If you were to start over, What would you do?

[JCasper]

I am seriously entertaining going back to school.



I will have to finish my Associates degree first which I will do at the Community college but then I need to move on towards something better.



My trade is slowly diminishing and being not even 30 years old and at the top of the pay scale is kind of concerning. The top rate guys in my shop don't even really get a cost of living increase anymore.



My biggest problem is not knowing what I want to do. I am considering engineering because it is not too far off from what I am doing now, but it's not set in stone.



I need to find something good that will last me a while. I have been builiding molds since I was 17 and I have been seeing it go downhill for that whole time. I enjoy it most of the time, but that seems to be less and less as the days go on.

 

[AWade]

Well, my suggestion would be business . . . it is somewhat generic but it is the best degree to qualify you for a variety of jobs and industries. If you are going to do engineering, make sure you know what you are getting into. You will have to take through Calculus 3 and differential equations as a prerequisite to most of your classes in any of the engineering disciplines so you had better like (and be good at) math. If you are going to do engineering I would aim the civil/structural route as those jobs are more prevalent and less likely to be outsourced (Yes, engineering jobs are being outsourced as well). I have an engineering degree and a business degree so this is obviously just my opinion on the matter but I have experience with both.

 

[BILLVO]

Having known some of the turns and curves life threw at me I would have chosen a different path also.



Having pulled wrenches for nearly 20 years now and coming from a farm and ranch.



I would have gone to school for law enforcement & animal biology and gotten a job as a Game warden.

 

[AWade]

Another thought . . . you could get an education degree and use the your experience to be a shop teacher etc. May not sound glamorous but there will always be jobs for teachers, benefits are generally very good, and you get a state funded retirement in 20 years or so depending on the state. Also, you get some retirement benefits after 5 years in most states so, if you decide that it is not for you, you can leave after 5 years and still have a portion of the benefits, etc.

 

[AClayton]

I'm only 40 and went to trade school for 2 years to become an HVAC mechanic. Some trades are seasonal,however,with this trade ;you work on furnaces in winter and A/C in summer. The equipment changes every year so becoming bored in your field is virtually non-existent. When you go for the training,80 to 90% of the problems are electrical so that n itself is a good education to have. HVAC mechs sort of dab in all the major trades so you end up being a Jack-of-all trades. It has suited me fine through the years and armed with the skills you can venture out on the side to earn extra money..... if you get licensed!!!The last decade or so,after owning an RV,this knowledge applies to many RV mech situations as well. After weekend camping with RV club members over the years,it has been an earning experience to say the least. These people want someone they trust working on their campers and don't like the inconvience of going to Dealers to get things repaired. You are still young... . I started kind of late in life with the family thing and at 40,it is starting to get a little old going camping and working on others rigs all weekend. I believe you were the one with the trailer and tire issue posted on the RV forum a short time ago??I may be wrong... . Anyway,HVAC trade has served me and my family well. Worth a try if interested!!



Alan

 

[Boomer II]

A mechanical engineer with a machinist background would be a rare plus. Most of the engineers I build stuff for are clueless.

 

[JCasper]

Most of the engineers I build stuff for are clueless.

Tell me about it. I see stupid stuff designed all the time.

 

[JLEONARD]

A mechanical engineer with a machinist background would be a rare plus. Most of the engineers I build stuff for are clueless

As an engineer I pretty much agree with that. Although not a machinist I have a pretty good gearhead background and maybe that's why when my designs hit the toolroom all the holes actually end up in the material... LOL



I would consider another profession... around here (Connecticut) everybody is cutting heads... . jobs are going overseas and I see no quick end to that. Engineers are a commodity in this neck of the woods.



IF I had to start over I'd teach... summers off, awsum retirement bennies (I'm close now so it is a biggie), but I may have been really bored for the last 30 years.



My son on the other hand, started an auto repair business... he'll easily be a millionaire before he hits 40. But he puts in the hours.



