Why Are The Trades Being Forsaken?

[Long Mike]

I have a college degree in Electronics. I've never used it. When I graduated in 1969, the best paying jobs were in the oilfield (I grew up in Cajun country,) and hired on with a company that paid excellent wages, but they wanted people with mathematic skills, and screw the electronics The problem was, I was on twenty-four hour call. I would get a call at say, 11:00 PM telling me that I would have to be on an offshore crew-boat at 6:00. The boat launch was a two hour drive for me and I still had to drive to the shop and load the needed gear. Then, I had to take a two to six hour boat ride to get to the rig. Long story short, I worked my butt off for five years and have worked sixty hours straight without sleep. Yes, I had a degree and yes I got very dirty, and no, I didn't love the job, but I was good at it.

Eventually I was promoted out of field work and worked my way through the ranks, (working eleven years overseas) until I became a VP. But then the oilfield boom crashed in 1984. Tens of thousands of people lost their jobs, including me. It took me a year to find another job, but I was finely hired on as Operations Manager for a subsidiary company that was owned by a pipeline related company here in Tulsa. After eight years I became President of that subsidary company. Two years later, the parent company sold my company, and I wasn't part of the package.

For the second time in my career, I was back on the street. I was fifty-five years old and knew that my chances of getting hired at that age were slim to none. So, I started my own business. Before I did, I did a lot of research. I wanted a niche company with few competitors - and I found it. After reading all of the above, you will probably find it odd that I went into the business of marble restoration. That is, re-polishing marble..At that time, I was the only guy in the state of Oklahoma that did that sort of work. After a couple of years I ended up with nine employees, but only three of whom I would call true craftsmen. There are over 3,000 types of marble and each reacts differently to the restoration process, That's when a craftsman comes in.

But I'm digressing, babbling if you will.

I'm now sixty-five and have down-sized my company to only one employee - me. I work strictly from referrals. I do all the work. I get very dirty. And I love it!

Looking back on my life. I ask myself "What would you have done differently?" I keep coming up with the same two answers.

1. Change nothing. I would have changed nothing, but have sacrificed untold amounts of hours/days/weeks of quality time with my wife and girls Neglect of family comes back to haunt you in many ways.

2. Become an electrician. It was my ambition before my parents shoved me into college. I would have been good at that trade, and could have eventually gone into business for myself. All the while spending quality time with my family. At home.

Spilt milk.

Water under the bridge

[SirSnookalot]

Success is the journey, not the destination. Love what you do and you're a success, hate it and you're a failure, the money is incidental.

No sense in rehashing my trek thru life........I did it, nuff said, being a "junk man" wasn't all bad, I loved it.

[guitarkid]

I did something kind of like this, My area has what are called "career centers" where you learn various careers of your choosing. I chose machine tool technology, I then went to the local tech school for the same thing, and now I work in industry. Its not bad, I like the benefits, I wish there was less stress, but I think that will change before too long.

-gk

[Fishing Rhino]

There are some who do look down on us. Granted they seem to be few and far between. Most the ones who do seem to have had a bad experience in the past. There are crooked and ignorant people in every profession, be it blue collar or white collar. Over 90 percent of the people I have done work for are extremely nice. Most are very curious as well. Once you take the time to explain what you are doing and why it works that way. It opens their eyes as to what all goes into a particular job.

Every job is looked down upon by someone, somewhere. It could be worse. You could be a lawyer, or a car salesman.

As far as careers go, tradesmen, for the most part are associated with construction, be it residential or commercial. As you well know, right construction, particularly new construction (home building) is in the dumper.

It wasn't too long ago that if you needed a plumber you had to wait. I use plumbers as an example because they are most often needed when a hot water heater fails, or pinholes develop in the plumbing and a basement gets flooded. Been there, done that. It's not a major problem for me because I can take a piece of inner tube or similar rubber/plastic product, put it over the pinhole and tighten it down with a hose clamp. Problem solved, temporarily. But, many homeowners aren't handy around the house and their only recourse is to turn the water off until they can get a plumber to make repairs.

But, if your roof developed a leak, when building was booming, you'd be lucky to get a roofer or home builder to make temporary repairs with a tarp. And then, they'd charge an arm and a leg for their services. Whether or not they are worth what they charged is another matter. Folks felt they were being taken for a ride, or being ignored.

