Practical/Hands on Job Ideas

**Mole_C** · 6th March 2007, 10:09

Hey guys, i need some ideas on careers/jobs/industries to look into. I've done a diploma in editing, started a BA/BCom in management and psych and a BE and havn't liked any of them. I have decided that the reason i hate them all is that I want something that I actually do something hands on.

I worked construction over the summer hollidays just doing some drilling and concrete cutting and it was quite good but soon became rather repeditive.

So what im looking for is ideas for hands on job ideas which have lots of variety, are interesting and have the possibility of advancing further. E.g. own business, project manager etc. (decent pay is good as well

)

So if you have any ideas please post them up, some pros and cons, pay, prospects etc. Any information which you think might be helpful.

Thanks a lot

**avgas** · 6th March 2007, 10:37

how far did you get with your courses. sorry for asking but you may have been better off starting at grunt level in a company.
Was your be electrical, mechanical or 1st year (both)? Or civil?
Laboring is an exciting concept - but if you require variety, you may want to work for a firm that tenders a variety of contracts.
It may be just me but a ba/bcom is brilliant if you want to manage - but no one will give you a chance if you have no ground work. Unless you are really good at bullshit which case you can work most places for 6 months until they find you out.
Do you have any industries you prefer?

**magicfairy** · 6th March 2007, 10:58

Join the forces - become a soldier, officer, drive tanks, work in comms.
Nursing, teaching - make a difference to someones life.

**Indiana_Jones** · 6th March 2007, 11:03

Originally Posted by magicfairy

Join the forces - become a soldier, officer, drive tanks, work in comms.
Nursing, teaching - make a difference to someones life.

Agreed. Also if you like working with your hands, try carpentry?

-Indy

**ManDownUnder** · 6th March 2007, 11:09

Given your track record I suggest you take yourself on as your own job. Go establish exactly what you want to first.

Having a go at stuff is ok.. but mate - my gut feel is this - you are lost.

Hinda on might be the way to go... but I'm willing to bet it's not.

Also - don't underestimate hands on thing - I mean have you any idea how much education is involved in learning a trade or getting qualified as a builder, or sparky? It's not a case of a simple job to be done by anyone.
Before you waste more time trying something you possibly wont like.. take the time.

Find what you WILL like - then aim for that

Good luck

**Mole_C** · 6th March 2007, 21:20

how far did you get with your courses. sorry for asking but you may have been better off starting at grunt level in a company.
Was your be electrical, mechanical or 1st year (both)? Or civil?
Laboring is an exciting concept - but if you require variety, you may want to work for a firm that tenders a variety of contracts.
It may be just me but a ba/bcom is brilliant if you want to manage - but no one will give you a chance if you have no ground work. Unless you are really good at bullshit which case you can work most places for 6 months until they find you out.
Do you have any industries you prefer?

Finished the film course, did one semester of BA/BCom and just a week of BE (was going to do civil) before i decided that i hated it, uni wasn't for me and that I wanted something hands on.

Was looking at something like building or welding or something but just want more ideas of what there is out there that i do not know about so i can check them out. I really have no idea of the industry i want to get into to be honest. The firm tendering a variety of contacts sounds good. have to find an industry first before i can find a firm thou.

Quote:
Originally Posted by magicfairy View Post
Join the forces - become a soldier, officer, drive tanks, work in comms.
Nursing, teaching - make a difference to someones life.
Agreed. Also if you like working with your hands, try carpentry?

-Indy

Thought about the forces but not to keen on having to live on a base away from the missus and the bike. Or is it not like this at all?

Given your track record I suggest you take yourself on as your own job. Go establish exactly what you want to first.

Having a go at stuff is ok.. but mate - my gut feel is this - you are lost.

Hinda on might be the way to go... but I'm willing to bet it's not.

Also - don't underestimate hands on thing - I mean have you any idea how much education is involved in learning a trade or getting qualified as a builder, or sparky? It's not a case of a simple job to be done by anyone.
Before you waste more time trying something you possibly wont like.. take the time.

Find what you WILL like - then aim for that

Good luck

Your gut is right. I am indeedy lost which is why im asking for ideas :P Yes i know how much there is to learn in a trade but i have no problem taking the time to learn it all if i am enjoying it and heading towards something which i want.

I already have my summer job which i can probably do full time while i think of ideas of what path to go down. Was thinking of ringing him next week infact. Although i have spent the last 3 years trying to figure out what to do so im not sure how much help a month or two will be but hey. It's all worth a shot.

I might even go down to a building site down my road and ask if i can watch and help out for a day to get more of an idea of what they do and if i would like it.

Anyway, thanks for the ideas so far. Keep em coming!

**Laava** · 6th March 2007, 21:22

Have you tried the Golden Palace massage parlour? Been down that track myself but a bit crusty now!

**Busy** · 6th March 2007, 22:15

There is a lot of money to be made in rubbish

can be self employed bin droper/collecter or sorter ... the more hands on the more you can make.
A mate of mine worked for pink bins for a while, reckons it was pretty cruisy but he didn't like the self employed bit - to much paper work, and taxes ...

Just think, at the end of the day you could truly say "I am always in it, just the depth that varies"

**Indiana_Jones** · 7th March 2007, 08:28

Originally Posted by Mole_C

Thought about the forces but not to keen on having to live on a base away from the missus and the bike. Or is it not like this at all?

Fair enough. Navy would be your best bit if you did. as most of it is based in auckland, so you can still live where you are, but you will be deployed no doubt, but most trips are like 3 months or something?

-Indy

**Guitana** · 7th March 2007, 10:30

Become a Gaenocologist!!!
It's an interesting job, you have to deal with the odd C**T but well worth the time studying!!!!

**R6_kid:Me** · 7th March 2007, 13:10

check the air force as CIS trade (comms), my mate does it and loves it. 3 months basic training + 6mths trade training. After that you will probably be posted to Auckland. He spends most of his time up here but has done a few cool exercises down south flying around in Iroquois and the like, pretty cool if you ask me.