Is going into blue collar work a bad idea?

[SquareBetterThanAll]

If you can reasonably support yourself doing what you enjoy, by all means go that route. If you hate the place you have to spend 40+ hours a week, it's hard to make that feeling go away with just money.

That being said, having at least a bachelors degree (one with applicable uses) does open many doors that would be closed to you otherwise, no matter what experience you have. So if you're young and can work it out it's not a bad tool to have in the toolbox.

[bradykp]

Originally Posted by GuyontheInternet

Hello CD, I'm a 17 year old soon-to-be senior in high school and I have no idea what to do with my life. My dad and I have always had arguments (he's very stubborn) about what I should do after I graduate. He insists that having a degree from a university is the only way to be successful. He went to a pretty average state school for computer engineering and got a job programming software making the big bucks (probably overpaid compared to others with the same degree), which he soon may be fired from (the plant he works at just fired the entire IT department). I think he has this attitude because he came from a family where all of the kids went to a university except one who is 50 and still works as a waitress.

Anyway, he thinks I should get into software like him and that blue collar jobs like plumbing/electrician/hvac are all too competitive and don't lead anywhere. Is it really that risky to not go to a university these days? I mean, it would sure as hell save me a lot of money going to community college (there aren't any trade schools where I live). I could pay for it out of my pocket right now and still have money in my savings.

What do you guys think? I need some unbiased advice.

nothing wrong with the blue collar route, but i still like what a degree offers an individual your age even if you go blue collar - choices. a guy i've used as a plumber just injured his back. so now he's making $0. that's the downside of not having a degree, in my opinion.

I'd get a degree of some sort, but don't just go to get a degree. it has to have a purpose for you.

[FlowerPower00]

Originally Posted by GuyontheInternet

Hello CD, I'm a 17 year old soon-to-be senior in high school and I have no idea what to do with my life. My dad and I have always had arguments (he's very stubborn) about what I should do after I graduate. He insists that having a degree from a university is the only way to be successful. He went to a pretty average state school for computer engineering and got a job programming software making the big bucks (probably overpaid compared to others with the same degree), which he soon may be fired from (the plant he works at just fired the entire IT department). I think he has this attitude because he came from a family where all of the kids went to a university except one who is 50 and still works as a waitress.

Anyway, he thinks I should get into software like him and that blue collar jobs like plumbing/electrician/hvac are all too competitive and don't lead anywhere. Is it really that risky to not go to a university these days? I mean, it would sure as hell save me a lot of money going to community college (there aren't any trade schools where I live). I could pay for it out of my pocket right now and still have money in my savings.

What do you guys think? I need some unbiased advice.

Nothing wrong with getting into plumbing. They make pretty good money.

[tijlover]

Originally Posted by SunsetMission

Not the best advice considering it takes about 5-7 years to become proficient in one trade and actually see some profit.

You're overlooking quick learners and those with natural talents!

My Mexican handyman roommate of 14 years only completed 6 years of education, and there's nothing he can't tackle around my house with professionalism!

[ElectronicOverlord]

Whatever you do, diversify. HVAC and other jobs are hot because society forgot about them, but sure enough people will eventually flood in, and wages will come back down. So do it, but work on an exit strategy. Same for my path with law: it was lucrative, people flooded in, and let's just say I'm in the middle of my exit strategy.

I don't regret my path, but I would seriously consider starting off blue-collar (good fit for my personality, plus I self-study pretty well in my free time). College is a good opportunity to develop critical thinking and consider big-picture concepts, but I'm not sure college is the exclusive path for that. Ultimately, you probably do want to know big picture concepts, because that will minimize the amount that people can make money off your back. Well, if you have no leverage, little can be done about it, but you at least learn to look for leverage and use it when you have it.

For example, when I envision myself as an employer trying to make profit, I'd hire someone who would be a good investment. All else equal, a college degree has marketing value ("oh, so-and-so who works for me has a Something degree from State School"). But marketing value can come in other ways, and the more important factors are someone who has a track record of working hard, figuring things out, and not being a liability. Network value is also a factor ("hmm, my business sells to flower shops, and this person's aunt, dad, and brother all work at flower shops..."). And of course, I ain't hiring nobody when I ain't got the money, so there's that.