Now, in today's economy the law of supply and demand has taken over, and many tradesmen are willing to negotiate their fees.

One major plus regarding the trades. Your jobs cannot be outsourced to foreign countries.

My dad was a machinist, a tool and die maker. He went to a local trade school when he got discharged after WWII, and was never without work. At the end of his working days computer controlled lathes, milling machines, etc., were just making their way into the profession/trade.

[K_Mac]

Success is the journey, not the destination. Love what you do and you're a success, hate it and you're a failure, the money is incidental.

SirSnook you could not be more right.

Having worked as a blue collar guy most of my life, I understand that many look on any blue collar workers as somehow less able than they are because of the title they have, the education, the financial success, etc. I also understand that many blue collar folks are resentful of white collar folks for lots of reasons. Like Snook a re-hash of my working life isn't needed, other than to say from starting as helper at a shipyard out of high school to service and sales of medical equipment, I've spent some time in both camps. I worked my way through trade school and college along the way. My pursuit of education in the later years had little to do with what I did for living.

I really don't like the idea of "college material." It is usually based on performance and has little to do with ability. When I was in high school many of my teachers and all of the administration would have predicted me ending badly. My issues were many, but they had little to do with aptitude or ability.

I think we should teach kids that work, whether blue collar or white, is honorable and that education and training give you options. Too many kids today seem to think that success is a birth-right and is based on how much stuff you have. It is not.

[clayton86]

I have a college degree in Electronics. I've never used it. When I graduated in 1969, the best paying jobs were in the oilfield (I grew up in Cajun country,) and hired on with a company that paid excellent wages, but they wanted people with mathematic skills, and screw the electronics The problem was, I was on twenty-four hour call. I would get a call at say, 11:00 PM telling me that I would have to be on an offshore crew-boat at 6:00. The boat launch was a two hour drive for me and I still had to drive to the shop and load the needed gear. Then, I had to take a two to six hour boat ride to get to the rig. Long story short, I worked my butt off for five years and have worked sixty hours straight without sleep. Yes, I had a degree and yes I got very dirty, and no, I didn't love the job, but I was good at it.

Eventually I was promoted out of field work and worked my way through the ranks, (working eleven years overseas) until I became a VP. But then the oilfield boom crashed in 1984. Tens of thousands of people lost their jobs, including me. It took me a year to find another job, but I was finely hired on as Operations Manager for a subsidiary company that was owned by a pipeline related company here in Tulsa. After eight years I became President of that subsidary company. Two years later, the parent company sold my company, and I wasn't part of the package.

For the second time in my career, I was back on the street. I was fifty-five years old and knew that my chances of getting hired at that age were slim to none. So, I started my own business. Before I did, I did a lot of research. I wanted a niche company with few competitors - and I found it. After reading all of the above, you will probably find it odd that I went into the business of marble restoration. That is, re-polishing marble..At that time, I was the only guy in the state of Oklahoma that did that sort of work. After a couple of years I ended up with nine employees, but only three of whom I would call true craftsmen. There are over 3,000 types of marble and each reacts differently to the restoration process, That's when a craftsman comes in.

But I'm digressing, babbling if you will.

I'm now sixty-five and have down-sized my company to only one employee - me. I work strictly from referrals. I do all the work. I get very dirty. And I love it!

Looking back on my life. I ask myself "What would you have done differently?" I keep coming up with the same two answers.

1. Change nothing. I would have changed nothing, but have sacrificed untold amounts of hours/days/weeks of quality time with my wife and girls Neglect of family comes back to haunt you in many ways.

2. Become an electrician. It was my ambition before my parents shoved me into college. I would have been good at that trade, and could have eventually gone into business for myself. All the while spending quality time with my family. At home.

Spilt milk.

Water under the bridge

If restoring marble is anything like polishing granite/marble/limestone I can see why you love it. I did it for a year befor leaving for the army and honestly its my only job iv had beside vein a paintball ref that I honestly loved. It wa back breaking work that stuff got heavy but I loved driving an hour to work to cut, polish, fit, install, repair custom countertops or fire places even a few floors and walls all custom granite/marble/limestone. I went to work there after basic and well I was gone they company dived it was just the 2 brothers and their wifes working there all there pollsters and installers were let go because business slowed and people couldn't afford the fancy expensive countertops.

