In reply to GameboyRMH :
My LinkedIn has been blowing up with people “wanting to reconnect”. It’s pretty sad.
In reply to GameboyRMH :
My LinkedIn has been blowing up with people “wanting to reconnect”. It’s pretty sad.
And here we are trying to hire every competent welder, assembler, millwright, and master or journeyman electrician we can get our hands on.
Remember, kids. Don't stay in school. Get in the trades.
In reply to 93gsxturbo :
I took welding classes at the local community college. Welding upside down is harder than Law School. Those guys on the offshore rigs deserve every cent the can get.
Fueled by Caffeine said:In reply to GameboyRMH :
My LinkedIn has been blowing up with people “wanting to reconnect”. It’s pretty sad.
Seems like that must be regional or industry based. I see a lot of my connections announcing new roles, and these were people working steady until jumping to the new roles.
Personally, I have been getting steady inquiries about whether or not I'm open to new roles l from independent recruiters and corporate internal recruitment departments. I'm even getting emails from recruiters I'm connected with about roles that they know aren't a good fit for me, but asking if I know of anyone looking or that may be open to xyz role.
In reply to 93gsxturbo :
It’s killing me. I’m trying to retire and I keep getting asked if I want to go back to work for a little while. And trades money is getting stupid.
In reply to No Time :
I used to work for Amazon. Hence the reason. I no longer work for Amazon and haven’t for nearly 10 years
Im hunting to get out of my current gig. Have been for a few months now.
The market in my area is in the tank, apparently. Or im not sure how it works anymore past indeed and submitting a resume.
Maybe it's just God saying to stay where im at....
In reply to Dusterbd13 :
I've sent a bit over 50 carefully-targeted job applications since late May, no interviews so far. I've only got 3 interviews from the 200+ I sent since I lost my last IT job in 2023, and none of those were really IT jobs. That's actually a pretty good application-to-interview ratio by today's standards apparently. During the pandemic I was almost getting 1 interview for every 3 applications, all for IT jobs. Maybe I need to forget about quality and just spam a boilerplate resume at every job in existence?
Edit: Maybe I should say 4 interviews if I include the on-the-spot mini-interview I got at a small water filtration/supply company for a job doing deliveries and on-site service. Seemed to go well except the guy said he didn't like the same driving skills I listed that later helped me land the short-lived motorsports job. I didn't get a call back for the next round of interviews at that water place.
I have had 2 interviews scheduled with the requisition getting canceled within 48 hours of my scheduled interview.
Peabody said:In reply to 93gsxturbo :
It’s killing me. I’m trying to retire and I keep getting asked if I want to go back to work for a little while. And trades money is getting stupid.
Maybe offer to stay engaged for something like four days per month. Keep in contact and make some funny money but have lots of time to travel or just not work.
93gsxturbo said:And here we are trying to hire every competent welder, assembler, millwright, and master or journeyman electrician we can get our hands on.
Remember, kids. Don't stay in school. Get in the trades.
Sure. I guess. I. Know so many people with broken bodies at 45 from the trades. I think The play is start in trades but then start your own business doing trades and make money.
In reply to Fueled by Caffeine :
I only know a few people with broken bodies from the trades. I know a lot of very fit guys who are 60+ and have spent their lives in the trades.
I also know a LOT of horribly out of shape people who have spent their careers riding a desk and can barely get out of their chair.
YMMV.
I have received 20 or more calls from recruiters every month for more than 5 years, and I’m not even looking. All of them are offering 6 figures plus decent benefits. Some have recently started getting closer to $200K.
I was speaking with a superintendent this week who travels. He lives in a nice 44’ RV. His RV allowance is now $3600 per month, and he received $28,000 last year in bonuses (on top of his $110,000 salary plus a very nice benefits package).
There are some very serious shortages in the trades, and that trend is almost guaranteed to continue for the next 20 years or more.
Transit company in Vancouver is advertising $50/hr for bus mechanic apprentices.
Union job with union benefits.
Not a work environment i would do well in but a starting wage like that is hard to argue with.
SV reX said:In reply to Fueled by Caffeine :
I also know a LOT of horribly out of shape people who have spent their careers riding a desk and can barely get out of their chair.
