Looking to change career before its too late..

diechris · #1 06-11-2009, 12:54 AM

Ok so It might already be too late but I was wondering if you guys can recommend a new career that makes decent money (at least $15/hr..) and I can get certified to get the job fast.

I'm currently in the architecture field and It's not looking good. co-workers around me are dropping like flies as far as lay-off are concerned. I would like too take classes next semester and hopefully get out and into a new career asap.

I was looking in to becoming an EMT... but not too sure where to start. An EMT is a thought... any other ideas would help greatly.

bwv1013 · #2 06-11-2009, 01:11 AM

what else interests you? are you really done working in that field or just concerned for your job? there's a big difference between brushing up the resume and a full-on career change. you might start by taking inventory of your strengths/marketable skills and focus your search into those areas.

it's a tough job market right now, it might be wise to be patient with your current job while you consider other options...

bongomania · #3 06-11-2009, 01:17 AM

Seems like there's always openings for 911 call center operators, and the community college programs that train for that are not too long.

diechris · #4 06-11-2009, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwv1013

what else interests you? are you really done working in that field or just concerned for your job? there's a big difference between brushing up the resume and a full-on career change. you might start by taking inventory of your strengths/marketable skills and focus your search into those areas.

it's a tough job market right now, it might be wise to be patient with your current job while you consider other options...

There isnt one person I know thats a drafter in the office that hasn't been laid off multiple times. There are no jobs anywhere for drafters and with the econamy the way it is, It seems like business won't pick up for a couple years. The firm I am at specializes in hotel/casino design.. no one wants to build casino or hotels right now. If I choose too I know I can come back to the field... but I need to worry about the next couple years. I would rather expand my employment opportunities rather then put all my eggs in one basket. Im only 24 and I figure right now is the best time to load up on my options.

diechris · #5 06-11-2009, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

Seems like there's always openings for 911 call center operators, and the community college programs that train for that are not too long.

That is a possibility! I'll look in to that. people don't stop getting hurt thats for sure. Thanks bongo

wazzel · #6 06-11-2009, 07:09 AM

If you want to keep drafting look into oil and gas. Things are not to bleak and pay is good. Down side is you would probably have to move to Houston. Up side, other than pay, is you would not have to truly start over.

MakiSupaStar · #7 06-11-2009, 07:21 AM

Check your options in nursing. All kinds of jobs for nurses, medical techs. The thing about EMT work is that it doesn't pay much unless you start venturing toward becoming a paramedic, or move toward working in the ER.

PSPookie · #8 06-11-2009, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wazzel

If you want to keep drafting look into oil and gas. Things are not to bleak and pay is good. Down side is you would probably have to move to Houston. Up side, other than pay, is you would not have to truly start over.

Also look into civil design and utilities. These copmanies aren't going anywhere and they need people with drafting skills.

Making maps of power lines may no be sexy, but it will put food on the table.

RS · #9 06-11-2009, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

Check your options in nursing. All kinds of jobs for nurses, medical techs. The thing about EMT work is that it doesn't pay much unless you start venturing toward becoming a paramedic, or move toward working in the ER.

At least in the short/medium term, the pay and opportunity for nurses and most allied health (in most markets) are much more limited than the MSM would have you believe, FYI.

Chebass88 · #10 06-11-2009, 07:52 AM

Good for you to have forethought & planning for your career.

You MAY want to be laid off - hear me out on this one. Most likely, your state unemployment agency offers training to the unemployed workforce. At least in NJ it does. I was laid off (chemical engineer) in March 2005, and heard about it everytime I went to the unemployment office. For me, there were no trainings available of interest, however, they always kept pushing several career areas including some medical work & truck driving. There's no sense in paying for your own training if you can get someone else to pay for it!

Also, if you are thinking about being an EMT - talk with your local EMT staff. They will know all the contacts in the area, including the folks in charge of training & may be able to provide a large amount of information for you. You may be able to work as a volunteer as well, to determine if you like it or not. Having contacts helps your resume / application go to the top of the pile.

Hope this helps.

ian

diechris · #11 06-11-2009, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chebass88

Good for you to have forethought & planning for your career.

You MAY want to be laid off - hear me out on this one. Most likely, your state unemployment agency offers training to the unemployed workforce. At least in NJ it does. I was laid off (chemical engineer) in March 2005, and heard about it everytime I went to the unemployment office. For me, there were no trainings available of interest, however, they always kept pushing several career areas including some medical work & truck driving. There's no sense in paying for your own training if you can get someone else to pay for it!

Also, if you are thinking about being an EMT - talk with your local EMT staff. They will know all the contacts in the area, including the folks in charge of training & may be able to provide a large amount of information for you. You may be able to work as a volunteer as well, to determine if you like it or not. Having contacts helps your resume / application go to the top of the pile.

