Need help in picking a career after finishing high school

[xr6-FTW]

Hey guys and possibly girls aswell, it's been a few months now since finished high school and got the vce certificate. During year 11 and 12 i decided that uni wasn't for me primarily because there wasn't anything in particular I wanted to do there and being so over school work I decided just to do whatever I needed to gain a vce certificate at the end of year 12 Which i did end up receiving.

So my dilemma is this, i'm am probably one of the most indecisive people you will meet, making decisions usually turns into a mess, taking ages to finally decide somethings i cant or don't end up making a decision . Since year 11 I kept thinking to myself an apprenticeship is probably something i'd be keen on as rather than losing money and risking uni, you will be earning and learning as they say.

So during year 11 and 12 I kept trying to think what I would want to do and nothing was coming to mind, I was doing vet integrated studies and vet building and construction and they seemed two obvious choices in which way to go. But since the end of year 12 both had stuff that was ****. What stuffed it up was most of time i had to deal with people who were some of the most annoying ****s ive ever met on top of old cranky teachers who yelled for no reason.

So anyway I find myself in this position, its been over 3 months since I finished school and I don't know what to do with my life. My parents made me apply for horticulture positions as suggestions but Im not really interested because knowing the future low pay as a job 40-60k put me off on top of being told you only do it if you have a passion which i don't particularly have but don't mind a good bit of gardening sometimes. So I didn't get anything but rejections in regards to it.

So now i'm still at home trying to decide what i want to do, thing is i don't know what. A family mate of mine is an electrician and i keep tossing and turning whether or not i should try it out, i haven't because i didn't really enjoy doing the stuff i did in school in regards to electrical work, it usually made no sense and i didn't understand what the hell was going on nor were my mates because the teacher was an old electrical engineer who let us kick back literally for most lessons in both year 11 and 12, and when we had to do something it was so **** and fiddly and i was lost. I should also mention in year 11 I did work experience for a week with an electrical company (not my family mate) and it was not bad i mainly just assisted in tool handling and cleaning lol but I did see what cutting through a live wire can do and I **** myself not literally, seeing how 240v can melt hardened steel pliers, not too mention the sound and a million sparks.

So an opportunity is there to be a sparkie but I'm hesitant to try it because me old man says do what you like and enjoy and basing my experience to be an electrician on what i kind of learnt doesn't match up as what i was shown was **** and not really enjoyable, but that wasn't learning the proper stuff which could be a lot different?????. i have also thought about maybe trying out carpentry sometimes as what we did is 95% of a pre app i have discovered but i did have a few bad moments in carpentry which also leaves me in a mind of uncertainty just like the electrician dilemma.

I do feel an apprenticeship would be pretty good but telling you what i want personally to do is very strange as it has constantly changed from things such as a metro train driver to being in the airforce and then back to being a tradie which seems the direction i want to start my working life in, i don't mind a hard days work. It's just deciding what i want to do is such a mind **** for me on top of the pressure from me parents to hurry up and get a job. Whenever i'm told to do what you like and enjoy makes me feel more lost because i don't know what it exactly is . On top of feeling worried about trying things and not ending up liking it.

Any advice would be hugely appreciated.

[1TUFFUTE]

Think I was a tad similiar out of school as my only real passion was outdoors and SPOOORT......

So I did a 'cross trade course'. May be called something else now but a phone call will fix that. Basically you do a course that involves practical and study(no homework) but it combines a bunch of different trades. I was ace in woodwork at school, and ended up loving carpentry. Never finished the actual take course as a apprenticeship spotter offered me a job so I took it. The sky is the limit with building. Settle for a lazy 50k chippy job or run job sites for 150k. Become a builder or start your own little company after you get the skills.
Personally I requested to be moved around every six months of my carpentry apprenticeship so I could get a taste of everything from polish grade stair building to renos, high rises, new homes and commercial.

Maybe give a tafe (if they still call them that) a call and see what they offer!

Good luck.

[Giant Cranium]

im a builder and if i had my time again id do a licenced trade. you will make more money and you don't need to know as much cross trade. number one for me would be hvac, that is something no one would live without, after moving to niece if i had vac cert id have a job within hours. another good one if you like hard work and night shifts is sprinkler fitter.
if you are smart and can work out complex systems get into fire system design, name your price if you are any good

[SYZ]

Check this out...

http://www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/

[Franco Cozzo]

I went through high school doing electrical from year 8-12 and bludged most of the time, I took all the subjects you could get away with doing SFA, I did VCE but didn't put any effort into it and passed with an ENTER score of 47.55

In electrical I used to do one of my mates theory work and he'd do the practical part of it.