YMMV.
My BIL is overweight and has a nice, pasty monitor tan.
SV reX said:In reply to Fueled by Caffeine :
I only know a few people with broken bodies from the trades. I know a lot of very fit guys who are 60+ and have spent their lives in the trades.
I also know a LOT of horribly out of shape people who have spent their careers riding a desk and can barely get out of their chair.
YMMV.
Thats fair. Im the only guy with an office at work who does triathalon regurally. Training stinks when I have to travel but I make it work.
In reply to SV reX :
There are some trades shortages out there. I lose about 5% of my workforce to those recruiters a year. All I can say is beware the really high paying jobs. They usually pay well for a reason. I just hired a guy who was an electrician on oil rigs over seas. He had massive salaries but lived on a ln oil rig in south east Asia then last somewhere in the Middle East. Basically whatever middle eastern company he worked for killed all their contracts with foreign workers and he was sent home with little notice. He said the money was amazing but his boat at home saw the water barely anytime.
ShawnG said:Transit company in Vancouver is advertising $50/hr for bus mechanic apprentices.
Union job with union benefits.
Not a work environment i would do well in but a starting wage like that is hard to argue with.
These union jobs are the jam I think. My old judo instructor was a delta mechanic. He was off the flight line in a repair shop but the job required an a&p. He had set hour s excellent benefits.
Current shutdown not withstanding, this place is an amazing employer. https://kcnsc.doe.gov
sure you have to be able to get a clearance to work there but they pay really really well and the hours are regular.
In reply to Fueled by Caffeine :
I totally agree. Most of the high numbers from recruiters are high for a reason.
Im just recognizing there are a lot of trades jobs that need filling, and it’s gonna continue to grow. And the pay scales are pretty good.
Duke said:How's Adrian's handyman business going? Last I saw it seemed like he had work, and very little invested in startup.
It was Adrian, right? I'm terrible with names.
Hi. I do still exist! It’s just that I spend very little time online now. 35 years in the auto industry with a screen always in front of me, I always had GRM or some other car related crap or at least one tab or browser all the time I was at work. Now other than podcast, audiobooks, mileage estimates, etc.. The Internet is something I really don’t do anymore.
Hi guys. Thanks for asking. It’s going well.!
Quick recap because I don’t spend much time on here these days. I was effectively laid off come 1/1/24 having been an engineering director in the auto industry with over 35 years experience. I assumed I’d walk into another similar job within a few months, I didn’t expect it to happen overnight, but I didn’t expect it to happen. Long story, after over a year out of work and applying for jobs that would have been stepping back 15 years in salary and responsibility I gave up. I was in a really bad place emotionally, and made various posts on here. I’m still very grateful for the outpouring of support. I got from everybody. It really helped my mental health. Seriously, I was in a bad place.
anyway, around January or February this year I asked some questions on here about handyman business or starting work at somewhere like Home Depot or Costco just for money. Everybody encourage me to do the Handyman business. My friends and family were also begging me to start that business. at first, I was reluctant. I have been successful in the corporate world, but honestly, I can be more rational about spending $10 million of a company money then I can spending or investing $100 of my own money. That’s why many years ago I went to a financial advisor to do my investments. he does nothing I can’t do, but he did it without the emotion. That, and the fact that I had seen my parents work for themselves for 20+ years and in all honesty struggle versus the results. Anyway, in the end, I took friends, family,and advice on here and did start my Handyman business. Honestly, no regrets.
Although I started talking about it In January or February,I didn’t really start working for myself until April. Around the time I started talking about it on here, first I got sick, then we had a rental house that turned over after five years I basically went and did that top to bottom. And then started advertising, first on Facebook, Little to nothing. Then on Nextdoor, which was and can be amazing.
I had heard the people were having a really hard time getting contractors to come out and do smaller jobs. Somebody would call wanting a new toilet installed and people would say they’d rather do a full bathroom. So I called myself “small jobs Handyman “with the intention of doing exactly that, small jobs. I started exactly as I had intended. Paint repair. Replacing ceiling tiles. Light fixtures, faucets, drywall, repairs, hanging small shelf, etc., etc.
