Desert Garage

[Desertbreh]

https://lsa.umich.edu/scholarships/pros ... ships.html

Plenty of opportunities breh.

Ann Arbor is a cool city too.

Yep yep, TBD.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Plenty of opportunities breh.

Ann Arbor is a cool city too.

Yep yep, TBD.

Should probably take a trip out here to check out the campus. For

[troyguitar]

Yep yep, TBD.

Should probably take a trip out here to check out the campus. For

Make sure that you go in February, not June.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Should probably take a trip out here to check out the campus. For

Make sure that you go in February, not June.

[wap]

I think the Alabama idea is actually epic. I think when possible (for similar or less lonely), going far from home to see something different culturally is pretty worthwhile (even Alabama ).

I got a ton socially and professionally out of going somewhere where I didn’t know a soul, couldn’t travel home on the weekends, and was in a constant state of immense culture shock.

I still seek out these experiences to an extent even.

Yup. It's one of the main reasons why we love to travel outside of the country.

[Tar]

Shit you all make me wish i had a real degree instead of this cracker jack Technology Diploma. It seems like just about any degree is required to get your foot in the door in most big facilities that I frequent, and an MBA helps land upper management roles quickly. However.... there are the odd few that are the exception to the rule in both cases.

I've been offered a job at everywhere I visit, which in a given year is about 12 to 20 manufacturing plants, but I have thing to offer that a random off the street person with my education can't. Its always going to be an uphill battle and I may very well stay self-employed throughout my entire working career.

There are times that I tell myself I'll add the extra year or two it would take to get a basic 4 yr BS degree, but the economy won't allow me to find the time.

I think i will encourage my two boys to get a degree preferably something technical if they have the capacity for it.

[Desertbreh]

Desert Garage and Tuition Bitchathon

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Shit you all make me wish i had a real degree instead of this cracker jack Technology Diploma. It seems like just about any degree is required to get your foot in the door in most big facilities that I frequent, and an MBA helps land upper management roles quickly. However.... there are the odd few that are the exception to the rule in both cases.

I've been offered a job at everywhere I visit, which in a given year is about 12 to 20 manufacturing plants, but I have thing to offer that a random off the street person with my education can't. Its always going to be an uphill battle and I may very well stay self-employed throughout my entire working career.

There are times that I tell myself I'll add the extra year or two it would take to get a basic 4 yr BS degree, but the economy won't allow me to find the time.

I think i will encourage my two boys to get a degree preferably something technical if they have the capacity for it.

Grass is always greener, bro. Corporate life can be a major drag...regardless of how much you make. Self employment sounds pretty danged great assuming you can keep work steady.

That said...a technical degree will never treat someone wrong.

[Tar]

Shit you all make me wish i had a real degree instead of this cracker jack Technology Diploma. It seems like just about any degree is required to get your foot in the door in most big facilities that I frequent, and an MBA helps land upper management roles quickly. However.... there are the odd few that are the exception to the rule in both cases.

I've been offered a job at everywhere I visit, which in a given year is about 12 to 20 manufacturing plants, but I have thing to offer that a random off the street person with my education can't. Its always going to be an uphill battle and I may very well stay self-employed throughout my entire working career.

There are times that I tell myself I'll add the extra year or two it would take to get a basic 4 yr BS degree, but the economy won't allow me to find the time.

I think i will encourage my two boys to get a degree preferably something technical if they have the capacity for it.

Grass is always greener, bro. Corporate life can be a major drag...regardless of how much you make. Self employment sounds pretty danged great assuming you can keep work steady.

That said...a technical degree will never treat someone wrong.

Its not glamorous, but the work is steady if you're not / have skills that are unique.

It takes a lot of work and time to get there. I'm just amazed that I don't qualify to work in some places that pays hundreds of dollars per hour to have me there as a specialist multiple times per week. Corporate bureaucracy in full bloom , The paper is more mandatory then it was one or two decades ago and I don't know what (if anything) would change that in twenty years when kiddos like mine are starting their careers.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Grass is always greener, bro. Corporate life can be a major drag...regardless of how much you make. Self employment sounds pretty danged great assuming you can keep work steady.

That said...a technical degree will never treat someone wrong.

Its not glamorous, but the work is steady if you're not / have skills that are unique.

It takes a lot of work and time to get there. I'm just amazed that I don't qualify to work in some places that pays hundreds of dollars per hour to have me there as a specialist multiple times per week. Corporate bureaucracy in full bloom , The paper is more mandatory then it was one or two decades ago and I don't know what (if anything) would change that in twenty years when kiddos like mine are starting their careers.

Have you tried applying to these places and been told you need the paper? What would working for a company gain you over working for yourself? Stability?

[troyguitar]

Grass is always greener, bro. Corporate life can be a major drag...regardless of how much you make. Self employment sounds pretty danged great assuming you can keep work steady.

That said...a technical degree will never treat someone wrong.

Its not glamorous, but the work is steady if you're not / have skills that are unique.

It takes a lot of work and time to get there. I'm just amazed that I don't qualify to work in some places that pays hundreds of dollars per hour to have me there as a specialist multiple times per week. Corporate bureaucracy in full bloom , The paper is more mandatory then it was one or two decades ago and I don't know what (if anything) would change that in twenty years when kiddos like mine are starting their careers.

