I took a double major in night school (at a local college) in economics and business while I worked full time with a chemical company where I started out as an hourly worker running a chemical plant process. (They did not offer one in chemistry.) The degree was my ticket to promotions despite it not being in a science field. Of all the skills I learned the following have helped me most: Geometry, Algebra, Drafting, Woodworking, Advanced English. All of these were in High School classes. In a chemical plant I was exposed to all types of skills such as general construction, electrical, physics, statistics, welding, and pipe fitting but what I really loved and did best at was analytical testing of materials. I retired as a Quality Assurance Manager for North American Operations supervising 22 laboratories. I was this kind of exposure that allowed me to build hot rods. If I lacked a skill I boned up on it voraciously until I was confident I could do it.
No Degree, but I went to Naval Nuclear Power School. Work as a 3D Mechanical Designer/Piper utilizing PDS. FWIW: PDS Designers are pulling more cake than degreed Mechanical Engineers right now
I've got an associates degree in visual communications from the Art Institute of Seattle, '91. The whole time they tried to discourage me from doing automotive work of any kind. I managed to get one class on industrial design rendering (markers). No computer training was available, outside of learning a little desk top publishing. It was great for me though. They got me in the door doing illustration work for the video game industry, plus taught me the business end of commercial art. They also kept me surrounded by like minded, ambitious people for 2 years straight. THAT was the absolute best part! Since my class graduated right at the end of the pre-computer era, they even offered free classes on photoshop and all the other essential computer gizmos required in the commercial art world today...but by then I was building choppers. I keep meaning to take those courses though, if they add another ten days to every month I'm on it!
Thanks for the advice everyone. I am currently an engine troop for the Hercules. I think I might cross train to an aerial gunner for the AC-130's or get into EOD. If I can get a degree in time, I'm going to try and get into OTS. That is my biggest long term goal right now. I love to design and fabricate things. I currently have a 6G welding certification in SMAW, GMAW, and TIG. It would be awesome to get a degree as a welding engineer, which is another one I have been looking at. Also been looking at criminal justice degrees. Thanks for everyone's input. It's cool to see what background everyone comes from.
My biased $0.02 is engineering. Starting pay is $50-60K depending upon degree and school. Personally, I would prefer to hire a new grad with military experience - less green and more street smarts. From your entry level job, the future is wide open. Go back for an MBA and be a manager/director/VP type or further specialize in your field to get promoted/earn big cash. Whatever you do, learn every day so that you are taking more than you are giving the company (give your all, of course). If you are really risk tolerant, start your own company after a few years - do it before you get too comfortable.
I am an automotive master mechanic, but now I am working for mtu maintenance as an inspector for jet engine parts, specialized on IAE V2500 high pressure compressor.
B.A. in Sociology and Criminal Justice with a law concentration from the University of Delaware. I minored in history. I'm currently working towards my J.D. in law school.
Im a hairstylist = ) and no im not Gay haha I have the best job in the world I get to go to work and be around for the most part really good looking girls and get paid for it! I like to think of myself as a giggalo because women pay my bills lol!
BA in History. Did not want to teach,(long story-my family teaches and I am hardheaded.) Found I was good at communicating so I went into sales. Had lots of fun. I butcher my native tounge, can't spell, so what else can I do?
Retired after 50 years as a carpenter, no letters after my education, but with out people like me you woundn't have factories to make your car parts or roads to drive them on. I'm happy with that and made a good living doing what I liked. You have to like what you to be happy in live.
like bobw. I am currently a I/A or Technology Education teacher. managed to work though a BSed and Masters Degree so far and had thought about a PhD but I have no desire to go into administration. when I started 10 years ago I was teaching traditional "wood and metals" and am now teaching 3d animation, CADD, Robotics, and CNC. some days I think a job outside education would be good, but interestingly students aren't usually the reason why, parents, supervisors etc are the biggest problem. (like most jobs I guess)
Associates in carpentry, bachelors in voteced, taught 10 yrs quit that in 91 went back to swinging a hammer spent, after 14 yrs of taking shit from supervisors whos only qualifocation was they were freinds of or related to the owner of the company i started my own remodeling business, finally enjoying myself. Education is highly overrated DNA will beat knowlege and ability any day.
When I was 10 I bought a worn out lawn mower for 5.00 at a garage sale, got it running and started pushing it around town knocking on doors, asking if people wanted their yard mowed. When I was 14 I started working for M&M Sprinkler on weekends and summers. I'm 45 now and still mowing yards and putting in Sprinklers. But I added TX lic. Backflow inspector to the list a few years back. And I have Slick's Speed Shop where I do minor fix-ups, or tune-ups for local guys. But I don't always report that money (shhhhh) It's hard work, but I'm self employed, get to be outside all day, and I like it. I'll never be rich, but thats OK. House is paid for, cars are too. And low stress level to boot. My wife is now a 15 yr. employee of Wal-Mart. I don't want to brag ... OK I will =) With a 9th grade education she is a asst. Manager. She is make 17.00 a hr. with 401, retire full up at age 55, profit sharing, and Blue cross Blue Shield insurance. Between the 2 of us we'll clear 70,000 this year and never been in a college. Not that I don't think a education is VERY important, but it's not for everybody.