That was definitely working to an extent, but I have found myself towards larger jobs. I just finished a fence job last week, and I am in the middle of a complete kitchen tear out and replacement on a new rental one of my clients is buying. I’m also quoting on doing some conversion work on 120-year-old historic house in Detroit.
One thing to know, started off to do small jobs, they are great and I still like to do them. The issue comes with the type of customer different jobs want. When I started, I said I was going to charge $100 an hour. I’ve had a couple of people who accept that, and one client I am still working with six months later probably having done 10 days work at her house for that rate. I soon found the people really caulk at that. So if people ask now, I say I will either quote a job or charge $80 an hour. A lot of people get offended or hang up at $80 an hour, but they are not in touch with the real world. these days when I quote I mentally quote at $100 an hour, and by the time I am finished, including travel time picking up materials running around and talking to people, that is tending to come out at a true $50-$80 an hour.
As for the skills I took into this at the beginning, I would have called myself an enthusiastic amateur and not a professional. I’ve owned my own house in one way or another for 40 years, I’ve got a couple of rentals, and I’ve helped friends and family with projects for decades. I have never considered myself the best manual labor. I have friends who are better, quicker, neater. My late father-in-law built his own house from scratch my hand, so I never consider myself particularly talented. What I have found, though is that I am much better than a lot of other professional work that is done. My finishing is getting better, but honestly, my underlying work is way better than most of what I encountered from past work.
as far as capital investment to start, it was basically zero. Obviously I already have all my own tools tools from decades of working on cars and houses. But fundamentally 90% of what I use is a $250 Ryobi 80 V tool set that I got about seven or eight years ago, and basic hand tools. I rent or buy tools as I need them. I’ve rented the post hole digger and the Taylor a couple of times. But I have bought a new house sprayer, new Brad and framing nails as I need them.
Now, I have a couple of massive advantages starting out. I am a well presented, well, educated person who can casually drop into conversations that I am semi retired auto executive. That and an English accent certainly helps me, especially with the “little old lady “set.
my clients tend to be single women in their 30s and up, middle-aged, couples, and older, single people, frequently women. I am now starting to work with a realtor/investor/landlord. She is turning into my best client. That job started because my Nextdoor neighs sister was renting a house with a small issue. I contacted her, she put me in touch with the landlady. I did that job, worked on a second of her rentals, did some work at her personal house, and now I am doing the full kitchen on a new house she is buying, and she is referred me to the owner of the 120 year-old house in Detroit.
small professional landlords like myself with 1 to 5 properties are great people to work with. They have enough experience that when you go in and make a quote that is reasonable. They accept without looking shocked or haggling. You do the job. Well, they pay instantly and will call you back again. my next favorite clients are middle aged one presenters. They are incredibly fussy about the standard of work, but never complain about the cost, I’ve even had a couple of those where they see the work. I’m doing come back and say I realize you are doing more than you thought, we will have to talk about revising your fee. They then don’t quibble when you revise the fee upwards, and frequently throw in 100 bucks or more as a tip. While I love some of the “little old ladies “I’ve done work for, you have to be very, very careful. they still think the $10-$20 an hour is a fair wage, and they have no understanding of personal time. They will happily sit you down for tea and talk for hours. They are also the worst for canceling at the last minute and then not understanding why you can’t come out next Tuesday morning at 8 AM because they canceled last Friday. They are lovely, but they can be very hard work.
finally health and fitness. I’ve seen various comments of people talking about white collar friends who have sat in front of the computer for 30 years and can’t move, I’ve also seen people talking about contractors with worn out bodies. Personal experience, after 35 years basically sitting at a desk looking at a screen, I wasn’t in the best of shape. I had back surgery a decade ago. And my weight has always been too high. now, after six months of manual labor EveryDay I have lost weight, I have built, tremendous muscle, I have definition in my arms, legs back, and apparently my ass looks amazing! But other than physical health, my mental health is way better. I’m not just talking about from my low point before I started this business, friends and family are telling me that I am a better person to live with than I have been for years. I used to really define myself by my position and my success. It was incredibly stressful, presenting to the board of directors, presenting to customers, discussing and negotiating with suppliers, lawyers, patent attorneys, etc., etc. I liked it, but apparently it wasn’t doing me as a person any favors. I feel totally different now, OK it’s only been about six months, but I am definitely happier day today that I have been in years. Also, there has definitely been some change in how I am treated when I go into Home Depot, the lumberyard, the plumbers merchants, etc. I have been shopping at these exact stores for 25 years, but there is definitely a different feeling and interaction with the staff when I walk in, in my work clothes during the week, versus being a weekend warrior grabbing some material for a project of the weekend. I get a different level of respect and assumption on my knowledge from all the people in the store.
