Thinking of a career change...

[willievhook]

This is pretty tough for me guys, I need some opinions/advice.
I work in the rigging for a logging company. Me and my best friend would go to work with his dad during the summer, and ride in the loaders, check out the yarders, and whatnot, since we were 10. I started working for them when I turned 18. I LOVE working in the woods, it's been my dream to be a logger almost as long as I can remember....but, the work is becoming very inconsistent. My whole crew got laid off for almost a month and a half awhile back, and we're almost finished with an 80 acre piece, and so far we don't have a job lined up. When I'm working, I have plenty to get by, but I always save most of it for the off periods....rather than drawing unemployment.

My dad said he would be able to hire me in a couple months, and that soon after that hopefully start an apprenticeship to become an electrician. Work's more consistent, and would have a better paycheck after a couple years, a much better paycheck. I really wouldn't mind this line of work, but it's not exactly what I've always wanted to do.

My current boss said that in about the time I would be able to complete my apprenticeship(4-5 years) that work would be picking up a lot, and that I'm a contestant for hook-tender when he(current hook-tender) retires.

Times have been pretty tough, and logging is a risky business, but the question is, should I get out of it when I can...secure a good future, or hope that the company I work for doesn't go out of business when say, I'm 35/40 with a family....

anyways, sorry for such a long post, and I greatly appreciate anyone who reads this whole thing, I guess I'm kinda venting, but thanks guys.

 

[DeanCampbell]

im in my second year millwright right now and i love it.. i suggest if you love working in the remote areas and around eqiupment then see if hell put you through a heavy duty mechanic course,, tons of work for that and very diverse!

 

[adsm08]

That's a tough one, its hard to decide between something you love when it may pick up again by the time you could be ready to start a better paying job.


I'd go with the electrician job, but that's just me. I'm not an "out in the woods" type of guy.

 

[TheTopher]

I was in the same pickle about a year ago when the recession hit. I was halfway through a flooring apprenticeship and I LOVED doing it...I got to see all kinds of cool buildings and go to neat places and meet interesting people and I got a really good sense of accomplishment when I finished a job and took a walk through it.


Unfortunately I was only getting 2-3 days of work a week. An opportunity came up at a pest control company with steady work so after dragging my feet for a month I finally took the job and gave up construction. The work isn't too bad unless you get a nasty customer, but it's just not a job that I feel is right for me. Even though I didn't have much of a choice and the bills had to get paid, not a single day goes by that I don't regret leaving construction.

 

[Shran]

Me personally... I'd look elsewhere for work. Diversify. You don't have to change careers completely, just find demand for something related to what you know and sell your expertise. If you are creative enough you could build your own business out of the deal.

I would love to be out in the woods doing what you're doing, or wrenching on some piece of machinery, but I just can't bring myself to do it. I think I enjoy doing that stuff a lot less if I had to make my living that way... so I got a desk job. It pays the bills pretty well and I can come home and still want to work on a vehicle since I didn't spend the entire day working on someone else's.

Only other thing I have to say is that the economy is not something that should hold anyone back. I know jobs are scarce but people still have money, they're just spending it differently. You just have to figure out how. If I lost my job today, the first thing I would be looking at doing is either a traveling computer repair tech or shadetree mechanic. Gotta be creative.

 

[hoosier1104]

The only person that can make this decision is you. You want a secure, you have to make the decision to do that. I HATE my job plain and simple. I went back to school to change that. The past 2 quarters I have made honors with working nights.

If you want something bad enough in this life, GO AND GET IT. The only person that can inspire a change in you is yourself.

That is just me. Your situation is different and deserves some thought to it. I wish you the best of luck on this decision.

 

[Spitfire1975]

OK Hook. You know dang well what has been happening to Oregon since California decided to take it over. Look at Detroit. Freaking full of Willamette Valley small-dicked big-boat peckerheads. No Loggers. Idahna......destroyed. Mehama/Lyons......Salem suburb. Look at any small Oregon, formerly logging, community and see what has happened since Neil Goldschmidt, Barbara Roberts, John Kitzhaber and the current Elf-In-Chief, Kulongoski decided that Intel was better for our way of life then the loggers.

Do you think you have a future here in logging?

 

[Hopman]

If you love being in thw oods, do something with forest conservation, fish & game or something along those lines.

 

[r1hatman]

You need to think about your future. What are your goals? Write them down, talk to your family about them and see which one is going to get you there. Written goals are visible plans. People don't plan to fail, they fail to plan. Good luck.

 

[Ronv]

I totallyagree with R1hatman directly above and although it is great to make a living at something you enjoy thete is no rule that says you have to enjoy your work! Just like Shran & hoosier1104 say. Talk it over with the family,make a decision,wirte it down and GO FOR IT!

Best of luck to you.

Ronv

 

[Chance]

OK Hook. You know dang well what has been happening to Oregon since California decided to take it over. Look at Detroit. Freaking full of Willamette Valley small-dicked big-boat peckerheads. No Loggers. Idahna......destroyed. Mehama/Lyons......Salem suburb. Look at any small Oregon, formerly logging, community and see what has happened since Neil Goldschmidt, Barbara Roberts, John Kitzhaber and the current Elf-In-Chief, Kulongoski decided that Intel was better for our way of life then the loggers.

Do you think you have a future here in logging?

Truth.

my family has been in the timber industry for generations, and I am proud to say I haven't even worked at the mill yet. Considered it, but no. I would take the electrician job over logging any day... and I am an "out in the woods" type guy.

Logging has died off terribly, and I wouldn't believe your boss when he says it will pick up in the next 5 years. It may, but I was talking to my dad about the industry (he manages a mill on the coast) and he wasn't convinced it was looking so hot for the next few years...

it may pick up enough to give you steadier hours, but the electrician job sounds like it would pay off more in the future.