So, I’m looking for a career change since I’m probably going to move to a city of approx 200K people. What’s something that everyone needs either it’s simple or more complex?
Not interested in funeral services 😛
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Plumber or electrician.
Electrical involves less working in messy situations but you’ll also be cold more often.
I do think electrician offers more ways to specialize (network cabling, alarm tech, etc). Plumbing may also but I’m not as familiar.
HVAC tech as well. Good ones make a good deal more than people think and it’s really not that hard if you like working with your hands. The troubleshooting concepts aren’t that difficult.
If you’re willing to deal with the later costs on your body, learn a trade.
Plumber, electrician, HVAC. Everyone needs something serviced, it’s just getting your name out/getting with a good company. Bonus, these things can follow you anywhere. Big city to small townships.
Welding is another solid one. Good welders can be in high demand.
Again, be forewarned, take care of yourself now, and be ready for it to catch up with you down the line. It’s rough on your body.
My brother is ten years older than me and works electrical. I worked as a cook then got into programming. I’m in my 50s.
We both have a chronic illness that causes spinal fusion. I look like a hunchback and his posture is normal.
So trades can wear you down, I got out of cooking for my health, but all the movement and exercise can be good for you if you don’t wreck your back and knees, I guess.
Only thing with welding over plumber, HVAC and electrician is they are likely going to be needed at a specific location ie industrial plant, construction or automotive stuff they may or may not be in that town and he has to travel to get there.
Utility locators.
Everytime someone digs a hole, whether to install a fence post or dig a basement, existing utilities have to be located so they don’t get hit. Its needed literally everywhere rural or city, and very understaffed.
But its long hours and outdoors. Less taxing than other trades though, and women can do it as it doesn’t require much physical strength.
I would say plumbing, electrical or general contractor. At least around me theres a lot of people looking for people to help with things like painting the inside of a house, caulking/grouting, general landscaping.
IBEW will pay you to go to electrician school. They pay you.
Sanitation engineer
Doctors. Always needed even in remote isolated towns.
True! But i can’t spend 8 years studying I’m afraid. Need something more let’s say immediate.
Download the SkillCat app and get your EPA 608, then look at other skills.
You can easily get a job in HVAC pretty quickly
In a city with no prominent industry, people will always needs healthcare, childcare, food, and maintenance on their belongings.
Healthcare: doctor, nurse practitioner, nurse, dentist, dental hygienist. Skin and hair care might be stretching the category, but everyone needs haircuts.
Childcare: teacher, ECE, nanny. Big spectrum here from no training required to professionally registered.
Food: production, supply, distribution, and sales. So farmer (but that’s capital intensive), food maker (baker, chef, cook, butcher) or distributor or seller.
Maintenance: vehicles (tires, oil changes, body shop, parts, detailing), homes (carpenter, painter, gas tech, electrician, window installer, roofer, landscaper), appliances (appliance technician), power equipment (mechanic, blade sharpening).
Probably more, but that should be a pretty decent list to start with, and all should be pretty portable no matter where you go, save for certain licenses that may be specific to a state or province.
Plumber and electricians are usually employable and paid well, so long the city has that setup. It really depends on the type of place you live though. Higher income city? Landscaper/groundskeeper or house cleaner are good options, people are willing to pay to not need to do normal house chores. Many farms nearby? Livestock vet or slaughter/butcher. Lots of tech? Software/electrical/mechanical engineer, city depending. Someone mentioned teacher but I’d say look at salary first. Location depending, many are not paid well and the job can require up to 70 hours/week, which can be less than minimum wage of the same location. They also mentioned nursing, which is pretty good, but may require long hours depending on where you work.
Basic human needs,
Food, water, shelter. Go into any of these and you should be good.
Long term needs would add healthcare, education.
Just one word: plastics.
Do you know any CAD? Civil is desperate for CAD drafters and designers. Doubled my pay. I design Substations now.
I’ve done some in the past yes. Interesting… Will explore thank you.
How much do you make? What were you doing before?
I make $62k, or $30/hr. Previously I was a veterinary hospital receptionist for years and years.
How about being a mason, I need one for brick work and they are hard to find. Home inspections is a good one too.
Beer, wine
You could look into being a driver for Cisco: they supply a huge number of restaurants. Might give you connections that you could parlay into working for a different food distributor as either a driver or salesman. I also knew a guy who power washed businesses, like the exteriors. Just showed up and washed the outside walls. I had no idea this was a thing. I think he had to do it overnight though, so might be potentially dangerous in certain areas.
Do you really need 200,000 customers? Why not target something that enough people need to support you?
Like if you can find something 100 people in that city need, you’re fine.
It’s like the 80-20 rule i get it. I thought about this and I tend to believe that such professions are either niche or take much time to learn and apply eg Doctor.
