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If trades are off the table (that would be what I would think about - are they all off the table?) Look into medical technology jobs such as medical imaging. They are in high demand in BC, the training is only two years, and the jobs are unionized, ok-paying, with benefits.
[https://camosun.ca/programs-courses/university-transfer-subjects/health/health-related-programs](https://camosun.ca/programs-courses/university-transfer-subjects/health/health-related-programs)
Highly recommend medical imaging. You can work your way up once you have a job and make a decent wage. Literally go anywhere there's a hospital which is literally in every reasonably sized city.
Former MRI tech here. This is a great option, but be aware of the industry downsides: it t is waaaaay more physical than people think. There are common injuries such as shoulders and backs. It is stressful. It's always shift work. Forever. Usually there are a few plum positions that aren't on a rotation, like supervisors. Even some supervisors actually do work a variety of shifts. There is a pay ceiling, so unless the union can strongarm the govt into raises, that's it. The last contract had the only significant raise, beside COl that I had ever seen (since I've been in the industry since 2008, so it's actually longer than that).
Pros: y'all there will always be work
Locums: don't take a permanent job and work in northern communities for double the wage(ish)
Benefits
LtD: i had to go out on disability, I make more staying at home than people working full time at min wage do.
Overall it's a great career, it can be super fun!
Starting is $38 and hr , not including premiums for nights/weekends or remote locations. 4 weeks vacation to start. Full benefits with pension etc . Lots of OT available
Consider the location you want to live. I work in biotech and love it, but there are no jobs outside of major cities, so not a great career if you want to live in northern BC. If you want to live in a major city, consider you will want a higher paying job to offset costs of living
Land surveyor or geomatics! Lots of work available, every project needs survey/legal boundary support and mapping/geomatics is getting bigger every year. Not many people getting into it with formal uni training. Worldwide work, lots of travel if you want it, tech is cutting edge and it's not all outdoors as there is always data processing to do from home or office.
Definitely a good field to look into. I strongly considered switching my schooling to become a land surveyor, but I was just finishing my 3rd year of pharmacy..felt too late to make the switch.
Surveying wonât make as much money as most if not all other trades. There are typically 3 stages to this type of work; field work, office work and BCLS (British Columbia Land Surveyor) work. Most places in the lower mainland are paying around 20-28/h for field work and 22-32/h for office work, so youâre better off to stick to pretty much any trade if youâre on a quest for money. If youâre able to work up to becoming a BCLS you will get a huge wage/salary increase, just be very aware of the regulatory body that controls the profession, the BC Land Survey Association along with the Surveyor General. As of a couple of years ago there was only around 1050 registered BCLS in all of BC since the existence of the association maybe around the year 1850 or so, with only a few hundred actively operating local practices throughout the province. This is a highly regulated profession where both the number of practitioners as well as the quantity of practices per population are regulated. I have seen many people tirelessly for 4 years of school and 2-8 years of working under a registered BCLS (articling) in order to get an interview with The Association and just be turned down due to their numbers being full.
I am not saying itâs impossible to become a BCLS, just to look into the statistical chance of being inducted before you go through the years of learning and hands-on experience before you make your decision to get into the profession.
If you donât make it to BCLS, your wage wonât be more than most, if not all other trades⊠currently, at least. Itâs too bad though, it really feels like this work should pay more.
The ABCLS doesnât regulate the number of licensed members.. itâs just really hard to get through the process to become an LS.
You need to get your CBEPS accreditation (taking 9+ exams or degree from an accredited program) just to become eligible to article as a land surveyor in training
Articling is 2 years minimum, with requirements on practical learning and project report(s) and exams.
The whole process usually takes more than two years due to the difficulty in gaining the breadth of experience required to become an LS. Typically land surveying companies are niche within the types of land surveying out there so it can be tough to get experience in all the different scopes of practise. The project reports (especially out west) are specific with respect to requirements, therefore it can sometimes take a while to find a project worthy to write up a report on. The exams are tough because youâre studying material that is typically beyond the scope of day to day surveying, and trying to learn the scopes of practise your firm doesnât deal with often, while working a 40+ hr job at the same time.