[Captain Obvious]

Its funny as the owner of a small marketing company I can say 99% of my clients are tradesmen who own their own business. Many times it turns out they better or just as business savvy as my white collard clients.

Having worked in construction as a teenager and now attending college I have seen both sides of the story. I guess I was lucky because the truth about a college education was not hidden to me. I knew you could get a job and make money in the trades and I also knew that a college degree does little more than qualify you for a job interview and a 9-5 job if you can get it.

Compared to most of you guys my small professional experience is like comparing a mountain to a mole hill (me being the mole hill). Yet as a guy who worked in the trades as an employee and is now working with them as an marketing consultant I have one suggestion for any of the kids considering trade school.

If your looking to going into trade school and hope one day to own your own business I would highly recommend getting at least an associates degree in business. The fields I would recommend would be in either Marketing,Entrepreneurship, or Management.

This will help you run your business down the road. So many trades people are trying to run businesses and they don't understand some basic business principles. Believe me when I say that many of my most businesses savvy clients learned what they learned about business the hard way. You can save yourself from making some costly mistakes if you understand some of the basics about running a business.

No you don't need to an expert and yes you are still going to make mistakes but is something that will help you down the road

[J Francho]

You'd think with the dearth of decent trade workers that crummy workmanship would be a thing of the past. Same goes for customer service. I don't think it's a society issue. I think it's a lazy people problem. Going to college seems to be the bare minimum these days. I see very few that strive to do something they can do well. I don't particularly love my job, but I do it well and that goes a long way toward my satisfaction. I see lots of kids come out of college, and scoff at entry level jobs. Meanwhile, they look upon their peers that have spent that time learning a trade with jealousy because they are years ahead of them in terms of advancement and compensation. They don't realize how to use a simple piece of paper to their advantage, to get in the door and do a better job than others doing the same thing. It's almost like they are used to just getting by, or doing the bare minimum.

No matter your background, education, trade or career path you've picked, one thing is for sure: STEP UP.

[bowhunter63]

Been burning rods for 20 years,I work in industrial maintance.Make a good living,If your young dont count out the trades there will be a shortage of people soon.Idustrial maintance is worth checking out.

[OHIO]

If your looking to going into trade school and hope one day to own your own business I would highly recommend getting at least an associates degree in business. The fields I would recommend would be in either Marketing,Entrepreneurship, or Management.

Exactly.

That's what I'm doing now and I think it will help a lot with getting hired at an entry level job and in the future.

[msolorio]

oh yea, trade schools are the way to go. im a welder (custom fabrication) and love the hell out of it. i love gettin bruised, cut, scraped, burned, and goin home dirty as all hell. i went to school for a year and left certified and in the upper pay brackets. regular school is just not for me, nor is bein a desk jockey or any other job that doesnt require me to use my hands and stay clean all day.

[ww2farmer]

You'd think with the dearth of decent trade workers that crummy workmanship would be a thing of the past. Same goes for customer service. I don't think it's a society issue. I think it's a lazy people problem. Going to college seems to be the bare minimum these days. I see very few that strive to do something they can do well. I don't particularly love my job, but I do it well and that goes a long way toward my satisfaction. I see lots of kids come out of college, and scoff at entry level jobs. Meanwhile, they look upon their peers that have spent that time learning a trade with jealousy because they are years ahead of them in terms of advancement and compensation. They don't realize how to use a simple piece of paper to their advantage, to get in the door and do a better job than others doing the same thing. It's almost like they are used to just getting by, or doing the bare minimum.

No matter your background, education, trade or career path you've picked, one thing is for sure: STEP UP.

That is exactly the way it is around here. I am 36, and still the youngest guy at my work place. Oh, we have had younger guys come and go. They all want to be paid top dollar NOW, take orders from no one, and do shoddy work. I am not condeming guys younger than me, there a lot of good hard workers out there, we just don't seem to be able to find them. We don't always have the best of circumstances to work with. In the winter we can go weeks with out work, In the Spring, Summer, and Fall we can go weeks with out a day off. We get dirty. But still, it's good, solid employment. One of the problems.......IMHO is an underlying theme now a days, be in debt, have every thing new, fast and shiny, or your nothing. And have it instantly. It's not going to happen in this field right away, so they go off looking for greener pastures. Part of it..........I am sure of it...........is growing up in the world of "every one is winner" or "it's ok if you tried your best" crap that seemed to seep into every childhood activity in the late 90's.

