Unfortunately in some markets, like Phoenix, the work force is very diluted. We, like everywhere else, have a rising unemployment rate. Combine those two and it makes getting a decent job a real bitch, even with a great work ethic, talent, and the skill needed to get the job done. You are competing with every John, Dick and Harry for similar jobs, you all seem to have the same qualifications ('cause no one would lie on a resume, right?) so just getting a bit of face time with an HR person is nearly impossible!
Skilled workers needed
- Thread starter SFC Cobb
- Start date
People think that that piece of paper means you are worth more and know what you are doing.....well guess what, it doesn't. I am lucky enough to work in an industry that doesn't care if you have a degree. In fact I have many people working for me that have degrees and I don't. While they were off in school I was out in the field gaining experiance. They know how to mange people but I know how to run the job. It took me much less time to learne how to manage people than it did to become proficent at the work. As we speak I am working on getting a degree in business management so that I can never be capped.
I guess my point is a degree is not needed for entry level management, all it does is keep you from getting capped. So I guess I got a 4 year head start on the other people because I started in management at least 4 years befor they will and I will have a degree long befor it will ever hurt me not having one.
Four years ago the average starting wage of a welder out of high school was 45g a year, the average starting wage of a college grad was around 30g
Start with work and take college at the same time and youll make more money and still have the degree by the time you really need it
Hate to tell you, but that is horrible advice. A lot depends on the degree, field you work in, where you went to school, etc. I worked for free (internships at a little place called JPL) during college, graduated at 22 with an M.E. degree, pulled a heck of a lot more than $45k on my first job, bought an 01' viper in 03' (at the age of 23) in cash, and bought a house just before that.
Needless to say today at 28 I make a saaaaaaafe bit more than anyone I know w/o a degree.
I agree, a degree isn't a guarantee to the good life, but it's a heck of a step in the right direction.
Put it this way. I know one millionaire w/o a degree, can list 50 that have them. And personally know three guys in the 9 figure range that all went to college. Take your odds.
One bit of clarification, "degree" doesn't refer to some online b/s or a college/lube-n-tune/quick-e-mart one stop shop. REAL school gets you places.
He said an "AVERAGE". Not EVERYONE that graduates from college, yes thats true that it is a step in the right direction, but to say a REAL school will get you places, i disagree, just cause you wen to a "real" school doesnt mean you still wont be part of the 30k a year average.
Not to be a smart ass but you make a saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaafe bit more than the person you know whos a millionaire? So your a millionaire? Damn! youd think youd have better taste than a Dodge Viper.:rofl:
My best friend took the same path as you with the elevator construction route and was making killer money, he was well into his apprenticeship but sadly was killed on the job not to long ago. You work in a dangerous profession my friend but there is alot of money to be made.
You are a rare case. My friend graduated from Penn State main campus with a 3.9 GPA and now makes 40G.
I'm not talking millionare range, although I can think of 2 relatives that are close a mill a year and neither of them even went to college.
You can pick everything I say appart but the point of fact is the average starting wage of a tradesman is higher than that of the average college grad. Everyone wants to go to school and then sit at a desk. There is no substitute for field experience.
But then again I never met an egineer that made a mistake....only revisions:rofl::rofl:
One Clarification here, management is NOT a skilled job.. so lets get this back on topic.
It is if you want things to go smoothly and when working under tight dealines
Yes it is very dangerous, we hear about deaths quite often, and we get letters sent to our houses telling us every time there is a serious accident or a death anywhere in the world, sadly i probably read about your friends death which im sorry to hear, But they send them to remind us to be safe, and pay attention, but even that cant prevent everything.
We are mostly getting at people who for some reason dont' use their degree or got one just to say they have one.
It sounds like you got it right with your degree, work, and talent. Congrats! seriously.
I have buddy's in my class, that as sad as it is, won't make it cause they are not talented, they are school'd engineers not Born engineers.
:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl: Thats funny right there, then its always up to the people doing the real work, the ones that actually know whats going on to fix it!
I guess that goes to show, you dont need a degree to fix a engineers revisions, just experience.
You guys are right, some of our work is dangerous, but thats what makes it a chalenge and keeps us on our toes.
Reminds me of an engineer that was working for my father and got a splinter in his finger and went to the ER:rofl::rofl::rofl: I knindly told him about the time I broke my back and worked 7 hours not knowing it
yeah it happened 3 weeks ago in the wachovia building in charlotte so I am sure you have read about it
:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl: Thats funny right there, then its always up to the people doing the real work, the ones that actually know whats going on to fix it!
I guess that goes to show, you dont need a degree to fix a engineers revisions, just experience.
:exactly:
You guys are right, some of our work is dangerous, but thats what makes it a chalenge and keeps us on our toes.
Reminds me of an engineer that was working for my father and got a splinter in his finger and went to the ER:rofl::rofl::rofl: I knindly told him about the time I broke my back and worked 7 hours not knowing it
I work on heavy equipment and people get hurt all the time, one mistake and you could be done. Its been along time since I have worked with my body at 100%
yeah it happened 3 weeks ago in the wachovia building in charlotte so I am sure you have read about it
Yes i did hear, he worked for ThyssenKrupp, the same company i work for, we got a text message and letter. We havent heard all the details, but it sounds like it was not really anything he could do, someone droped a rail clevis maybe? down the hoistway and split his hard hat in half. It really makes you set back and think when you hear these stories. He was pretty young too if i remember, maybe my age i beleive. Im really sorry to hear it was a friend of yours, its a small world out there.
yeah it happened 3 weeks ago in the wachovia building in charlotte so I am sure you have read about it
Hmmm, I will have to ask my father about it. I'm sure he would have heard about it.
Thats exactly what I have been told so far, we are still waiting for a full investigation to be done....It doesnt sound like anyones fault though just a freak accident. It is sad though he was a big diesel junkie like us and we have his truck at our shop and we are going to build it into the puller he always wanted to. The only problem is it is a goat
I have my accounting degree and it has worked out well for me. I spent 11 years in public accounting and switched a little over a year ago to a construction company where I am now the CFO. I like my job and am happy with where I have been and ended up and I respect others that do not want to do what I do. I don't brag that I am better for having a degree, but I defend myself when people try to put me down and say I don't work as hard as others because I have a desk job. I come from a family of blue collar workers and farmers and have busted my @ss all my life.
We have plenty of skilled workers in Ohio for construction. Just need more work. The union halls are full and will get worse next year.
FYI, it was damn fun driving a diesel with a stack in it to a CPA firm.:rofl:
We have plenty of skilled workers in Ohio for construction. Just need more work. The union halls are full and will get worse next year.
FYI, it was damn fun driving a diesel with a stack in it to a CPA firm.:rofl:
:rofl::rofl::rofl:
I don't put anyone down for having a degree or sitting at a desk...hell thats all I get to do anymore, and run around a field a little. I just hate people that think they are worth more based just off the fact they have a degree. Accounting and finance is a tough gig and requires you to be on top of your game if you want to make good money. So for that you must be pretty good at what you do. My friend that I spoke of that went to Penn State went for finance and made the mistake of moving to boston where he is competeing for jobs with harvard graduates