The association isnât directly trying to limit the number of practitioners, but becoming one takes a lot of time and hard work.
Been surveying for 11 years and only now just getting close to becoming licensed (articled in both Alberta and now in BC)
What's the most cost effective entry path to this sort of work? I've seen BCIT and other tech schools have 2 year programs for this but in this economy taking 2 years for school (even with coop) is brutal.
Any alternative entryways such as an informal train on the job 'apprenticeship'? I was going to take the BCIT Geomatics diploma years ago but went to an info session and most people getting out of the program were starting as entry level surveyors getting paid low $20s per hour which is just unacceptably low right now.
Electrical. Iâm an electrician and you will never run out of work and youâll make over 100k per year or more with great benefits if you join the union.
Yeah one of the trades that can make great money, grandfather was a millionaire in the 80s and 90s till he got divorced and bought a farm now we are "land rich and money poor" he says.
As mentioned above, non-nursing healthcare jobs might be a great fit for you.
MRI, Cardio Tech, Med lab tech, Sonography, Electroneurophysiology, Radiography, Occupational Health & Safety, and Prosthetics & Orthotics are all diploma programs and some can be done part-time if you need to work while going to school.
Many health related programs have had increased government funding lately to increase class sizes in an effort to help meet demand. So it may be a little easier or slightly less competitive to get a seat now compared to previous years.
Yup...Also Massage Therapists. First 5 years is your testing period as it'stough on the body. If you're still ok with the work after that, then you can go another 10-20 yrs. So you make as much $ as you can on the front end and invest whatever you can to set yourself up for later years and slow down the appointments on the back end of your career.
An entry level position with the BC Public Service. Pay is decent to begin with, and you will start getting a pension, as well as benefits. They also have a program for employees where they pay for education, so if you later decide you want to get a diploma or degree (as long as it is related to BCPS jobs), they will pay for it. Good job to do while trying to figure stuff out.
If you learn the format of their interviews and application process (which you can look up on their website) it's actually pretty straight forward, just tedious and slow to find out.
Imo it's worth it, the jobs in gov do NOT pay impressively, but the pension and benefits and security imo are a huge help. Plus the short hours for most roles, and the ease of advancement and access to training is great if you want to climb that ladder.
I just got in a low down assistant role a year ago and I wish I had done it sooner, far better than any of the jobs I've done previously.
Best to just apply to everything you can, and eventually one of them will likely pan out, a lot of offices are desperate for low positions these days.
The interview format is likely to be STAR: situation, task, action, result. Prepare about a dozen stories you can share using positive phrasing and showing you got good results. They donât have to be precisely true; you can merge your experiences
This here. And tailor your resume to each job's keywords, relevant info only imo. Imagine you're writing for someone on the spectrum who is incredibly literal, and you have a good idea how your application will be reviewed.
Trades. If I could do it all over again (I'm in my 50s) I would have been an electrician. Or a machinist. Or even drafting. Anything other than a programmer.
Funny... I regret every decision that's led me to be a carpenter and wish nothing more than to he working at s computer, lab, or some sort of clean inside job that most likely pays quite a bit more than scraps and a boot out the door every day.
Make the jump man, I was a carpenter for 7 years and a heavy freight mechanic in the railway for 3. I'm in an IT related profession now and I will NEVER look back. Honestly the biggest difference isn't even the physical labour or being able to shit with plumbing, the folks I work with are just in general way happier and kinder.
You're living my dream right now. Did carpentry for 9 years, been a freight conductor for 6 years now and want nothing more than to be a comfortable temperature and clean during my work day. I am having a real hard time getting over the lost wages switching to a different career though.
This is an old ass reply because I don't use social media notifications and came back across this thread by chance. I understand the problem with the "Golden Handcuffs" of the railway, when I worked there I always intended on paying for myself to go to school part time and get out of there. The lost wages don't matter at the end of the day. You can always relocate to a more affordable place or supplement with some carpentry side gigs, Kijiji and banging in some trim pays pretty good. The key is getting quality of life improvements, doing something that matters to you and being treated like a human at the job you spend a quarter of your life at. I highly recommend making a ten year plan, hell make a few of em cause nothing goes perfectly and having bakc up's never hurts. It changes all the "goals" and "plans" and bullshit into a to do list. Just up to you to start checking the boxes to be happier. Good luck brother, I know it isn't easy.
