ATV Florida Forum

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. 8)

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).  ;D

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.

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.

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

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

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

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. ;D


gery350

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

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...

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.

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.

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....

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

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

Id@

I'm sorry but I can't resist... 

Samething isn't....

Quad32x is a professional butt sniffer.....

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

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.

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 2:L

[attachment deleted by admin]

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.

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.     

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

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.

Parts manager at an auto dealership. It's very rewarding and you could make good money in a big store. You just have to know your SH1T!!! Started off as a driver out of high school, stuck with it, and it has been a lot of fun. Made many good lifetime friends.Just remember, The only person you have to keep happy in business is the boss! That means doing everything else right! :ThumbsUp.gif
If I had to do it over again, I'd have to be a Pilot - - - Always wanted to fly!!!
Good luck in whatever field you choose.  :T
BMD

I'm an Architect.  It took 4 years for a Bachelors Degree, 2 more for a Masters and then 2 years of Internship.  After the Internship I had to take 4 days of exams and pass all 9 of the test sections to become eligible for licensing.

Presently I work for a Design/Build Contractor.  And, I have had the honor of working with "Anoriginal" on one of our Colorado projects.

I think when I get out of high school I'd like to work on something in the computer field. What I'd really like to do someday is to own or manage a data center. But, I'll start off small. Right now I know how to design websites in xhtml/css and although I haven't worked with it in about a year so I'm kinda fuzzy with it, I can write php and work with databases. I'm also planning on getting my CCNP in Cisco networking to give me a bit of an edge in that, and possibly working up on the Microsoft ladder for an MCSE. I love computers, and it's pretty easy once you learn how to do everything. What sucks is all the freelancers in Web developing now are able to do things extremely cheap, so you'll need to get into a good team to do anything worth real cash. That's my 2 cents.

I'm joining the military after high school, and right now I'm deciding what kinda of job I want and which branch to join.  I have a basic idea of what I want, just getting the final details thought of.  Then I'm going to get my degree(s) during and after my time in, and hopefully get a good job afterwards.

Right now I go to a vo-tech high school which im learning diesel technology. after high school im going to work part time at Kelly tractor, Cummins diesel or CAT(all of them sponsor my school and higher the students in my class’s) and go to collage for a degree businesses and then after that start my own diesel mechanics shop. 
Or
Follow after my dad and join law enforcement (he is an LT for MDPD and is a LT in the cost guard reserves) and become a  border patrol agent.

UncleRico is right to an extent. Construction can be trying at times, but his situation sounds to me like an unusual one.
First, any apprentice must accomanied by at least a journeyman( who falls into the 22.00 per hour)
Second, the company he was refering to might not have been on the up and up, not all construction companies are that way.
I know some of you are going to disagree, but those who know me, know that I only work about 4hrs a day, and make more money than most peaple.I will say that it does depend on what  "Trade" you are in, but the potential is there.
I would however recomend some sort of schooling(degree). I have a college degree in CAD, but I dont really use it unless I am designing a kitchen. But that is different than installing one.
 Good luck in whatever profession you choose, think it through and make responsible choices.

i subcontract division 10 specialities.interior stuff. im looking for help.

I'm a custom Tile, marble, granite, brick paver, etc. installer for my parents and my company.  Swede's Tile co inc.  ;D
 

If the younger generation hadn't become so lazy I don't believe the illegal immigrant thing would be as bad in construction. If you don't plan on college and aren't afraid to work for a living then there isn't much out there that pays as good as commercial construction. I work for a very large drywall company and we use the "mexicans" only because that's all we can find that want to work. They make anywhere from 14 to 18 $/hr, not bad for a job requiring no formal education.

I am a Sitework, Underground Utility, and Fireline Contractor. I am also a Class "A" General Contractor. My company, started with me only, now has 30 to 40 employees at any given time, which sounds cool, but that means 30 to 40 families survival depend on me staying busy.Also figure in the scheduling problems, inspections, weather, repairs, and the Bulls*@t factor goes up even more.  Finally, and most importantly, it's a constant battle to get paid. Last year a contractor tried to stiff me for over $150K, and right now another contractor has owed me $85K for over 6 months. Damn strong arm Lawyers like Anoriginal (relax counselor, my wife and sister are Attorneys) end up making most of the money in these situations  My advice to you would be like many of the others: Go to school and get an education. If you like construction, get into engineering or architecture. If you just have to work in the field, start with a good company, pay attention and learn what is being taught. If you are smart and a hard worker, you will advance pretty quickly.        

