Woodworkers, people in the trades: If you could change professions, would you?

[Jonhilgen]

If so, what would you do to make a living?

 The reason I'm asking this is because I had a close call last week, I was under pressure to meet many deadlines, I got careless, and it almost cost me dearly.  I might get into the details,but its still too fresh, and I'm feeling a tad stupid about the whole ordeal.

I don't have a college degree, so I'm limited to what I could do for a living.  I don't know what I would do, but I'm thinking about getting out.  I know I'm just a little spooked, and I'll get over it, but I want to take this opportunity to take a long hard look at what I'm doing and where I'm going.

So,  what about it?  

Jon

 

[ericbuggeln]

Thats easy, Professional Fantasy Football Analyst. Im actually over qualified, Eric

 

[Jonhilgen]

Hmmm, might need to get a FOG leauge set up...

 

[Eli]

Where you are, I'd look at solar PV install. Or maybe fiber optic installation and testing?

 

[ericbuggeln]

Jon, I will commish, $100 a head? 10-12 man league? Eric

 

[Jonhilgen]

JMB, I feel the same way.  It's a very satisfying, and tangible feeling once a job is complete.  But I'm finding that when I get too pressured, instead of saying "NO, I will not have it done by tomorrow", I say, "Sure, I can do that"  and put myself in a position where I either get it done, or feel like a failure if I dont (and put myself at risk)

I was inside an over-the-range hood when it fell off a wall.  It happened in slow motion, I was on a ladder screaming for help and none came.  Luckily, there was a large enough opening in the back of the hood that it fell around me, yet I still fell with it.  I have no idea how I didn't break a leg, arm, or my back.  I was shifting the damn thing a couple of millimeters to the right, because damn it, it needs to be perfectly centered between the windows!  And instead of asking for some help, I decided to do it myself.  Once again, I was feeling rushed and was not thinking, I was just doing...I'm still reliving it, kind of like a car wreck if you've ever been in one.  Can't stop thinking how stupid I was, yet how lucky I am to still be ok.  Definitely need to look into getting some more insurance, just in case...

Jon

 

[Jonhilgen]

Where you are, I'd look at solar PV install. Or maybe fiber optic installation and testing?

Thanks Eli, sounds like a good idea.  I know a guy that works as a contractor for the defense dept. running fiber optic cable and such.  Might need to do some networking.

Eric, let's do it.

 

[duburban]

this subject is dear to me. i've been getting deeper and deeper into the trades my entire life all well knowing someone very close to me that has suffered roughly 30 years from an injury. of course there was no compensation or reprimand for the company that built sh*t scaffolding...

i'm going to back to school this fall. its incredibly hard to pull your head out of the trades when your really getting moving but if you don't do it... thats all you got.

he's looking for a safer job, PV install?! they do go on roofs right?

 

[mastercabman]

I think i would,but i don't think i could.

 

[Vindingo]

Jon,

I had a whole thing written up, as this subject hits home for me...  but I'll spare everyone the life story.

I will say that going through a career change has been one of the hardest things I have ever done, and at the same time the most rewarding.  

Don't let a college degree hold you up, if you the job you want requires one.  Now its as easy as ever to go to school online, or at night to finish up school.  Even if there is something you are remotely interested in, community colleges are a great way to test the waters.  You are only limited by your determination.  

There will always be work in the business of people -  healthcare, teaching, social work, etc.

 

[ericbuggeln]

Jon, i will post an announcement later, could be real fun. It would my third league. I love action....Eric

 

[peter halle]

Hey BUddy!

Glad to hear that you are physically OK.  The mental part takes some time.  For me - about two years.

It is easy for me to say .... but don't beat yourself up.

Peter

 

[Captainwrinkles]

I think i may physically have to in the years ahead. Constant pain is a big motivator

Maybe getting into designing instead of making might be the easier move. That way i could still use my cabinetmaking knowledge in other ways.

 

[Kev]

Mobile Festool franchises and training centres look to be a huge potential ... maybe more premium tools and items in the mix.

A "WorkFast - WorkSafe" theme and a bunch of you US guys get together and get a bit of sponsorship from Festool? Start part time.

Take it to school

Get traditional woodworking back into the community

Promote is as a better therapy than a shrink

Trick is to make it turn enough cash to survive

 

[Dane]

I moved from being a contractor/builder into an related line of work a number of years ago.  I now work in energy efficiency and building science.  It is a huge asset to have a background in construction when moving into the field, a lot of folks don't.  The most interesting job, to me, it being an energy auditor.  You use your knowledge of construction and how building work along with some pretty amazing diagnostic tools to evaluate a building's energy loss points and recommend ways to fix them.  It like being a house detective.  It's a great creative outlet as there is always somethng new to learn and many ways to achieve results in the buildng and as the auditor you get to come up with creative and innovative ways to solve the problems.  No college degree required, in fact; I am working with a university right now that just developed an associates degree program in building science that it quite cool.  This isn't a field that is going away, as natural resources get more expensive, the need to conserve them will become ever more important.  Feel free to shoot me a PM if you are interested, I can go on and on....

 

[PaulMarcel]

Wow, Dane's story is identical to a friend of mine.  He went from construction trades to energy efficiency and loves it.  Does assessments, training, planning, everything.  No college degree needed for that; might help if you really wanted to know how the thermodynamics worked, but then only a nerd engineering degree would have had that.

 

[RC]

A good friend of mine jumped from being a lower school teacher into energy efficient air conditioner installations/retrofitting in Florida/Caribean area and is making a mint compared to teaching. I'm sure that energy savings will sell allsorts of other equipment like ground heat pumps, solar panels and air inverters. Possibly even windmills.

Another m8 of mine did the jump from computer administration to stage audio & light design and has been a happy camper in it too - thou that job does involve climbing & heights with little to no scaffolding to get the gig rolling in time and lousy hours since everything is built and pulled down at night.

My wife is currently in the middle of her three-year sabbatical from a lower school teachers position and is getting herself a bachelors degree in social sciences at the local university to advance her career. And she's doing record time with the determination only an adult can muster (she'll be done in 2.5 years vs. the 4,5 default time).

It can be done and another thing is to move from building to design & supervision - the highest paying jobs in construction here are the site supervisors jobs and that's mainly looking over other peoples work and doing the paperwork. Of course architects get paid astronomical prices for their work, but at least here you need a masters degree in architecture design to get a license.

 

[kev carpenter]

I'm a joiner and I am nearly finnished a gas course, so I can fitt it in with my work or totally change trades. It's not been easy but now I'm nearly finnished and doesn't seem as long. Good luck

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Well, only if I become a junker.

 

[fritter63]

.  But I'm finding that when I get too pressured, instead of saying "NO, I will not have it done by tomorrow", I say, "Sure, I can do that"  and put myself in a position where I either get it done, or feel like a failure if I dont (and put myself at risk)

Your psyche makes you perfect for being a software engineer....