Skilled trade/Associates degree etc suggestions

TerryB · Post by **TerryB** » Fri Jul 25, 2014 9:38 pm

Interesting thread.

For a kid who's grown up without any trade experience, does he just pick up a phone, call a union, and ask for work/education? How does that work? I keep hearing about all these jobs for welders but I can count on .... one finger...the number of people I know who grew up around garages and learned how to weld. Last time I checked, high schools aren't teaching it.

ccrow · Post by **ccrow** » Fri Jul 25, 2014 11:20 pm

If you get hired by a company with union labor, you're in (like it or not). For example if you go to work for Verizon, depending on the location, you have to join the IBEW or the CWA.

For trade unions, to get into the local hall, which is basically a labor pool for contractors that have a contract with the union to use union labor, you have to know someone.

Unions may have at one time been a means for workers to get a fair shake, and sometimes are now, but for the most part they are just another political entity. On one side, they trade the political support of their members for laws and policies that ensure they'll get work at inflated rates. On the other side, they trade their ability to hand out these high paying jobs for favors of all kinds from members and prospects. And they control a lot of money with the pensions and fringies, which also lends itself to influence.

Mickey O'neil · Post by **Mickey O'neil** » Fri Jul 25, 2014 11:38 pm

I haven't read the whole thread but I agree with HVAC and will add electrician, welding (this does have heath drawbacks though), mechanic (Honda, Acura, Lexus and for big money Mercedes/BMW). Essentially, any trade like these that people are always going to need which equals job security. I've even thought about getting certified as an electrician. HVAC interests me as well.

Also, machinists do pretty well too. Along with auto mechanics I know heavy equipment mechanics and airline/hydraulic mechanics make good money.

I thought about going into welding like my dad did but to make really good money you have to travel.

Like Bob said, if I had to do it again I would go the trade route. I like my job but I hate sitting all day.

Turdacious · Post by **Turdacious** » Sat Jul 26, 2014 12:03 am

T>1200 wrote:Interesting thread.

For a kid who's grown up without any trade experience, does he just pick up a phone, call a union, and ask for work/education? How does that work? I keep hearing about all these jobs for welders but I can count on .... one finger...the number of people I know who grew up around garages and learned how to weld. Last time I checked, high schools aren't teaching it.

Some cc's teach trades and have decent programs. There are schools that specialize in teaching certain trades. I believe a couple of good ones are in the TX/OK/NE area. But they are also a barrier to entry-- if a kid isn't willing to buckle down and get good grades and do the work to get positive recommendations from the instructors; they aren't gonna get the better opportunities when they get out.

Electrical work really depends on what kind of electrical work there is in the area. In general, when construction is booming, there is a lot of work for electricians; when construction's down it gets harder.

Shafnasty-- from your description, sounds like he needs to work in a structured environment with a boss that will stay up his ass. A trade that gives opportunities to work in union shops where someone will start him with simple apprentice tasks and gradually give him more responsibility may be a great way to go.

Protobuilder · Post by **Protobuilder** » Sat Jul 26, 2014 12:26 am

Lots of people on YouTube who can't even spell are making huge cash by converting virtual gold to cash, writing e-books and doing something that requires no selling.

I know a guy who burned out of the corporate world and went to a tech school to become a welder. I'm fairly sure that he had enough set aside to live on but he claims he's actually making good money and never works past 5pm.

Internet porn is still ~$10 billion per year globally.

I have a friend who used to have a pair of roommates who sold their underwear to be distributed in vending machines.

DrDonkeyLove · Post by **DrDonkeyLove** » Sat Jul 26, 2014 12:27 am

Batboy2/75 wrote:You want a trade that has a barrier to entry. Anything that takes some education/training and or union that keeps the illegals and dumbasses out.

Electrical
Iron Workers
HVAC
Utilities
Cell Tower or cell Infrastructure
Fire Systems
Gas and Energy- Pipe companies

BTW- I have a cousin that makes crazy amounts of in the oil business out in the gulf. He's your typical HS guy that did 3 years in the Navy; no special education. He lives 30 minutes south of Houston in Texas City. I could ask him what is available in that industry.

There's a zillion things that have barriers to entry and some of them should resonate with him from hairdresser to CAD technician, to optician, to the things listed here. It all depends on what resonates with him.

Just to add something specific, don't forget the Operating Engineers union which can include anything from surveying building sites (including locating equipment), to operating tower cranes, to sitting his ass on an upside down bucket operating a man lift. It can be pretty high end stuff and it's clean & safe construction work.

Project management is something to consider it he wants to be in construction but being a tradesman doesn't resonate with him. His job will be to coordinate and expedite the myriad of things needed to manage either a whole job site or the work of a specific trade. He can work for a general contractor or a subcontractor. It can be a pretty good gig if you're organized and can handle the pressure. I'm sure there are bachelors degrees for this and almost certain that there are associates degrees.

Freki · Post by **Freki** » Sat Jul 26, 2014 1:33 am

Turdacious wrote:
T>1200 wrote:Interesting thread.

