My uncle was right about skipping college for trade school

My uncle Bob kept telling me for years that welding would pay better than my desk job in Austin. I ignored him for 5 years until I got laid off from my data entry position making $38k. Took a 6 month welding course at Austin Community College for $2,800 and now I'm pulling $52k with overtime. Has anyone else had family give them career advice that actually worked out better than they expected?

3 comments

3 Comments

terry_lewis2119d agoMost Upvoted

I mean it's funny how often the older generation is right about stuff like that. My dad kept telling me to learn a trade back when I was in high school but I wanted the "college experience" and ended up with debt and a job that barely paid the bills. Maybe it's just me but I've noticed more and more people my age are realizing that blue collar work isn't a fallback plan, it's actually a solid path. Welding specifically has been booming here in Texas from what I hear, with all the oil and construction work going on.

the_xena19d ago

Oil work is actually slowing here, welding is still solid for pipelines though.

cameron53818d ago

terry_lewis21 said it pretty well. I was just reading some stat the other day that said something like 60% of tradespeople are over 45 now. There's a real gap coming with younger folks not jumping into this stuff. My neighbor's kid did the same thing with HVAC school, skipped college entirely, and he's already supervising crews at 26. Seems like the "live and learn" route is finally catching on for people.