Read that college is a waste of time unless you're studying

>>18009347
If you can get an actual apprenticeship, electricians, mechanics, roofers, and irrigation/plumbing specialists can find jobs anywhere, any time, for median to above average pay, even without working for a company if they happen to do something like move or just need extra weekend income. Don't fall into working as a labor assistant for one of these unless it will help lead you to an apprenticeship or you personally are very good at picking up information without formal instruction and training. Otherwise you will be stuck simply being a laborer who doesn't gain any skills or true knowledge for these jobs to continue forward and potentially be able to do the work yourself as a contractor. Do not drop heavy bank in tools immediately until you're sure the job is for you. Apprentices and trainees are expected to have some tools for any of these jobs, but you can get by with some generic stuff for under $100-200 from Home Depot/Lowes/Sears until you decide you like what you're doing, and then you can start picking up heavy duty stuff, Matco/Snapon if that's your boat, specialty tools, etc.

>>18009347
>>18009362
Also, learn and understand bids. Going under market average if you begin doing work yourself seems like the best way to pick up more jobs than everyone else. However, anyone who wants to pay cheap is going to be cheap through and through, and are often the types of people to do a million callbacks for unrelated issues, try to withhold or rescind payment, and will generally make your life miserable, especially when talking about a larger job. Another thing to consider is that in any of these professions, you do need to back your work to be reputable, so you should always be making somewhere between 1.5 and 2x material costs, if not more. Your labor is technically "free" when you're working for yourself, so doing a rejob/warranty item might only take an hour of your time on a day off and seem like no big deal, but what happens when you're replacing $300 work of material in full and you only charged your customer $50 over cost on it. How much did you just lose our of your bottom line? Average people are also more inclined to rate your services based on your pricing. As counter-intuitive as it seems, pricing yourself at or slightly above the average market price means that first impressions is that your work will be at least on par with, if not better, than your average competition.

I did a trade when I left HS.. the job was alright for a hobby but not something im passionate about doing for someone else. So Im back in school studying for 2 years with around 5 to go. Go out and do some work experience and labour before you do an apprenticeship. Otherwise the only problem with some trades is the types of people you are around, generally not a good environment.

>>18009550

What trade did you do?

4 years of college cost me $45,000

But im not American.

>>18009646
Congrats? Most of the foreigners who come over here with their "Masters degree" end up working trades and retail anyway so the cost difference isn't doing much good.

>>18009347
Fuck, does Uni really cost that much in America?
It's what, 6k a year here? Dude, you guys have it awful over there. My condolences.

what kind of retard pays $125000 for school? i got a bachelors for $10,000 and barely managed a 3.0. ive been out 3 years and make $65,000 with 2.5 years experience. business is a great middle of the road option if you dont know what you want to do.

>>18010018
>Most of the foreigners who come over here with their "Masters degree" end up working trades and retail

You can not immigrate to the United States to work in trades or retail.

>>18010110
>i got a bachelors for $10,000 and barely managed a 3.0.

My in-state tuition is 10k for a semester. It's because they're looking for better schools than yours.

>>18010244
get a scholarship fag, you barely even need grades

Is there a good trade for people who are not physically strong?

>>18010244
>>18010110
>>18010034
Not everyone pays that much or even half of it, it's school dependent.

>>18010125
You must have meant something different than what you typed. There is a significant number of immigrants in the work force for EVERY trade, and there are entire fucking franchises of retail stores and gas stations like 7-11 that are run almost entirely by Indian and Chinese immigrants, their families, and the friends of families they hire when the move over.

File: muh job.jpg (221KB, 1024x797px) Image search: [Google]

221KB, 1024x797px

>>18010743
Haha no, but the trades make you strong

Source: I'm an arborist

>>18010743
HVAC, electrics, mechanic.

>>18009347
Why would you go to college not studying STEM and expect a job? People have this mentality that college is just an experience but fuck that it's my money and 4+ years of my life, you bet your ass I'm studying something that will get me ahead in life.

>>18010822
You're delusional if you think STEM guarantees you a job. No degree guarantees you a job, and someone who studies something like liberal arts but makes an effort to get involved in extracurriculars, research and internships is better placed to be employed upon graduation than someone who studies STEM and does nothing else with their time at school.
>inb4 butthurt arts student
No, I studied law, but my brother is a STEM student and knows plenty of people who sit on their ass and expect jobs to be handed to them because 'muh STEM major'

>>18010837
I realize that, but studying fucking history or English is just shooting yourself in the foot to begin with. Nothing short of med school guarantees you a job.

>>18009623
Boilermaking/ Fabrication.. like working with steel

>>18010837
>You're delusional if you think STEM guarantees a job.
Sure but its much better than a degree in basket weaving, which is the issue. People are going there for degrees that really shouldn't exist and are surprised there's no demand for it.

welding me amigo, you can eventually just become a foreman and then you don't have to do dick

>>18009347
>[
People who say stuff like this are pretty biased toward the "practical" aspect of college (financial gain). They're not factoring in the idea of you going somewhere to learn things for the sake of learning.

For what it's worth though, if you live in the US you can work at Target and earn at least $55k starting with a degree so long as you have a good resume and do well in interviews. And from there you can make a six digit salary.

>>18009347
That pic is silly. College gives you career prospect, trade school doesn't.
In my country, a medical student during his internship earns less than a mechanic. At 50, a doctor makes 3-5 times more than a mechanic.
Average entry level salary might be low, but in the long term going to college pays off.