Hey guys,
This is for any of you fine folks who have gotten out of the world of contracting or at least changed directions in it.
What have you done or what direction did you go? I know this sounds like a “what do you want to be when you grow up” question but I’m curious as I’m finding being a job-seeker is not easy.
A while back Stan Foster gave me some great ideas and I may pursue those but they are based on working for myself which as of late I have become disheartened with. I’ll likley try some of them once I get a stable position going.
I’m hoping to get into a teaching position in the fall but am never eliminating other options along the way. I thought a product or a company rep would be a nice position but I’ve been turned down by quite a few. Seems like 15 years in the business isn’t good enough unless you’ve been a rep before (or are a really good-looking gal or hunky guy). I’m neither as I’m ugly as hell.
Any thoughts? Thanks.
Mike
Replies
Have you thought about being a rep for a tool manufacturer. I have a bud whose a Makita rep. Goes to various job sites and loans demo tools out then sells them if the crew likes them. Have you tried maybe a product rep for manufacturer. Mike maybe consulting might be the thing. I know a guy who paid a contractor just for consulting him in how to do a project. the guy would show up show my bud how to assemble and KD cabs spend a little time there charge him leave come back in a couple days show him how to install the uppers leave come back in a couple days show him how to install the bases ect ect and He was charging 200 bucks a pop( visit) if you get something like that going with various DIY'ers on many different projects maybe that would work. just think no tools , no over head ect the client would have to provide them all anyway just a suggestion OH yea you definently need to sell the Chevy and get a Dodge :)
Darkworksite4: When the job is to small for everyone else, Its just about right for me"
Hey Ron,
I tried the tool rep bit but can't seem to get anywhere. The first question is have you ever been a rep before? When they hear No, its bye-bye. Even though I could likley use the tools better than they ever could. Guess thats not the point huh?
I like the consultant idea! Maybe some more thinking along that line is worthwhile? Thanks.
And sorry the Chevy has to stay. Its paid for!
Mike
Some guys I know have gotten into lumber sales and doing print take-offs/estimating for builders at the Contractors stores.......not Hd or Lowes
Teaching woodworking/homebuilding to high school kids would be a great job (if you have nerves of steel)
Plastic surgery and a sex change operation?
> .......not Hd or Lowes
What those places need is somebody to teach the people they hire a little about what the h--- they're selling. Not long ago I talked to the head of the lumber department at the local HD, as I was picking SelStr out of their piles. He was actually interested to find out what that funny printing on the wood was all about. ;-) They need guys like you to educate their staff. Question is whether they know it.
-- J.S.
There is life after contractingconstruction?
Really?
Your not joking. Right?
Why didn't someone tell me about this before now? All those wasted years. The horror. The horror.
Mike,
JJ has a good idea theres a guy who advertises in Wood Worker West. Its a free mag that they hand out at the hardwood yards lots and I mean lots of advertisements and a few articles and a lot of whats happening around, classes at Rocklers , Woodcraft and others. Theyre is this guy who offers private woodworking lessons. short but sweet advertisement. Something like "Let me teach you how to use the Tablesaw, Band Saw call XXXXXXX Master Wood Worker" anyway Its another option. Darkworksite4: When the job is to small for everyone else, Its just about right for me"
What have ya got in your background/skills/knowledge arena BESIDES construction?
Any college? Any OTHER skills that ya can market?
And yes, life AFTER construction does exist, and it is SWEET brother... REAL sweet.
Being a teacher is a good start. Been there, done that. It can be a real eye opener, and a very good experience builder for you. It can open doors you never thought possible.
Wanna get a good job, with a good company? Research them, and learn ALL about them. Learn so much about them that you will know more about the company and what they do than the guy interviewing you. Figure out what skills and knowledge you have that would benefit that company, and sell, sell, sell it to them. It takes time, and lots of effort, but it is a doable thing, and gets ya a LONG way towards a good job.
Also, do a search on the net concerning interviewing tips. Lots of VERY good info there, and will give you an edge when you go in for an interview.
Good luck.
James DuHamel
J & M Home Maintenance Service
"Southeast Texas"
Mike,
As we had discussed awhile back my teaching job ended yesterday. Good experience and I learned a great deal doing it. Not for my personality type long term but a great experience. From a guy who has had a career change or two when trying to work into jobs in the private sector it really is a matter of what can you do for me now. That is why they tend to go toward experience. But as James said if you work at learning all you can about the company and there needs it is a big help in an interview. If you want to persue a tool reps position find one and ask him what they do and how they do it. I mean they are salesmen, they love to talk and everyone like to talk about themselves. Hope you find something but can tell you from experience, no easy choices and few walk in positions. All new careers have a massive learning curve. I thrive on it, some don't. DanT
All new careers have a massive learning curve.