Whatever you decide to do BEST OF LUCK.

 

[Boomer II]

A mechanical engineer with a machinist background would be a rare plus. Most of the engineers I build stuff for are clueless

As an engineer I pretty much agree with that. Although not a machinist I have a pretty good gearhead background and maybe that's why when my designs hit the toolroom all the holes actually end up in the material... LOL

Yeah, it's amazing how many mechanical engineers aren't very mechanically inclined. The ones that are, are a treat to work with.

 

[jeepit]

I hate math but if I went back to college it would be for accounting and on to be a CPA.

 

[bb218]

Having been a jouryman machinist for 26 years I now am programing CMM Machines and love it. Challenging work, clean and where I am at the money is good. Another trade that will always be here is Heavy Machinery, I own my own dozer and also love doing that. They cannot send that work oversea. Mike

 

[klenger]

I've been in aerospace for about 36 years. Because aerospace is a low volume high expense industry, it has been quite immune to outsourcing overseas. I've was out of work for 7 months after 9-11, but have been gainfully employed for the rest of my career. Good luck.

 

[MEby]

If you don't have a specific career in mind I would recommend you go for a business degree as well as only 10% of college graduates wind up in the field they got their degree in. Like a previous post said, business degrees are universal. I myself am going to college after not having been in school for 10 years and plan on a business degree when it comes time to nail down my major.

 

[ACoyle]

If I started over, I would be a plumber or an electrician. It absolutely cannot be sent overseas. Plumbing is hard dirty work, no problem with that. People are willing to pay a lot to avoid doing it themselves. For $250. 00 a guy spent 45 minutes in my basement, shaked out the setew line, washed his hands in my sink, dried with my towel and left. Four or five of those a day isn't all that bad.



Anyway, stay with something hands on, that way it cannto go off shore. Healthcare is a winner. The sick people are here.

 

[rbattelle]

In my opinion, engineering is a good choice. From what I've read, engineers are becoming more rare (especially aerospace), which means there are jobs to be had.

Civil engineering would be a good choice too. You can't build bridges and roads in China and ship them here.

Ryan

 

[JGrammatico]

I would first try to base the career change by doing something that you love doing. There is nothing worse than having to do something that you do not enjoy.

 

[JCasper]

If you don't have a specific career in mind I would recommend you go for a business degree as well as only 10% of college graduates wind up in the field they got their degree in. Like a previous post said, business degrees are universal. I myself am going to college after not having been in school for 10 years and plan on a business degree when it comes time to nail down my major.

I was kinda thinking about taking some business classes because it is always good to know. I am going to try and meet with an advisor tomorrow at the Community college. I need to see what credits I have and if they are still any good. I also don't want to spend any time taking classes that don't help me.

 

[JCasper]

If I started over, I would be a plumber or an electrician. It absolutely cannot be sent overseas. Plumbing is hard dirty work, no problem with that. People are willing to pay a lot to avoid doing it themselves. For $250. 00 a guy spent 45 minutes in my basement, shaked out the setew line, washed his hands in my sink, dried with my towel and left. Four or five of those a day isn't all that bad.



Anyway, stay with something hands on, that way it cannto go off shore. Healthcare is a winner. The sick people are here.

The plumber and electrician thing are partly true, but from what I have seen there is one good plumber, electrician and then he hires the hispanics to come in and do all the work. He just supervises and signs off on the job.



At least that is what I see around here.

 

[JCasper]

In my opinion, engineering is a good choice. From what I've read, engineers are becoming more rare (especially aerospace), which means there are jobs to be had.



Civil engineering would be a good choice too. You can't build bridges and roads in China and ship them here.



Ryan

Civil or Mechanical would be my choice if I went with engineering.

 

[JCasper]

I would first try to base the career change by doing something that you love doing. There is nothing worse than having to do something that you do not enjoy.

Do you think Hugh Hefner needs some help? :-laf