What is your profession?

[o4250]

Well highschool will be over for me before I know it, so I'm just wondering what some of you people do for living? Just to get a good idea as to what im gonna do when I graduate. Plus it seems a lot of us have the same interests, and taste in toys.

[Fox17]

im unemployed! im starting at publix in 3 weeks. when i graduate im goin to motorcycle mechanics institute in orlando. then im gonna be a factory honda mechanic for their sx and mx team! (hopefully). 

[UncleRico]

Let Uncle Rico break it down for you....



If you're graduating HS, you need to join the military to go spread democracy throughout the middle east.

George Bush needs you for his plan. 

I just watched FOX news and they assured me everything is going to be fine.

[Chuck_Norris]

The Military does have a lot to offer, and can provide a decent life if you become a career man.  on the other hand college can be paid for via the GI Bill, seek the programs that would best suit you and your desire/ambition. I am currently in the Automotive Industry. It is nearly the one true volitale industry, in other words feast or phamon. your young enough to jump in and out of a couple career choices and find the one that best suits you.

[o4250]

The Military does have a lot to offer, and can provide a decent life if you become a career man.  on the other hand college can be paid for via the GI Bill, seek the programs that would best suit you and your desire/ambition. I am currently in the Automotive Industry. It is nearly the one true volitale industry, in other words feast or phamon. your young enough to jump in and out of a couple career choices and find the one that best suits you.

I was thinking the automotive industry. Infact, next year im taking vo-tech for automotive tech, and then senior year I go to vo-tech in the afternoon for about an hour, then go to high dollar dealerships (such as hummer, BMW,etc..) and help out and could possible get a job as a mechanic there.

[05greengriz]

Helicopter Pilot, but if I had to do it over again I believe I would would want to become a firefighter.

[MuddFreak77]

IT but if I had to do it over I would be in Internet P*rn

[Thrumud]

What ever you do, don't work for the SFWM.  We will hunt you down.   Takes Mud's advice.

[klutchbuster400]

well i avalue machinery and equipment during the day and am a auto tech part time.
my passion is turning tools and diagnostics.
i can tell you this. there is a shortage of auto techs and it will only get worse.
if you guys only knew what was involved in diagnosing automotive computer systems.
its a whole new world out there.

i left mechanics for 6 years thinking the grass was greener but forget it, the beast beckons me andi love my part time job. its a stepping sstone to having my own shop one day.

what i can tell ya is try to do something you like rather then something that will make you lots of money. hopefully you can do something that will give you both.


gery350

[atvtrailer]

well i went to a local tech school for marine mechanics and liked it so now im goin to MMI(marine mechanics institute) in orlando to get a better certification and then hopefully open my own shop soon after i graduate from there

[gearhead400]

well i also went to a vo-tech for 3 years, 1 full, 2 part time, for auto mechanics. Cant say i really enjoy it as much as i use to. At least not the place i work at now. I think i need to get into a dealership of some sort and try that out. I loved the diagnostic part of automotive, reading parameters, finding out what triggered codes, THAT was fun. Eh, i dunno, im still deciding...

[mikeE36]

I'm in the same boat. I was actually going to make a thread like this.

I'm trying to get into construction like cabinets, painting, etc so then I can open my own business.

if anyone around Bradenton or sarasota has a construstion business and wants to show me the ropes I would be interested.

[NPRVinson]

I'm in the same boat. I was actually going to make a thread like this.

I'm trying to get into construction like cabinets, painting, etc so then I can open my own business.

if anyone around Bradenton or sarasota has a construstion business and wants to show me the ropes I would be interested.

Thats where its at in Florida, espicially in Naples. I was also thinking along the lines of laying tile, or hardwood floors. But no one would trust and 18 year old kid.

I thought the same thing when I was your age, now I'm 44 yrs. old and a superintendent for a general contractor. My advise would be to stay in school get a degree and stay as far away from construction as you can.

