Posts
228
Joined
10/12/2011
Location
Gilbert, AZ
US
JayBraap19
2/5/2018 11:11am
2/5/2018 11:11am
Edited Date/Time
2/19/2018 8:24pm
I’m 27, my wife is the breadwinner right now, bringing home 40k a year while going to school full time and raising our 2 year old.
I feel I have worked myself into the ground from the age of 18. I don’t want to end up like my father and step father (one disabled now due to work injuries, and the other with rapidly declining health due to 45 years of intense manual labor).
I have “job hopped” my whole life, always struggling to make ends meet on a shoe string budget. One construction/labor job to another.... living paycheck to paycheck. Parents have no retirement, and my dad lives below poverty level. I tried to pay for college while working to cover my living expenses, and couldn’t make ends meet so had to forfeit and go back to full time work.
I currently work in an electrical supply chain warehouse. Stupid work. Everyone here is nice, but mindless work picking orders and packing boxes for 9 hours. Benefits are second to none, and company has an ESOP. After 7 years you are “fully vested” and can continue to build your stock from there. It’s obviosuly a wise choice for anyone looking to retire with a good chunk of change, but I am extremely depressed and unmovitved.
I came in with a full head of steam, but after a little over 1 year now, I feel burnt out and don’t see myself excelling to anything within the company that would satisfy me. As mentioned before, the thought of retirement money and benefits are the ONLY things forcing me to drive the 45 minute commute here every day.
I lack a large network, haven’t been on social media in years, and have one good friend so asking around for work is pretty much a non-option.
If any of you vitards know of anyone looking for a good hand, I have a resume on hand. Current annual salary is 32k, before taxes.
I feel I have worked myself into the ground from the age of 18. I don’t want to end up like my father and step father (one disabled now due to work injuries, and the other with rapidly declining health due to 45 years of intense manual labor).
I have “job hopped” my whole life, always struggling to make ends meet on a shoe string budget. One construction/labor job to another.... living paycheck to paycheck. Parents have no retirement, and my dad lives below poverty level. I tried to pay for college while working to cover my living expenses, and couldn’t make ends meet so had to forfeit and go back to full time work.
I currently work in an electrical supply chain warehouse. Stupid work. Everyone here is nice, but mindless work picking orders and packing boxes for 9 hours. Benefits are second to none, and company has an ESOP. After 7 years you are “fully vested” and can continue to build your stock from there. It’s obviosuly a wise choice for anyone looking to retire with a good chunk of change, but I am extremely depressed and unmovitved.
I came in with a full head of steam, but after a little over 1 year now, I feel burnt out and don’t see myself excelling to anything within the company that would satisfy me. As mentioned before, the thought of retirement money and benefits are the ONLY things forcing me to drive the 45 minute commute here every day.
I lack a large network, haven’t been on social media in years, and have one good friend so asking around for work is pretty much a non-option.
If any of you vitards know of anyone looking for a good hand, I have a resume on hand. Current annual salary is 32k, before taxes.
So really, what I WANT to do right now, and what I HAVE to do to keep my family fed are two separate things. I don’t mind, but I am looking for a higher salary. I’m tired of living by the thread of my pants and would enjoy being able to send my kid to college when he’s of age.
The Shop
Is the value of the retirement based on the stock value of your employer?
If the company goes bankrupt or is bought out do you get screwed?
Seems like 27 is a little young to make a retirement plan your main priority in job decisions.
Do you dream of someday owning a business?
Have you checked to see if a local community college offers testing as to preferred careers?
What do you enjoy besides moto (because let's face it, most moto jobs other than sales either require travel or pay nothing)?
Where do you live and are you and your family willing to relocate?
Just a few questions that pop into my mind.
And I am a 54 year old that has less than $3k in an Ira and real estate I hope I can get my money out of 10 years from now.
The added bonus is, all the equipment made nowadays is mostly junk, so that's like job security. My guess is within 10-15 years, maybe sooner, good tradesmen will be able to demand high pay.
I don't know what the licensing requirements are by you, but after a few years of working for someone else you may be able to get one and start your own business. Self-employment is a great way to go. Good luck to you in whatever you decide to pursue!!
10 year veteran officer in some of the Dallas suburbs are making 75k a year. And you have options for overtime and private security income on the side as well.
If you want to get into the motorcycle industry, your best bet is to start at a dealership. Ride Now has their headquarters in Chandler, so you are pretty close... that's a pretty corporate way to go and it would help you have some experience so you can apply at an OEM or aftermarket manufacturer later.
