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XRogerX 10-30-2009 15:15:45 99.240.206.160 251148 Report to Moderator

My two cents, disregard if you like, but.. I was in the same boat as you 10 years ago. I went the IT route and got nothing but a big bill (a VERY big bill). I got all the certifications (MCSE,CNA,A+) and they weren't worth a damn without experience. Combined with the fact that there was a feeding frenzy in IT training at the time with no less than 6 "schools" turning out IT drones in a city of less than 1 million people, jobs were next to impossible to find at anything much above $8hr. I ended up much worse off financially by "bettering" myself. Of course, the skills I learned have been put to use many times over the years, but never in a career position. Turns out though, a much brighter future laid in store based upon the skills I had learned on the job, beginning with that first air brake compressor I pulled apart in 1994, not that that was clear to me at the time, and there were still plenty of lean times to go through before it all came good. With all your mechanical skills, I'd see if there is any power engineering courses available in your area. I have been reading through 4th and 3rd class power eng textbooks at work, and the skill set necessary to competently operate a steam plant, hydro plant, refrigeration facility etc. is vast. I guarantee it will be a challenge, and it is not uncommon for 1st class engineers to be in the 6 figure income bracket. It is something you definitely CANNOT outsource, and you can earn while you learn, like a trade. IT training is tempting since it promises a well paid career with light work and stimulating subject material, but there are plenty of ghetto IT jobs, like any other industry, and your financial well-being is always built upon shifting sand, depending on what technologies come and go. I have a friend who is high up in the engineering department at a major ISP, and he has his nose in textbooks all the time to keep abreast of whatever new technology is coming up to make his life more difficult, uh, I mean easier... [Reply]   [No Email]