Then I ended up being an auto electrician after school, I just fell into it there was no particular plan behind it, now I own my own business.

My tip is go for a licensed trade like 240V electrician or plumber.

[mechanic]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

I went through high school doing electrical from year 8-12 and bludged most of the time, I took all the subjects you could get away with doing SFA, I did VCE but didn't put any effort into it and passed with an ENTER score of 47.55

In electrical I used to do one of my mates theory work and he'd do the practical part of it.

Then I ended up being an auto electrician after school, I just fell into it there was no particular plan behind it, now I own my own business.

My tip is go for a licensed trade like 240V electrician or plumber.

Dead right. Don't be silly and take on Motor Mechanics or Panel beating. There's threads on AFF telling you just how despised these tradespeople are.
Anything with a licence is your best bet.

One more thing, lots of beachfront properties owned by plumbers/builder/electricians on the Qld. coast.
See if you can find any owned by mechanics/panelbeaters . You won't because there's no money in those trades.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by mechanic

Dead right. Don't be silly and take on Motor Mechanics or Panel beating. There's threads on AFF telling you just how despised these tradespeople are.
Anything with a licence is your best bet.

One more thing, lots of beachfront properties owned by plumbers/builder/electricians on the Qld. coast.
See if you can find any owned by mechanics/panelbeaters . You won't because there's no money in those trades.

In auto trades you don't really make decent coin until you own your own business or you teach your trade at TAFE.

I'm still trying to establish mine, we've been going for a bit over 6 months, there has been highs and lows.

This month has been crap, but the last 3 months were crazy.

Around Melbourne the wages are junk, you can count on making award wage or a little more (which is $38,800 for an auto electrician).

You might be on more if you do earthmoving equipment or heavy vehicles, in other states with a resources economy the wages are higher for these trades.

Victoria doesn't have a big resources industry (we have the odd gold or coal mine), were based around people and skills, so things like manufacturing (lol not anymore), education etc.

You look at what your average Vic auto tradie owns, their car and where they live, its usually the same story, my competitor has been in the game since the early 1980s, he doesn't have much to his name and he has had his own show in the region since 1996.

[calais]

You sound like you need a structure and discipline to assist your development of decisive behaviours. I was the same out of school, joined the Air Force, got the kick in the *** that I needed and ended up serving 10 years (4 was my lock in time) and have just discharged for a civil career. It pays well, they do offer healthcare, and the cameraderie that comes with the uniform beats school.

At least have a look, cant hurt.

[Ross 1]

There is a lot of pressure on teens to know what they want to do for the rest of their lives. I am a landscaper/horticulturist by trade but didn't know that was what I wanted to do until my early 20s. I started doing core hole drilling, did not enjoy it but it paid very well. I haven't earned 40-60k since about my third year. If I was to choose a different trade back then it would be sparky or plumber and as suggested, a specialised field in one of those. One final bit of advice, be your own boss as soon as you can and have a crew of young guys by the time you are in your 30s as your body does not last for ever. I have always really enjoyed the physical side of work and even with young workers I still did a lot of the heavy stuff, regret it now, 2 knee ops and still waiting for a shoulder reco.

[superyob]

Originally Posted by Ross 1

There is a lot of pressure on teens to know what they want to do for the rest of their lives. I am a landscaper/horticulturist by trade but didn't know that was what I wanted to do until my early 20s. I started doing core hole drilling, did not enjoy it but it paid very well. I haven't earned 40-60k since about my third year. If I was to choose a different trade back then it would be sparky or plumber and as suggested, a specialised field in one of those. One final bit of advice, be your own boss as soon as you can and have a crew of young guys by the time you are in your 30s as your body does not last for ever. I have always really enjoyed the physical side of work and even with young workers I still did a lot of the heavy stuff, regret it now, 2 knee ops and still waiting for a shoulder reco.

Amen to that. You need to have a contingency plan long before your body gives up...

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by xr6-FTW

the airforce and then back to being a tradie which seems the direction i want to start my working life in,

You could do both. Apprentice in the Airforce.

[xurbanx]

Might not be able to offer much - but if you have a hobby, try not do that for a living otherwise you'll lose passion for it. Also, skills regardless if it's practical or transferable are always good to have.

Regardless of what you choose, good luck. I wish I took time out to think about what I wanted to do when I was your age.

