Advice for career for my son

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jigggawatt

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I have a 25-year-old son. I’m trying to help with a new career choice. He’s very mechanical, sharp, and works hard. He builds motors and tunes them as a hobby. I’ve worked in commercial/ industrial A/C my entire life. Our industry isn’t what it used to be, and I think there are better choices.  Any advised on where to steer him would be appreciated. He was a firefighter and what he’s witnessed over the last few years has gotten to him. It was a great job just not the right fit. He would like a trade.

 
Sounds like me when I was a kid. Does he have the aptitude to go back to school? In my industry, we cannot find good Engineers - Mechanical, Electrical, Software. After 3-5 years, these young inexperienced kids pull in $125-150K, and the sky's the limit if they can become managers, directors, etc. 

A good college degree is something nobody can ever take away, and it almost guarantees you'll have a bright future.

 
to piggy back on @Turbo_Manx_Maniac comment........ if you dont have the piece of paper, it sure seems a LOT harder (@ least here in San Diego).  but San Diego is a VERY screwed up market for just about any Eng/Technician job, sunshine tax & all.......... 

It seems to me that a key part of this equation is to find a company that is doing well & has a good reputation that will keep growing & treats their employees well.  Corporate this & corporate that is just killing jobs and people......... its all about $$$$$ 

 
Turbo_Manx_Maniac said:
Sounds like me when I was a kid. Does he have the aptitude to go back to school? In my industry, we cannot find good Engineers - Mechanical, Electrical, Software. After 3-5 years, these young inexperienced kids pull in $125-150K, and the sky's the limit if they can become managers, directors, etc. 

A good college degree is something nobody can ever take away, and it almost guarantees you'll have a bright future.
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My son in law went to college late, 24-25 got an engineering degree, 4 years ago started a $75k at General Dynamics right out of ASU, then 18 months later 100k at a designer window manufacture, he was recently offered $140k from a competitor in Houston leading their engineering teams, all remote from Phoenix. Engineering is probably one of the hottest jobs out there. If you son enjoys working with his hands and building things he might want to take a tour of a college this summer that has a good engineering program. My SOL worked at General Dynamics as an intern 3 of the 4 years he was in school making good money.

 
I am 55 years old and watching my friends that were lineman retire at 55 sure makes me look back some on what I did.  I didn't graduate college until 24 yr old, so a bit late to the game back then.  I have worked in my field for 30 plus years, mostly as a 1099 sales person.  So like most I wasn't good at saving until 35-40 years old, so a bit behind with my Retirement fund.  They all have huge pensions and never need to worry about the future, while I see my retirement take a 18% negative hit this year.  It is hard for a 25 year old to look 30 years ahead..................sorry I am no help

 
Turbo_Manx_Maniac said:
Sounds like me when I was a kid. Does he have the aptitude to go back to school? In my industry, we cannot find good Engineers - Mechanical, Electrical, Software. After 3-5 years, these young inexperienced kids pull in $125-150K, and the sky's the limit if they can become managers, directors, etc. 

A good college degree is something nobody can ever take away, and it almost guarantees you'll have a bright future.
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I agree!  The engineers I am dealing with are not the same as 15-20 yrs ago, these new guys are absolutely clueless.  Not sure who is handing out the degrees these days.

 
Cookie said:
I am 55 years old and watching my friends that were lineman retire at 55 sure makes me look back some on what I did.  I didn't graduate college until 24 yr old, so a bit late to the game back then.  I have worked in my field for 30 plus years, mostly as a 1099 sales person.  So like most I wasn't good at saving until 35-40 years old, so a bit behind with my Retirement fund.  They all have huge pensions and never need to worry about the future, while I see my retirement take a 18% negative hit this year.  It is hard for a 25 year old to look 30 years ahead..................sorry I am no help
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A buddy of mine has a few various degrees in health care, but decided it wasn't for him.  Ended up getting on with a company doing line work here in Phx after doing basic line school.  Bounced around a few places here, then landed a job with a company in Cali doing poll replacements.  About 5 years ago he told me he cleared $250k that year.  I should've followed him when he went to lineman school...he was renting a room from me at the time..lol

 
Just a few ideas.

If being a firefighter got to him, does he claim any mental health issues?  Maybe he can get educational benefits/occupational retraining?  Just a thought.

As Cookie mentioned, what benefits can he get?  Sometimes the highest paying job right now, doesn't pay off in the end.  Pensions are VERY hard to come by the days.  I'm sure glad I have mine.  I retired at 43 and never had to work again, even though I still do.  If he does find something high paying, factor in retirement savings.  What people "think" they need to retire and what you actually need are 2 VERY different things.  Don't forget about medical.  A lot of places have stopped that as a retirement benefit.  Medical will bankrupt even the richest of us, especially as we get older.

Education.  "IF" he knows or decides, then pursue a degree.  If he's undecided, do general education now at a junior college. Don't waste time or money at a private college like PIMA, ITT, ect... the will be overpriced, not accredited (even though they say they are), 4 year schools are overpriced and don't have as flexible of schedules.  Doing 2-3 years at a JC and then transferring...you still get your degree from "University of" whatever.

Trade schools.  Be careful.  These can be WAY overpriced and not worth anything.  Again, not all are accredited like they say.

Look 5-10 years in the future.  Mechanics must be computer savvy.  What about drone/UAV mechanic or pilot?  Big futures in that.  I see automotive as too volatile right now.  We have no idea where that is going. 

Lastly, it's not crazy but...what about going to places that interest him and request a "reverse interview"?  You go to them and see what opportunities and future they have.  You might find that something great now, has a 5-10 year shelf life and then now older...maybe with a family...he'll be looking for a new career.  I never saw myself working in logistics, but our company has grow so much and there is no end in sight.

 
Just came to my mind, if you can weld and fabricate, there are tons of jobs in all sorts of industries.  You get enough money to have a welding truck, you can do pretty good and set your own schedule.

Another option, and work on your own...........those shower/bathtub moppers, the guys that come in with tar and do the floor before tile and such.  Virtually no overhead and they are always busy.  Every bathroom remodel is waiting on these guys.

Just a few ideas

 
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True, can't take away a college degree, but you won't get rich working for the man.

Got my engineering degree years ago.

Do pretty good, but all my buddies are killing it and they all work for themselves.

If I had to do it all over again, I would figure out how to work for myself.

 
Tell him to go into business for himself before he acquires too many responsibilities and has to do what someone else tells him to do. Doesn't matter what it is. Just do something that's in his skill set and expand on it or change to something else along the way. 

 
Structured Cabling and or Data Center Tech could be a good fit...people that enjoy working with their hands and at the same time enjoy a little bit of tech, can really succeed in these 2 areas - and enjoy the job. (which is key)

 
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