How do you see this industry shift? Where can I build a better career?

[Erie Fred]

Believe me, you will be outside in quarries and such "MOSTLY" - machines don't break down in workshops.
AND - winter is coming...
Stay put or look for other alternatives.

Why ?
OP is young and sounds like wanting to progress upward in his career.
Hard work is where it's at.
Anyone can do the easy jobs, any slacker can, so that's what the pay and respect you get in those easy jobs.
Low pay & low respect.

Don't be afraid to do the hard things in life.
You won't be doing this in 10 years.

 

[Smallfry]

Freezing cold, or too hot, wet, muddy, oily, thankless, heavy, gruelling work, forever being given the hurry up, and expected to do downright dangerous things on your own, and ignore any H & S rules. Too much scope and chance for losing fingers and toes, or worse.

 

[Smallfry]

Why ?
OP is young and sounds like wanting to progress upward in his career.
Hard work is where it's at.
Anyone can do the easy jobs, any slacker can, so that's what the pay and respect you get in those easy jobs.
Low pay & low respect.

Don't be afraid to do the hard things in life.
You won't be doing this in 10 years.

Dunno Fred. I get what you are saying, but I suspect working conditions and practices are different over there.

I may be wrong though.

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Why ?
OP is young and sounds like wanting to progress upward in his career.
Hard work is where it's at.
Anyone can do the easy jobs, any slacker can, so that's what the pay and respect you get in those easy jobs.
Low pay & low respect.

Don't be afraid to do the hard things in life.
You won't be doing this in 10 years.

Primarily because it only continues because people do it. When they clock that no one wants to be under machines in a quarry at 5:30 am in December sodden and freezing, being shouted at by some jumped up manager with a degree in…… something because his schedules messed up for peanuts, getting home aching and going straight to bed because you haven’t the energy to do anything else, losing your social life etc, someone might sit up and say maybe we should pay more and have a more sensible approach.
I’ve spent a little time in the states, I’ve some good friends over there and in some shops it’s little more than slavery. 16 hr days as a standard , nothing in the way of breaks and 5 days a year holiday. I’m sad to say mate, the rest of the western world is laughing at you all for allowing it to happen. Any idiot can work themselves to death, there’s nothing to be proud of about wasting your life making someone else rich while your own suffers. Had a conversation with mate trying to get me on shut downs over there, he’d just bought a brand new f250 and a 25ft bass boat, cash. In the next breath he was telling me that he wouldn’t be able to take the boat out this year as he’s working solid. What’s the point ?

 

[Migmac]

Youngest son does, HGV mechanics and some heavy plant stuff. If you like being reasonably clean and like to work sociable hours this isn’t the job for you. He’s going through a boiler suit a day, sometimes two. Seen him getting up at 0300 to travel to a job and not get back till 2200 or not get back till the following morning. He’ll happily sleep in the van

 

[Erie Fred]

Primarily because it only continues because people do it. When they clock that no one wants to be under machines in a quarry at 5:30 am in December sodden and freezing, being shouted at by some jumped up manager with a degree in…… something because his schedules messed up for peanuts, getting home aching and going straight to bed because you haven’t the energy to do anything else, losing your social life etc, someone might sit up and say maybe we should pay more and have a more sensible approach.
I’ve spent a little time in the states, I’ve some good friends over there and in some shops it’s little more than slavery. 16 hr days as a standard , nothing in the way of breaks and 5 days a year holiday. I’m sad to say mate, the rest of the western world is laughing at you all for allowing it to happen. Any idiot can work themselves to death, there’s nothing to be proud of about wasting your life making someone else rich while your own suffers. Had a conversation with mate trying to get me on shut downs over there, he’d just bought a brand new f250 and a 25ft bass boat, cash. In the next breath he was telling me that he wouldn’t be able to take the boat out this year as he’s working solid. What’s the point ?

Yes, that is a problem.
And the OP needs to watch out for this, give the employer 6 month try out, and then walk.
But you need to get a foot in the door, and with no experience in that field, many times you have to take the bottom of the rung jobs.

For-a-short-time.

 

[addjunkie]

I can't offer direct experience like the majority of replies, just an observation I used to live 'out in the sticks' where the main employment was forestry I have never seen an industry for turning young men into old before their time, and that includes being born into a family who were miners in previous generations. I would suggest you look at your work collegues are they a decent and trustworthy bunch do you get on well? Being 'on call' and going to remote sites on your own even if its indoors and comfortable can be demoralising.

I spent over 30 years working offshore, 16 hour days, even some 6 week trips….and Im in better condition than most if the forestry guys round here of my age. And Ive had far more time off over the years.

Quality of life…is what you need, and its worth batting your pan in for!

 

[gaz1]

Why ?
OP is young and sounds like wanting to progress upward in his career.
Hard work is where it's at.
Anyone can do the easy jobs, any slacker can, so that's what the pay and respect you get in those easy jobs.
Low pay & low respect.

Don't be afraid to do the hard things in life.
You won't be doing this in 10 years.

anyone that works on the factory floor isnt a slacker

its those that are sat behind a desk and never try to do the jobs that they submiting out to others ( pen pushers )

as goes for me factory floor isnt my liking never has been it might do for others but its not me

i like the building trade too much and with many a outside job you hit the weather its no fun freezing for an hr and then trying to warm up in a caravan in minus temps on a building site beams dont thaw out frost can get too hands and bones fast and being stood in one place long enough it soon gets cold

theres many a hard job out there all depends if you want to do it

 

[Migmac]

I can't offer direct experience like the majority of replies, just an observation I used to live 'out in the sticks' where the main employment was forestry I have never seen an industry for turning young men into old before their time, and that includes being born into a family who were miners in previous generations. I would suggest you look at your work collegues are they a decent and trustworthy bunch do you get on well? Being 'on call' and going to remote sites on your own even if its indoors and comfortable can be demoralising.

