Occupational Advice

steve-o

For the past year I've been asking myself what I want to do after this deployment, and for the rest of my life. I was hoping I could get some opinions and advice. On my civilian side I am an electric motor repair and rewinder for my dad's company. I have been rewinding since I was 15 which I am about 21 now. I have started questioning if that is what I want to do for the rest of my life. My dad recently has told me that he wants to open another business in another city and that he wants me and my brother to run his old shop when I get back. When I was home I was making about 2400 a month which IMO isnt much, and my research has indicated that the Avg. pay for an electrician in utah is $20-25p/h. If I do decide to run the business I would like to get a degree in independent electrical contracting or electrical engineering. So far I have been working on a degree in business, and have been reading books on residential wiring and electric motors plus doing army correspondence courses on electricity. So what I was wanting opinions on is should I still work for my dad and maybe run one of his shops and hope it does well enough to support me and my wife while taking classes in electricity that will count towards a journeyman electricians license. Or option 2 work for the dad and take electrical engineering courses. Option 3 just do an electrician apprenticeship. Im not sure if I want to do electrical engineering because from what I understand is that they dont do much laborious work like electricians and I like to work with my hands. I think Im more of a craftsman. Any info you can give me on the two occupations well help alot. or any advice.
Thank you

Teetorbilt

steve-o, Thanks for being there. I asked about re-upping during the first incursion, they said that I was too old and decrepit back then.

I have a son a little older than you and it sounds like you need to sort things out. I would start with 'How do I want to retire?' and work backwards.

__________________
You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

Albert Einstein

Double-A

You'll never regret an education. I have no idea if the GI bill is still in effect, but I know of several folks that have taken advantage of it over the years. Not one of them regrets it.

My advice, come home safe, go to school and get that sheepskin. Then follow your heart.

Money is not everything, but when it comes with what you love doing, its just magic.

__________________
"My clients’ wishes are the center of my attention." -- David Guido, a contractor in Woodstock, N.Y.
New York Times, July 20, 2006

mdshunk

I dunno... I do recommend the electrical trade, but your situation is much different.

$2400 bucks a month, doing what you're already doing, isn't small potatoes. You dismiss it. I very much doubt that the average Utah electrician makes in the 20-25 dollar range. That sounds more like what a seasoned lead man is making.

Running an established business seems, to me, to be the more attractive option. I say, get your business degree, run Dad's business into the 21st century, and prosper. You incomes is limitless when you're running your own show. There's tons of ways to expand a motor shop to increase your income... tool repair, generator sales and repair, VFD sales to commercial customers, pump skid repair, etc, etc.

Your Dad is trying to do you a huge favor, in my opinion, and you're too hard-headed to realize.

hilltop

Use the GI bill to get a college education. If you want to have your body worn out and unable to enjoy retirement become an electrician. If not at least get a degree so you don't have to rely on the unreliable construction industry to make a living.