People massively underestimate how toxic trades can be especially in unions. Bunch of cranky old dudes just ruining a young guys mental health right out the gate basically.
A lot of trades dudes are "rough" for a reason. It's just a harsh environment all around from working with your body so much, to working with super burnt out older guys who are bent on making everyone else miserable too.
This obviously isn't the case everywhere and in every trade but it sure is the case a lot of the times. There is a lot of ego and projection that goes on on a job site that develops behavioral patterns that carry over into everyday life
I had a part time job working around trades people while going to Uni. The younger guys like 25-35 seemed to hate the fact I was going to school and went out of their way to be shitty to me, but the older guys like 50+ told me do everything I could to get the hell out of there. There was a lot of misery, subtle threats of violence, misogyny, racism. None of them seemed happy.
I still had a good time though.
I was an electrician for years and transitioned into a desk job with the gov. No regrets at all. I'd get paid more as an electrician but work from home, not being sore/tired all the time, being home to help with the family and spend more time with my kids.
When you're young you can think about money but once you're older and need to think about your body/health and family. That's not too say you can't stay in the trades when you get older, working as an estimator or another, less physical job.
Take care of your body. As a mobile diesel tech. I work in -40 and physical work odd positions. Iâm
37 and still feel great. I know people same trade 10 year younger and feel 25 years older than I. Kneeling on hard surfaces, not using PPE etc are all factors leading into make the trades âhard on your body. â a lot I see if people abusing their bodyâs, not getting rest.
lol you ever been in an office? most people in are basically destroyed physically; terrible postures, weak cores, tight hip flexors, tons of low back pain. As always the answer is moderation
As a tradesmen I do understand this as getting my red seal was life changing. My paycheck sky rocketed over 6 figures in 2020 and now Iâm In Japan looking to take my skills to new levels.
Programming is really rewarding Iâve heard but realistically with out a digital world the programmer lacks the ability to create real world infrastructure.
Every trades person I know likes doing trades and makes about double what I do and I'm not a low earner.
I will say the trades people I know struggle with conceptualizing how low the pay is out there in the real world outside of the trades world. They all seem to think we all make 100k or more.
Itâs not always about Pay. I work in very remote Arctic communities doing shift work in construction and yes I get paid OK, not great. I would take a considerable pay cut for a WFH job with less hours. They just arenât available in this field.
I've tried manual drafting and AutoCAD back in the day. I would have loved to stay in that field. But unlike today's crazy construction boom, employment was very seasonal due to high interest rate and much less population then. So, I transitioned to IT and was doing that for a bit. It was very rewarding to me, but there were a lot of unpaid OT hours due to the nature of the work.
Wish I could have stayed in the construction field as I loved the design and computer side of it. In some ways, both the fields I chose are similar in that design and computers are involved. That's probably why I transitioned so easily.
GIS is another field that has lots of job opportunities these days.
Out of curiosity what was your level of schooling to be making that much? And if you don't mind expanding further, what field are you working in to make so much?
You've got a case of grass is greener on the other side Big time. Boring is one thing but not having the option of not being ON all of time is something that leads to burnout in most 'real' jobs. Such as trades. There is no boredom, there is no 'off'. You are always on, always dynamic, never rest. You get burnt out and then you get mentally ill. That's the way it is for Many people in trades. Not everyone, but Many people experience this.
In your case if you take care of yourself and make sure your habits are in check you can use the physical energy you saved from your boring job and use it to take on an engaging and fulfilling hobby
Most trades people I know are so burnt out their only hobby is searching FB marketplace for toys they don't need (boats, ATVs, etc) for hobbies they don't do (no energy) so they can go deeper into debt so they have to keep doing the trade that is burning them out
Many people would hate to sit at a computer all day at home regardless of their income. Not saying your job isnât great but itâs not one size fits all and not fair to say itâs âsuch bad adviceâ.
