I'm officially over construction. make the beast with two backsing done. It's seriously wrecking my body and I'm burnt the make the beast with two backs out. The current economy certainly isn't helping much either. [bang] It was tolerable when I was making decent money, but not any more. It's time for something different.
I am definitely going back to college, though I'm not quite sure what I want to major in. I'm gonna start w/ some remedial math and english classes this spring to kick-start my brain. Hopefully, by the fall semester I'll have a better idea what I want to do. I'm also gonna take welding and maybe machine shop classes. Always useful skills to have.
A little about me... Many moons ago I wanted to be an engineer, but chickened out. The thought of a regular 9-5 desk job is akin to a death sentence for me. I like to design stuff, but I like to build stuff as well. I simply have to get my hands dirty. I have a knack for solving problems and getting things done. (some of my friends call me The Wolf) I'm very detail oriented. Anal, to be exact. And I love stress. The more the better. I don't need to be filthy rich. Happiness is more important than $$ in my book. As long as I can keep a bike or 2 in the garage and buy a house someday, I'm cool.
Ideally, I'd like to work around things that go vroom... cars/bikes/planes/whatever. Preferably in a competitive (ie. racing) or R&D style environment. Working at a resto/custom shop would be uber-sweet as well. There's certainly nothing wrong with turning a wrench at the local dealer, but I'd really like to go a little deeper than that.
I'm not really sure where to start looking or what's out there. I'd be very appreciative of any ideas or suggestions ya'll may have. I'm all ears. Thanks for reading!
[popcorn]
**EDIT: Fixification. I'm a retard**
Lessee, like to design stuff, build stuff, get hands on, but be abused and make no money - you want to be a Mechanical Engineer or Design Engineer! Our ME's are always hands on (well, the good ones anyway) and we have plenty of stress. You'll need the schooling for it, though. Many companies do a co-op program for students, so you can get credit and work experience at the same time. It will be tough to get a job in the industry of your choice, so you may have to "settle" for something (especially in this economy) and then work your towards your dream job.
Then you can have the Quality Engineers like me tell you did it all wrong and piss you off. ;D
But I'm no guidance counsellor, mmmk?
I would suggest looking into industrial design. There is not much that we touch in a day that has been designed/reviewed by an industrial designer.
My step-son, got his Bachelor's in industrial design and is now do his Master's in manufacturing engineering. He speciallizes in lighting fixtures. He spends part of his time designing new fixtures/parts and then heads down to the manufacturing floor where he then makes the new fixture/part. It is really pretty interesting.
One could apply this process to pretty much anything. Motos, cars, planes, etc.
+1 for internships/Co-ops.
Things I would like to do if I werent a CAD monkey...
1. Merchant Marine
2. Harbor Pilot
3. Tug Boat Captain
4. Air Traffic Controller (im real good under stress)
5. Chartered Accountancy
6. Lion Tamer (I have the hat!)
7. Restore old Porsche's
8. Professional Photographer
9. Pornographer
10. Own a bike shop
11. Marijuana farmer
Engineering is cool. [thumbsup]
You won't get rich, but I get a big kick out of seeing things on store shelves that I had a big part in. My latest creation was the robotic processing equipment for a product called FrogTape (google it, the stuff works great). If you own an Insinkerator brand garbage disposal unit, I designed and built the machine that processes a large component in each and every one of them. And the list goes on. :)
I got my BS in Manufacturing Engineering back in '93, but have been working as a Mechanical Engineer for a decade straight. Well, until this week when I became unemployed due to our fabulous economy and lack of contracts (see my Unenjoyment thread). But I'll be back on the horse as soon as someone hires me.
Otherwise, it's probably pornographer or pot farmer.
Quote from: FatguyRacer on October 17, 2008, 04:46:17 AM
Things I would like to do if I werent a CAD monkey...
11. Marijuana farmer
do you need a partner? 8)
Depends. You ever kill a man? I think this line of work kinda depends on that skill. A degree in Biochemistry probably doesnt hurt. (I dont have one either)
how about becming a trophy husband?
Construction Managers make big bucks and you get to stay on the construction site w/o doing all the manual labor. Very stressful too trying to keep everything on track. Your site experience will help you out a lot in that field.
Otherwise if you wanted to try the engineering again there are a lot of places that have on-site engineers. You don't need to be able to do all the big stuff since those ones usually get sent back to the office for someone to do on a computer but you'll have to think fast to fix small things that may go wrong.
machine shop?
learn teh CNC
you'd get to make stuff...I hear it pays decent
Quote from: KnightofNi on October 17, 2008, 07:21:03 AM
how about becming a trophy husband?
