Career help? I need direction BIG UPDATE

So I am 23, and have no idea where I want to go in life. I did 4 months of diesel school, was top of my class, then dropped out because my heart was not in it.

I love motorcycles, cars, fabrication. Pretty mechanically inclined. But the idea of always being dirty, greasy finger nails, ehhhhhh not my ideal!

I have recently looked into welding school but just not sure if I want to go to another school and possibly drop out. I would love to do it as a hobby to compliment my mechanical skills, but not sure about it as a career?

I love animals as well, fish obviously!
Would love marine biology or zoology, but not sure if this is a good career path? Or just better to be left as a hoby.

Anyone have any ideas? How did you all decide what career path to choose? I just feel so lost, and stuck!

please any advice would be great guys!

 

Get your CDL, there are all kinds of truck driving jobs. You can drive a fuel truck and be home very day. And make 50k to 70k a year. On the higher end with more overtime. 50k with out it.

When your hobby becomes your job it's no longer a hobby and most don't want to take it home.

 

Solid advice. I will have to look into that

 

a diesel mechanic is a great choice tho...

Ever think about cnc machining?
It's for the mechanically inclined like you. You'll most likely be a little grungy (depends what yer making too sometimes it's prett clean gig at certain places) but the longer your in it and the more experience you get and the less dirty you'll be getting.
Pay is strong and lots of folks your parents age are retiring and there isn't enought young folks to fill out demand in 10 years, you'll move up quick. $$$ Not everywhere in the US has demand for it tho - much of New England has (CT & MA) has some of the most advanced machining in the world, think aerospace parts.
Work weeks are usually long, often 50 hours min so think 1/2 Saturdays every week.


White collar I'd say go for IT business management with a minor in IT security. You'll need both now in today's world.
All business environments are going virutualized so any type of schooling in networking, WAN, SAN etc...
VMware, vSphere and ESXi are really where it's at but you'll pretty much need IT experience first to understand that type of stuff. It's pays tho.

If you're really, really, really well organized - project management is excellent too.
Be warned, its difficult and demanding. However, I belive it will be around for quite a while - business need to keep project managers in the office\US to orchestrate others that are often remote.

I've done machining, it's a pretty good gig - it really depends on the company tho.

I've been in IT for about 10 years now and go to a 2nd job - a type of specialized machining. (actually just stopped going 2nd job a few weeks ago) The challanges of insaine day at the office are 95% of the time much more physically draining than a tuff physical day at a shop. No joke.

If you like to wear your pants for 5 or 7 days without washing them while working on stuff in the garage - working in an office type environment will slowly take the life from you!
You've been warned!

I have no positive input on the healthcare industry. It sucks. It pays well, but it sucks.

 

I should have mentioned anything that is hands on which can't be done overseas.
Mostly, dirty jobs.

Think TRADES.

Electrician
Plumber pipe fitter
stuff like that.

 

Hell get your airplane mechanics license, they are in high demand in little airplane company.
Ik my dad is the head mechanic and looking for more, and just cant find any.

 

my advice would be

if you can find a job that you enjoy doing, then you never work a single day in your life
so take some time to think it through, decide what you would like to be doing, and then check out opportunities in your chosen area
be prepared to go where the work is, if following your dreams means moving, then move

Steve

 

don't feel too bad. I went from wanting to become a commercial pilot to putting my mechanical skills together and becoming a aircraft mechanic. If you are mechanically inclined then stick with it. Doesn't mean you're going to turn wrenches all your life. After you do your time with elbows in grease you can become a Forman or supervisor. Sounds like you already have a lot of time and money invested in that schooling.

 

Me personally im going into respiratory therapy, enjoy helping ppl, and such plus pay isnt bad and anything in the medical feild is in demand

 

I'm going to college for computer network administration but I'll be a police officer if that says anything. I'm good with computers, real good, but I'd enjoy being a police officer much more.