Hi /r9k/ Retail wagecuck here, trying to go to community college

I work in an HVAC design firm. The market is really good right now and it will be easy to find a job, but that might change in 2 years. The place where I work will take pretty much anybody who knows what happens when you type pl in AutoCAD. They make decent money too, much better than retail. The downside is it's not the most exciting career, there's not much room for promotions (promotions are for engineers) and you will be a cubicle drone until you retire.

It's not a super awesome field, but it could be worse. A step up from retail for sure.

>>36851140
Thanks for the honest reply.

If I can get the degree and land a job, then maybe I can actually become a full fledged engineer one day and leave my retail days behind me.
It would be nice to have a job where you actually do cool things, get treated like a human being and make a decent income for once.

>>36851188

To become an engineer, you will need an engineering degree. That part is non-negotiable. From what I've seen, there are a lot of CAD drafters who were planning on getting an engineering degree and never actually did because life gets in the way, it's hard to study and work full-time, and it's probably demoralizing having to learn things in college, knowing full well that you will never use it in your field. I've only met one person who actually did it. The upside is if you do that, you have a guaranteed job when you graduate, while a lot of new graduate engineers are stuck holding their cocks.

>>36851188

Also, be prepared to not actually do cool things. If you are a CAD drafter in my company, you will draw pipe and AC ducts. If you are an engineer, you do that and beg architects to give you more ceiling space, but for more money.

>>36851532
>>36851569
I'll keep that in mind...
I want to hopefully manage to successfully get my engineering degree one day even if CAD is a stepping stone to help me achieve it.

I would hope that since im single and have no kids, I would have lots of free time devoted to getting it though

>>36851662

Even if you don't get your engineering degree, being a CAD drafter your whole life isn't a bad way to go. You'll make enough money to support a middle class lifestyle and you get treated like a human. Imagine the movie Office Space, but your boss is nicer.