[cheropride]

Theu auto industry is a really good idea, my neighbor been working @Ford for about year now as a mechanic, and he loves it.  He has testing and training there.  He is really happy w/it. 

Ah to be young again, and do it all over....

But I don't have it too bad, work from home, have my own business.  Funny how life works sometimes....

[Mudneck]

gynoclogist,but if I had to do it over again I would have been a fisherman.

[Ida_Mann]

there's too little space here to describe everything I do,,,,,,traveling computer technician/freight handler/class B truck driver.

Id@

[cheropride]

gynoclogist,but if I had to do it over again I would have been a fisherman.

I'm sorry but I can't resist... 

Samething isn't....

[Hoosier Daddy]

Quad32x is a professional butt sniffer.....

[dynodon]

Mike36, I might be able to help you with the cabinet thing.
I own a cabinet business, design and Install them also.Although I do not live in your area, I do know several Installers that might show you the ropes

[bigscrub79]

[ I was also thinking along the lines of laying tile, or hardwood floors. But no one would trust and 18 year old kid.

You need to get with a crew ASAP. They crews are always looking for a helper. Just make sure to watch the head guy and see how he does things. You have to work hard enough so he will teach you.

[Honda328i]

Whatever you end up doing for work, try to find something you enjoy doing.  Then it is just fun rather than work.  For me, I'm a Senior Electrical Engineer, and our company builds Airport ground support vehicles.  Our military aircraft loader was the first thing on the ground (other than the plane) when the USA took the airport in Baghdad.

It would be cool too to be a professional quad racer, but I don't think I could support a family, (unless I died trying). lol

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[Anoriginal]

I did the whole college thing. AA degree followed by two Bachelor of Science Degrees in Economics and Business Admin, then an MBA and then a Juris Doctor. I am now a civil litigation attorney that specializes in Construction Litigation and civil trial. I love it and don't regret a minute of the time it took or the sacrifices I made to get here. It was all very well worth it.

[VForcedave]

Although I always wanted to be a Rock Star, I have worked on Mega Yachts in different capacities. First started out as crew, then worked my way up to Captain, traveled around the world a couple times and was paid well for it. Now I work for a company that installs and services Yacht Communication and Navigation equipment. I would recommend any young guy or girl interested in starting on the ground floor (deck hand or stewardess) contact a couple crew agencies and see what happens. Fort Lauderdale is the place to get started. With all the liscensing and certifications now days its a little more indepth to be a operator of a yacht, but every journey starts with one step.     

[Hawgin4x4]

i work fulltime at lowes and go to the vo-tech for auto collision.

[UncleRico]

AVOID CONSTRUCTION AT ALL COSTS UNLESS YOU PLAN ON BEING A CONTRACTOR.

When Uncle Rico was 16, he started as a laborer on a construction site, and went around and asked all the trades who made the most money.  At that time, the unanimous vote was for the electricians. At that time electricians were making $22.00 an hour. So I studied and became a Journeyman electrician, and made a decent living.  I was also told, "Learn a trade, you can go anywhere in the U.S. and find a job if you learn a trade."

However about 10 years or so ago, I realized a trend.  Construction companies were hiring immigrant labor to staff projects, and have the skilled people like myself, run around and fix all their mistakes. Also, at this time, LABOR STAFFING COMPANINES, popped up on the scene. These are companies that rent people by the day to construction companies, (sometimes refered to as 'rent a drunks').  This mass influx of labor onto job sites, drove wages down.  Why pay 50 guys $22.00 an hour when you can pay 5 guys $22.00 an hour and the other 45 guys $10.00 an hour to staff a job? Simple economics.

It's hell on the skill guys who are constantly under pressure to bring the job in on time, pass all the inspections, and make sure everything is done safely.  It use to be you had time to take pride in your work, and do it perfectly. Not anymore. Just get it done as fast as you can, hide everyone elses mistakes, and move on to the next job. If I had to do it all again............

One word...

COMPUTERS!  Clean, easy, work where you use your brain.  Learn how to design websites, and you'll be gold. Everyone's got a website now a days.