[olfella]

my suggestion is go down the sparky path. If you go the way that Giant Cranium suggested it opens a whole new world of options and specialities. You dont have to be a wire jerker. In HVAC (they do the same theory as a sparky) you can branch into Building Management Systems (BMS) - a very sought after profession. The there is Security - another speciality as is Fire detection systems. Regardless of which path though, you have to put in and be prepared to work hard in the early years. If you can put up with that and keep your end goal in sight you will be able to name your salary. But stick to a licensed trade.
Lift technicians is another based on electrical.

[Itsme]

I'm a sparky, good trade with money but if I was to do it again refrigeration & airconditioning is a good trade that makes money.

[MercurySilver]

Check the air force apprenticeships out.
Youll get looked after for sure
Come out with a trade and then u can either start something yourself or work for a big company earning good coin.
Yeah sure the first year might see you doing basic crap and being shipped somewhere to do it, but the perks would see you getting looked after
I had the chance to get in the raaf after leaving school as someone in the family had done work there and knew lots of people, i couldve got in if i wanted, but i was young and in to music and bands and just laughed it off.
Who knows what couldve happened, i could be retired by now and not still doing manual labour

Look into it
It could set you up for life

[xr6-FTW]

Thanks guy for what you wreckon I should do, I think I might get in contact with my sparkie family mate and maybe try do a week with him or so possibly if his not too busy just to again try it out and see what it's like again, try get a better idea and feel if maybe being an electrician could be an option I could consider doing. Family friends who i spoke to tonight said that you have to start somewhere and work your way up from there which is true, but i honestly can't say to heart that i like electronics after reflecting back on school what i did which was fcking s*** house, waste of time, barely learnt how to use a multi meter lol. Being true to word if i didn't know something or was lost which i usually was with others also being lost and asked the teacher for help he did answer me saying once "are you a moron" and "what the f u c k are you on about". Being a former electrical engineer for the SEC you'd think he'd teach good but it was honestly a joke.

Anyway......when I mentioned the idea of airforce it did float around in my head for a while but i'm unsure if i'd cope living in another state away from the house but I guess we all got to man up in life. Airforce kind of appealed because to be associated around planes would be mad, i love going to the airshows and being around the military jets, the sound and what they do is amazing, being a pilot would be cool but I cant go on a spinning ride or do go karting without feeling sick loll so its off the table. But I guess theres other roles to be involved with so...... yer i can't say i want to join them definitely, maybe as a last option?.

HVAC sounds not bad also don't know if its something id look into at this stage as i kind of forgot about it all together and no one has really said anything apart from you blokes.

I just wish that someone whether its family, friends, someone who is a tradie that I know i could go with to see whether id like to pursue a trade in life, i don't want to start an apprenticeship and realise wtf am i doing and want to leave because it wastes the employers time and money which i really want to avoid.

[Carrion]

If you join the air force you don't have to be a pilot.

You can do your sparky appentership in the air force and you still get to mess around with fighter jets.

If you want to leave at the end of the sign up period you are a shoe in to get a job in the private aviation industry.

[Ross 1]

Originally Posted by Carrion

If you join the air force you don't have to be a pilot.

You can do your sparky appentership in the air force and you still get to mess around with fighter jets.

If you want to leave at the end of the sign up period you are a shoe in to get a job in the private aviation industry.

^^^ This. I unfortunately failed the medicals, due to a recently broken back, when I was a teen, but my dad went into the RAF and came out a fully qualified electrical engineer. He was never out of work till retirement.

[Phildo]

Originally Posted by xr6-FTW

A family mate of mine is an electrician and i keep tossing and turning whether or not i should try it out

As far as trades go, electrician is the one to pick.

It pays the most.

Plumbing has its moments, but often involves heavy lifting which puts strain on your body. Sparkies rarely have physical injuries.

Whenever we walk into a building, we do two things:
1) Turn the lights on.
2) Take a leak or a crap.

Electrician is also portable... jump on a plane and you can work anywhere in the world. Useful if the Aussie economy goes crap any time in the future.

[1TUFFUTE]

Originally Posted by Phildo

Electrician is also portable... jump on a plane and you can work anywhere in the world. Useful if the Aussie economy goes crap any time in the future.

We took our paslode GAS framing Guns as carry on luggage on flights to and from Qld, Nsw and Vic. No one ever said a thing and they carry everything needed to fire just sayin lol

[Giant Cranium]

Originally Posted by Phildo

As far as trades go, electrician is the one to pick.



It pays the most.



Plumbing has its moments, but often involves heavy lifting which puts strain on your body. Sparkies rarely have physical injuries.



