Ever worked construction?

[GAAN]

The vast majority of construction in California is non-union. The only real union jobs are on government or huge commercial jobs. 99% of residential construction is non-union.

So, another vote for no union.

And I've been in the industry as a salesman since the mid 90's. I still sell but with the lack of work my sales are down 80-85%.

right

cuz a cost plus fed job or commercial gig would suck...

whatever you do OP don't go anywhere that might actually help you get into something

better to be broke and elitist than a single skill dirt worker with a paycheck

I'm going to go ban myself now

[hbliam]

The framers that I use, work 6-7 days a week, 8 plus hours a day in 100 degree heat and 20 degree cold and they all speak Spanish.  They are happy to have the work.  They are some precise and fast mofo's.  Unless you are superman, you can't keep up with them.

Pretty much describes the majority of workers from all trades.

I started out (23 years old and in surfed everyday good shape) as the guy that drove around to jobs dropping off materials and doing clean-ups on concrete tile roof jobs. One day the boss told me to go help the crew load a roof. So I spent the day loading tile onto a conveyor. 4 tiles x 7 lbs each x 88 tiles per square x 3 squares per pallet x 10 pallets.

The next day he told me to go help load another roof. I told him he could fire me or give me something else to do. I kept my job because I spoke English, had a drivers license, and was reliable. I never played "laborer" again. Hell no.

[hbliam]

right

cuz a cost plus fed job or commercial gig would suck...

whatever you do OP don't go anywhere that might actually help you get into something

better to be broke and elitist than a single skill dirt worker with a paycheck

I'm going to go ban myself now

Relax. You just dont understand our construction industry. He can't just show up at the good old union hall and get a job at a sweet government project. I know 20-40 year (!!!) vets of the industry saying this is the worst low ever.

This isn't Gran Torino. It's the real world. The op already got good advice...get a graduate degree. That's what I'm in the process of doing and I HAVE a union job AND a side gig selling construction projects and a wife that works.

[GAAN]

Relax. You just dont understand our construction industry. He can't just show up at the good old union hall and get a job at a sweet government project. I know 20-40 year (!!!) vets of the industry saying this is the worst low ever.

This isn't Gran Torino. It's the real world. The op already got good advice...get a graduate degree. That's what I'm in the process of doing and I HAVE a union job AND a side gig selling construction projects and a wife that works.

this is what I don't understand

why would you (figurative you) want to limit yourself in any capacity to find gainful employment?

[hbliam]

this is what I don't understand

why would you (figurative you) want to limit yourself in any capacity to find gainful employment?

I have employment.

Are you asking why I am pursuing more education? Or trying to make a joke about educated people? Which is fine. I make fun of them all the time.

[GAAN]

I have employment.

Are you asking why I am pursuing more education? Or trying to make a joke about educated people? Which is fine. I make fun of them all the time.

no, not you

I mean why would anyone want to limit themselves when looking for work?

[hbliam]

no, not you

I mean why would anyone want to limit themselves when looking for work.

What we mean is....of course he could try your route but in our professional experience,  in this region, your route is not an option.

[hbliam]

Btw op: what kind of work are u looking for (engineer wise)? Building bridges and stuff?

[erkishhorde]

I'm structural so I can't do most of general civil stuff.  Started an master's, finished classes, still have the project (hence the MS project). Most openings I'm seeing are looking for 2-5 yrs exp. 

[Langanobob]

To stay on topic for a moment, I've worked various construction jobs but it was during a building boom and it was a means to an end, a way to ski all winter or get through another year  of school, not with the goal of a career.  I actually liked the work and the long term benefit is that I can get by as a carpenter, plumber, sheet rocker and and electrician and never have to pay anyone else to repair or remodel my house.

Don't want to sound overly critical on a public forum but you are saying you have an engineering degree from Cal Poly SLO and have not been able to find a job in two years??  Something is very wrong with this picture and bad economy or not I'm having a hard time believing it's all the fault of the outside world.

It's a very safe bet that if you didn't have parents willing to put you up, you would have had a job long ago.   Finish your Master's project, even if for nothing more than your own self-respect.  This is just something you have to do.  It will not get easier the longer you procrastinate.  It's probably also a red flag to prospective employers that you haven't finished it.

You're only going to be 20-something once, you're making life too serious for yourself  and you need to get out of this rut.   Join the Peace Corps, hell, join the Marines.   I'm very serious.

[erkishhorde]

Don't want to sound overly critical on a public forum but you are saying you have an engineering degree from Cal Poly SLO and have not been able to find a job in two years??  Something is very wrong with this picture and bad economy or not I'm having a hard time believing it's all the fault of the outside world.