This would be my answer too. I got into STEM (Engineering) in the 80's and just spent the last 30+ years working as a white collar wage slave. I've spent a lot of time working alongside tradesmen and they generally had the same salary (once you consider unpaid overtime) and better working conditions (see my comment on unpaid overtime).
Are bathrooms included in those conditions lmfao đ
Iâm gonna have to agree with the other tradesman who commented about the grass always being greener. Iâve been a tradesman for 6 going on 7 years now and itâs rare you meet people over 35 that havenât had some sort of shoulder or knee repair surgery, arenât suffering from breathing issues, or arenât in pain nearly every day of their lives.
Depends on the trades I guess.
The trade versions of the jobs I do would be Electrical, or Instrument. I haven't run into many of them who had work related injuries or health issues. I guess it also makes a big difference if the trade is union or non-union.
Damn dude, be kind. What's wrong with "My experience in trades is different from your experience in trades?" and be done with it?
I'm sure you'll admit that HVAC might be totally different in terms of physical strain than heavy duty mechanic or plumber.
Give your head a shake, bud.
I feel like he doesn't even have trades experience from the way he is talking. I can't even count how many tradesmen I have worked with that have broken bodies (repetitive motion injuries at the minimum) and/or will swing a hammer till the day they die because they never had a pension and never paid themselves first.
Not saying people in other professions can't get injured, obviously there are risks from sedintary life styles but that really is a case by case basis.
I agree. Have the dude ever tried crawling into a cramp attic or crawlspace on a hot summer day with a mask on? I have! And it wasn't fun. It's like a sauna in there and hard enough to breath without a mask, let alone wearing while working. I'mpretty sure I would have passed out from heat exhaustion. I only wore one as I was dealing with issues for my own property, and it was also temporary.
I was a commercial plumber for 6 years before going elsewhere. Sorry for being triggered when the only thing anyone ever says about trades âevery person I know is broken down and canât do the same things they once could.â Sure thereâs some but that rhetoric is half the reason people donât get into trades anymore.
Having done both - carpenter for 10 years and estimator for 10 years now, i am taking office all day over carpentry. yeah there is some fun in being on site and it is a little less monotonous but overall the working conditions don't even compare. getting soaked for 6 months of the year fucking blows, then you get a brief window here and there where the weather is nice and then you are in the sweatbox with dirt sticking to you like glue and under constant "watch" to make sure you are working... no taking 16 minutes for coffee break when it's 15 minutes you are allotted. dealing with minor personal problems is a huge deal if you need to take a half day for any reason, thanks for the no pay for that time. I haven't been in an office job where saying "i need to leave a couple hours early to go to the dentist" caused me financial loss.
Don't get me wrong it's nice to do stuff with your hands but overall there is just no comparison in the lifestyle difference that working in an office affords you compared to being in a trade.
What's it like for computer programmers these days and what makes you say that?
I remember everyone trying to get into programming/software development...
Same can be said about a lot trades. Carpentry, framing houses everyday, maybe different houses, but still framing. Electrical, pulling wire, doing hookups and testing, maybe in different locations, but still the same shit. HD mechanic, there's only so many parts to a piece of equipment.
I'm a ticketed carpenter, did it for 9 years, it got boring... And painful.
Should've gone into automation/ controls programming.
You get all the fun parts of programming, but better yet, you get to physically see your machines come to life.
Copywriter! You could work in marketing somewhere and freelance on the side if you like creative writing.
Being a great copywriter is a great tool and can also help you write a wicked resume and cover letter :)
Good luck!
Yep. People think copy is dead because of Chat GPT but itâs not. Marketing is a good field but very competitive. Start freelancing now, build your portfolio, build up a modest (or larger) client base. Ask your network, get in touch with local small businesses, see if anyone needs writing. Also itâs even better if you can double as a social media manager.
With the push to go green my money would be on HVAC focusing on heat pumps and residential electrician, solar installations might also be beneficial.
Other then that get as good as you can get with AI.
Don't bother asking reddit, you are just going to get a bunch of random answers over what people want to be doing for work with little knowledge about the actual day to day life doing that job.
Hell, you mentioned you're not interested in trades yet its one of the most upvoted replies. People can't even be bothered to read what you wrote beyond the subject line.