I flunked out of Community College then started my career in the WORLDS MOST DANGEROUS JOB commercial fishing in Alaska. 27 years later I got nothing else to do, maybe another 10 years and I can quit
BA in Art Education...taught high school art for 6 years......Master of Arts in Student Personnel Services, and MA in Administration......was an Administrator and Guidance Counselor at a South Jersey High School for most of my career......been retired for almost 9 years......... I'm 65 and on Medicare, but I am still a hot rodder! Brucie
Thanks to Walt Disney on Sunday nights I wanted to be a Park Ranger..got a B.S. in Forest Technology,Silviculture(Growing of Trees) wanted to work for Weyerhauser or such..at school, every March,beginning of Fire Season, they would always post openings on twenty-man Fire Crews on the Bulliten board..it was exciting and made lotsa money, so being young and stupid I went with that and eventually became a Smokejumper for the U.S. Forest Service..my Dad lured me away from that to come back to Texas and take over the family business, construction equipment rental(portable toilets and trailers etc.)..now, I manage a meat/seafood market, hows that for jumping around?!
BA in communications. A couple photography minors and a design minor. Thought I was going to go into journalism, maybe with a car magazine. Ended up happily working as a motorsports event director.
I trained as a chemical Engineer and used the degree to join the Air Force, get trained as a pilot, and fly the hell out of fighters for 8 years. Then I joined an airline and flew the big heavy trash haulers all over the world for 29 1/2 years, until I retired aged 60. I have not been gainfully employed since 2003 when I retired. I don't know if a career in aviation could ever be as much fun and as rewarding as the last 45 years, but if you love flying it won't matter you'll do it anyway just because you love it. Some of my pilot brothers have equated the profession to prostitution, but we don't all get paid as well. I'd do it the same way all over again. I have been playing with cars since I was fifteen, I hung around the garages and auto body shops ( as a kid in the 50s ) and mechanics were only too happy to answer stupid questions. I read the Rodding books of the day over and over, I took a correspondence course in auto mechanics and started wrenching on my 39 Ford coupe ( purchase price $100,00 ) Find what you love to do, then do it. Thinking about it isn't doing it. If you find you don't like what you are doing change jobs. ( That is what I told my three kids to do, and they are all university grads ) Good luck, Bob 55 Cameo 396 TH 400 with overdrive 65 Caliente conv 67 BB Caliente conv 67 Mercury 1 Ton 76 GMC 3/4 ton 454ci 84 Buick Turbo Regal and not enough time
1 year ticket in auto body from a junior college. 20 years of banging on cars from the ferrari used in magnum p.i to brand new porsches. I owned a semi successful bmx company for a few years. Right now I beat on rusty crap to pay the bills. I love my job.
- high school drop out. - i blame that on good things-- cars (i went to work for a pro stock crew in 11th grade,) and bad things (being a bit wacked, and running away from everything.) - but, i earned my PhD in Hard Knocks and Common Sense along the way, and that's valuable to me. biggest lesson-- if you can't do something, get some balls and just do it. if you can't then fine tune towards what you're good at and try again. - im responsibe for engineering & operations of one of the worlds largest internet infrastructures. I love my job, buy i have many days where i think i hate it (just like most guys who get discontent with doing the same thing over time.) i feel blessed, as i know many others who never made it past nothing. - for me, it was all about taking risks, hard work and having a supportive wife. - that said, i'd recommend staying in school and enjoying it, if you can. - scott noteboom
Masters degree in biology. Early in my career I worked with some nasty viruses, now I work cardiovascular and skeletal muscle research -- so I work with some nasty chemicals. The cool thing is that it uses the same skill sets as when I am wrenching (with out the hassles that might burn me out of hotrods). The sad thing is that even though I make OK money, I am salaried so I end up giving you guys a lot of free hours (I work for "the government") that I would rather use working on my hotrod. As far as education goes, eventually I will earn a PhD, but I am not going to work on that until the kids are grown.
After highschool (67) I went into the Navy. Went to A school ,Structural Mechanic. After the military I went to work with my brother in a Volkswagon shop . Got married in 74, father in law got me into the Operating Engineers Union and worked as a Heavy Equipment Mechanic /Welder for 35 yrs. In 1998 I was layed off for the last time, I went to work for the state of Colo. as a Correctional Officer. In 2007 I promoted to Sgt. in general maintenance ( I take care of the yard mowing the grass etc. I can't complain it pays for the toys &the house. FOUR more and I retire with a good retirement. OLD HEMI
I went to the bartending university and scored my phd in mixoligy.... seriously..... sad but true... I bet you all know out fight song....1-800-bartend....... CheaterJack
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