Career choice time

[Damned Angel]

This past friday night I went out to the lake to help my buddy who's a journeyman electrician wire up a new cabin that some guy is building. I must admit, its alot more work than im used to (my day usually consists of sitting on my *** for 8 hours and being a condecending prick to anyone who calls), but it was a lot more fun and rewarding ($20 an hour).

He has since asked me if I would like to apprentace under him. I never really thought much of it at first, but then I came to work today and remembered how much I hate my job and the company I work for. They let the service receptionist go today because her position does not generate revenu. That should give you a good idea how much this place sucks.

So, I can continue doing a job that I'm good at, for people I hate, with customers that annoy me for about $10 an hour, or I can go work for my buddy who is the site boss, doing something that I know almost nothing about, not talking to customers, for about $15 an hour to start.

What do you think I should do?

[jmani]

Well that is a tough choice. You need to weight the positives and negatives.

Electrician:
pros: more $, rewarding? something new, fun.
cons: something new, hard work, probably at the whims of the contract gods (= no jobs no pay)

Tech:
pros: you already do it, can make big $, fun (for masochists)
cons: job sucks, economy tight for new jobs.

think long and hard.

[ilovetheusers]

You only make $10 an hour? Go for the $$$ as an electrician.

As for job satisfaction, well...

Pro: Working construction you will get the satisfaction of seeing your work's results. "I did that" feels better when you can point at something and peope understand what your talking about for a change.

Con: You have to deal with the same dumb people as before but now they will very likely not have an education or refinment. If the construction people near you are anything like here they will be a motley bunch of alcaholic/druggies and ex cons and all the fun people the brighter folk normally do not associate with. If you or a relative work construction and find this to be untrue, maybe it's just the guys near my area.

Another con is that the market for electricians is more seasonal - unless you set up some sort of side business doing PC and/or electrical work you may find yourself hungry in the winter.

It's physical labor to some extent, but that's neither a con or a pro. Moving about outside is good for you but in the lousy weather, it kind of stinks.

It's a big career shift.

[NooNoo]

Well DA - how about doing the apprenticeship and doing computers on the side for yourself?

My brother in law is an electrician and while he does not enjoy crawling in floor and roof spaces he does get an awful lot of side jobs that keep him in beer money!

[Outcoded]

And when it comes to side work, people never seem to ask electricians to work for free either

I'm a qualified electrician, and often wonder about doing it for a living.

[amyb]

Yes, especially after reading what your company did to the receptionist..(what? didn't generate revenue? she's a receptionist!!) Plus, no more sitting on your *** for 8 hours!!

[Cobra X]

I won't lie to you - if I could find a decent job outside the technology industry, I'd take it in a heartbeat. I hate doing my job, my company, and my coworkers. And hating your job is one of the ones feelings in the world, IMO.

Get out while the gettin's good.

[gazzak]

Hey Damned Angel,

Your company sounds like mine, exactly like mine. What the hell are you doing asking advice here when you could be writing out your resignation letter right now. Listen to me carefully, I will say this only once....

GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE AND WORK FOR YOUR BUDDY.

If the same opportunity arised for me I would go today, in fact there isn't much I wouldn't do to get away from the computer industry now. If you really aren't sure why don't you take a couple of weeks off and work for him in that time. That should give you an idea of the work involved and a bit of variation day to day. If you can't wait to get back to your old job then you know it's the wrong move. If you really don't want to go back then you know what choice to make.....

Good luck whichever direction you go.

[kato2274]

as usual Noo Noo is right on the money. I definately would go the electrician route and work some computer tech work for people on the side.

since the electrician's job is twice as much money you can realistically afford to work half as much and still maintain the same standard of living, so it's just a matter of saving money when you are busy and using that savings when things get lean. you'd only be in trouble if after the first paycheck you increased your lifestyle.

plus the electrician stuff ties into computers quite well, you could eventually offer to wire places with both electric / data and set up the computers for businesses'.

I think you gotta make the change. . . . .just my opinion. if you do and it sucks don't blame me

[MacGyver]

Take a week off your current job and work for your buddy and see how you like it.

[Cleetus]

I'm with Gazzak and Cobra, get out while the gettin is good. I know I wouldn't think twice about an opportunity like that.

[Tacklebox]

One thing you should consider is the bennies. Medical, dental, insurance, etc. Esp. if you've got a family.

I know how you feel, in my old job, I was ready to join the circus but this job came up before Barnum & Bailey came to town.

[PeLiGrOsO]

Originally posted by Tacklebox
One thing you should consider is the bennies. Medical, dental, insurance, etc. Esp. if you've got a family.

He is right.. bennefits make the job.. specially if you are married with kids.. i am married with 2 kids and if i didnt have bennefits here at work, i would of been screwed.. medical bills get expensive..
If you are a single guy.. i will take the electrician job and do computers on the side.. maybe even be a certified electrician..
My father in-law is an electrician and makes huge money.. his son also an electrician ( also just got out of police academy ) and used to make lots of money on the side..
Electrician is not an easy job..
good luck

[PuterGeekGirl]

I agree with others....do you have some vacation time you can take from your current job to work with him for a week or two to see how you really like it?

Also, computer work on the side is always a good option.

Keep us posted with what you decide.