Hope this helps.

ian

thanks for the info, I'll definitely have to look in to that. After talking to a few friends that got laid off in the past couple I got an idea of what my unemployment check would look like so knowing that settled some fears. I would love to take advantage of free training but if possible I would like to get a start on things so I don't cut things close as far as the unemployment checks go.

diechris · #12 06-11-2009, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PSPookie

Also look into civil design and utilities. These copmanies aren't going anywhere and they need people with drafting skills.

Making maps of power lines may no be sexy, but it will put food on the table.

I would love to do engineering drafting but there are no drafting jobs of any kind available in vegas now... Last I heard the only companies hiring were sending people to Mumbai. I'll keep an eye out though! The only project up for bid now are city/county jobs.

bongomania · #13 06-11-2009, 08:44 AM

Another option that may surprise you-- road crew work, as in working for the city filling potholes and digging up the road and re-paving it. Most of those jobs are union, and union city workers get paid pretty well. The only tough part is jumping through the hoops of red tape and competition, because those jobs are coveted. But part of the new stimulus program is money specifically for this kind of local-government-funded busywork.

ironrat · #14 06-11-2009, 08:52 AM

Join the Army, I am considering joining the Army Reserve.

diechris · #15 06-11-2009, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ironrat

Join the Army, I am considering joining the Army Reserve.

Wish you the best! But that is not an option for me. I have too much things going right now other then work that need me to stay here. If I was single I would consider.

MakiSupaStar · #16 06-11-2009, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

Another option that may surprise you-- road crew work, as in working for the city filling potholes and digging up the road and re-paving it. Most of those jobs are union, and union city workers get paid pretty well. The only tough part is jumping through the hoops of red tape and competition, because those jobs are coveted. But part of the new stimulus program is money specifically for this kind of local-government-funded busywork.

Is it weird that I sometimes fight a compulsion to park the car, put on an orange jersey and start spending my days doing road repair?

Jim Nazium · #17 06-11-2009, 09:18 AM

If you like working with computers, look into getting the A+ certification (PC hardware & software installation and support). It doesn't take long, and there always seem to be jobs that pay pretty well.

ubado · #18 06-11-2009, 09:25 AM

As for being an EMT ... try to move through the certifications as fast as possible (an EMT-B won't make nearly as much as an EMT-I). I've known quite a few EMT's in my lifetime ... and every-single-one has a terrible story to tell.

IF you don't mind swing-shifts, or the thought of being first on the scene to suicides, heart attacks, car accidents ... yada ... yada ...yada; then an EMT is a decent job to tide you over until the economic climate picks up again. As long as you keep up with your certifications ... you can always do it to earn some extra scratch on the side.

MakiSupaStar · #19 06-11-2009, 09:36 AM

diechris, I notice that you list in your locations Las Vegas and Maui. You might be able to get your EMT and then get a job as a first responder at a hotel in Vegas or a resort in Maui. If you're a good swimmer, you might try out for a lifeguard spot in Maui. I'm an EMT, and most of my fellow lifeguards here are too.

Steve · #20 06-11-2009, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diechris

I was looking in to becoming an EMT... but not too sure where to start. An EMT is a thought... any other ideas would help greatly.

EMT is typically (around here) the beginning of a career path that goes on to Paramedic. For decent employability you'll end up working Fire/ Rescue which means you'll also end up having to go to Fire Fighter academy for minimum standards training.

THAT is something you have to be mentally wired for. I loved being a Paramedic but had zero and I mean ZERO interest in hanging my life out there running into a burning building just to spray water onto someones moth eaten old couch that was insured anyway.

I wasn't wired for that job but, I digress.

By the time you are done with all that, you've invested close to 3 years in some fairly challenging education and training.

You'll also end up in a job that gets you a 24 hour shift every third day which will pretty much kill your gigging opportunities.

If you think health care is something you could be good at, I would suggest you choose a career path that leads to an RN. Vastly better opportunity, pay and much lower rate of burn out.

It takes a fair amount of time and effort to hit $15/ hr. working in EMS. I doubt you'll do it as an EMT basic.

If you get your foot in the door at a hospital, even as a phlebotomist (the blood sucking vampire that loves sticking needles in people) the pay will be reasonable and they are so desperate for nurses that the chances are excellent that they will pay your way through school.

The Money in IT can come faster than most other industries. When I was doing it, I got my foot in the door at about $14/hr and in six months I was at $27/hr. They also ran me all over the country just like they're doing to MJ5150 which can kill your gigging.

If you do go IT, do something that requires you to actually put your hands on something. Most work that can be done remotely or at a desk is going overseas as fast as they can make it happen.