Whenever we walk into a building, we do two things:

1) Turn the lights on.

2) Take a leak or a crap.



Electrician is also portable... jump on a plane and you can work anywhere in the world. Useful if the Aussie economy goes crap any time in the future.

I'd say plumbing pays the most. People don't want to deal with poo. My brother inlaw has had a bad day if he cleared less than 1k. Don't what ever you do become a carpenter. Once you become a builder all liability from all trades is on you. Also all these diy shows have ruined it.

[Phildo]

Originally Posted by Giant Cranium

I'd say plumbing pays the most. People don't want to deal with poo. My brother inlaw has had a bad day if he cleared less than 1k. Don't what ever you do become a carpenter. Once you become a builder all liability from all trades is on you. Also all these diy shows have ruined it.

I'm Perth - sparkies are making more than plumbers here.

And yeah, there's bugger all future in carpentry (ie wood).

[tranquilized]

Don't write off the carpentry route. It's the easiest path towards becoming a registered builder which is where serious money can be made if you're motivated and ambitious enough.

If not, and you just want to forget about work once you get home then yes, choose another building trade. Here in Victoria plumbers and electricians hourly rate is usually very similar, carpenter's significantly lower. As someone else said HVAC is another area where big money can be made. In my experience if you need anything done in relation to ventilation and air conditioning be prepared for a serious reaming. Just look at what people are charging to install split airconditioners!

And no future in wood? It's an environmentally sustainable beautiful natural material - there is a HUGE future in wood, it will never go out of style.

[roKWiz]

Did you ever think of doing an apprenticeship in a rare trade.

I'm one of 200 Heritage Stonemason (Bankermason) in this country,
No BS, Its hard, heavy work but so rewarding seeing what you will leave behind for future generations.
It's the highest paying self employed trade which will allow you to travel anywhere.

Another rare trade, highly sort after now is Shipwright. I noticed in "Afloat magazine" online has advertised apprenticeships for shipwrights with Noakes Sydney.
They have done some amazing restorations.
Just food for thought.

[.:4:.]

I took up an electrical apprenticeship back in 06 when I was 19. I didn't want the job so to speak, but a good friend said he new someone who was looking, and thought I was the person for the job (he started his apprenticeship in 03 as he dropped out after year 10). The pay for a first year back then was crap, although $10.50 as a first year was pretty high considering the nearest rate of anyone in my tafe class was $7 an hour back then. After sticking with it it has been probably the best decision I almost didn't make. The company I am (and have been since my start) only do comercial work, which means high rise office towers (sydney cbd) and in the realm of an electrician it's cleaner work. I personally like the fact that I'm not stuck in only one place every day. Also, to an extent your income is up to you. If you are on an hourly rate and work overtime you make more money then if on a salary and have to work back just to finish a project. Starting at the bottom of the ladder will always mean that you will cop some ****, but when you have made it, you can have fun dishing it out. Just my experience, make your own decision, but to me it has been a good thing, that and electricity doesn't look like it's going to be phased out any time soon... and I hope you aren't afraid of genuine labour intensive hard work.. my longest shift stands at 21 hours (it was a 1 off)

[Pis-ton broke]

Originally Posted by .:4:.

and I hope you aren't afraid of genuine labour intensive hard work

thats funny , walk a mile in my shoes. ( just my whinge)

[.:4:.]

Originally Posted by Pis-ton broke

thats funny , walk a mile in my shoes. ( just my whinge)

Don't whinge mate, if it has do get done, who else will do it

[Pis-ton broke]

hi, im a boilermaker /welder. i wouldn,t advise to be come one. at one time BMW,s were no.1 in metal trades. these days its dog poo. china is the problem. i was offered a job in pressure vessel manufacture at $25 (yeah lets start talkin dollars and cents) i think a forklift driver can get more. ive done 20 years + and heaps of skills.

i like what xurbanx (post 10) said. be aware that if you follow your hobby , in time it may turn on you, but it might not as well.

its and important decision, ive advised other people before to get involved in the electric trade. cause it doesn,t stop with wiring up a house or what ever field. it will have a career path.

hope this helps.
cheers mick

[Fordman1]

I agree try for an aprenticeship in the ADF.

What have you got to lose ?

You'll come out of it supremely qualified.

[Carrion]

Originally Posted by Barraxr8

I agree try for an aprenticeship in the ADF.

What have you got to lose ?

You'll come out of it supremely qualified.

Might want to keep away from NAVY

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-1...-trade/7170086