RAGE!

[Thunderscreech]

So turns out that, because of the residential real estate downturn that my Community college can only support classes of 10 people. So, my construction materials and methods class only has 9 right now. We need a 10th, and the only other class is 7-9:15 Tuesday nights. And that is when I reschedualed my bass lessons.

So I'm very raging right now.

[Steve]

As a guy with 30 years in the trades...

Change your major NOW!

Construction has always been on the bleeding edge of the economy but now, and for probably the next 5-10 years, it's financial suicide.

[MJ5150]

Originally Posted by Thunderscreech

....my construction materials and methods class......

A class of this? I never knew. I learned all about it on the job.

Heck, I know a few of us around here would be fully qualified "professors" to teach this class.

-Mike

[nbw]

Originally Posted by Steve

As a guy with 30 years in the trades...

Change your major NOW!

Construction has always been on the bleeding edge of the economy but now, and for probably the next 5-10 years, it's financial suicide.

just curious but what are some types of trades that you think will fair well in the near future?

[PSPookie]

Originally Posted by nbw

just curious but what are some types of trades that you think will fair well in the near future?

Repo technician
Foreclosure specialist
Bankruptcy attorney
Credit counselor
Drug/alcohol counselor
Domestic abuse counselor
Home security
Liquor and tobacco sales

[Steve]

Originally Posted by nbw

just curious but what are some types of trades that you think will fair well in the near future?

Stay out of anything that has anything to do with building anything.

Stay out of IT. If the job pays well, it's going overseas. If it's a job that requires that you actually put you hands on something to fix it, it won't go overseas but you'll compete with Phd programers who's job whent overseas. You wanna compete at that level for a $15/hr. gig?

Pick up your local newspaper. I bet you a lunch that the largest group of want ads by far is in healthcare.

Be a nurse, a Rad Tech, get a foot in the door anyway you can and chances are the hospital will pay your way through any school you want.

If you don't mind blood, start as a phlebotomist. It's quick, easy, patient contact is minimal as is the stress and paperwork. Benefits are usually exceptional.

I'll probable head back into that game soon. I was a paramedic for a long time.

I'd hate to have to start out again in construction. It sucks now.

[iamlowsound]

As for a trade, mechanics will always have jobs as long at people are driving cars. Actually I disagree, any trade is good to get into right now. As long as you can keep your apprenticeship, stay in it. 5 years from now you will thank me.

lowsound

[bassplaynmatt]

Hey, why not play music for a living? It doesn't pay well but then again nothing else does anymore either

[Geddyfleaharris]

In my part of the world trades people are still in high demand. The Educators are increasing the apprenticeship programs to try and get more young people into a trade.

[middy]

Originally Posted by Steve

Stay out of IT. If the job pays well, it's going overseas. If it's a job that requires that you actually put you hands on something to fix it, it won't go overseas but you'll compete with Phd programers who's job whent overseas. You wanna compete at that level for a $15/hr. gig?

IT is more than just programming, and there's no way our staff would put up with trying to communicate with overseas programmers.

[L-A]

Why the resurrection?

[Stinsok]

...a mind is a terrible thing to waste.

[tasty sweeps]

Originally Posted by Steve

Stay out of anything that has anything to do with building anything.

i'd say that's terrible advice. just figure out a better way to build. earth and concrete construction techniques are cheap, effective, long-lasting, low maintenance, energy efficient. build something like that. come up with stuff on your own.

a good majority of my friends are in construction of some form or another and they all have one thing in common- sticking to idiotic conventions simply because they're conventions.

i'll be able to build and live in my own home within the next 15-20 years, sooner if i get my act together, and it will cost almost nothing to sustain.

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally Posted by tasty sweeps

i'll be able to build and live in my own home within the next 15-20 years, sooner if i get my act together, and it will cost almost nothing to sustain.

Heheh, sounds like something I'm thinking of doing.

Something underground (obviously with ground level skylights), or a above/below combo with the above part concealed and blended in with the surroundings.

