| Author | Message | ||
     Kenb |
I've been a software developer for 20 years now and I am bored out of my mind. I've written everything from mainframe assembler to j2ee web applications and I just don't see me doing it for another 20 years. Moving into manganement is not an option, I want out of the office environment. I would really like to become a licensed electrical contractor but the 5 years of journeyman work is nuts. Anybody know of anyone who's ever made a move like this ? | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
I know what you're talking about. I am staring at a 1689 digibridge that won't work. Perhaps we should be lumberjacks?  | ||
| Bomber |
Ken -- career changing is certainly possible -- it will, however, very likely have a negative impact on your personal revenue stream for some period of time -- those I know that have made a big change have basically told me that they took 5 to 6 years to make up the difference -- these guys were in their late 30s to late 40s, in the main, just as a data point from developer, you've got a number of choices (even if going to the dark side ain't one of them ;-} ) training, technical publications and bull-goose customer support would all love your experitice . . . you'd be swapping one cube for another, or, perhaps, travelling a great deal -- lacking that, marry for money -- I hear that can work (but, sadly, have no direct experience with that) | ||
| Jon |
Kenb, Talk to a potential union electrical contractor employer. Your existing skills may encourage them to agree to "turn you out" early. That means shorten your apprenticeship period. I have seen that in the union glazing world several times. (Message edited by jon on November 14, 2005) | ||
| Whodom |
I want to be a lion tamer!  | ||
| Rek |
(all together now) Oh...he's a lumberjack and he's okay! | ||
| Mikej |
Pick it up part-time if that works for you. It's what I'm currently doing to some extent, except my part-time hours equal full-time hours so maybe I'm considered double-fulltime, or something like that. Get any required formal schooling out of the way, maybe even sneaking it past corporate eyes and get some tuition reimbursement (been denied to me at least 6 times now over the years, but I keep trying). Then find some shop or individual who works weekends or has a lot of side-jobs, start collecting the necessary tools and books, and go for it if that's what you really want to do. I've got a backup plan to the backup plan if one thing doesn't work out. In the mean time I'm doing something for the future "just in case" this place I'm typing from goes under or boots me out the door. As someone once told me many years ago (adjusted for your situation), if it will take you five years to get certified, how old will you be in five years if you don't do it? Five years of Journeyman work will go fast, five years of cubism wishing you were doing Journeyman work will go slow. It's your life, it's your choice, simple in theory anyway. | ||
| Spiderman |
Do what makes ya happy! Since I quit workin at a dealer all my hair has grown back! LOL But seriously, I went back to school. And while my finances are takin a SHARP hit, the outlook on what I will be making when I am out is pretty darn good. Plus with all the extra time I can ride and I don't have a job that hinges on me being there all the time which is BONUS. | ||
| Djkaplan |
I can get you a job as a cashier/stockman in a liquor store if you like. The hours are horrible and the pay sucks, but..., well..., that's about it. | ||
| Kenb |
My wife is a licensed speech pathologist who has been home with the kids full time since the first was born 8 yrs ago. In 2 yrs the youngest will be in kindergarten and I'm planning my career change for when she starts working again this way the financial hit won't be so bad. In the meantime I'm starting to make plans for what I'll need to do. Thanks for your help , I'm going to start looking into what education I could pick up. | ||
| Oldog |
Kenb I left corporate america over a year ago No house, major cut in revenue, I am much better off with less, all of the serious advice sounds good If you are miserable in the cube plan your work work your plan and best of luck, One thought, If you can look into industrial control and instruments some of your current skills port over, and you won't always be in the cube pay is ok to good depending on industry you may have a varying work task, I my case I had numerous tasks The down sides were constant travel, and deadline issues. | ||
| Dbird29 |
The Larch. | ||
| Buellish |
"I can get you a job as a cashier/stockman in a liquor store if you like. The hours are horrible and the pay sucks, but..., well..., that's about it." OK,DJ,so whats the down side? Do you have to move to Canada to be a lumberjack? | ||
| Doughnut |
"I can get you a job as a cashier/stockman in a liquor store if you like. The hours are horrible and the pay sucks, but..., well..., that's about it." Trust me, it isn't nearly as cool as it sounds. | ||
| Thin_air |
Home Automation. Low Voltage specialty contractors such as myself are always looking to hire new talent. I don't know how much you make or expect to make as a trunk slammer (sparky) but if you are remotely interested in technology, home theater or systems integration you should look into it. Much more money to be made. If I can help let me know. | ||
| Chasespeed |
Man, I am gonna be posting something like this, in less than 3 years...maybe ya'll can help me find a job when I am done with the Navy... Chase | ||
| Kdan |
I've found that it's far more rewarding and way less stressful to have less money and be more happy, than to have more money and be less happy. | ||
| Seth |
...albatros for sale!.. | ||
| Mikej |
Thin Air Ed, Nice career, and nice location too, gives me something to think about if current situation goes sideways. I don't like messing with the regular voltage/current stuff, but the low voltage/current stuff isn't so scarey. Thanks for the idea. | ||