Your comment about forestry is very true. I’ve been in forestry for 42 years, my back is gone, elbows ache as do my feet.

 

[Erie Fred]

anyone that works on the factory floor isnt a slacker

its those that are sat behind a desk and never try to do the jobs that they submiting out to others ( pen pushers )

as goes for me factory floor isnt my liking never has been it might do for others but its not me

i like the building trade too much and with many a outside job you hit the weather its no fun freezing for an hr and then trying to warm up in a caravan in minus temps on a building site beams dont thaw out frost can get too hands and bones fast and being stood in one place long enough it soon gets cold

theres many a hard job out there all depends if you want to do it

carefull now......

 

[AVI_8]

I had a mate who got a job with Pirtek many years ago, replacing hydraulic hoses on site machines, he worked through the summer and liked the job, then winter came, as previously mentioned, lying under a machine in mud and freezing cold, he didn’t last the winter before jacking it in.
I can only imagine trying to weld in these conditions would be more difficult.

 

[henry Kadzielski]

I have been doing what I do now for 25 years, started late and now am an old fart. Still would like to go till I'm 70 as again stared with kids too late (50) so want to see them out of school. When I started, nothing was out of the question, I would do whatever was asked and yes some customers definitely go their pound of flesh. As I would do anything that was asked I got to do more variety and go known for doing so. Not only for doing so but the quality of what I did. I now am benefiting from my past, did I suffer, well at times very much so, was it appreciated, definitely NO.
One word of advice I could give is 'be careful of what you wish as you may get it'. Nothing comes for free, there is always some price to pay, however what you put in can be what you get out. If you have confidence in yourself then have a go and see where you end up, you can always leave and go somewhere else. I, when I started had to make this happen so, I made it happen, no iff's but's or maybee's, just get in and get it done. If this is you then go for it. There is no perfect job, all have their pros and cons, you just have to deal with it. I have done the 'welding in the rain, lying in ****,mud and oil, grinding fiberglass. working on live electrical gear, blasting in confined spaces, painting two pack without adequate protection, crawling into tight spaces. When I think back I get a chill and shake my head but that is in my past. If you are starting then this will all in your future. Good luck

 

[Erie Fred]

I had a mate who got a job with Pirtek many years ago, replacing hydraulic hoses on site machines, he worked through the summer and liked the job, then winter came, as previously mentioned, lying under a machine in mud and freezing cold, he didn’t last the winter before jacking it in.
I can only imagine trying to weld in these conditions would be more difficult.

He didn't bring along maybe a tarp ? a scrap of old carpeting ?
So he failed to step up and do the job.

 

[MattF]

So he failed to step up and do the job.

That's complete tosh. Wind, rain, (this is England, remember. The land of eternsl rain), & cold are not nice to work outside in, whatever the job.

 

[Colin Barron]

I currently work in a workshop that manufactures water treatment machinery. 95% of the work is stainless steel and TIG welding. I have been offered a job in a heavy machinery repair shop (excavators, bulldozers..)They pay better, it's closer to home, but the hours are worse.

If this includes working outside in winter, wet and freezing, i would give it some serious thought.

 

[Agrismith]

He didn't bring along maybe a tarp ? a scrap of old carpeting ?
So he failed to step up and do the job.

You clearly haven't seen a UK building site in the winter. A tarp or scrap of carpet might cut it in the summer but our mud is on a different level come winter.
Remember we get a lot more rain than you and our ground in a lot of the country doesn't freeze.
If a machine breaks down in the quagmire then nothing short of a dry suit will suffice.

 

[Tinbasherdan]

He didn't bring along maybe a tarp ? a scrap of old carpeting ?
So he failed to step up and do the job.

Aside from the fact that either would be about as much use as tits on a bull when there’s 12” of mud that you’re lying in, why on earth would it be reasonable that you’re expected to provide equipment yourself?

 

[Erie Fred]

Aside from the fact that either would be about as much use as tits on a bull when there’s 12” of mud that you’re lying in, why on earth would it be reasonable that you’re expected to provide equipment yourself?

Ah ha there it is.....
Your boss must provide everything for you. Or else you go on strike eh ?
Flop down on the ground, flail around and have a hissy fit while your at it.

Grab a scrap of plywood now that you changed the requirement to 12" deep of mud.
Learn how to Mcguyver your way thru life.

I wonder why so many on here complain about the young people not wanting to work ?

 

[MetalMonkey]

One thing I have learnt in life. How hard you work has absolutely no correlation with how successful you are, despite what people will tell you.
The only important thing is what other people think you are worth. That comes down to luck, who you know, and how well you can bluff it.

Knowledge and ability are always useful, but I've worked with far too many people who couldn't find their **** with a map, but could talk convincingly enough to get a far better deal than anybody else.
Failing that, do something that gives you some sense of satisfaction.

Personally I'd say stainless and tig is going to be a far more specialist skill than fixing plant (no offence to plant fitters).
If you are good at what you do and valuable to the company, perhaps negotiate with your current employer or look for a job closer to home.

The grass is seldom as green as you think. Especially when its mud.

 

[Agrismith]

Ah ha there it is.....
Your boss must provide everything for you. Or else you go on strike eh ?
Flop down on the ground, flail around and have a hissy fit while your at it.

It is literally the law in this country.
Nothing to do with being entitled. Why would you do your boss any favours if they can't meet legal requirements.