If you made a career change...

[fishaholic18]

Originally Posted by redneck24

im in the middle of one right now. im going from mechanic to tattoo artist. been a mechanic for so long now, its tough to get away, even though i hate it with a passion, and i know you are in the same boat. GOOD LUCK!!! get out of this crap asap, the business gets worse everyday. and its only going to get worse

I hear that Daryl.
As you know, I've been out of work for some time now because my back is f'ed up. I can't see going back to being an auto tech.
I've been searching for another line of work but am having a hard time figuring out what I want to do with my life. I'm jack of all trades and master of just one.
I'm also considering moving out of R.I., it seems there's nothing here anymore. I don't know.
Sorry for the rambling on, I think I'm going into depression here.

[Rob Rockcrawler]

Take the Mass Environmental Police Exam, its june 6th deadline to register is MAy 5th. Its not quite trooper wage but its a great job. Im taking the test and have fingers crossed that i do well on it. OR what about being a harbormaster. Youd be on the water a lot making a living wage, im sure you would find a lot of hot spots from the boat, but a lot of shore stuff too cause boat fish still dont count .

[TheSpecialist]

My dream job would be 44' Hatteras, and rich clients.

If I had to make a change, I think I would get my gc and start a remodeling business.

[MAC]

Originally Posted by TheSpecialist

If I had to make a change, I think I would get my gc and start a remodeling business.

Aaaack, Bill the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
I did this for a few years before getting into the union and it sux. Long hours, estimates, where you might not get the job. Chasing money, it only takes a few bad customers to break ya. Then all the paperwork, insurance,taxes, vehicle and equipment upkeep. Believe me it gets old quick.
The dream job with a hatteras sounds better

[MAC]

Dave, I know what you are going through. I just went 6 months without working and it rots. I had many thoughts of doing something else over that time period but ended up going back to what I know. Hard choices when ya get up past the age of 40. A good choice might be like Daryl suggested. Supervisory role in your field. Taking a few night courses in business management might help in thie endeavor too.

My dream job, maybe something like Charlie Moore. Get to fish and get paid for it.

[afterhours]

Originally Posted by MAC

Aaaack, Bill the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
I did this for a few years before getting into the union and it sux. Long hours, estimates, where you might not get the job. Chasing money, it only takes a few bad customers to break ya. Then all the paperwork, insurance,taxes, vehicle and equipment upkeep. Believe me it gets old quick.
The dream job with a hatteras sounds better

Mac is right on here- i just left that business after 5 yrs.and for 5 yrs before that i was in the auto business, service mgr. to store mgr.all i can say is to try to make a living doing something you enjoy. good luck Dave! (Dave's custom rods and repairs?)

[fishaholic18]

Originally Posted by afterhours

(Dave's custom rods and repairs?)

I've been thinking about that one.
Where were you a Service manager at?

[afterhours]

i was the service mgr for express cc, we had 4 good sized dealerships. we processed about 200 cars per mo. plus warranty work thru my facility. i had 12- 16 techs to deal with ( no offense to techs- but what a pia ). it may look like an easy job, but it's full of headaches and bs. i would'nt reccomend to a friend.

[Fly Rod]

Zacs!!! I understand ya!!!
I wouldn't want to buy and sell rotten fish either and farm raised with all them antibiotics that you say they do not have!!!! You never answered the last question on the other post!!!! I understand!!!!

After 35 years of being self employed, I have just recently done a career change!!! not bad either!!!!!! I plan on doing my fishing and the job is secondary and lucrative!!!!

[piemma]

Been a software saleman for 30+ years. Now an Internet Cop working with the Feds finding bad guys (Phishers, Spammers, Virus spreaders and some DHS stuff)
There are no GOOD jobs....just ways to make a living and go fishing. Be happy with what you have and make the best of every day.

[partsjay]

I wish I had an answer....in same boat as a couple of you guys.....automotive sucks.....a thank-less job...The part that bites is I can't even think of something else to do....unless I want to take a pay-cut....

[chris L]

my next career ? hmmmmm
Im going to be a prostitute . good money , pretty clients and many withdrawls and deposits . good exercise !

[outfished]

I've been a photographer/videographer for almost 20 years now and wouldn't dream of changing. But if I had to change, I guess marine biology or some sort of earth science.

[JohnR]

Dave - Daryl did have a decent idea. Anyway you slice it the Car Biz sucks but going over to a role as a writer, dispatcher, or ASM for a while and work towards being a shop manager might be at minimum a good career change to at least hold you over until devine intervention kicks in. If you have questions on the back end of that business, I may be able to answer them for you as I did that for 7-8 years.

