Topic: Cool job ideas! help! :)

[MILO]

Howdy,

I'm 23 years old and currently doing an apprenticeship in painting and decorating, which is doing my head in.  I'm not quite halfway through the apprenticeship, so I'm getting to a point where it might be silly to not finish it....

I need ideas of interesting jobs, I was a rifleman for a while before this, which was awesome! but when i got out i found that employers don't care much for having been a rifleman.... so I thought I need some sort of qualification. hence the apprenticeship.

ANYWAY!
I was thinking where can i find some good ideas, then i thought what about the sohc forums! there's enough life experience around here to last ... a lifetime?
I'm into motorbikes, mechanical things, making stuff, engines,  old cars, etc
So hit me with any ideas you can think of, anything will be appreciated.

-Liam

[dhall57]

Well Milo things have changed some since I was 23 back in 1980. I had just got married and was working at a industrial supply co. I didn't know what I wanted to do, I just knew I had to work to put food on the table and pay the bills. In 1986 I started a new job at a car dealership in the parts department because it paid a little better and I'm still there 26 years later. I'm not suggesting you take after me, but I guess it's worked for me because I've never been without a job, raised 2 kids, paid my bills, and got my house paid off several years ago and been able to collect a couple of CB750's and a Harley along the way.
Milo if possible try to pursue something you like and are interested in.
 You say you like mechanical things, cars, engines, etc. A good auto mechanic can find a job just about anywhere. You won't get rich, but you can make a good decent living doing it. Good luck!!.

[Scott S]

 Do you want to be happy or rich? ( I know...Both, right ?!)

 If you're not into IT, the medical field is where it's at. I've considered going back to school in radiology or something. I know a guy whose son repairs x-ray and MRI machines. Makes big bucks and is in demand, but he has to travel a good bit. Something along those lines could let you use your mechanical skills and still be in a growing field.

[ChuckG750f1]

Do you want to be happy or rich? ( I know...Both, right ?!)

 If you're not into IT, the medical field is where it's at. I've considered going back to school in radiology or something. I know a guy whose son repairs x-ray and MRI machines. Makes big bucks and is in demand, but he has to travel a good bit. Something along those lines could let you use your mechanical skills and still be in a growing field.

+10...You took the words right out of my mouth!  I have worked in MRI since the early '80s.  When I was in the field service side of the business, Milo would be the kind of person I would try to recruit.  You need training in electronics and decent computer skills but most of all you need good logic and troubleshooting skills (just like working on old bikes).  You're young and now's the time to change course if that's what you want to do.  Medical electronics service is a good field.

[wedoo2]

Since you are 23, read Tom Friedman's book "The World is Flat".  Go from there.

[jamesb]

property management is pretty right now people are always going to need buildings and homes. i have been doing this for 15yrs now with the same place.you can't be a softy though when it comes time to collect the rent.plus if you have any carpentry skills is a big plus. or heating and air electrical,plumbing.there are a lot of options for a young person like yourself.

[MILO]

Thanks for the replies, I appreciate it!

I'm a realist I think, I'm fairly sure I'll never be super rich, and I'm fine with that.
One thing I know I want, is to be happy... And when I'm about 80 years old, I want to be able to say I've done the things in life I've wanted to, and have lots of interesting stories haha.

A good painter can earn a comfortable wage here, but it's brain numbing work. there's no challenge, physical or mental.

I've been looking at going back to study ( which after i finished school i thought I would never do! lol ) and starting a course in Mechanical engineering.
Something like alternate energy or alternate fuels for vehicles would be cool, but I don't know even where to begin with it.

Do you guys know what kind of jobs would deal with those type of things?  like job titles or something to point me in the right direction.

I'm sort of thinking aloud,  so sorry for chucking my probem on you guys!

-Liam

[Xnavylfr]

A VERY good CAREER field to get into is AVIATION. I started my career in the US Navy for 20 years as a aircraft hydraulic mech and after getting out stayed in the feild for 25 more years. Some MRO (Maintenance/Repair/ Overhaul) facilities have apprentice training on site and some MROs pay VERY well to start, some as much as 15$ per hour+OT. Check online for aviation training to get an idea.