This is an absolute and one a lot of people forget. I started a carpenter...took a long time to learn the trade.....so if I were to change my MOS completely I'd have to hit the learning curve again....and there's seldom any money in anything, even sales, until you learn and build up a resume. There are a hundred different ways to go in this industry and stay off the (steep) learning curveThere are fast carpenters who care..... there are slow carpenters who care more.....there are half fast carpenters who could care less......
JJ,
Good point. Most of my professional changes have had commercial building and always a maintenance/construction basis. So even though I have had to learn new people, new enviroments, as well as new cultures I have always had a base line of something I knew. The most difficult part I always found was new careers also involve new language. Different abbreviations, different lingo, different slang as well as different values are hard to get used to. DanT
Mike,
Sit down in a quiet place and ask yourself one question,
"What is it I really want to do with my life?" ...............Put aside all social/monetary/etc. thoughts and search you're heart. You may be really surprised........Once you find the answer to that question.....go for it. Anything else and you'll always be unfullfilled regardless of Power/Position/Possession.
I actually chose to do what I'm doing, therefore I've always been content with it (even when I was broke) I actually love to build and create stuff, therefore I "look up" to no one. I am already on top of my own private mountain.
Slipsliding through life chasing dollars is a drag.
I think you have been looking at doing something else for a long time . But to stay with the question ; I like the handy man idea more than anything Ive looked at for retirement. You didnt seem to like that idea before. But the great thing about it is that you can work the hours you would like. One day a week, 3 hrs a day , only in the fall and the spring , or any combination you could think of being flexable. But , I dont think you are talking about retirement at all. But I still think a handy man can compete for salaries very well.
I have always went where I am needed, where the money is the best. That is the reason I have changed over the years so many times.
Tim Mooney
Hey guys,
Thanks for the replies. Some good info there. I'm still stuck with trying to find a new door to step into.
My big holdup right now is not deciding "what" to do really as much as in just finding "something". Reality hit me right after college that I have never been able to do exactly what I wanted. Earned a geography degree with the hopes of using it (for drawing maps, site surveys, etc.) but jobs in the field pay around of $20k. So now I just want something...read that anything that pays say $30k or more. I really don't care what it is as I'm under the new career assumption that whatever I do now, I likley won't be doing in ten years with corporate layoffs, closings, etc.
My contracting business has been very enjoyable over the past ten years+ its just that its not stable enough. I like the flexibility of the schedule but I have to admit, I do not like the variability of the paycheck from week to to week. And the Florida summers are no picnic either!!!
So I continue to think, look and read. I do appreciate your repsonses as it seems like I can always glean something from each posting I read.
Thanks!
Mike
Hey Mike I'm sorry that I don't have any real Pearls of Wisdom, but I will share a couple of thoughts. First of all unless things get truly desparate, try not to just settle for any ol job, you will not be very satisfied. I'm not sure of the labor rates in Florida, but 30 a yr doesn't sound that hard to do. What would you like, figure that out then go do it, the money should follow. Try Handyman maybe, it works for me, and it sounds as though Sonny works it real well in Fla.
Yo Sonny, any suggestions for Mike, starting to sound as though he needs a good adviser, instead of my ramblings!! Remember what my Dad says, advice is worth what you paid forit, maybe.
Dan
Mike
I suggested last summer/fall when you last brought this up.
Get some career counseling. Manny unisversities and communitity colledge offer it. What you want is not one that just does some testing and looks up the scores and compares them to jobs.
But rather where you can discuss your values and goals in life in addition to looking at your skills and training. Often you don't see what those values and goals are untill you have someone that reflect on what you are saying one on one and then looking for what is realy behind it.
Mike,
You mentioned "geography and surveying."
In my neck 'o the woods, we're now required to do an A-2 survey just about every time a homeowner wants to touch their house. A-2s run about $1100 to $1300 for a typical lot survey...if it's a quickie with a reference marker or a town bound already on the lot or nearby they can be had for $600.
It's not that bad of a payday for a half-day to a full day of work.
There is a bit of investment in equipment...you'll need your own transit setup, which can be quite expensive...but a few of the guys around here share a computer/CAD/large format printer.
Best way to get in is to work with someone who is now doing it, then move out on your own.
The reason I mention this is that getting an A-2 here can take 2-3 weeks lead time. Anyone who can show earlier than that will often get the job.
Introduce yourself to architects and builders to get an "in" on the job.
Good luck.
Mike,
showing tools etc. and selling tools are vastly differant things which is why you didn't get the reps job.
Get some selling experiance first then go be a rep. Every weekend the papers are full of starting positions for sales. (should give you an idea of the failure rate) take one where they promise to teach you (It's not something you can learn by watching a video and reading a book)
Once you have some sales experiance the equipment companies will fall all over themselves hiring you but without a successful background in sales you're dead meat.