Fixing the desk dude's toilet sounds far more enjoyable to me than being the desk dude. There's no way I'd survive in a corporate environment. I'd be much happier making $50k/year fixing the desk dude's toilet rather than making $100k/year being the desk dude. Sure, it's a job, and it's not going to be the funnest thing in the world, but that doesn't mean I'm going to make myself absolutely miserable just so I can make more money.
I definitely wouldn't mind a commercial job, fixing stuff in a factory, or a hospital, or something of that nature. Turning a wrench on a machine sounds more enjoyable than doing electrical stuff or plumbing stuff though, but I don't know what key words I need to search for on job sites to find the kind of job I'm talking about.
I could see myself doing that kind of thing at a hospital too, depending on what all those guys do. Someone who actually does stuff at a hospital wanna chime into what your job entails on a day-to-day basis?
I'm not all that good at being a people person, so I'd definitely prefer something to where my interaction with customers is kept to the bare minimum. I'm much happier when I'm left alone to do a job instead of being interrupted every five minutes, which is one reason why retail never worked out well for me.
As far as Craigslist goes for tools, I've been keeping my eye out for stuff, but too many people are wanting almost retail prices for heavily used stuff, and the majority of the pawn shops are wanting more than retail, so that's pretty much out of the question. I'll keep my eye on eBay, hopefully a good deal will pop up when I can afford it.
Electronics and Advanced Technologies
Associate of Applied Science Degree
Automation, Robotics and Controls Technology Specialization
Electronics Technician Specialization
Engineering Technology Specialization
The above is where I would suggest you look. Being in Pflugerville you are surrounded by Dell computers. I worked for a competitor years ago and was in the automation repair field. I moved into the field from auto repair. A lot like you I wanted to be a mechanic and work in the 'tuners' arena. I found out that auto repair work is 5% mental and 95% manual labor. In the factory there was climate control, clean work environment, nice people, and high pay. If you can, see if some one can get you into the manufacturing floor or the R&D shop where you would work on proto type machines and stuff. For me I likened my career to being a kid with a multi-million dollar erector set.
While working I had a great time building hotrods for me.
lg
no neat sig line
That's one reason why auto repair doesn't appeal to me as much as the tuners world does, and one reason why a factory/hospital/whatever else indoors kind of job appeals to me more. I can deal with the heat and be fine, but if I don't have to then why should I? Especially if the inside job pays better, and hopefully the more expensive tools, or all of the tools, will be supplied to me, rather than having to buy them myself.
I'd be happier with a $50k/year job and job supplied tools, rather than a $55k/year job and I'm forced to buy my own.
An R&D shop sounds like it could be fun, I think I could enjoy repairing robotic machines and the like, so long as it pays well and I get challenged.
I watched a video on youtube about how to change spark plugs in my new Murano, and went "Ehhh.... I really don't think I'd enjoy doing that. I think I'd dread it more than anything." So I'm not entirely sure that being a mechanic is right for me, but I don't know what else to search for. Granted, I think it'd be nice to know that something works because I put it back together, and I'm sure that I'll experience some similar to this no matter where I go, but the tight confines under the hood of a fwd vehicle have never given me any pleasure.
What kinds of key words do I need to search for on job sites? R&D repair? Automation repair? Hospital maintenance? Any suggestions?