If I had to give you what I think might be the best advice, however, it is this: Go to a trade school and get certified in something IT-related. There will always be computer needs now, in the same way that there will always be HVAC needs. Every single company out there has at least one computer, and 99.9% of them need at least one person to manage a network for them.
As for me, I wish I had gone into a better-paying profession so I could actually afford to enjoy motorcycles. Think about that.
I’m a licensed electrician but have always worked for large corporations in production/facilities/engineering departments. But I dread going in everyday. I’m burnt out and it seems so uninspiring and boring after all these years. This wasn’t my dream, but my experience just led me here. I make a good living, can afford nice bikes, but something is lacking and I haven’t been able to put my finger on it.
If I were your age I would consider-
Railroad - excellent benefits and retirement.
Firefighter or police - Not the same thing every day and great retirement.
Sales- by the time you’re my age you could be making great money. I had a traveling job once upon a time and met a guy in a hotel bar who sold mercury outboard engines to marinas and boat dealers. The guys work attire was khaki shorts and sperrys. I envied him.
I think male humans are happier doing something with a sense of adventure and excitement. At least I think that’s what I’ve been craving.
Pit Row
Besides that, you don’t make any money in a facility that large. Too many salesmen, not enough paying customers.
Aside from hvac, electrical, carpentry, etc., consider medical specialties if you have the interest. A lot of the programs can be done in about two years. Great pay, great benefits, recession proof...and usually a 3 or 4 day work week. Some things to consider: Respiratory therapy, Nuclear medicine, Radiology technician, Nursing, Surgical tech, etc. Etc.
Military is awesome man. Take the asvab. If you don’t know what you want to do. The military will find you a job and will make you great at it. And pay you well.
Active duty base salary and your housing allowance will crush 32k a year. It is with risks of course. Maybe inquire about the us army mos:12R (twelve Romeo) interior electrician.....do 3-6 years and you’ll have real world experience to apply to a civilian job. 12 Romeo isn’t your only option....there are many. Atleast take the ASVAB to see what jobs you qualify for.
Everyone in the military isn’t given a swift kick in the ass, a rifle and a screaming superior sayin “go fight.”
Those that appear to be well off to you haven’t got there because it was easy. They got there working a lot of overtime, and sacrificing a lot. I don’t really know what the answer to life is, but the more you make the more you’ll spend. It’s a battle for sure. Get set in your career now and keep retirement on the horizon....you’ll figure it out.
A young healthy man wants to be rich.
An old rich man wants to be healthy. Enjoy your family, create a good work/life balance....and just try hard.
An old rich man wants to be healthy. Enjoy your family, create a good work/life balance....and just try hard.
Probably the best advice I've read on this whole site.
I worked as a telephone lineman for years before I finally got enough sense to leave. Pay was great (up to 80 hrs a week) but I was never home, and when I was, I was mad or stressed out from the work day. I found a needle in a haystack desk job for about the same pay, 9-5, no overtime or weekends and haven't looked back since.
For me, it was less about the job itself, and more about what the job allowed me to do outside of work.
That quote pretty much sums up my dilemma from the last two years. I worked in the welding/pipe fitting trade in the North Dakota oil fields for two years, and I put in more hours in those two years than most employed Americans put in over a 4 year time span. After I realized Uncle Sam was taxing my paycheck almost .70 cents on the dollar after breaking 70 hours in the work week, as well as the extremely unhealthy diet I was living off of, I knew it wasn’t a sustainable lifestyle.
I have no issues working hard or putting in some long days, but I’m just tired of doing it against my will. I am grateful for what I have, but am never complacent. I am an extremely passionate and competitive person. Ever since I stopped racing, I have had a deep burning feeling inside my gut that nothing has been able to satisfy.
I learned the basics of copywriting and did some freelance work online last year, and that wasn’t too horrible. I spoke with Kris Keefer a few months back and offered my services if he ever needed someone to write some content for his website, which I would love to do, but I wouldnt expect much in terms of monetary gains (more so just for the love of the sport).
I have also considered trying to squeeze into the industry as a personal trainer. I have always enjoyed “training” and going to the gym, and attempted to go to college for kinesiology. After my short run at a college degree, I started to study to get certified through ACE and NASM. I never took the final exams due to..... you guessed it, lack of money.
Are there any members here that are in either of the two previously mentioned fields of work?
Post a reply to: Looking for a new career.