Thinking of a career change...

[jonathco]

I know how you feel El Wood (except I am sort of in the opposite boat). I am almost 30, work as a IT systems admin for a state University here in Michigan, and I love my job; but after working here full time for nearly four years (with a 4 yr degree I might add), I do not even make $17 an hour. I love my work, love the people I work with and for, but it's tough to support my growing family, make the house payment, and pay back the student loans I foolishly borrowed to get through college on that sort of pay. I am not complaining; I am very grateful in this economy to even be working, but wish I could earn more. Sadly, the opportunities for advancement in my field are slim when your degree isn't an IT degree. I'd be careful in this economy before walking away from steady work with good pay for something in the great unknown. Best of luck to you; sounds like you have some big decisions to make.

 

[nc redneck]

Running your own successful profitable business is a 24-7 commitment. You need to be prepared to live it every day and night, also be a therapist for your employees and clean the toilets in your " free " time nights and weekends. It can be a huge thrill when you get it right and watch the bank account grow. Personal health or a sickness can change things quickly. Overhead does not care if you or family get ill. I would try to make the BIG chunk of your money in your 40 age range. As my CPA told me years ago real money is made off the backs of other people. In other words you need employees producing a profit that you take a % of. It is much harder to make it happen than most people think.
Good Luck

 

[300UGUY]

Good Post, I saw the $29/hour and hear of experienced machinist's etc. being offered 1/2 that.

Also good luck going back to school

Anything to do with manufacturing is tough. As long as you have to compete with some guy in China, Mexico or whereever, wages are going to the lowest common denominator. And IT has gone down the same rabbit hole, imho.

 

[El Wood]

Thanks again for the all comments and advice.

I was talking to a friend who owns an HVAC company. He said good employees under 30 are hard to come by these days. He said he offers to pay younger guys to be trained but none of them really want to work. He said it seems like there is not much of a hard work ethic in the younger generation. it seems that the younger generation has been brainwashed into thinking that getting a college degree is the only way to go in life. Then, when you graduate, you're entitled to an easy job making big money. He said that the older guys, "who know how to do everything," are a dying breed and are going to be sorely missed. He said no one in his shop is under 30.

I don't know how much of this is true, but I will say I have many younger friends who need to borrow my hammer and a nail when it's time to put a picture on the wall.

I wonder if there is going to be a big demand for trade jobs in the future?

 

[300UGUY]

What I see is that small companies don't want to train anybody, and don't want to pay much, or provide any bennies. Large companies have used technology and outsourcing to cut their workforces to the bare minimum. I think it depends on location also - if you are in the oil fields or Canada, the economy is comepletely different. One of my neighbor's has a HVAC biz, complains about not keeping good help. But he thinks $14 per hour, no bennies, is a good wage. He's lost several guys to out of state jobs that pay better. And he isn't interested in training anybody.

 

[atgreene]

I've got twenty years in the fire service. I'm five years from being eligible to collect a pension. During that 20 years I have built up two businesses on the side (excavation-snowplowing & a farm). It required nights, weekends, holidays and 100+ hour weeks. It made me really appreciate my full time job as a ff.

Before you leap, try to do some training and apprentiseship on the side. Spend some time working the trade part time to be sure it's what you want. I almost jumped from the fire service to excavation full time. Thankful now that I did not. The crash took out a lot of folks who gave up good jobs for the excavation trade around here. I still run into former firefighters who say they kick themselves everyday for leaving for more money vs staying for the pension and less money.

Maybe once you try the trade that cruiser, $h*t bums, drunks and domestics wont seem so bad?

Good luck whatever you do.

 

[Natureboy]

How many of you have changed careers in your life?

I'm currently in my early 30's and have a job in law enforcement working for a small city. I have 10 years in now and don't enjoy the work anymore. In hate it actually. I feel burned out. I'm tired of working nights, weekends and holidays. My biggest gripe though is the job itself. I've tried to stick with it but keep coming back to the same conclusion that its time to leave. I'm a little nervous though. If I go, I'll give up a pension, medical benefits and about $29/hour. Not to say I can't get those things in the next job. I also can roll my pension into a 401k which is probably what I would do.

If I do go, I would like to look at different trade jobs. I love construction and working with my hands and creating things. I've often thought about being an electrician or getting certified to work in HVAC. I would like a job that has more room for advancement and the ability to make more money. Starting a small business is my ultimate dream.

That do you guys think? Can you offer any advice?

I have not read all the responses you got, just feel the need to give you my opinion. I'm assuming a 20 year retirement option is available to you, as is in my state. You will kick yourself in the rear if you don't stick it out for the next 10 years. The chances of you finding a well paying job with full benny's at this time are slim and none. I was a welder/fabricator for 10 years, making decent but not great money. Got the opportunity to take a govt. job and took it. Towards the end of the time I needed to retire, I was burnt out-due to some of the reasons you mention and other factors. But I stuck it out, made good money and did the best job I could do everyday, knowing that I was catching up to the carrot on the stick. As soon as I could retire-I did! I have a pension, which enables me to now do what I want part time, knowing my economic world will not collapse if I no longer feel like it.
However, if your in a situation where you must work until age 65 before you can retire-doing something you don't like for 30 more years will seem like an eternity. Just don't jump ship until you know you can afford to. JMHO.

 

[EddieWalker]

Funny thing about wages. Those working for them always think they should get more money, and those paying the wages always think they are paying too much. Every now and then I'll hire somebody to help out on a big job, but it's never worth the effort or time for what they do. I've tried teenagers right out of high school on up to retired guys who want to make a few bucks working a few hours a day. I keep it simple, give them the easy to understand jobs, and I still have to check on them or tell them over and over again that it's not good enough. The get it done quick without caring what it looks like or what has to happen next is what I've been unable to overcome.

For me, working alone, doing it all myself, has proven to be the best recipe for making my clients happy and not having any stress. Employees might equal the opportunity to make a lot more money, but they are also where all the stress is. A buddy of mine in the Dallas area has 14 employees doing remodels and home improvement, just like I do. He says he is losing money because they steel tools, time and half the time, anger the clients to the point that they will never come back or get a referral. I don't know what his work looks like when the job is done, but he has half a dozen jobs going at a time and his company makes 7 figures a year. Between the two of us, I take home just as much as he does, but without the stress. His goal is to get rid of all his employees and get back to doing it himself. I don't know if he can do that or not, nor do I know if his personal abilities are such that he can charge what I charge and keep busy.

If you want to work with your hands, and you want to have a simple, stress free life, working for yourself is a pretty good option. Just remember that you are your own boss and everything that happens, good or bad, is your fault. Accept that and you'll do fine.

Eddie