Negative. I'm make the beast with two backs ugly.
Quote from: Timmy Tucker on October 17, 2008, 09:07:01 AM
Negative. I'm make the beast with two backs ugly.
then how about an escort to make ugly chicks look better by comparison?
own and run a bar.
i just had an apiphany...if you're that ugly you are born to be in a metal band.
just get good and then get famous.
it's simple!
Quote from: KnightofNi on October 17, 2008, 09:12:03 AM
i just had an apiphany...if you're that ugly you are born to be in a metal band.
just get good and then get famous.
it's simple!
Been playing metal since the day I picked up guitar. Currently a guitarist in a hardcore band. Izzat close enough? Hard to get rich and famous playing hardcore, though.
Quote from: FatguyRacer on October 17, 2008, 04:46:17 AM
4. Air Traffic Controller (im real good under stress)
I would do this in a heartbeat, but I'm too old. Fed law mandates the max hew-hire age at 27-ish. I'm 32. FWIW, I'm already a pilot. Just don't have the bones to finish up my commercial ratings. (approx $40K)
Quote from: FatguyRacer on October 17, 2008, 04:46:17 AM
10. Own a bike shop
I'm sure you meant bicycle, but I'd love to have a moto shop of some sort one day. Would never succeed in the little town I live in, though.
Quote from: Timmy Tucker on October 17, 2008, 12:13:08 AM
A little about me... Many moons ago I wanted to be an engineer, but chickened out. The thought of a regular 9-5 desk job is akin to a death sentence for me. I like to design stuff, but I like to build stuff as well. I simply have to get my hands dirty. I have a knack for solving problems and getting things done. (some of my friends call me The Wolf) I'm very detail oriented. Anal, to be exact. And I love stress. The more the better. I don't need to be filthy rich. Happiness is more important than $$ in my book. As long as I can keep a bike or 2 in the garage and buy a house someday, I'm cool.
I would suggest Construction Management (like someone else said). If 9-5 office kills you forget about engineering ...at least civil (I'm a geotech. that specializes in tunnels). I'd forget about it totally as 32 is kind of old to go thru the schooling and BS, then start at the bottom. A degree in CM isn't too difficult, and you have a HUGE headstart having worked in construction for a long time.
For the CM route it would seem you have a couple options.
1. Forget school, and try to get a job with a CM firm as an inspector. Not as good of money as actually being the CM, but less stress and more field time telling people how to do things right. Seems every inspector on our project used to be in construction and got sick of the hard work.
2. Go to school for a CM degree, then get a job as an assistant resident engineer. With your experience and analness (new word ;D) you'd be a resident engineer pretty quickly. Downside is you have to go to school, and RE's do a lot of office work related to enforcing the contract. May or may not be your thing. Lots of field time too though. Upside is they can get paid quite a bit. The good REs for my company make quite a bit.
Quote from: Timmy Tucker on October 17, 2008, 09:26:05 AM
Been playing metal since the day I picked up guitar. Currently a guitarist in a hardcore band. Izzat close enough? Hard to get rich and famous playing hardcore, though.
then you're halfway there! you need a better hook though. bite the head off of a live child or something.
from what i can tell, the ugly thing only works for death metal so you might need to change bands.
side not: i have never really been able to put a finger on the diff between metal and hardcore, but i can tell which one is which, and it seems a lot of the hardcore kids dont' like the metal kids. it's really odd.
Television comedian. ;)
Quote from: Statler on October 17, 2008, 09:09:34 AM
own and run a bar.
That's always been on of my dreams too. A place that has a killer beer list and live blues and jazz 5+ nights a week. Sorta a cross between Max's, Bertha's and The Full Moon Saloon.
Well then, Im out for ATC. I'll be 46 next year.
Yup, I meant a bicycle shop. There's no money in it at all, so It would have to be a thing to do if I were financially secure enough to blow off any real career aspirations.
My only regret in life was to realize I wanted to be a seaman well after the age to get into it.
Quote from: Triple J on October 17, 2008, 09:51:01 AM
I would suggest Construction Management (like someone else said). If 9-5 office kills you forget about engineering ...at least civil (I'm a geotech. that specializes in tunnels). I'd forget about it totally as 32 is kind of old to go thru the schooling and BS, then start at the bottom. A degree in CM isn't too difficult, and you have a HUGE headstart having worked in construction for a long time.
For the CM route it would seem you have a couple options.