[john turner]

Originally Posted by Steve

Stay out of IT. If the job pays well, it's going overseas. If it's a job that requires that you actually put you hands on something to fix it, it won't go overseas but you'll compete with Phd programers who's job whent overseas. You wanna compete at that level for a $15/hr. gig?

this is not my experience in IT (having been in the field since '92, albeit off the front lines - contractor with long gaps - for most of the past 8 years or so).

jobs are available for folks with the appropriate certifications, and these jobs are always going to be available. the "send the it jobs to india" thing has been really overplayed, at least in my experience.

granted, i'm having an awful time finding a job rightnow, despite my years of experience and very low standards heh but that's more because i took myself out of the loop and haven't fully "relooped" than because of anything industry driven.

also, having a phd in programming is pretty much useless in the business world. i mean, yeah, it means you're smart, but folks want to see industry certifications more than they care about college degrees. in the time it took that phd to get his thesis done, the technology that businesses are using has grown at least one generation. this has been the pace for the past 12 years at least.

if you have the appropriate microsoft certs (like an MCPD in web or windows apps), and 2-5 years on the job experience, you are still looking at a plethora of jobs in the 80-100k range here in atlanta. up that experience to the decade + range and you're looking at substantially more.

and i gave that up to pursue music. . someone shoot me now .

[Horny Toad]

Originally Posted by john turner

.....also, having a phd in programming is pretty much useless in the business world. i mean, yeah, it means you're smart, but folks want to see industry certifications more than they care about college degrees. in the time it took that phd to get his thesis done, the technology that businesses are using has grown at least one generation.....

+1000

[JQ1986]

Originally Posted by john turner

this is not my experience in IT (having been in the field since '92, albeit off the front lines - contractor with long gaps - for most of the past 8 years or so).

jobs are available for folks with the appropriate certifications, and these jobs are always going to be available. the "send the it jobs to india" thing has been really overplayed, at least in my experience.

granted, i'm having an awful time finding a job rightnow, despite my years of experience and very low standards heh but that's more because i took myself out of the loop and haven't fully "relooped" than because of anything industry driven.

also, having a phd in programming is pretty much useless in the business world. i mean, yeah, it means you're smart, but folks want to see industry certifications more than they care about college degrees. in the time it took that phd to get his thesis done, the technology that businesses are using has grown at least one generation. this has been the pace for the past 12 years at least. Oh and I'm going for my associates degree to get my foot in the door and maybe get my bachelors later.

if you have the appropriate microsoft certs (like an MCPD in web or windows apps), and 2-5 years on the job experience, you are still looking at a plethora of jobs in the 80-100k range here in atlanta. up that experience to the decade + range and you're looking at substantially more.

and i gave that up to pursue music. . someone shoot me now .

I just about crapped my pants when I read what Steve posted since I, literally, JUST (as in today) started going to school for IT. But reading this was a sigh of relief. Not sure what I'm gonna do as far as what specifics, any suggestions?

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally Posted by john turner

and i gave that up to pursue music. . someone shoot me now .

You'll just b&hammer the bullet.....

[john turner]

Originally Posted by JQ1986

I just about crapped my pants when I read what Steve posted since I, literally, JUST (as in today) started going to school for IT. But reading this was a sigh of relief. Not sure what I'm gonna do as far as what specifics, any suggestions?

there's a lot of stuff available, but tbh you can't go wrong preparing for microsoft development/admin certifications, tailored to what you like. getting your feet wet with sharepoint is also a good idea, imo. lots of folks are steering away from custom apps toward sharepoint solutions.

basically hang out on this website :

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/default.aspx until you know it all by heart

ime the majority of shops that hire developers are working with at least some microsoft products. getting certified in any microsoft environment is going to show at least the beginnings of some expertise in that environment. if you want to really show you're hardcore, there are further certification paths to go, 3rd party folks like brainbench, that go further than the standard ms certs to expose one's expertise.

i'm probably not the best person to ask, though, heh. i'm trying to get a job now, and i've let my skills lapse a little over the past three years. playing catch-up sucks.

[john turner]

also, someone mentioned (i think it was steve) the terms "IT jobs" and "$15/hour". there aren't any real IT jobs that pay that low ime.

data entry is -not- IT. even entry level developer jobs pay 3x-4x that much, from what i've seen in my job hunting, if not even more.

you come out of college with a comp sci degree, good relevant certifications, like an mcpd in dot.net development, and you're going to be looking at 40-50k a year jobs, at least, even in atlant, where cost of living - and salaries - are far from the highest in the nation.

this is from what i've seen, job hunting in atlanta these past 6 months.