For a kid who's grown up without any trade experience, does he just pick up a phone, call a union, and ask for work/education? How does that work? I keep hearing about all these jobs for welders but I can count on .... one finger...the number of people I know who grew up around garages and learned how to weld. Last time I checked, high schools aren't teaching it.
Some cc's teach trades and have decent programs. There are schools that specialize in teaching certain trades. I believe a couple of good ones are in the TX/OK/NE area. But they are also a barrier to entry-- if a kid isn't willing to buckle down and get good grades and do the work to get positive recommendations from the instructors; they aren't gonna get the better opportunities when they get out.

Electrical work really depends on what kind of electrical work there is in the area. In general, when construction is booming, there is a lot of work for electricians; when construction's down it gets harder.

Shafnasty-- from your description, sounds like he needs to work in a structured environment with a boss that will stay up his ass. A trade that gives opportunities to work in union shops where someone will start him with simple apprentice tasks and gradually give him more responsibility may be a great way to go.

Pinky · Post by **Pinky** » Sat Jul 26, 2014 1:35 pm

I hear nurses are often in demand.

dead man walking · Post by **dead man walking** » Sat Jul 26, 2014 2:56 pm

the wind industry is big in texas, esp western part of the state (where there are lots of feral goats to date).

wind tech training program here:

http://www.tstc.edu/programs/harlingen/windenergy

don't know anything about it's quality or costs.

DrDonkeyLove · Post by **DrDonkeyLove** » Sat Jul 26, 2014 6:03 pm

Pinky wrote:I hear nurses are often in demand.

I have a nurse friend who makes lots of $$$. Also a lot of other technical jobs in a hospital. Decent bucks and the place is full of young women who look good in scrubs and are also making a decent buck.

tough old man · Post by **tough old man** » Sun Jul 27, 2014 1:27 am

He could get his level 1 cert and open a box...

bigpeach · Post by **bigpeach** » Sun Jul 27, 2014 3:14 am

Shafpocalypse Now wrote:Physically, he works hard...mentally, he's not dumb but he's lazy, which was the issue with jr college.

Any of you have any suggestions? He's 20 and doesn't have much to show for it. He's about 300# so I'm not sure the military is an option either.

You're not my dad.

Kirk · Post by **Kirk** » Sun Jul 27, 2014 1:52 pm

DrDonkeyLove wrote:
Pinky wrote:I hear nurses are often in demand.
I have a nurse friend who makes lots of $$$. Also a lot of other technical jobs in a hospital. Decent bucks and the place is full of young women who look good in scrubs and are also making a decent buck.

There isn't a quick route to a nursing job any more though. Lower end nurses (e.g., LPN) are grandfathered in to current systems but it seems you pretty much need to be an RN to start from scratch now.

I wish I had gone down the trade route but no one even suggested it when I was young. Now I'm not willing or able to give up my salary to switch. When I retire though I think I might see about making furniture...

Andy83 · Post by **Andy83** » Sun Jul 27, 2014 7:06 pm

Pushing your kid to a career is stupid. Don't give him money anymore.

johno · Post by **johno** » Sun Jul 27, 2014 7:20 pm

He could work as a ghostwriter for PowerBears who suffer from writer's block.

Grandpa's Spells · Post by **Grandpa's Spells** » Sun Jul 27, 2014 8:00 pm

johno wrote:He could work as a ghostwriter for PowerBears who suffer from writer's block.

Turdacious · Post by **Turdacious** » Sun Jul 27, 2014 9:38 pm

johno wrote:He could work as a ghostwriter for PowerBears who suffer from writer's block.

ccrow · Post by **ccrow** » Mon Jul 28, 2014 11:46 am

Andy80 wrote:Pushing your kid to a career is stupid. Don't give him money anymore.

You can't make him drink, but often leading him to water will help. No kid wants someone choosing a career for them, but it would have been helpful if someone had at least explained the money side of things to me - what benefits are really worth, what a student loan really costs you, how much various careers really make.

I also wish that rather than all the feel good career counseling, someone was honest enough to just explain that everyone kind of hates work, you're supposed to kind of hate it, that's why they have to pay people to do it, it isn't the end of the world.

dead man walking · Post by **dead man walking** » Wed Jul 30, 2014 1:07 am

law school. the recent settlement of the ncaa concussion lawsuit is paying out this way:

Arrington and three other former athletes would be paid $5,000 for being deposed as part of the lawsuit, while eight others would receive $2,500 for being named plaintiffs. The players’ lawyers would receive $15 million and up to $750,000 for expenses.

Shafpocalypse Now · Post by **Shafpocalypse Now** » Wed Jul 30, 2014 1:13 am

God that's disgusting

Kirk · Post by **Kirk** » Wed Jul 30, 2014 12:03 pm

ccrow wrote:I also wish that rather than all the feel good career counseling, someone was honest enough to just explain that everyone kind of hates work, you're supposed to kind of hate it, that's why they have to pay people to do it, it isn't the end of the world.

I need to find someone (can't be me, that much is certain) to tell my wife this. She has been job hopping lately and getting more and more mental all the time. The only positive is that my kids (17 and 20 years old) are being provided with a really obvious example of how not to do things...

IGX

Skilled trade/Associates degree etc suggestions

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