First Steps. Apprenticeship and Degree?
Hello friends. Last month I was laid off without warning. Like many before me and many after me, I am using this as a chance to better myself as to not fall onto hard times like that again. I am 27, turning 28 this June. I am currently weighing my options and think I have decided to get an apprenticeship as an Electrician. I’ve worked in HVAC, Plumbing, and with A few residential electricians and Electricians seem to end up the happiest of the bunch. Especially commercial. That being said, the Apprenticeships near me didn’t use to pay hardly anything and as a Single man without any Family to lean on, I couldn’t seem to take on that burden financially.
It seems however that that has since changed. They pay at least a decent enough starting wage and if I get a 2nd job, I can’t take be back to what I make now at my more laid back position. I have been giving out Purchase Orders for almost 8 years now total and the pay tends to top out around 55k-60k. This in comparison to some other people struggling nowadays seems to be a decent place to at least live and save a little, but I am looking to transition into more. It seemed that on my resume to most folks when I turned it in was that it was lacking for one of two things. I did not have a Journeyman Card or I didn’t have a degree. It hit me that in order to have a shot I needed these things. I’d like to be a project manager in a residential town and be home by 3-4 when all is said and done in 5 or so years. While having layers of stability. (Tons of Dosh)
Now we’re here today. My question to anyone who has or is pursuing a degree as well as an apprenticeship, how did you do it? If I can’t get into the apprenticeship I think I’ll be enrolling this fall. However, I’m being told by a few friends to just take financial hit and go into the apprenticeship as well as school but I’m worried it’s too much too fast. I finally have a few months safely saved again and have a current job but, I’m wondering how long do I keep my safe job before getting into all of this? I saw a program at a community college a few hours away that gives an Associate’s as well as 2,000 hours to your Journeyman Card for 2 years.
I think I hit a wall. I realized how close to homeless I really am and that nothing is permanent no matter how safe you feel. Even 6 months rent isn’t a ton if something happens. I never took the leap into an apprenticeship because I hadn’t met anyone who was happy in life with them. They all looked like it was so hard on them and at the end of the year, we had similar net worths due to HVAC getting laid off in down months here. I’m just trying to gauge where the world is headed for wholesale types who want to transition. Thanks for letting me rant and put my thoughts out there. Good luck to you.