17 year old here, need advice regarding career/future

50pluspiller · 2016-09-27T20:06:10+00:00

Trades: HVAC, carpenter, plumbing, electrical.

Always STEM

HookersAndBlow4ME · 2016-09-27T23:53:03+00:00

Professional mech engineer here doing facility design - I'd say I lucked out because I got my PE after only a 4.5 yr degree (BSME) + 4 yrs working - made 50k starting and now at 34 make 125k in NC which puts me in the top 2% where I live. It was hard fucking work but I was making 70k when I was 27, pretty good, but the best is the job security - I have ten offers at the drop of a hat.

Surfincloud9 · 2016-09-28T00:02:07+00:00

Welder if you wanna do that kind of stuff. Chemist if you wanna do that kind of stuff.

I work in biomedical genetics and I'm trying to get a contract with a company that uses CRISPR so I can be making 6 figures once it blows up

covertpenguin3390 · 2016-09-28T00:11:34+00:00

Military will give you the most bang for your buck in terms of free job training and free college afterwards That being said, fuck all those other branches, join the coast guard. You'll be treated the most like an adult, and get stationed in awesome places. And this is coming from an army pilot. My brother was a coastie and his quality of life outshines mine by far (though he is out now). But the other branches aren't bad, I would just stay away from the army and marines and don't go infantry unless you want that to be your career for 20 hours (you learn no marketable skills and come out with the ability to be a bouncer). I served and bar tended/managed at bars and night clubs also, it's a fast paced fun job that a shitty 17 year old like yourself can jump the ranks quickly as long as you're smart, responsible and work your ass off. But there's also a dark side to that business (drugs being the biggest) and get ready to have a ton of awful bosses per every good one you find. Also there's not much room for advancement once you make it to a good bar tending high tip position. That will probably be what you die as, pretty weak aspiration if you ask me, but they do make decent money. $100k for top ones in big cities and Vegas, 50-75 for what you'll probably find at the top though. But you'll have to start as a busser and be poor for a while and if you're not decent looking or have high social skills you won't advance much. Military would be my recommendation. Living in the barracks is pretty gay but for how much they set you up for later in life it's a small price to pay if you currently have no funds and don't want to risk being a poor ass bar back hoping girls want to fuck on your borrowed twin bed in the corner of your barren room in an apartment that smells because you have shitty bar scum roommates. Good luck and try not to suck

Toussant · 2016-09-27T21:02:32+00:00

Some other ideas:

server at an expensive restaurant: I've seen people work a 20 hr workweek and have serious hobbies due to the high tips. And you meet girls on the job.

barber

mining is still lucrative (probably most lucrative of all the ideas so far) but be prepared for 12hr days and working through weekends.

AF/Navy is not a bad idea.

Phyzis · 2016-09-27T17:50:08+00:00

If you want a quick education and near-guaranteed employment directly afterwards take a Hearing Aid Practitioner program. In my country it's a two semester course and 95%+ of first-year graduates are employed in their field. Starting salary here is around $60k.

Other than that, avoid all liberal arts and overly generalized programs like Business Admin. Your best long-term bet would be a STEM career if you can manage that. You could also join the military and develop discipline while bulking, plan your career during this time and then get your university paid for in 4 years.

Whatever you do, make grants a priority. Apply for any and every grant possible. Avoid ALL personal debt whenever possible, but don't be scared to take on some business-related debt.

Peter_B_Long · 2016-09-27T21:47:36+00:00

Forklift driver is quick and can get paid more than a few bucks. Especially for bigger companies like amazon or fed ex, make like $15-18 after a few months. A mechanic would be something cool too but don't know too much about that

santander26 · 2016-09-27T22:07:11+00:00

I would not go to college. Selling is the best way to make money. Read this blog: wallstreetplayboys.com

SIC_redditcruiser · 2016-09-28T04:15:42+00:00

Read the 4 hour work week and Rich dad poor dad before you make a huge commitment such as college. You will kick yourself if you wait to read them later in life. You can even listen to them as they are on audible. They are relatively short and will change your view of money and lifestyle the way TRP changed your view of women.

batfish55 · 2016-09-28T09:48:17+00:00

Don't bother going to school unless you're going to study anything STEM. If you can learn to code, you'll be set for LIFE. (How do I know this? I'm an electrical engineer, people are always asking me to code, but I suck at code, I do analog hardware.) If you want to DO stuff, go to a school that stresses lab classes. If you don't choose that sort of school, you'll wind up more suited to research-type jobs.

Do NOT go to any school that advertises on daytime talk shows.

Majoring in underwater basket-weaving is a fucking joke.

But, it doesn't sound like you want to go to school. Fine.

Personally, I'd avoid military. For more reasons than just living in a barracks for 4 years.

Construction pays well, no education required, especially union construction, isn't bad if you don't mind sweating. Trouble there is, it's cyclical. If the economy is good, people build shit, and you have work. Every recession, the economy is shit, and people stop building, and you have no work.

I've heard working on oil rigs pays very well, but that's the extent I know about that. No idea requirements to get in.

You sound well-spoken, I'd consider school.

psyflux · 2016-09-27T18:03:56+00:00

If you really don't know, join the military (Go Navy), you'll be in and out before you know it.

Start researching veteran's benefits your state offers as far as free college tuition. Illinois gave me a full scholarship when I got out.

Title	17 year old here, need advice regarding career/future
Author	progggrammerr99
Upvotes	13
Comments	18
Date	September 27, 2016 5:40 PM UTC (9 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/askTRP
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/asktrp/comments/54rry1/17_year_old_here_need_advice_regarding/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/askTRP/17-year-old-here-need-advice-regarding.111962 https://theredarchive.com/post/111962

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