Hey everyone! I’m kind of lost right now in my life. I have a few good things going for me–I’m only 22 and I’m about to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in English in like 2-3 weeks. I worked for around four years in media/journalism. Unfortunately, the future prospects of the industry are grim. The company is laying people off every few weeks. I suspect I’ll be a part of the next batch. So I figure now is the best time to learn a trade and sort of re-invent myself and my goals.
I’m not much of a people person. That was one of the reasons I hated working in media so much. The most important things that I’m looking for through trade school is a job where:
1. I have the opportunity to travel all over the country/world. I’d really love to end up in Alaska when all is said and done.
2. I’d like a trade where I can just be left alone (for the most part. Talking to co-workers isn’t an issue).
3. I’d like a trade where I can create something that I’m proud of at the end.
4. Stability is more important to me than money. I can deal with average wages so long as the benefits and job outlook is bright. One of the things I hated about journalism was how uncertain everything was. I never felt like I was doing something that people really “needed” in the same way tradesmen are needed.
The trades I’m considering are:
1. Welding. The only concern I have here is I’ve read the job can be really hard on your body and lungs. I’m a guitar player and would like to pursue that in my spare time, so it would absolutely break my heart if I screwed up my hands somehow to the point that I can’t play. I’ve heard that stretches, eating right, working out, and wearing your PPE can alleviate a lot of these concerns. I hear traveling opportunities are pretty big in this field. I’d definitely be interested in underwater welding as well.
2. Carpentry. Main concern here is job prospects. Not sure what carpenters make or how much they’re needed.
3. Practical nurse. I know, I said I’d like to be left alone. But the stability and flexibility of the job is appealing.
It’s possible I’m overlooking a trade that makes more sense for me. Any advice would be appreciated.
15 comments
I’m an electromechanical engineer and I can whole-heartedly endorse becoming an electronics technician. You can build tons of cool shit you’ll be proud of, the pay is good, job security is great (especially if you get a clearance and work for a defense company), not hard on your body at all, and just plain more fun than most other options.
Welding makes good money but health issues are the worry with welding. My friend did welding and he liked it
Welders can make six figures and are in great demand. Talk to your local pipefitters union hall and go from there.
Are there any you have a genuine interest in? You will be happier if you like the job. If you don’t like being around people, nurse will really be a problem.
Maybe electrician or IT? They tend to work alone.
> Welding. The only concern I have here is I’ve read the job can be really hard on your body and lungs. I’m a guitar player and would like to pursue that in my spare time, so it would absolutely break my heart if I screwed up my hands somehow to the point that I can’t play. I’ve heard that stretches, eating right, working out, and wearing your PPE can alleviate a lot of these concerns. I hear traveling opportunities are pretty big in this field. I’d definitely be interested in underwater welding as well.
Specializations like millwrights and erectors do better and move with work if that’s what you are into
When you start to get old or get sick of being so hands on you can transition to an office job with a vendor which will be easier because of that near worthless piece of paper you are about to get .
Your journalist ambitions can translate to something because there are English language outfits in places like Indonesia or China that want native English speakers on staff. It is a dark prospect field because it’s filled with activists fighting for the same jobs in most places.
If you want a big jump in your trade career, get trained by a few years in a first world technically proficient organization and do everything you can to clone their model. Then you seek a managerial position in an overseas developing market company you aren’t qualified for in your country of origin. They need the help in these places and you’ll get experience you are gatekeeped from in the developed world. You end up being a known industry leader and pioneer. You can write your own ticket after something like that or even keep doing it.
Welding – yes welding fume is an issue (welder’s lung and metal fume fever). Also skin cancer, welders flash (eye condition) sun burn and physical burns.
That being said, if you work for a good firm with good equipment it should be manageable. There are many types of welder from the person who fixes holes in vehicles to those that join exotic alloys.
Carpenter – occ diseases – glue allergy, hard wood allergy plus any outdoor working and cuts. It splits into cabinet making, joinery and construction. Again it depends on who you work for whether you are making furniture or framing buildings and roofs.
Nursing – another period of study, useful for general health roles once you qualified, but usually poorly paid at start of career and a lot of drudge work.
Some else – CAD/CAM and 3D printing?
Land Surveyor if you have an aptitude for math, meticulous attention to detail, like working outside and walking a lot, like researching and able to learn to read and understand legalese. I spent 30 years in this dream job and have been to parts of my state 99% of the people that live here have never seen. I’ve seen very rare desert blooms where wild flowers with colors so vivid it hurt your eyes, spread across the desert floor as far as you can see. Worked in mountain ranges so far away from civilization that it was so quiet you could hear your own heart beat. Found a grave of Spanish monk with a headstone carved from 1789. Seen bears, cougars, flocks of wild turkeys, deer, elk and hoards of tarantulas playing chicken with cars as the scuttled across country roads. It was a wondrous adventure.edited to add, my name is on several documents and maps that are recorded across my state making me a small part of history. So I carry that legacy, that I am proud of too
I have a friend who got into deep sea welding, he loves it, I don’t remember his exact rotation but its something like 2 weeks on 4 weeks off, when he’s working he’s on a rig away from everyone and when he’s home he got into flipping houses because he was making something like $180k a year and had something like 8 months a year off to do whatever he wanted to do. It required a lot of training but he absolutely loves the job, he’s in incredible shape, and he owns a dozen or so houses at this point that are providing him additional income.
Another option is getting into development – even in times of chaos there’s money for developers… shoot, I’m pretty sure Twitter will need some soon 😉
Id recommend aircraft mechanic. You are trained in multiple fields. Electrical, mechanical, sheet metal, soldering, welding, air conditioning, some woodworking. You will have a lot of career options.
Any trade in a construction environment has its ups and downs. But I would say get into the ibew and become an electrician. I’m a plumber and we tear up our body’s alot more than electricians do. The work is still physically and mentally challenging without being to much. And they much a fuck load. I could be wrong about this but I’ve heard most areas it’s pretty easy to get into the electrician union also.
I was a structural welder for 2 years and it was pretty rough during the summer, winter and in confined spaces but I was making $25 an hour.
Commercial real estate appraisal industry is dying for new blood. It’s a job that is mostly solo, you’ll have to speak with clients some, and make calls to other CRE people like brokers and property managers. But it’s pretty minimal, IMO. You can easily make $100k, and I know some that make north of $400k if you want to work your ass off. Licensing is a couple year process, but you can work as a paid trainee during this time. If you’re analytical and good with numbers, it’s a solid field.
If you are going to spend the time going through an apprentice program why not just get your RN or get one of the many med certificates.
As far as the trades understand that they are a young persons game, it’s very hard on the body and the working conditions can be really rough. The nice thing is that they pay decent. If I was to do it all over again (I’ve worked in many trades, I am a Teamster but my day job is in IT) I’d either look into being stationary engineer or elevator construction.
Last thing, with a degree in English you are fit to work in almost any office setting, have you considered looking into tech-writing, god knows we need better writers (my wife has a degree in english, works in IT and has done very well due to he excellent writing skills. Don’t underestimate the value of being a good communicator.
Join the military. A degree is a degree, being an officer is sick and gives you time to figure things out while you’re still young. Plus healthcare lol
Have you tried publishing companies?