IF you were to do that, go to an all Jap shop, pref Toy, Honda, Nissan (in that order) as a lot of the work is gravy work with a mild reduction in headache -v- domestic. This is not an endorsement for the Japanese cars but an observation that they need regular maintenance more than many domestics so there is more balance in the work load. VW is also good in that space.

Money is not what a Class A tech doing 60-80 flat rate is going to make, not even what an A Tech is making @ 40 but it is less stressful on the body short term and long term. You won't need to yell "Put a %&$@# hose on it " but you will need to tell the line to fill out the RO, verify it if REALLY needs brakes, and get bitched at when you don't get the upsell, Oh, and you will need to worry about CSI. I think every tech should spend a month as a writer to learn about CSI .

Other options, especially where you are a tranny guy, is to get a job as an estimator for one of the underwiting/warrwanty companies. Yes, kindof a crap job but there is some flexibility, you use the knowledge you already have, and you would probably be good at it. You are Master, right?

[fishaholic18]

Originally Posted by JohnR

Other options, especially where you are a tranny guy, is to get a job as an estimator for one of the underwiting/warrwanty companies. Yes, kindof a crap job but there is some flexibility, you use the knowledge you already have, and you would probably be good at it. You are Master, right?

Holy S#@$%, I never thought of that.
Yes, I've been a Master for about 10 years or so.

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by fishaholic18

Holy S#@$%, I never thought of that.
Yes, I've been a Master for about 10 years or so.

Also, talk to the some of the Zone service reps and maybe get a gig at the regional training center.... Call me this weekend.

[Got Stripers]

Fishing TV host comes to mind, top shutterbug for all the Sports Illustrated Swim Suit shoots would be nice, son of obseinly rich parents who were kind enough to leave it all to me without enough time left to even come close to spending it all, oh I can think of a million jobs or non-jobs I'd rather be doing.

Just give me 5 million and I'll get back to you.

[Notaro]

i would become a muay thai fighter if i have no wife, kids, and a normal life.

[afterhours]

how about official supermodel bikini waxer?

[Notaro]

now, that's nasty, afterhour. it doesnt pay that much.

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by Notaro

i would become a muay thai fighter if i have no wife, kids, and a normal life.

You have no wife and kids and I imagine a semi-normal life, right? ...

[Notaro]

Originally Posted by JohnR

You have no wife and kids and I imagine a semi-normal life, right? ...

Yup, John. I will keep fighting until the right one comes along, I will quit and get a normal life. Man, my life totally sucks now. I haven't found the right girl.


CAL:
UFC

Nah, i don't do groundfighting. Try K-1. They pay better than regular Muay Thai bouts.

[CAL]

Originally Posted by Notaro

i would become a muay thai fighter if i have no wife, kids, and a normal life.

UFC

[nightfighter]

Originally Posted by TheSpecialist

If I had to make a change, I think I would get my gc and start a remodeling business.

What Mac said is true, with liability up 30% this year vs no claims, chasing money, bids, paperwork.....It's still work, Bill, but a hell of a lifestyle change from managing money. FWW and I have discussed this before. I was there during the true bull market. Divorce brought my world down and I left the business as I couldn't focus enough until I squared things up enough to be comfortable in my own skin. It was during that time that I truly became passionate for striper fishing, which I often did alone. I will never make the same money again, but I truly enjoy what I do and seeing a quality finished project that has my name on it.

[Jenn]

Well theres no money in it but I always dreamed of being a farmer, you know with the vegetable stand, fresh fruit and homemade pies like momma used to make......

[tattoobob]

At the beginning of the year I started my own Plumbing Co.
by the end of Feb. I ended the idea and got a job. I was
working 80 hrs. to get paid for 30. I got a regular job again
and now I am playing catch up with all the bills working 60
hrs. a week but my free time is my own. and when I leave
work work stay's there.

But in five years I would like to become a teacher so I can
have summers off and fish everyday/ night

[Nebe]

Any job that you have to go to everyday will suck eventually.

[Homerun04]

porn star

[Joe]

A top freelance feature writer/photographer for the national media. (Still working on it.)
You can't make it as an outdoor writer who does not boatfish, so I sell tackle in order to pay the bills. Now, I'm a tackle dealer who does a little writing on the side....oh well.
Its a boring job and I don't make a lot of money but at least I don't have to look at and listen to the d-bags all day like I did when I worked in the printing industry.
The first thing you realize after working for yourself for a while is just how badly the people you used to work for were screwing you.

[Bass Babe]

I'm getting a degree in fisheries this May. But I'm working for a construction company now and will be for a while. Reading all this is kinda making me think twice about not going into what I love. But I need the cash, not to mention the perks, like the view of all the shirtless men up on the wall. Anybody wanna borrow my degree for a while?