Xnavylfr(CHUCK)

[demon78]

One thing to think of is aircraft I don't mean airlines but smaller operations and I think if you specialized in piston engines and small gas turbines you would be able to work anywhere from the Arctic circle to the south pole always interesting and always challenging career paths Vintage A/C, Crop Dusters, Water Bombers, Museums, Small Charter lines, Hell even small Airforces where being a rifle man might be handy.
Bill the demon.

[Duke McDukiedook]

Thanks for the replies, I appreciate it!

I'm a realist I think, I'm fairly sure I'll never be super rich, and I'm fine with that.
One thing I know I want, is to be happy... And when I'm about 80 years old, I want to be able to say I've done the things in life I've wanted to, and have lots of interesting stories haha.

A good painter can earn a comfortable wage here, but it's brain numbing work. there's no challenge, physical or mental.

I've been looking at going back to study ( which after i finished school i thought I would never do! lol ) and starting a course in Mechanical engineering.
Something like alternate energy or alternate fuels for vehicles would be cool, but I don't know even where to begin with it.

Do you guys know what kind of jobs would deal with those type of things?  like job titles or something to point me in the right direction.

I'm sort of thinking aloud,  so sorry for chucking my probem on you guys!

-Liam

Take some courses in the basics at a community college if you don't have them tucked away yet- Chemistry, Physics, Calculus, Differential Equations, Statics, Dynamics. If you can hack those and get decent grades while doing it then go to a 4 year school and then continue the learning towards a mechanical degree. Alternative energy applications might require an electrical engineering degree on the side or coursework on your own to understand electrical past the basic Electrodynamics course.

Try to intern with a company along the way while studying to give you an idea of what actual jobs in the field will require of you. You don't want to spend all that time and money to figure out you don't want to get a job in the field of your study. I know more than a few engineering friends that ran away from their jobs in the field of their study once they got them.

[Really?]

I found aviation to be a poor industry to work in actually.  Once your typed on one type of aircraft, you are basically stuck with it.  I was an A&P for a minor in Las Vegas for a while.  When I left there, I could not find work again in that field.  Btw, Las Vegas is or was a very boring place to live.  I have a very expensive piece of paper now.

[jgmmgood]

Just a suggestion, but if you can try to get into any kind of power plant in any way, it would be worthwhile.  Some of the other fields mentioned have ups and downs, but people are always going to run electricity. 
I would not put my eggs in the alternative energy field solely, just because that field is only showing "success" based off heavy government subsidies. 
The other thing about working in power plants is a lot of the parent companies have tuition assistance if you wish to go to school as well. 

[CrankyOldGuy]

power engineer ... just a thought ... for the mechanically inclined .. and industry always requires them.

Harry O.

[MILO]

Thanks again for the suggestions,

I'm pretty much at the halfway point of my apprenticeship, I can't beleive it takes 3 years to become a painter :/
I've called up a few colleges and universities regarding part time study, no chance of starting until the beginning of next year.

My thoughts at the moment are finishing my apprenticeship and studying part time a diploma in mechanical engineering, it will take a bit longer to complete it then doing it full time, but i guess it's sort of a 'try before you buy' kinda way to do it. And if i wanted to do a 4 year degree in engineering, the diploma would take about one year of the 4 year course.

If this was to happen, I would have it all finished by the time I'm 25 or 26, then the plan from there is back to the army! *subject to change* haha.

[Gurp]

Plans seem to change faster than you know... Trust me im 22, last time i remember haveing a clear plan i was 17 and set to ship for basic in a few months and blew out my knee. Never was able to go. That summer started talking to a girl that i had been freinds with. Skip to know 3 years later and some change i have a son who is about to turn 3 and have been working a smithfeild ham factory. Life almost always throws a curve ball. The thing iv realized is you have to be fast enough to figure out what to do before it gets to you in the next half second so to speak.

[Roach Carver]

No one suggested man whore yet? I assume you are male. If not then woman whore. good luck, remember to post pics of your work.

[Damfino]

No one suggested man whore yet? I assume you are male. If not then woman whore. good luck, remember to post pics of your work.

Ahhhhhhh #$%*! Somebody got some papertowel's? I need to clean the beer off my keyboard & monitor!! 

[fmctm1sw]

How about being one of those guys in the white poopy suits that cleans up crime and accident scenes?  I read about it somewhere a while back.  Supposedly good money.