| Thin_air |
One of the main benefits of working in this industry is that typically our clients are pretty much recession proof. Example: I was meeting with a client to sign contract on 9/15/01. Couple of days before some bad people flew some airplanes into some buildings. My client was in New York for business when 9/11 happened, lost 5 friends in the WTC. I knew this and was sure when they returned we were going to be put on hold. Not even maybe. The day they got back they wrote me a check for 57K$ without batting an eye. Mike, HIGH VOLTAGE SUCKS! 24-25 volts and that is it. The rest of it call in a sparky. The BEST part of my job is that no one really knows WTF I do. We roll onto the site in the nicest vehicles wearing the nicest clothes listening to the LOUDEST music. Typically my engineers and programmers are making more than the job super. My installers are making what a journeyman carpenter makes. Smart Homes are very end user things so we typically dont deal with the super but with the home owners meaning, we march to a different beat. Imagine that, the only ones there given enough authority to work without supervision (because they dont know what we do) and cant do it themselves. A few of the things we specialize in are, Distributed Audio, Video and Data, putting together LANS, Lighting control, Security, CCTV, access control, safe/panic rooms, HVAC, hi end audio and video, theme theaters and overlay control. Lots of room to do different things under one roof. I would strongly suggest it to anyone looking for a change with a future. Our industry grows by leaps and bounds every year. | ||
| Slowride |
Thin_air, PM sent. Slowride. | ||
| Chasespeed |
I would strongly suggest it to anyone looking for a change with a future. Our industry grows by leaps and bounds every year. I didnt konw that was a "profession". I have been messing with this stuff for a while...cool... chase} | ||
| Tank_bueller |
I would love to get into something like that as well. Like Chase, I've been messin' with home electronics and the like my whole life. There are a few operations around here that do that type of stuff, but they typically won't hire without some type of similar documented experience.(unless you "know someone" ) | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
I've been thinking about buying bees and selling honey. | ||
| Kenb |
thin_air, that sounds very interesting, you know funny thing is my brother mentioned this to me years ago and I didn't really think about it. Although I've done contract programming for years now the thing that is really starting to bore me is the corporate environment that most of my contracts are in, plus the fact that I'm really getting tired of sitting all day. Any info you can give me would be fantastic, I owe you a beer and a thanks. | ||
| Prez |
learn to fly helicopters.. silver state helicopters...check it out.. i'm a company man i guess..but hell..i switched from swingin a hammer about 2 yrs ago and havent looked back since..it's great to have a job that u love,and the paycheck just makes it even beter.. | ||
| Midknyte |
Hmmm, perhaps you could just make your IT job a bit more tolerable http://www.syncmag.com/article2/0,1895,1887761,00.asp | ||
| Eboos |
I haven't found a job that I truly liked since I left the Marines. I've done auto restoration management, auto sales, and now retail management. If it weren't for my financial commitments and my family, I would be looking into some type of trade work too. I love working with tools and the most satisfying work I have done was as a gunsmith in the Marine Corps. If you have the meens, go ahead and pursue your new career without hesitation. | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
Eboos - if I had gunsmithing skills, I would start a small gun shop. A good gunsmith is always in demand. Hook up with someone who has an FFL (sounds like you have business management experience) or get one yourself and you can also sell and buy guns. | ||
| Vegasbueller |
Hey Prez... is Dave Alvarado and his girlfriend Scott still at Silver State? That's a cool place! Nick | ||
| Eboos |
Johnnylunchbox, you are tempting me. I think that it is fear more then anything else that is holding me back. I should look into doing some smithing for one of the local shops. I still have all of my hand tools. Anyone need a 45 done  | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
Eboos - everything is a gamble, some are bigger than others. There is a fine line between reckless and adventurous. Enough with the cliches. Good luck at whatever you choose. | ||
| Prez |
hey vegas..NO.. tff.. i thought i was the only one that thought that.. it's a small world apparently .. did u used to work there or somethin? and i'm no longer in vegas bro..i'm in texas now..laters..prez oh..ps.. do u know a guy named joel that works for silverstate? | ||
| Vegasbueller |
Prez: email me at: jmoody@allegiantair.com But to answer your question... aviation was my career change as well about 10 years ago. When I first moved to Vegas I was going to get away from Aviation and get into Network Engineering. Yeah... right! I love aircraft tooo much! I went to work for National Airlines in Vegas. That is where I met the two Siamese twins! What a pair they were! About Silver State.... I have about 6 years in Helo maintenance and two years flight time in a law enforcement environment. I flew and worked on Hueys and OH-58's. Dave knew this, but after we got laid off at National, he got hired at Silver State. He cut EVERYONES throat that tried to get a job there. Now, I transferred to Florida with a new airline as a lead tech and avionics tech support tech. I love what I do! I have plans for going back to school next year to work on a business degree along with some further electronics courses. Are you working Helos in Texas? |
