Unsure of which way to go???? my future career. do what u love or what you have too

[monkeyboy]

Having worked as a body guy for a few years after graduating from a Tech high shool I can say that college for that trade is a waste. Nothing beats hands on time. Why pay someone for the time on the job when YOU can get PAID for doing it.

But, like others have said typically when you love to do something a job tends to kill that buzz quick. I started out loving body and paint. A few years in I was that body shop guy driving the beat to shit car because once I clocked out for the day I didn't even want to look at a vehicle. You can make decent money in the right collision shop, but collision work is boring and monotonous. Especially when you work for a Chevy dealer like I did for a while. I used to have to do about 30 Equinox bumpers a week for a recall on the double sided tape that held the foam pad to the inner bumper...

 

[TeaForTwo]

I was in school for 2 years for pre-pharmacy. I had "early assurance," meaning my grades were so good going in from highschool that I had a guaranteed spot in the grad program. Now I have been at a new school for a year and a half for a B.S. in music industry.

Combine the two. As as musician you can be your own pharmacist. Win Win....
.

 

[electric head]

If you want to paint cars get a job as a helper in a good size body shop and learn from the ground up.
Learn to paint and do body work and after a few years you can be making good money.
Many places will take you on as a helper and just talk to the other workers and be willing to do anything and bust ass.
In Maryland you can easily be making 60 to 90 thousand a year depending on the size of the shop after 5 years.
Now be prepared to start out washing cars and doing crap work(sanding,taping,taking apart cars) but in the end this is stuff you need to know.
If it is a good shop they will send you to certain classes but most is hands on learning(the best way to learn).
You do need to be decent in math and basic understanding of electricity.
If you can paint you can learn water borne painting in a week.Its really not that different in the process.
Good luck...

 

[Spurholder]

Hey, OP - don't confuse a vocation with an avocation. Keep them separate unless you're independently wealthy.

If you can't figure our what you want to do right now, give DOD a shot. Heck, the pay's pretty good, food's not bad, and the wars are winding down. Who knows - you might even find a specialty you really like.

I know a guy that started out a medic and within a few years was training to be a physician's assistant. Cut to now, he's in the civilian world making bank, and I'm still slaving away for Uncle Sam.

Whatever you decide to do, keep your pecker wrapped in latex and don't marry Mary Jane from down the street. Focus on yourself for a few years. It'll pay off in the end.

Good luck to you.

 

[bscenefilms]

You can fail equally doing work that you love or hate. Choose wisely.

 

[GuitarDean]

Quite a few studies have shown that in recent years that a 4 year college degree is damn near useless anymore (though 2 year assoc. degree's tend to pay off) due to the debt incurred and a limited job market for most professional positions placements...

So that said...

Since you seem to have a good grasp on what your limitations are I would recommend (and yes, I am in the education field) either take the two year route and learn what you can about these new systems you discussed OR just go directly into the job that you are already doing and seem to love. The only serious drawback I see to this is that you will be setting yourself up for a job that you will be doing the next 50 years so you better love it as much as you say. One possible re-direction to consider since I assume you are young and unmarried is work at the paint job in the day, and take some night classes towards the newer stuff and drag it out over 4 or more years so you that you dont get overwhelmed!

Dean

 

[rockstar232007]

.. Hold on now .. trades are different in that as you go you achieve certifications and often are working in the field at the same time .. like welding or auto related .. etc .. some employers will even pay for it .. the ship yard Northrop Gruman Newport News partners with certain schools ..

.. IMO you are more apt to get employment in a trade related field sooner than say a degree in some academic field ..

.. but what do I know .. I am just a HS drop out .. and at 19 joined the Army after working for a fence company for a few years starting at 17 ..

Yep.

As someone else mentioned, today, most employers want people with hands-on experience. Hell, even some restaurants won't hire anyone without at least a little experience.

Case in point: I worked with a guy, who had a culinary degree, but couldn't get into a "real" restaurant, fresh out of school without actually having any actual kitchen experience. Only problem was, the restaurant I work at is "coporate-owned", and most non-corporate places don't think very highly of them.

Needless to say, that 7 years after getting his degree, he now works at an Applebee's. There are also a few people that have Bacelor's degrees, that are waiting tables. Really sad.

