Need some help deciding

[water freak]

Hey Guys I am 18 And a Senior in high school. I had originally decided to go to my local community college for heating and air condition for the two year program. But I really don't want to do that and be in tight spaces all day long. So I have thought about MMI in Orlando go there come back to NC move to the lake or coast. I can open a shop doing performance mods and repairs on watercraft and boats do yall think theres money there? I can even have a service boat to go do help on the water? Also should i take a year of electrical classes at my community college. What do yall suggest?

 

[roscoe]

Re: Need some help deciding

Stick with HVAC. Stable work field, above average pay, needed everywhere. Allows you to migrate to anywhere you like.

THe work is not all in tight spaces.
Much of it is at commercial locations, office buildings, retail stores, food processing plants, etc.

Yes, take extra electrical classes.

Then spend your time off, working on YOUR boats, or using them.

 

[Bucks45]

Re: Need some help deciding

Roscoe gives great advice. When you're thinking about a career, think of doing something that people have to have. You need your HVAC to work. If your boat is broke down, you don't need to fix it. You fix it when and if you can. Depending on where you live, you most likely have to have heat or a/c. Good luck!

 

[JB]

Re: Need some help deciding

Ahoy, Water Freak.

Welcome to iboats.

Well, I think I agree with Water Freak.

I believe that it is more important to be doing what you love to do than to make more bux or be more securely employed.

If you want a career that allows you to go anywhere and be in demand regardless of the local economy go into health care. Nurses make good pay and have wierd hours but can find (no, pick from a bunch of options) employment almost anywhere.

We have 5 nurses among my descendants . They have never experienced unemployment, live where they want to live and make as much money as they decide to get the education to qualify for. Same for the two Physical Therapists.

BUT they love what they do. I think that is why they are so successful.

I was a decent electronics tech and engineer, but it wasn't what I wanted to do. It was only after I became a full time technical instructor and writer that my career(s) and my spirit flourished. I spent a lot of time on learning more. . . how to do it better. . . finally earning my Ph.D at age 60.

Where did the boats/outboards come in?? I love fishing even more than teaching, and messing with boats and outboards was needed to allow me to fish when and where I wanted. Also, my lifelong love of getting my hands dirty playing with machines was well satisfied.

So, Water Freak, my advice is to find out what you are good at and enjoy doing and make a career out of one or more of them.

Good luck.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Need some help deciding

Welcome to iboats.

In my opinion.......MMI is a good program however....... job placement may put you someplace you do not want to be. The economy is not supporting as many marine mechanics as you may think.

If you like to work with your hands and mechanics then I would recommend you become a mechanic and AFTER learn to specialize in marine work. A mechanic will have $50-60K in tools and all I/o and inboards are basically car engines. The 4 stroke outboards are similar in engine design.

I am trying to steer you into a field where you will be able to make money AND enjoy life. MMI will limit your job opportunities. Check career builder.com and indeed.com look at the jobs being advertised. I am sure you will find more mechanic jobs then marine mechanic jobs.

HVAC is a fantastic field. EVERYONE regardless of where they live have hvac needs. I live in an area where we heat for 7+ months per year and only boat 2+ months a year. My parents live in FL where they cool 7+ months a year but have more boating. Specialize in something everything uses and needs and not the toy/luxury items.

Good luck.

I feel fairly qualified with my answer since I work for Lincoln Educational Services (look them up) which is big.

 

[v1_0]

Re: Need some help deciding

Hey Guys I am 18 And a Senior in high school. I had originally decided to go to my local community college for heating and air condition for the two year program. But I really don't want to do that and be in tight spaces all day long. So I have thought about MMI in Orlando go there come back to NC move to the lake or coast. I can open a shop doing performance mods and repairs on watercraft and boats do yall think theres money there? I can even have a service boat to go do help on the water? Also should i take a year of electrical classes at my community college. What do yall suggest?

I think that there is more work in HVAC than on boats. Also, you will probably be in tight spaces with the boat as well if you work on, say, the engine in place..

As a suggestion it seems to me that you have some control over the type of HVAC work you would do. For example, if you became really good at calculating CFM, heat loads, supply/return duct sizing, etc. - you would probably spend more time in 'technical sales' than you would if you focused on knowing how to perform service tests/etc. (You will still need to do that sort of stuff - to cut your teeth, of course). You could also look into more exotic (for now) stuff like geothermal, etc.

-V

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Need some help deciding

I perform commercial HVAC and love it, everything is high tech. Computer server rooms, hospital equipment, science labs, ect.
I wouldn't be happy doing residential too many weirdos, commercial is where I'm staying.
The computer internet technology fields are also a good choice, anything in the medical field too as noted.

 

[tswiczko]

Re: Need some help deciding

I worked as an HVAC/R service tech for 17years the last 5 as a senior tech working on the stuff someone else screwed up. I done mostly commercial and industrial with some process refrigeration. Cooling towers 500 to 1000 ton centrifugals (learned at a hospital that was over 2 million sf.) ultralows -70 c,good pay, lots of room to get in a specialized area and become verry proficient and make good money and move around( relocate) just about any where. I am 43 now and was hit by a young person who was so high she didn't even know she hit me. left me with ten screws 2 rods a plate and several cages in my spine Now There isn't much I can do in the trade.(I couldn't sell A/C in he!! so sales is out of the question) Now I am finishing up my Sophomore year at the university, I'm gonna be a Geologist when I grow up OOps sorry about the rant .
A lot can be said for a formal education. I know graduating from high school the last thing you want is 4 or 6 more years of school but it's a lot easier when you are young to do the college thing

 

[tswiczko]

Re: Need some help deciding

One more thing and I mean this with sincerity, GOOD LUCK kid I can sympathise with you on how hard it is to make a career decision. People ask me all the time what I will do when I graduate.
I tell them I will start looking for a job