I am an auditor for one of the biggest public accounting firms in the world.  Graduated with a bachelor's degree in accounting.  Working on trying to pass the exam to become a Certified Public Accountant.  Its my job to keep a company's financial statements free from accounting fraud or mistakes.  Alot of times when I tell someone that I am an auditor they freak out cause they think I work for the IRS, but I don't.  My job is to prevent accounting scandles like Enron from happening.  Whatever you decide to do, GO TO COLLEGE!  It is some of the most fun years of your life and you will remember it forever, except for those nights that you get really drunk and can't remember.  If I were you, I would go to the University of Central Florida, thats where I graduated from and still go up there every once in a while and am amazed at how much it has grown.  That and the fact that there are some absolutely smokin' hot girls up there.  Even though the military is very honorable, you don't want to miss out on college, its just too dang fun. 

I am a Network technician.  I did 6 years in the Air Force as a Ground RADAR tech.  It was a great experience and you can learn alot about life and yourself... but then you will only get out what you put into it.  Overall it was a fun job and I got to see some pretty cool stuff.  I made the transition into computers from electronics for the money.  My job can be fun now too, but for the most part it's just routine.

I always enjoyed working on ATVs and motorcycles growing up.  I wanted to go to MMI in Orlando, but my parents really didn't see the 'better' future they wanted for me in that field.  Thought I wouldn't put my brain to good use.  
If I had it to do over again I would take the chance and go to MMI.  Money isn't everything.

I beat up people for a living!  I highly recommend it. But plan on a short career. After several dislocated shoulders, fingers, concusions, sprained eye socket (yes it is possible), stitches, cracked ribs, califlower ears, and bruises- it starts to get old! Other than that, its a great way to let off steam! >:D

I am also a Director of Special Finance for an automotive group consisting of 5 dealerships and 14 brands of vehicles! ;)

I work for some arse at a bike shop working on quads all the time. I never get days off, work 10 to 18 hours a day, and he never lets me ride anymore. ;)

money isn't everything, I would quit that job if your dang boss never let's you ride.

after you finish a certain Rubicon though ;-)

Id@

im a proffessiioonnaall Stuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuud! just ask my wife, she'll tell ya ;D

work for the federal goverment,  nuff said !!!!!!!

My recommendation would be to see what the market is like for the job you want before you go to college for a degree in anything. Many of my friends are in the 25-30yr old range and have all gone to college and all have degrees. How many of them are working in the field they have degrees in? NONE!!! Why because there was no market for what they held degrees in once they finished college.

Once you are in college many doors open and you will probably change your mind several times as to what you want to do. Either way for most the first year of college is your basic classes - Math, Science and so on. That gives you time to figure things out.

Right now find a job that you would like to do that makes you happy. Also keep in mind you will probably have several jobs before you in a sense "settle down" with one that you will stick with. As a teenager ages 17-20 most of us on here probably had several different jobs before we landed where we are now.

I work in freight forwarding

Im a project manager / estimator for a structured cabling contractor. I started at the very bottom. I was looking up at the guys on the bottom.  And it's been rewarding. I've been able to stay with the same company for almost 18 years.

I always wanted to do that boat captain/crew thing but ended up working for the government in purchasing

I work for County Gov't in IT-anywhere from managing Servers-cabling to desktop support.  I have my Microsoft cert's-they open  few doors for you but experince carries more weight. 

<----- Peter North stunt double. -Mark

Working as tech at a engineering firm but going to UNF to be a General Contractor.  I have done some research and read some books and the amount of engineers that are graduating over sea's is amazing.  The hard part about working on the computer is you can do it anywhere in the world and India os doing a good job on taking a lot of our jobs because they can work cheap.  Its amazing as to what you will find out that is being sent across seas to be done.  I found out that doctors are sending x-rays across seas to get looked at in the middle of the night so the doctors can have a review on it in the morning.  Thats just one thing the engineering company I work for is looking at having people across sea draw stuff in cad to save us time and money.  CRAZY!!!!

