Question About Entering The Trades.....

davidjp3

Hi,

I don't know if this is the right place to find information for my question and I'm not a contractor but I'll ask anyways.

I graduated from college with a Bachelor's degree in Businesse Administration and majored in Production and Operations Management but found I didn't care for it, so I'm thinking about joining a union doing either carpentry, plumbing (new construction), or commercial electrical.

I've realy never done much work in any of those jobs so could you give me some insight into what the jobs are like, the good and bad, etc.? Which one would you recommend?

I've passed the tests for all three but still have to interview with the apprenticeship committe for plumbing and electric. I can look for a job right now in carpentry.

Am I wasting my college degree being a laborer? I didn't enjoy the office atmosphere at my previous job at all. This is a hard decision for me.

Thanks!

joasis

What do you consider to be wasting a college degree? I worked after highschool, didn't go to college til I was 30, M.Ed., worked in an office and hated it, taught school and hated it, and back into construction. Not a day goes by I am not thankful for the education I have. You will never waste an education, no matter what you choose to do.

I had two major technical training fields I accomplished: In highschool, I did a journeyman machinists program, and later, before college, I became an aircraft mechanic (A&P). Both were great training, I just chose not to follow the career path. However, when in a college calculus class, a prefessor did not like the math skills I learned in "trade school"...and was always hashing my work. I wonder who makes more? The prefessor or the plumber who fixes her toilet?

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davidjp3

I guess I would consider it a waste if I never go into a field where my degree would come into play--whether it be advancement opportunities or getting a job over another person due to my higher education.

Right now, I wish I would've gone right into the trades out of highschool and tried that first instead of college. I was looking for the big $$$.

copusbuilder

Don't feel bad. I have a son who graduated top 10% with an accounting degree. He hated it and became a firefighter.
Told him if you will be happier then do it.
Even if you don't use the education you will likely have the intelligence and drive to rise above the masses and make something of yourself.
You made it through school so you don't roll over and play dead

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AkA Richard Cranium

DecksEtc

davidjp3,

You may very well waste your education if you stay a labourer (no offense to any labourers) - IMHO. Your education should never be considered a waste. You should do what you decide will really make you happy - no matter what that is.

Story for you... An old high school friend of mine went to university to become a CPA and about 6 months after getting a job at a large accounting firm, he decided he hated it. He then went back to school to become a pilot. He has his own plane now and has never looked back. He didn't waste his education because he runs his own business and is happy doing it.

Brickie

You can utilize your degree down the road. Pick a trade. Learn the trade, excell at your trade and then use your degree for a company or start your own.

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dantheman

I'm exactly where you're at right now; I just recently graduated with a degree in chemistry, and I found a great job with a remodeling contractor, learning how to do cabinets, trim, and all kinds of other stuff (my only prior experience in construction was with framing). I don't feel like I'm wasting my degree at all.

Patty

An education ALWAYS maintains its value, no matter what career path you decide to travel. Lots of people major in a certain study and end up in a totally unrelated field. It happens all the time. I think the most important thing is to find work that makes you happy and fulfilled and use your "smarts" in whatever job you do. Just LIKE WHAT YOU DO. After all, you will be spending the next 45-50 years working. Might as well choose something that makes you happy! And, "screw" what everyone else thinks you should be doing. YOU decide what you want for yourself. You want to be a ballerina? Go be one!

RobertCDF

Follow your heart, do what you like/love otherwise life sucks. Besides you can always use your degree to toss in peoples face when they say "If you had gone to college..." or when parents say to thier kids "stay in school or you might end up like that guy"

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Robert Shaw
Colorado Springs Custom Decks
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mdshunk

Since you've interviewed or scheduled interviews with the various apprenticeship committees, it seems you're going the union route. That in and of itself presents a whole other set of issues (good and bad), above and beyond whether or not you should be a skilled tradesman.

pwrpapa

There's more enjoyable things to do with your life. A few come to mind.

davidjp3

I don't follow what you're saying.

mdshunk

What I was saying is that when you go through the union apprenticeship, you're not only choosing a trade, but you're also becoming part of a political machine. This has good and bad points. The other route is to work for an independant (ie, non-union) contractor. There is a very distinct difference, and both employ men from the same trade. The educational opportunities to "break into" the trade may non exist in your area other than through the union route.

i_plant_art

well guess what u just found them ...... as mentioned above who makes more the professor or the plumber..... funny but true

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"Anyone doing it cheaper AND being insured is running a CHARITY"

i_plant_art

well guess what u just found them ...... as mentioned above who makes more the professor or the plumber..... funny but true

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"Anyone doing it cheaper AND being insured is running a CHARITY"

copusbuilder

Like being a Pimp

Don't hold back on us....let us know!! I'm still trying to figure out what i'm gonna be when I frow up

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AkA Richard Cranium

A+Carpenter

Well seing how you live in liberty county you should have a frow aleady

Hey Mark did you get that project I threw your way? CONTACT THAT GUY. I reviewed the project and its worth about 35k if you play your cards.

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RYANINMICHIGAN

I have always said in a town full of Doctors I want to be the carpenter.....

copusbuilder

That was supposed to be grow up

I couldn't open the e-mail and couldn't find the program to open it??

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Sparky Joe

I would go the union route most definetly. I'm an electrician and I love it, but there's a foreseeable problem with slingin' tools at 60 years old, so there's always room for advancement, especially for an edumacated person. I say union simply because they are larger companies and the room to move up when you're older goes much further.