[J Francho]

If everyone starts off a winner, where is the satisfaction when you actually do succeed at something?

[slonezp]

That is exactly the way it is around here. I am 36, and still the youngest guy at my work place. Oh, we have had younger guys come and go. They all want to be paid top dollar NOW, take orders from no one, and do shoddy work. I am not condeming guys younger than me, there a lot of good hard workers out there, we just don't seem to be able to find them. We don't always have the best of circumstances to work with. In the winter we can go weeks with out work, In the Spring, Summer, and Fall we can go weeks with out a day off. We get dirty. But still, it's good, solid employment. One of the problems.......IMHO is an underlying theme now a days, be in debt, have every thing new, fast and shiny, or your nothing. And have it instantly. It's not going to happen in this field right away, so they go off looking for greener pastures. Part of it..........I am sure of it...........is growing up in the world of "every one is winner" or "it's ok if you tried your best" crap that seemed to seep into every childhood activity in the late 90's.

Alot of this has to do with the breakdown of the 2 parent household, and the fact that for many couples to raise a family nowadays, they need 2 incomes. The guilt a single mother or working mother feels for not spending time with her children is made up in gifts, and overprotectiveness(if that's a word). Also, when you have strangers, TV, and video games raising your kids at an early age when their minds are like sponges and absorb everything they see, nothing good can come of that.

Growing up I had both white collar and blue collar influences in my life. At least I had someone influencing me to do something, than allowing me to sit around and do nothing.

[Jigfishn10]

Exactly.

That's what I'm doing now and I think it will help a lot with getting hired at an entry level job and in the future.

You're on the right path OHIO. Idealy, you want to spend time in the field and know your craft/trade well and then you want to be able to get peeps to to it for you, the way you want it done. Much less wear an tear on the body and you make a very good living for yourself.

Good luck!

[South FLA]

If you are a tradesman OWN your own business and you'll be better off than many professionals. I know plenty of "trade workers" that are doing as well and many times much better than professionals (doctors, lawyers, accountants, etc.). I think its really up to the individual.

[Red]

I was one of those "college isn't for me" guys. I went one year right out of high school, didn't go back for next year. Then I went in the Army, did my four years. Then I went to school again for Building Construction. Did not return for second year, instead I took a job as an entry level carpenter and never looked back. Now, after moving back to Texas, I am still working as a carpenter and have also learned to weld (mig) and do some basic electrical work. I think, as well does my boss, that I have a good future with this company, possibly working into a supervisor position a few years down the road when some of the old farts retire. I work my butt off day in day out for decent money, nothing special. For me though, I love my job and would rather be happy working in a field I enjoy making on ok living than dread going to work everyday and making a ton of money.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

Well, life as an electrician just took a exciting turn for me. I found out yesterday that I have enough hours to take my Master license test! :)

This just opened a whole world of new things for me. IE. pay raise, my own company, the ability to work for multiple companies at the same time, etc.

I just have to get the business side of the test down.

[clayton86]

Well, life as an electrician just took a exciting turn for me. I found out yesterday that I have enough hours to take my Master license test! :)

This just opened a whole world of new things for me. IE. pay raise, my own company, the ability to work for multiple companies at the same time, etc.

I just have to get the business side of the test down.

Nice!

[Jigfishn10]

Well, life as an electrician just took a exciting turn for me. I found out yesterday that I have enough hours to take my Master license test! :)

This just opened a whole world of new things for me. IE. pay raise, my own company, the ability to work for multiple companies at the same time, etc.

I just have to get the business side of the test down.

That's quite an accomplishment Homie, congrats and good luck!

