Career Decision
Discussion
Hi all, just looking for some sensible input and thoughts on my current situation:
Currently work at Lowes home improvement store as a lowly CSA, been there 3 months as of today and I just got a $0.30 raise. I now make (its bad so laugh away...) $11.90/hr. Part Time.
I basically make enough to make my car payment, gas it up and buy lunch at work. Add to this the fact that the job is really starting to piss me off with lazy, sloppy co workers and a never ending onslaught of
y Mc fkheads (customers) who think they own your soul for a price of some carpet and feel its their god given right to chew me out If tell them their expectations are unrealistic.
I'm done with it, I just got my results back from the electrical union and I scored 95% but didn't qualify for interview as the numbers applying are just insane. I intend to keep trying as the starting wage is $16/hr plus great benefits. Also its a guaranteed job for 5 years at which point I should be on $60/hr.
So I'm looking to get a job as an electrician's helper to get my foot in the door and gain some experience. However most electrical firms aren't keen to take on a 28 yr old apprentice. Or most can't afford a full time position.
In the meantime I've got a job already waiting for me as a fire/flood restoration technician. Full time hours and pay starts at $10.52/hr plus lots of incentives to make more cash. I was told by the owner that he wants me to be his crew/production chief within 8-10 months and I'll be on $44k - $75k/yr. The catch is I have to live local to that office for on call emergencies AND sit tons of licensing and certification exams to make the good money. (1 certificate = $1/hr to basic hourly rate, 20 odd certs available)
I recently met with him and asked to see the pay stubs of the guys he had working in the position and its easily twice what i made at Lowes.
So far it seems like a no brainer right?
Well I really do want to become an electrician (electrical engineer eventually) but jobs are scarce. Money is an issue and I need to be able to contribute to household bills not just work to pay for a truck payment.
So I ask the bright minds of PH, what would you do in my situation?
Currently work at Lowes home improvement store as a lowly CSA, been there 3 months as of today and I just got a $0.30 raise. I now make (its bad so laugh away...) $11.90/hr. Part Time.
I basically make enough to make my car payment, gas it up and buy lunch at work. Add to this the fact that the job is really starting to piss me off with lazy, sloppy co workers and a never ending onslaught of
y Mc fkheads (customers) who think they own your soul for a price of some carpet and feel its their god given right to chew me out If tell them their expectations are unrealistic. I'm done with it, I just got my results back from the electrical union and I scored 95% but didn't qualify for interview as the numbers applying are just insane. I intend to keep trying as the starting wage is $16/hr plus great benefits. Also its a guaranteed job for 5 years at which point I should be on $60/hr.
So I'm looking to get a job as an electrician's helper to get my foot in the door and gain some experience. However most electrical firms aren't keen to take on a 28 yr old apprentice. Or most can't afford a full time position.
In the meantime I've got a job already waiting for me as a fire/flood restoration technician. Full time hours and pay starts at $10.52/hr plus lots of incentives to make more cash. I was told by the owner that he wants me to be his crew/production chief within 8-10 months and I'll be on $44k - $75k/yr. The catch is I have to live local to that office for on call emergencies AND sit tons of licensing and certification exams to make the good money. (1 certificate = $1/hr to basic hourly rate, 20 odd certs available)
I recently met with him and asked to see the pay stubs of the guys he had working in the position and its easily twice what i made at Lowes.
So far it seems like a no brainer right?
Well I really do want to become an electrician (electrical engineer eventually) but jobs are scarce. Money is an issue and I need to be able to contribute to household bills not just work to pay for a truck payment.
So I ask the bright minds of PH, what would you do in my situation?
I'd take what's on offer right now as the other option may not come up anyway. Keep trying for the other option too, nothing to stop you changing (right?). It seems you need to train for either the fire/flood technician career, or the electrian career. Is there the possibility you could branch out and set up on your own as a fire/flood technician - in some specialised way? We all know fires and floods are a common thing in California.
Oh, and sell the truck and buy something cheaper so you don't have your salary eaten up
Oh, and sell the truck and buy something cheaper so you don't have your salary eaten up
Thanks for the input guys, the other factor to consider is my wife works in Orange County now. Its a 60 mile drive from our house to her work and she makes decent money again ($120k + 23% production as an ER Vet.)
We plan on moving in the next 2 months somewhere closer to her work but neither of us are huge fans of the OC. Houses are still ridiculously overpriced, its all city/beach and the cost of living is quite pricey (in global terms think $6.00+ for a grande latte from Charbucks).
I think we'll move closer to her work but still within range of the fire flood damage company. Serv pro is only meant to be another stepping stone to my eventual career and a means to make more cash in the short term. I intend to keep applying for electrical apprenticeships regardless of where we go. The other thing to consider is that even when I get into a program there's no definite start date, usually you start classes months n months before you get placed with a contractor so I'd need to be earning in the meantime anyway!
Oddly enough it was cheaper to buy a 2007 5.7l Tundra than a used ford, chevy, gmc. Toyota actually managed to finance me at 7.3% apr 75mths with ZERO credit rating. Used car dealerships started at 19% and went up to 22% !!!
We plan on moving in the next 2 months somewhere closer to her work but neither of us are huge fans of the OC. Houses are still ridiculously overpriced, its all city/beach and the cost of living is quite pricey (in global terms think $6.00+ for a grande latte from Charbucks).
I think we'll move closer to her work but still within range of the fire flood damage company. Serv pro is only meant to be another stepping stone to my eventual career and a means to make more cash in the short term. I intend to keep applying for electrical apprenticeships regardless of where we go. The other thing to consider is that even when I get into a program there's no definite start date, usually you start classes months n months before you get placed with a contractor so I'd need to be earning in the meantime anyway!
Oddly enough it was cheaper to buy a 2007 5.7l Tundra than a used ford, chevy, gmc. Toyota actually managed to finance me at 7.3% apr 75mths with ZERO credit rating. Used car dealerships started at 19% and went up to 22% !!!
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