Navy helicopter crewman, rescue swimmer, door gunner, sub hunter, radar operator, and mail delivery

I would say get a degree and become a politician and run for governor. then open all these wildlife management areas up for Riding.

I am an assistant manager for a store called Rent a Center and am also the youth pastor at our church. Eventually I will go into the ministry full time but I am waiting on God to open those doors!

What gym did you fight out of? I use to do that stupid job too, I had a orbital socket blow out. Thats were the eye gets pushed back in the socket and breaks the bones out behind the eye.  :ouch.gif     That retired me!

Susan is that why you are the bathroom attendant at the fuzzy pickle?

Yo eric what do you do for a living?

dont you read the post before replying. look at page 1  ;)

AND..........................

oh i thought you ment trx#9 my bad. :P

Read the POST before replying smart A$$

hey dont start that crap with me. >:( there are 2 erics. and i do read post before i reply i also dont make topics that were just made like 2 weeks ago. do a search.

where are you located?

i am a head loan processor at Achieva Credit Union.

 ;D I'm in my thirties and doing pretty good vocation wise.  I work for my parents cutting the grass, cleaning their pool, changing the ac filter, waxing their minivan, and lots of other stuff.  Hey, I get free room and board and sometimes my dad even lets me use his cool TV remote control.  Don't be a hater! ;D

I'm a kept man  8)

Yacht mechanics is where its at  8)

I trained at a local dojo in town here! Never attended too many classes, just alot of personal training with a guy named Jack Bailey. Awesome MMA fighter! I also trained with the Gracie camp a few times with Mr. Bailey. Very intense and educational! Made a few dollars doing it, but the medical bills so far has far outweighed that! But, nevertheless, I dont do it any more! Im suprised that someone actually caught on though! Only those who have done it actually would have! 8)

thats part-time! nancy,

  Electro-mechanical Tech for a major worldwide distributor of Medical Mfg surgical devices

  Hoss400 is a Maintenance Tech for Masonic Home of Florida

o4250. Josh and I work at our family business selling all types of flooring. There is tons of money in installations and there are plenty of people that will let you be a helper. Our top guy started at 15 and had his own crew by 25. The trick is to be a helper for 8-9 years and learn eveyrthing! tons of people work for 1-2 years with an installer and think they know all.

I wanted to be a kindergarten Cop like Arnold....Now I just want to be a Millionaire.

Take it easy............You might break your axle

Err stfu mommy and daddy wont always be there for money..........

And to your comment only one thing can be said.......Atleast he jumps high enough to break one.....

I sand and re-finish hardwood floors. Install them also, but specialize in dust-less sanding and re-finishing. If you or anybody you know's wood floor is looking bad, I'll offer an atvflorida.com discount. But if I could give you any kind of advice it's that it doesn't matter what you decide to do for a living, just be the best at it .

janitor ;D

I repair furniture for a major furniture retailer in florida

Now ....UNEMPLOYED :o

back quack

I'm a real estate agent and also working part time as an admin... fixing to start classes to get certified in AutoCad, if all goes well

I work as an office manager for a Landscape Architect .... But I've had a bunch of jobs since I got out of High school ....

YES!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D :) ;D ;D ;D ;D

I have been a Graphics Illustrator for CSA for the last 20 years http://www.conshelf.com/
I do most of the finish Reports... graphs, lots of underwater photos,  ;D  drawings, ArcView figures, and all Presentations & all Qualification Statements for the company, we just merged with Ocean Specialists, Inc. (OSI) and Technology Systems Corp. (TSC) this will take us to a new level  :YingYang.gif

FYI...We are looking for qualified people in the field...Divers, Biologists, Science Director, & a Receptionist, we have more work that we can handle.  We will be opening an office in Trinidad and possibly one in Qatar :o ....need single people who like to travel all over the world  ;)  Also we are moving from Jupiter into our new building in Stuart early 07.