[unionman]

I too work with my hands on a daily basis. As a Journeyman Union Ironworker I have learned valuable skills such as welding(mostly stick and mig), rigging, reinforcing, stuctural, bridge, and ornamental field applications. I come from a family of tradesmen. I was encouraged to attend college as a youngin too but would have to finance the "gamble" myself. Yes i said gamble. Most college grads dont even get a job for which they majored in. Then your in debt for yrs.... Just wasnt for me. I need to be ourdoors working hard with my body AND mind. Even if its cold...After a couple yrs of deciding if i wanted to join the military or not, i finally went to my local ironworkers union hall and put in an app. Been in for seven yrs now. Made some great freinds. Ironworkers are a very close brotherhood. Our daily dangers force to look out for eachother and become close. I wouldnt trade it for the world!

[JIGFISHERMAN.]

I have been out of school for going on 15 years. I just started college courses in January. While not exactly a trade, I had a great job. I worked as a department manager at a boat manufacturing company. Making great money, especially for a manufacturing job, and for the area. I managed the engine department, and I DID work. Installing engines, overseeing other aspects of hull construction, and testing new engine/drive boat combos. (Was working on design of our first twin engine boat)

That company went out of business.

Without a degree, even higher end manufacturing jobs were harder to get. You need that little something extra to get you into the door, and that I believe is a degree.

So I took some crap jobs to make ends meet.

THIS IS THE BIGGEST REASON FOR GOING BACK TO SCHOOL=This may sound hokey, but after the wife and I became much more dedicated to living a christian life, I found myself distancing from the type of atmosphere I see in manufacturing jobs. Foul language, convicted felons, convicted sex offenders, filthy rest rooms including unmentionable writing on bathroom walls, METH addicts, the list goes on.

I just don't care to be around that. NOT ALL MANUFACTURING JOBS ARE LIKE THIS. The boat company wasn't. But many are.

In 5 years I'll be teaching. Not getting rich, but I'll be getting payed OK, in a much better enviroment, doing something I have wanted to do for some time, and have summers off.

[Captain Obvious]

Just to keep up with the theme here is a great article I saw today on yahoo finance.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/100-000-factory-job-whats-145600750.html

I think it makes a vary valid point. Part of the reason the trades are shunned is because they have a bad image and get a bad rap from pop culture. What needs to happen is the trades need to get a new brand image.

Guys if your really want to do something about this then its up to you to make it happen. You guys are the people that represent the trades so you are the people that kids need to see. For example how hard would it be for some of you to maybe volunteer some time and give a talk at the local high school or community college about the trade your in? Tell them about what you do and what the job opportunities and salaries are like in your trade.

The kids in my generation and the generation following are getting hit with cold hard reality that a college degree doesn't get you as far as it use to. If you guys can show them that good jobs and high pay are available outside of a college degree I'm sure many would go to trade school.

Its not going to be easy but the only ones who can make the trades "cool" again are the men and women who are in them. I truly believe that if America is ever going to get back on its feet its going to do it on the backs of its small business owners and trades people and not its scientist,engineers and business people.

Capt.O

[Raider Nation Fisher]

Just to keep up with the theme here is a great article I saw today on yahoo finance.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/100-000-factory-job-whats-145600750.html

I think it makes a vary valid point. Part of the reason the trades are shunned is because they have a bad image and get a bad rap from pop culture. What needs to happen is the trades need to get a new brand image.

Guys if your really want to do something about this then its up to you to make it happen. You guys are the people that represent the trades so you are the people that kids need to see. For example how hard would it be for some of you to maybe volunteer some time and give a talk at the local high school or community college about the trade your in? Tell them about what you do and what the job opportunities and salaries are like in your trade.

The kids in my generation and the generation following are getting hit with cold hard reality that a college degree doesn't get you as far as it use to. If you guys can show them that good jobs and high pay are available outside of a college degree I'm sure many would go to trade school.

Its not going to be easy but the only ones who can make the trades "cool" again are the men and women who are in them. I truly believe that if America is ever going to get back on its feet its going to do it on the backs of its small business owners and trades people and not its scientist,engineers and business people.

Capt.O

I couldn't agree more. We do need to rebrand our image. I've been thinking recently about going to some schools to tell them about the trades. I just got to find the time with the hours they are having me work. As far as competing with pop culture and the influence of the "hip hop culture" that's going to be a bit harder. Any ideas would bey appreciated. Cause I'm kind of at a loss for that one.

[d3bf48]

In 5 years I'll be teaching. Not getting rich, but I'll be getting payed OK, in a much better enviroment, doing something I have wanted to do for some time, and have summers off.

What do you plan on teaching?