Going back to school

[Mattymatt]

I am going back to school at the local community college in the fall to become an Automotive Technician (mechanic) because I am having such difficulty finding work and the trades are heavily in demand. I am 41 and I've aged out of Information Technology. I looked into doing a program to become an electrician but my two good NT friends told me that it's really a young man's game. I am not going to be crawling through tight spaces and duct work so I won't make a good plumber either. I thought about carpentry work but I nixed that as well. Both of my friends seemed to think that learning to repair engines, transmissions, and other car systems will serve me very well because I am good at troubleshooting.

I am having a tough time staying positive and not feeling despondent over my personal and professional lives, or more precisely, lack thereof. I am sick of living in abject poverty. Currently I work as an armed security guard and I hate every minute of it but there's nothing I can do, save for education, to lift myself out of the misery. I am on my day off and I just feel so miserable that all I feel like doing is crying. At least I managed to fill out the US FAFSA form so I can get the loans to go back to school.

I wish I hadn't wasted so much of my younger years. The best I can do is try to make the ones I have ahead a little bit better.

 

[Mr Allen]

I am going back to school at the local community college in the fall to become an Automotive Technician (mechanic) because I am having such difficulty finding work and the trades are heavily in demand. I am 41 and I've aged out of Information Technology. I looked into doing a program to become an electrician but my two good NT friends told me that it's really a young man's game. I am not going to be crawling through tight spaces and duct work so I won't make a good plumber either. I thought about carpentry work but I nixed that as well. Both of my friends seemed to think that learning to repair engines, transmissions, and other car systems will serve me very well because I am good at troubleshooting.

I am having a tough time staying positive and not feeling despondent over my personal and professional lives, or more precisely, lack thereof. I am sick of living in abject poverty. Currently I work as an armed security guard and I hate every minute of it but there's nothing I can do, save for education, to lift myself out of the misery. I am on my day off and I just feel so miserable that all I feel like doing is crying. At least I managed to fill out the US FAFSA form so I can get the loans to get employed.

I wish I hadn't wasted so much of my younger years. The best I can do is try to make the ones I have ahead a little bit better.

I turned 42 3 weeks today ago, and I'm pretty much in the same boat, I failed everything except typing at school, but I resat English at College in 1996 and got an A, but the fact I don't have a Maths certificate means I can't even get the basic "entry level" Office Gofer type jobs because they want kids out of school with ridiculously high exam results.

Worst thing is I know I could do that kind of work standing on my head, I can type well, and I make a good cup of coffee, and I have an OK telephone manner.

 

[Mattymatt]

I have a 4 year degree in Criminal Justice but it might as well be basket weaving. I was fortunate enough for 17 years to be able to eek out a living in Information Technology because I had been using computers since I was a kid. I climbed and clawed my way up. But I am not management material and no one wants to hire a washed up IT guy.

 

[clg114]

Have you thought about working for yourself? There are a lot of things that people want and are willing to pay for. If you can think of a service that you can provide and that people want, then that is a way to make money.

 

[Judge]

I'd think a prior background in IT might be of some small benefit with modern mechanics given how computerization is now so critical in so many aspects of automotive troubleshooting.

Where your first effort isn't likely to pop open the hood, but rather connect to a computer interface under the dash and simply see what the automated diagnostics tell you.

Who knows? You might just have a bit of an edge there. Good luck.

 

[Mr Allen]

Have you thought about working for yourself? There are a lot of things that people want and are willing to pay for. If you can think of a service that you can provide and that people want, then that is a way to make money.

A few years back I strongly considered that as a career option, I even came up with a name for my fictional company, RACE (Rich Allen Computer Enterprises) and a company slogan "Let Rich help you win the RACE for excellent IT solutions", catchy innit?

But sadly I highly doubt it'll ever come to pass, I can't afford Business premises because I can't use the Flat, and I highly doubt any reputable Bank would touch a guy like me with a 10 foot barge pole for a Business loan, I have no credit rating or anything

 

[Tom]

Do you like working on cars?

 

[Thinx]

Your degree sounds very interesting and potentially useful but I m sure you've looked in to that. I graduated with a philosophy degree which I was surprised to find didn't really impress employers. And there aren't many jobs for philosophers, altho there should be... If you enjoy working with cars this could be a great choice and could lead to a small business, I hope that you enjoy the training. It sounds like you bring some great talents to work with, and being a good trouble shooter isn't that common, I think. It requires thinking outside the box.

 

[Mattymatt]

Have you thought about working for yourself? There are a lot of things that people want and are willing to pay for. If you can think of a service that you can provide and that people want, then that is a way to make money.

I've tried working for myself. The problem is that I am terrible at "selling" myself and this is something you have to be good at in order to get work. Also, business ownership really requires solid executive functioning skills and organization. Those are not my strong suit as I am an operations guy - I go in and get it done. Yes, I also enjoy wrenching on things. Hell, I enjoy problem solving and learning. Who knows, maybe one day I could teach this to somebody.

 

[Judge]

I've tried working for myself. The problem is that I am terrible at "selling" myself and this is something you have to be good at in order to get work. Also, business ownership really requires solid executive functioning skills and organization. Those are not my strong suit as I am an operations guy - I go in and get it done. Yes, I also enjoy wrenching on things. Hell, I enjoy problem solving and learning. Who knows, maybe one day I could teach this to somebody.

That was the same dilemma I faced in considering doing web design as a sole proprietor. Truth is most pursuits in being self-employed require some degree of personal salesmanship. Something I've never been good at. Selling a product and service I believe in is one thing- selling myself in a literal sense quite another.

Small wonder that in my own case many years ago I fell back on my financial knowledge gained from decades in insurance and went to work as a private investment/equities manager with only one client- me.

It kept me from going under financially as I couldn't find work doing much of anything for a long time, and gave me the benefit of working entirely on my own independent of virtually everyone save the IRS. Though frankly dependence on your own resources can be both a blessing and a curse at times. And it involves one's ability to take risks to seek rewards. Something not everyone is willing to deal with. In my case I just found my back was up against the wall and didn't see much choice in the matter at the time.

However I'm also not recommending such work to most people. It's just too specialized and yes, it's ultimately quite risky. Too risky IMO to be in at the moment given the market in general remains overbought and subject to just too many outside economic and political metrics at the moment.

 

[clg114]

I've tried working for myself. The problem is that I am terrible at "selling" myself and this is something you have to be good at in order to get work. Also, business ownership really requires solid executive functioning skills and organization. Those are not my strong suit as I am an operations guy - I go in and get it done. Yes, I also enjoy wrenching on things. Hell, I enjoy problem solving and learning. Who knows, maybe one day I could teach this to somebody.

Just a thought, but if you can see yourself teaching your talents to someone then it is not much of stretch to see yourself selling your talents to someone. There are millions of people out there with no mechanical knowledge at all, yet they own machines that will need repaired sooner or later.

Believe me, I understand how you feel. I could never be a salesman either. But if you are talking about something that you know and are passionate about, the words come easily. I went into business for myself ten years ago and my only regret is that I did not do it sooner. Keep learning and good luck.

 

[tducey]

Good luck to you, I know you'll be successful in your venture.

 

[Mattymatt]

Thanks, @tducey. I know this sounds kind of strange but I am having some second thoughts. I am scared that I might not have the aptitude for mechanical work. The only way to really know is to roll the dice and go for it. Just one day at a time I guess.

 

[Mattymatt]

For better or worse, I am now fully committed to the Automotive Technology program as I just accepted and allocated the loan funding. Now, the fear has worn off and I am somewhat excited.