1. Forget school, and try to get a job with a CM firm as an inspector. Not as good of money as actually being the CM, but less stress and more field time telling people how to do things right. Seems every inspector on our project used to be in construction and got sick of the hard work.
2. Go to school for a CM degree, then get a job as an assistant resident engineer. With your experience and analness (new word ;D) you'd be a resident engineer pretty quickly. Downside is you have to go to school, and RE's do a lot of office work related to enforcing the contract. May or may not be your thing. Lots of field time too though. Upside is they can get paid quite a bit. The good REs for my company make quite a bit.
This is my field, so if you have any questions let me know.
The money is good, the work is OK. I'm a Project Engineer, and most of the work is in the office (all though on a jobsite), and most of it is paperwork. You do have the luxury of getting out on site, but unless your a super, most of your work is going to be from behind a desk. I work many more hours than most my friends, and it's salary, so take that in to consideration.
I'd recommend getting the degree if you want to get ahead quick. It's not tough, and with your background you'll breeze through most of it. I do not know a single manager in my company that doesn't have a degree. If you want to go supt, that's a different story. Regardless, people with a true construction background command much more respect in the management world than people with no field experience.
Oh, and construction is a wee bit slow right now.
Quote from: FatguyRacer on October 17, 2008, 06:35:33 AM
Depends. You ever kill a man? I think this line of work kinda depends on that skill. A degree in Biochemistry probably doesnt hurt. (I dont have one either)
you're not offering me any security, I think I'll finish school
Quote from: cbartlett419 on October 17, 2008, 03:39:15 PM
you're not offering me any security, I think I'll finish school
That would be best for both of us.
Quote from: KnightofNi on October 17, 2008, 09:12:03 AM
i just had an apiphany...if you're that ugly you are born to be in a metal band.
just get good and then get famous.
it's simple!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAGOZq_eE2Y (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAGOZq_eE2Y)
Quote from: darylbowden on October 17, 2008, 04:14:30 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAGOZq_eE2Y (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAGOZq_eE2Y)
that's exactly what i was referring to ;D
[laugh]
Haven't seen that in quite a while. New sig coming right up.
I appreciate everyone's contributions. I've been mulling things over the few weeks, and have talked to my friends and family quite a bit about my situation. While I desperately want a change of scenery, I'm going to go w/ what I know for now. Here's my thoughts...
I've always wanted to be a pilot. Nothing else even comes close in my book. The only thing that has held me back from doing it is the $$. So I had kinda given up on it over the last few years. Last night, Mom and I worked out a plan to hopefully get me the needed $$. Mom agreed to do sales and push the business. Sales has always been my biggest weakness, but mom could sell Dracula a box full of sunshine. So that will be a big plus.
And, Dad finally left the business about a month ago, so all the (currently pathetic) income goes to me. Any money that comes in over my minimum needed for bills and groceries goes toward flying. Also, my truck will be paid for in a year and that's another $450 a month that can go into training. I also found a local flying club to join that'll save me about 20%-30% on lessons, which will be a huge help. It'll take me a 2-4 years to get thru everything but I won't have to go into debt for it, which is very important to me.
I gotta have a degree to get a decent flying job, that's just how it works. So as far as college goes, I still plan on starting this spring. I'm gonna do 2 years at the local community college and then 2 years of ITT Tech. Gonna go for the bachelors in Construction Management, because it'll be a make the beast with two backsing cakewalk (for the most part) and it is something that I can fall back on if I ever get furloughed or lose my medical. Also I can do all the courses in night, part-time or distance learning classes so that I can still work.
The timing is great too. Aviation is in a huge downturn right now and jobs are scarce. But, it's a very cyclical industry. Hopefully, it will most likely be in the beginning of an upswing by the time I finish college and flight school and work a few entry level jobs. Not any guarantee of course, but if history is a good indicator, that should be just about right.
And I have a guaranteed backup plan, in case business doesn't pick up any. It's just not the easy way out.
Quote from: Timmy Tucker on October 18, 2008, 10:21:54 AM
.....mom could sell Dracula a box full of sunshine.
Great line. [laugh]
Good luck! [thumbsup]
Glad your not going to be an airline mechanic. Don't even think of it, unless you have an independent source of income and just like planes.
Don't ask how I know.
Quote from: MendoDave on October 18, 2008, 02:22:17 PM
Glad your not going to be an airline mechanic. Don't even think of it, unless you have an independent source of income and just like planes.
Don't ask how I know.
I've considered it many times. My drummer is an A&P mech, repairs APU's and PT-6's for a living. He promptly talked me out of it. [laugh]