I didn't say I haven't been able to find a job for 2 years, I said I haven't been working for 2 years although that's not entirely true either. I quit in January '09 and was seriously looking for work for about half a year and got nothin'. Around that time all my old college classmates were calling each other asking whose place had openings. I stopped sending out apps every day at that point since I'd already sent apps to almost every company on the SEAOC list and and was starting to through the phone book.

I started focusing more on figuring out a new project to finish my MS degree since my first project flopped. It took me until January '10 to get a new project rolling and I went back to SLO to work on the project and worked 2 min. wage jobs to support myself. Was trundling along at a rather slow pace since I was working a lot and then around June I cut a tendon in my finger when a glass plate shattered in my hand. Lost both my min. wage jobs (who says that they can't fire you when you're gone for a disability? They just reduce your hours to nothing and push you out instead.) and sat around for 2 months while it healed since I was typing at like 2 words a minute w/ 1 hand and sleeping a lot since the pain meds I got weren't doing crap. The best part is that even with that 2 months off the tendon still popped and didn't heal. It's interesting to see the doc in turmoil over whether or not he wants to tell you that there is something he can do but you can't afford it so you ain't gonna get it anyway.

Went back home to the 'rents and looked for work seriously for the last 4 months and nada. So if you want to measure how long I've been unable to find a job, it's been a little less than a year split into two half years. There's only so many firms in CA and I've been trying to keep my search down to CA jobs.

It's a very safe bet that if you didn't have parents willing to put you up, you would have had a job long ago.   Finish your Master's project, even if for nothing more than your own self-respect.  This is just something you have to do.  It will not get easier the longer you procrastinate.  It's probably also a red flag to prospective employers that you haven't finished it.

Yeah, I'd be working at Taco Hell. I was thinking that about the unfinished MS too. I understand that it looks like you lack the drive to finish what you start but at the same time, not everyone even tries for it and of those that try, not everyone finishes so why do you get punished for aiming high and then finding out that you just don't cut it? You're still better than the guys that didn't try in the first place, aren't you?

[Speedbag]

Having built my 30x33' shop mostly myself over the course of a summer in my spare time, I can say I would have no interest in being in construction as a full-time occupation.

[Vindingo]

Yeah, I'd be working at Taco Hell. I was thinking that about the unfinished MS too. I understand that it looks like you lack the drive to finish what you start but at the same time, not everyone even tries for it and of those that try, not everyone finishes so why do you get punished for aiming high and then finding out that you just don't cut it? You're still better than the guys that didn't try in the first place, aren't you?

In all honesty, I don't think trying makes you better.  The only thing that sets you apart is finishing.  Trying and not finishing looks bad.  Like you even said, "finding out that you just don't cut it" would send up a red flag because you've already found out the potential isn't there.   

BUT... if you have made it this far, you CAN finish it.  Saying that "you just don't cut it" is stupid.  I was in almost the exact same boat you were in 1.5 years ago.  A little Puritan hard work will get you through it... 

Get a job at TGIFridays, Chili's, [insert local restaraunt here] and bang the cutest waitress there.  Seriously, its incestuous and everyone gets a piece.  Tell her you're an engineer just trying to make money to finish your master's thesis... don't get her pregnant.  She and everyone else that works there will think you are just sooo smart.  This will put you in a good mood and give you confidence to finish the project.   

[derby]

just a bit of advice: next time you get a job, don't quit because your boss is a make the beast with two backstard:

http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=14302.0

....at least until you've found another job.

(especially in this economy)

[Bun-bun]

You're still better than the guys that didn't try in the first place, aren't you?

No

It's not about self worth, it's about aptitude.
If you have the ability, but lack the fortitude, then the fault is yours, and yours alone.
If you sat down and worked on your project like it was a job, you'd be finished in almost no time.

Now, if you're serious about gaining construction experience, volunteer for a group like Habitat for Humanity. They'll take any warm body, and you'll get a chance to gain some skills and see what the trade requires from you.
I've worked construction for 23 years here on the east coast. I got into it because I've always liked working with my hands, and I get a real sense of accomplishment from seeing the results of my labor. For every sub-zero, Godmyhandsarenumb  or IthinkI'mgoingtomelt day, there is a beautiful, sun shining, perfect temperature day when I look around and say "Thank god I don't have to work in an office!"
The economy has really screwed the housing/construction market worse than any other job sector I can think of, so if you just want something to get you by for a while, I'd choose almost any other line of work. Go get a job as a debt collector. There seems to be a need.