 

[monkeyboy]

Most small shops will still be using the older systems at this point. If you get in there all it takes is talking to your paint rep to learn the new system if it is implimented. We arent talking rocket science here. Single stage to base/clear was a a change, and 3 stage systems are anothe step. If you really are a painter its not a new skill set, just a new technique. If it is the career you want, I say go and get the job. I was accepted at Wyotech and never went only because I got a job at a dealership making the same as the kids that were showing up with their degrees from there. If you didn't have any experience it may be worthwhile, but if you do then don't waste your time and money. Instead use that money on GOOD tools and get to work.

 

[Bigfoot410]

Work is work, that's why they pay you for it.

At least if you work in a body shop (custom shop, not a dealer shop as they are just cookie cutter shops) you will have access to good tools and stuff for side projects that are for you only and not a customer. Offset the monotony of the daily grind with the things you enjoy for yourself.

Work hard, play hard!

 

[truckermde]

Pursue happiness, my friend. It's very easy in America to get carried away with the love of money. Sure, we all need it, but how much?, and what are we really willing to do for it?

I strive for balance in life, which isn't always easy, especially working another person into the mix. But I have managed to provide for my wife and myself, along with our ridiculous menagerie of animals, without "traditional" work for many years.

I have to be creative, and it would be easier with a larger customer base elsewhere, but living in an overpopulated area detracts from my happiness factor, so I choose to make do with the other people out in the woods like me


Don't let other people's bitterness at their own failings deter you from seeking happiness above money. I allowed myself to be steered in a direction which went against my better judgment when I was your age, and it did me no favors.

Set your own priorities; it's OK to go against the current...

Good luck, brother!

 

[firesgt911]

I don't particularly care for what I do for a living, but they pay me very well. Family fun is less of a luxury, and more of a staple. This also affords me the opportunity to indulge in my hobbies as deeply as I want to. The key is to not bring your work home with you, or at the very least be able to shut it off at the appropriate time.

With that said, I've done two of my three dream jobs. The pay sucked, but I had a lot of personal satisfaction. I don't think I could go back to them though. Life is way easier now, and my (and that of my family) general stress level is significantly lower. That's what is all about to me.

 

[AXE]

Weld Pipe.

Work 6 months a year and play music the other 6.

 

[Hack]

Marry a rich girl.

 

[James Carney]

Why Generation Y Yuppies Are Unhappy | Wait But Why

I could write a novel on my own experiences about this. But this article did most of the writing for me.

Being raised to think you're special and gifted and should do what you love is deadly poison. It took years to figure this out. Especially when I did so well for so long, and worked for a boss that instilled a culture of elitism in our department. The strength of our subconscious's ego is SO huge. Any threat to that is often intellectualized and justified away so as to not harm it.

 

[joba]

You should understand at this point your most valuable asset is time. Trust me it goes fast. Use it wisely. You must come up with a detailed plan and have a plan B. Do not just wing it. If you feel Body work is for you then immense yourself in it and be the best you can be. You should have the ultimate goal to own your own shop. If not I would pick another field that has better growth potential. I am friends with many body shop owners , electrical contractors and plumbers who are all millionaires . Shoot for the stars ,with hard work ,sacrifice and some luck which is often underestimated you will succeed .

 

[Mad Monkey]

Marry a rich girl.

funny thing is my cousin who is going to be a state policeman is doing just that. But nah i don't feel like marrying into a family or as my co workers suggest find an old woman with lots of money!!!!!!!!! to do so.

 

[Mad Monkey]

Pursue happiness, my friend. It's very easy in America to get carried away with the love of money. Sure, we all need it, but how much?, and what are we really willing to do for it?

I strive for balance in life, which isn't always easy, especially working another person into the mix. But I have managed to provide for my wife and myself, along with our ridiculous menagerie of animals, without "traditional" work for many years.

I have to be creative, and it would be easier with a larger customer base elsewhere, but living in an overpopulated area detracts from my happiness factor, so I choose to make do with the other people out in the woods like me


Don't let other people's bitterness at their own failings deter you from seeking happiness above money. I allowed myself to be steered in a direction which went against my better judgment when I was your age, and it did me no favors.

Set your own priorities; it's OK to go against the current...

Good luck, brother!

I agree with you 100% I may worry about money but in the end if thats all you care about you will be a hollow person. And i always found be creative and trying to stay positive is the way to go ( although its hard sometimes working with your brother)