I actually feel I’m incredibly lucky to be doing it this way round. I had decades in a white-collar profession starting when that profession was still well respected and well paid. The reality is, while automotive engineering is still well paid in the grand scheme of things, it is not well paid compared for what it was when I started in 1990, or when I got here to the US in 1994. Adding in the tremendous cost to do bachelors in engineering and then at least a masters afterwards, means that unless you have a trust fund, you are starting life ridiculously upside down these days, especially with the cost of housing. I guess I am lucky because if this business “failed “ I could still survive for the rest of my life without doing another day work. That certainly takes the pressure off.
at the end of the day, I honestly wish I’d started the business a year ago a couple of months after being laid off rather than waiting. I can’t tell anybody else to take the plunge and do something like this, but I absolutely have no regrets, to the point that if an automotive recruiter came and offered me my old salary tomorrow, I will still stay working for myself instead for a fraction of that amount.
people who remember me from when I posted a lot will recall that I always posted walls of text. No different today. To tell the truth I’ve dictated this into my phone on a lazy Sunday morning so it’s not check for spelling punctuation, etc. Actually, for once, I can blame it on Apple if this isn’t readable!
if people have questions about being a handyman, please fire away, I don’t come on here much, but if I see them I will definitely try and answer them. Stay strong everybody who is currently struggling or looking for work. I’m sure there will be a light at the end of the tunnel for you all at some point. I found my lite, I’m happy and productive.
thanks all and good luck to those that need it.
In reply to SV reX :
Yes they are.
watch out for belo contracts. They allow recruiters to show big salary numbers but if you don’t work the “required” overtime you don’t get. I see some of my guys fall for those a lot.
SV reX said:In reply to Fueled by Caffeine :
I only know a few people with broken bodies from the trades. I know a lot of very fit guys who are 60+ and have spent their lives in the trades.
I also know a LOT of horribly out of shape people who have spent their careers riding a desk and can barely get out of their chair.
YMMV.
Life long tradesman here, I don't know a single one, and none of those jobs he mentioned are difficult jobs physically. That's an excuse.
I used to tell the apprentices, don't kill yourself, let the tools do the work.
One of my riding buddies works remote, mining heavy equipment repair. Two weeks on, two weeks off. $250k/yr and he loves it. Apprentice boy is now making $150k, his GF, an electrician, is not far behind, and they're 28yrs old. I had a pretty good run the last 25 years, but I sure wish I was 10 years younger to cash in on wages finally catching up. Accounting for inflation, apprentice boy still isn't making what I was in the early 2000's
In reply to Adrian_Thompson (Forum Supporter) :
I’m glad you’re doing well
Fueled by Caffeine said:93gsxturbo said:And here we are trying to hire every competent welder, assembler, millwright, and master or journeyman electrician we can get our hands on.
Remember, kids. Don't stay in school. Get in the trades.
Sure. I guess. I. Know so many people with broken bodies at 45 from the trades. I think The play is start in trades but then start your own business doing trades and make money.
Sure bro. Id put a seasoned millwright up against an just about anyone for long term "work all day" strength and endurance. Amazing what just moving, carrying, lifting, squating, bending every day does for strength. Its not big muscle guy or weight weenie cyclist strength, its farmer strength, and its well insulated by a fair bit of Busch Light and gas station hotdogs. But it exists, and its real. BITD when I was slinging hay bales all day erry day (and definitely crushing my fair share of Taco Bell and Busch Lattes, went to do the standard physical fitness test in school. Pushups and situps were maxed. Cardio...well not so much. But it felt good to beat out the muscle bros at pushups and sit ups.
In reply to Adrian_Thompson (Forum Supporter) :
Thanks for that write-up! 
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