career choices

I had no idea what i wanted to do. Since graduating high school in '04 I've stayed in a relative field of work and it's paying off. Ive never had a degree or time to go to school again since I've worked with companies that travel alot. I've done stuff like work with pavement marking companies and power companies but my focus has always been HVAC, mold remediation and duct cleaning. It's landed me a technician job with a national company and I've also been chosen to get trained by a worldwide company like Nalco as part of a merge deal. I don't make a ton of $$ at all. I have learned over the years how to manage my money well and still do the things I really enjoy doing. At any time I could go for a degree in something and I probably will here soon just to say I did.

My philosophy on life it it's all about learning. Never ever turn down an oppurtunity to learn something new no matter what it is. And always remember, you don't have to live up to anyones standards but your own.
 
XJsavage said:
I had no idea what i wanted to do. Since graduating high school in '04 I've stayed in a relative field of work and it's paying off. Ive never had a degree or time to go to school again since I've worked with companies that travel alot. I've done stuff like work with pavement marking companies and power companies but my focus has always been HVAC, mold remediation and duct cleaning. It's landed me a technician job with a national company and I've also been chosen to get trained by a worldwide company like Nalco as part of a merge deal. I don't make a ton of $$ at all. I have learned over the years how to manage my money well and still do the things I really enjoy doing. At any time I could go for a degree in something and I probably will here soon just to say I did.

My philosophy on life it it's all about learning. Never ever turn down an oppurtunity to learn something new no matter what it is. And always remember, you don't have to live up to anyones standards but your own.
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I'm in the same line of work and enjoy it for the most part but plan on moving into law enforcement. The name NALCO makes me cringe. I have been trained and certified by NALCO and its been helpful, but what a pain to deal with that company in my region!
 
Yeah I've done a few projects with that company. They don't have roots in the southeast region so they adopted a few gungho Advantaclean guys to tackle some of their chiller towers in the Carolinas.
 
Yep, I work for AdvantaClean. I just finished up a big coil cleaning job at a huge hospital. Nalco really broke it off in us on that project.
 
Well how about that! I work for the midlands sc location ran by John Newton (Derek's dad). I'm IICRC certified and pretty well known in the duct/coil cleaning department. Hope I get to see ya on an upcoming project!
 
Awesome. I'm a project manager for the Piedmont, NC location. I work for a real dick. Literally, Arthur Dick. Last name is very appropriate.
 
Sweet! I work with the project manager Steve Hurte from the Orlando location, who is also a jeeper on some of the big VA projects. We did the Reno NV hospital last year. That was a blast. AdvantaClean knows how much I love to travel and with our contract with bank of america and just getting into PTACs I stay on the move lol.
 
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ajbirken said:
I went to school FOREVER while my brother went in the army then law enforcement and is retired at 45 pulling six figures in pension! There are many paths to happiness.
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for some people this is the way to do it! Start Army early, put in your time, then 2nd career in another field w/ good retirement.. pull in double the retirement pay.

I have a friend from grad school who joined when he was 18, now he's 38 pulling great benefits alongside the fat cash from his 2nd life career in biotech.
 
I joined the Guard when I was 20. Im almost 32. I have 12 years in the Guard. I have 6 years worth of active duty. I can retire in 8 years with a state retirement. I can retire in 14 years with state AND federal retirement. In 14 years, I will be 46. I can still work on another career and have a 3rd retirement.
 
So if I were to go for a railroad job like this where could I go and what would I most likely start off doing?
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All kinds of jobs on the RR, Most likely start out in Managment (How this is a starting position is beyond me), Maintenance of way, Signal, mechanical, and transportation. All class 1 RR's have online application process as do most short-line RR's this day and age. If its a Class 1 it will be a union job unless its management, either way you will fall under RR retirement. All work is assigned by seniority.

I work in transportation, as a conductor. You have to put up with a lot of crap from mgnt. and tote around a hefty number of rule books that you will be tested on vigorously. Work in all weather day or night with no real schedule (on call for the most part) in most cases and work most of the time with little to no supervision. I work on the ground cutting cars and making switches in yards, on the line of road and in Industrial settings. Love the job for the most part, its fairly easy work for the pay. Its not for the week of heart though. Its all steel and rock and very unforgiving, not a job for the timid.

From here I will be promoted to Engineer and will be running, but theirs other jobs available I could go to and keep my seniority, I.E. Yardmaster, dispatcher, trainmaster, Road foreman,and plenty of others but I would have to give up my craft seniority.

I take a sense of pride in what I do and it opens your eyes to a whole world people don't know exist. Most people pull up to RR crossing and never think whats beyond the x-ing right in front of them but its the veins of this country's economy and its opened my eyes to numerous other places jobs that I never would of thought of. Theirs a ton of good jobs out there and not all of them require a degree, not that more schooling is a bad thing but I knew I wanted no part of that. I worked a few bad jobs before I decided I wanted something better and after a few of my friends hired out I started trying. Took me 5 years to get on but I haven't looked back and only makes me appreciate what I have all the more.
 
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