Just send them to the plumber's union.

[Tar]

Its not glamorous, but the work is steady if you're not / have skills that are unique.

It takes a lot of work and time to get there. I'm just amazed that I don't qualify to work in some places that pays hundreds of dollars per hour to have me there as a specialist multiple times per week. Corporate bureaucracy in full bloom , The paper is more mandatory then it was one or two decades ago and I don't know what (if anything) would change that in twenty years when kiddos like mine are starting their careers.

Have you tried applying to these places and been told you need the paper? What would working for a company gain you over working for yourself? Stability?

No reason yet, but down the road I may want to go full time with a place that does generous retirement contribution, and have been told by at least one such place that they will hire me as long as I work towards some degree in the first couple of years working there since it is a prerequisite.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Have you tried applying to these places and been told you need the paper? What would working for a company gain you over working for yourself? Stability?

No reason yet, but down the road I may want to go full time with a place that does generous retirement contribution, and have been told by at least one such place that they will hire me as long as I work towards some degree in the first couple of years working there since it is a prerequisite.

A lot of these companies will pay for your degree if it's a requirement working there, and if they'll hire you first...I don't see the issue? Do some night classes for a few years and enjoy the corporate gravy train.

[ChrisoftheNorth]

Its not glamorous, but the work is steady if you're not / have skills that are unique.

It takes a lot of work and time to get there. I'm just amazed that I don't qualify to work in some places that pays hundreds of dollars per hour to have me there as a specialist multiple times per week. Corporate bureaucracy in full bloom , The paper is more mandatory then it was one or two decades ago and I don't know what (if anything) would change that in twenty years when kiddos like mine are starting their careers.

Just send them to the plumber's union.

[max225]

What's a corporate "gravy train"

[ChrisoftheNorth]

What's a corporate "gravy train" :logasm:

[troyguitar]

Price out private healthcare. Not relevant to our civilized neighbors to the North, but it's a yuuuge reason to be an employee in this country. Add in 401k stuff, PTO, etc. and it's amazing that anyone bothers starting their own businesses here.

[Tar]

No reason yet, but down the road I may want to go full time with a place that does generous retirement contribution, and have been told by at least one such place that they will hire me as long as I work towards some degree in the first couple of years working there since it is a prerequisite.

A lot of these companies will pay for your degree if it's a requirement working there, and if they'll hire you first...I don't see the issue? Do some night classes for a few years and enjoy the corporate gravy train.

Some day that will be the plan if the offer is still there when i want to jump on it. Just sharing some insight into my experience as an under educated . Not to say its bad, just a different set of challenges.

[Tar]

Price out private healthcare. Not relevant to our civilized neighbors to the North, but it's a yuuuge reason to be an employee in this country. Add in 401k stuff, PTO, etc. and it's amazing that anyone bothers starting their own businesses here.

Agreed, health care coverage costs would tip the scales for me by now.

[wap]

Price out private healthcare. Not relevant to our civilized neighbors to the North, but it's a yuuuge reason to be an employee in this country. Add in 401k stuff, PTO, etc. and it's amazing that anyone bothers starting their own businesses here.

[D Griff]

What's a corporate "gravy train"

I mean, I will acknowledge the healthcare is nice... my 401K isn't that special, getting a 3% match. Not insignificant but not life changing either. I am one of the few that will say/admit I'm compensated pretty well/probably more than I really deserve at my job... but it definitely blows day after day after day, corp life is not fun. Also, in my case "gravy train" = literally zero raises unless I make them myself with commission. Outside circumstances like dumb ass Trump's tariffs can basically punt my income to shit at any time.

[goIftdibrad]

I should post this in career chat..but...

Im very discouraged by my working life lately. My career blows, im making 20% under market by some measures, my job is a pretty dumb thing that I'm laughably overtrained for.

[Johnny_P]

I should post this in career chat..but...

Im very discouraged by my working life lately. My career blows, im making 20% under market by some measures, my job is a pretty dumb thing that I'm laughably overtrained for.

You're a design engineer for a consulting type firm right? Can you get a job inside a refinery? You'll almost certainly get paid more and be doing the same stuff.

Designing process piping and vessels is a pretty specialized field. You should be able to find a job in the energy industry. Switch companies and you're almost guaranteed a 15% raise right off the bat.

You want to stay in the swamp or willing to move?

[dubshow]

I should post this in career chat..but...

Im very discouraged by my working life lately. My career blows, im making 20% under market by some measures, my job is a pretty dumb thing that I'm laughably overtrained for.

You're a design engineer for a consulting type firm right? Can you get a job inside a refinery? You'll almost certainly get paid more and be doing the same stuff.

Designing process piping and vessels is a pretty specialized field. You should be able to find a job in the energy industry. Switch companies and you're almost guaranteed a 15% raise right off the bat.

You want to stay in the swamp or willing to move?

[Johnny_P]

You're a design engineer for a consulting type firm right? Can you get a job inside a refinery? You'll almost certainly get paid more and be doing the same stuff.

Designing process piping and vessels is a pretty specialized field. You should be able to find a job in the energy industry. Switch companies and you're almost guaranteed a 15% raise right off the bat.

You want to stay in the swamp or willing to move?

Should be lots of jobs in Houston area. I know of a few up here for reliability engineers. One in Toledo Ohio. Etc.