The details of my life are quite inconsequential.... Very well, where do I begin? My father was a relentlessly self-improving boulangerie owner from Belgium with low grade narcolepsy and a penchant for buggery. My mother was a 15-year-old French prostitute named Chloe with webbed feet. My father would womanize; he would drink. He would make outrageous claims like he invented the question mark. Sometimes, he would accuse chestnuts of being lazy. The sort of general malaise that only the genius possess and the insane lament... My childhood was typical: summers in Rangoon... luge lessons... In the spring, we'd make meat helmets... When I was insolent I was placed in a burlap bag and beaten with reeds — pretty standard, really. At the age of 12, I received my first scribe. At the age of 14, an Zoroastrian named Wilma ritualistically shaved my testicles — there really is nothing like a shorn scrotum — it's quite breathtaking... I suggest you try it.
and oh yes I always wanted to be a vet.....an evil vet!

Very nice Dr. Evil

Im frickn glad you enjoyed that.right now im working on a " Laser" you know TO CONQUER THE WORLD  :P :P :P

This Laser, was it the same one worked on by the famed Dr. Alan Parson's?

What do you call your project?

YES! its the "Alan Parsons Project" , funny you should ask? ;D

Professional Video Camera Operator
Professional Non-Linear Video Editor
Professional Photographer
Class A Truck Driver
Heavy Equipment Operator
and my favorite - Beer Connaisseur

Ride my 4x4 thru the mud
Ride my raptor in the dirt
Ride my jeep thru the mud and dirt
Ride my waverunner in the water

Oh, and Real Estate / Investments. 

Looking for a new one in the North Port area!!!!

The Project Manager for a Real Estate Development Company.. " head baby sitter "

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, OOHRA! i've seen just about every country in south east asia. all the uncal sams dollar. while your in all collage classes you take are complty paid for by the corps. then when you get out the G.I. bill kicks in and that 50,000 bucks for collage. not to mention that a 6 month deployment to the sand box will pull in 15 to 20 Gs. that always a nice lil bonus. so you can't go wrong. and it's only 4 years out your life.

I'm in boat sales, in the panhandle.  Also have a few houses I rent out to people who don't pay there rent on time.

M.I.L.F   8)

REPAIR & BUILD NEW  , STAINLESS/STEEL MARINE EXHAUST SYSTEMS FOR LARGE YACHTS , THAT MEANS I`M A WELDER , STARTED IN CONSTRUCTION OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL , AFTER READING THIS POST IM SUPRISED THAT NO ONE SAID ANYTHING ABOUT THE MEDICAL FIELD , MY WIFE IS AN R.N. , FOR THE LAST 10 YRS , SHE STARTED SLOW ,BUT NOW MAKES MORE MONEY THEN GOD !

Retiered at 38 ;)  Did what I had to do now do what I want to do.  Licenced GC, 100ton Master Captain, Real Estate Mortgage Broker.  Now just invest in real estate and teach others how to make money and not have to go to work and get caught up in the grind we are all trained to do. 

That sounds so aweome, That what i wanna do and not get stuck in the rat race

Northwest Airlink Captain in the CRJ-200 based in Detroit

[attachment deleted by admin]

Retired Police Officer 15years (4 year degree, continuous training, decent pay and bennies)
Retired Farrier   30 years        (1 year certification, great pay, nice boss[ME],)
Ordained Anglo-Cathilic Minister  9 years  (7 years part time schooling to complete my double masters, great bennies with Great Boss)
Custom Home Theater 7 years  (Long Hours, STRESS, and impossible deadlines, all so someone else can sit in their dedicated home theater, in their leather electric reclining chair, watching football on a 150" screen)

I repair hot air welders for single ply roofing. Also a Briggs and Honda tech. Oh generators too.

Almost forgot,I fix air tools too.

For now I'm in construction, working out in the hot sun all day long doing various things from vertical construction to site work, which requires me to operate a bobcat at times and other equipment. Also I just enrolled into SPC to work on my construction estimating certificate. I am also a certified fork lift operator too. In a few years I see myself working for a construction company or another company that requires an estimator. But the fact is that you have to do what your mind tells you.

I work for an A/C company running permits for jobs...

But its all gonna change now since i finally got accepted to the fire department..

I been thinking about that, sounds like fire fighters have a fulfilling life, work 24 hours and get 48 off, and a bunch of good benefits.

And you  usaully work second jobs and such ;D

Oh yeah :-\

Well you work second jobs for spending money, not like you have too, its just you have the time too.