 4 years. thats my 2 cent do what you love - you will alway spend all your money and want more.

[Derrick Adams]

Well, I started out of school working factory jobs, but soon grew tired of it. I started pimping several years ago, and my business has grown quite large for a small town. I now have alot of return customers and several girls. The pay is decent, but the benefits are great!

[TrikerR]

right now i am a practicing small engine mechanic, but not the motorcycle side, more tools(mowers, chainsaws) it is a pretty good job, but not something i would like to spend the next 30 years doing. it gets very boring very quick, as all you deal with is engines and no other systems like transmissions and suspension.

[bigredhead]

I know what you are going thru.. had the same problem.

What i ended up doing is taking a 1 year college course in " Network Administration ". basically PC repair, Network planning and implementation etc..... nothing too fancy. but taught me alot.,

I really had no clue what i wanted to do... but figured what ever i was going to do would involve computers, and i was a computer idiot at the time...

My father has a university degree in " Teaching " and in " Nursing " and ended up being a lumberjack... all about the sterss.. being a teacher almost killed him with stress..

He got me to work 1 summer with him in the woods ( i now own a husquavarna chainsaw !! LOL low mileage ) and that did it for me.. college i went.

Now .. 8 years later.. stuck in a call centre.. Tech Support, ok pay.. 17 $ an hour, 3 weeks vacation a year, medical plan etc..... good shift.. but I HATE IT...

Main thing.. do something you like to do... make sure that when you wake up in the morning.. that you feel like getting up getting to work... be passionate about what you do for a living and the money should follow.

No money in the world is worth getting sick from stress.... do what you like to do even if you don't know what that is yet.

Cuz even now.. i may not know what i want to do.. but i sure know WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO !!!!!!

[Dan Tenn]

I went to college and got a B.S. in chemistry, and a minor in physics. I run a lab for a small company in MN, and am also one half of the R&D department. I got that degree because it was what interested me at the time. The money is decent, but if I were to do it again I'd be an electrician. You have to work as a grunt for about ten years, then you start your own and you work for yourself. The best part is being able to make illicit street drugs in my basement for all my buddies

I also like to do odd jobs on the side for cash. In the summer I will usually build a couple decks, and the winter will normally be 1 or two boat house restorations.

[jenndnn3]

Or you all could do what I did, get married, and live off him


I really hope he dont read this

[bigredhead]

I need me a rich chik........ that's a good idea ! whooot !

But.. if anyone has any good ideas on home based businesses.. i'm all ears.. i'd love to be able to work from home and bring in even minimal income.. just being able to stay at home ..hang with the dog and do my thing..

now that's dreaming in color !!!

[ScottZJ]

Or you all could do what I did, get married, and live off him


I really hope he dont read this

Ouch not that isnt right. But before I got my job with the Dept Of Defense, my wife was making tons more than me a year, just about 3 digits a year, so in a way i was living off her haha. But I love what I am doing so no matter what I make(its very very nice paying) I will stay with it.

[ClayW]

I love my job ( Construction Safety ) because its something different everyday. Different Job site at a different location. Different type of work too. May be a Hospital, School, Airport, Highrise, or Football/Baseball stadium. Its all different. Every job has its on quirks, problems, or challenges. Really keeps your intrest up. I travel a decent amount. Not all the time, but a few times a month. I have jobs from Colorado to Maryland and everywhere in between. I love my job. And yes I initially get razzed a bit about owning trikes. But being the top notch safety man that I am, I can spout off quite a bit of accident statistics on ATC's and Quads, and then they shut up. They see that the all can be dangerous if you havent been taught the right way to ride.