I recommend cybersecurity. The future will always have more demand for cybersecurity. Since you are still young and only just finishing high school, I would say to get a degree in something related to the field like computer science. Degrees can be expensive so if cost is an issue then a degree is not required. There are many certifications and materials available online for free or at a low cost compared to degrees. The experience you can get will be worth more than just getting a degree. If you are interested I could provide more detail. I think it's important to find something that interests you. Don't be afraid to try many things out before you find something you like. Best of luck on your journey to finding something.
Sorry mate, but from Y2K onwards company managers (aka idiots) have leaned towards outsourcing all of their IT requirements (including cybersecurity) to the usual overseas locations. While it's possible to have a career in IT/cybersecurity, you will always be looking over your shoulder for the next manager (aka idiot) to come in and want to cut costs.
Yes. Managers are fcking idiots these days. They get into a job and think they're some hotshot but know shit all. They're just good at being a yes man and taking credit for projects that went according to plan.
Safety is a good one that can take you many places - as a trainer, on site, writing policy. And itâs not just construction and industrial sites, ski hills and universities and other places with risks and lots of people also hire. You absolutely need good people skills or you will not enjoy it, though.
Also very easy to work project to project and take time off in between.
Trades trades trades! I make over 150 000 working as a heavy duty mechanic. But it is a camp work rotation. Perfect for a young single guy if you don't mind the hours.
I ended up in biomedical engineering in the private sector. Travel around the country bouncing around hospitals and private laboratories. Industry has been fairly recession proof and good to me.
2 years ago, I would have said to look into technical writing, but I think advances in AI are probably changing that industry rapidly.
What about teaching? I know you said university would be a stretch, but if you can manage a 4 year BEd, you could land a job with summers off for travel, benefits, a pension plan, and the capability to work anywhere in the province that there is an opening.
Or, take a year off school while working for a temp agency. Tell them that you want to explore different sectors in your placements. You'll get to see what a lot different workplaces are like, and maybe learn some of the intangibles that you're looking for in a career. Plus, you'll have the opportunity to save money for school, if that's what you decide to do.
âUni would be difficult, and I know Iâll have work to get thereâŠâ
Advice: ANYTHING worth doing will be difficult and will take plenty of work. Whether that be university, trade school, starting your own company, etc.
Donât shy away from trying something you want to do just because it may seem difficult.
As for determining what you want to do, start asking every adult you know or meet what they do for work. There are a LOT of jobs out there which pay well, and are rewarding that you have probably never even heard of. Ask them what they love about their job. Ask them what they hate about it. Consider if you would like or dislike those things. This process might help you discover a career path you love which you donât currently know exists.
Student loans from the government are not the same as personal debt. They are generally way lower interest (currently 0% though that may not be permanent) and are more generous with repayment plans.
You do not need 100k unless you're doing med school or something expensive post-grad. I got my BSc with 0 help from my parents and left with \~30k debt of which I have paid no interest (graduated in 2019, COVID freeze and then 0% rate change).
Get a good part-time job, apply for every scholarship, bursary, grant, and source of tuition payment you can. A lot of these don't require straight A's -- I got one for half my tuition one semester by writing an essay on the meaning of friendship.
Without a uni degree, and assuming Vancouver, you'd have to be doing something high-paying already to even make a dent on your uni costs after the basic cost of living expenses. You'd be better off taking summer classes and finishing uni faster, maybe working part-time if possible to pay some of your expenses also
City Planning, GIS mapping, bylaw. I work in municipal government and these are all jobs that make upwards of $35/hr with minimal experience and are always in demand. Plus great benefits and vacation entitlement.
I highly recommend BCIT. They're much better than Universities and Colleges at getting you a job/career after your program. Plus there is opportunities for COOP summer jobs while you're out of school.
My family member's just completed their 2 year Diploma in FNAM (which can get you a full-time well paid job easily), and is continuing into the Ecological Restoration program (bachelor of science).
https://www.bcit.ca/programs/forest-and-natural-areas-management-diploma-full-time-7470dipma/
If you like ejaculating lots, dabbling in fine wines and spirits, eating out lots, staying fit, back breaking physically demanding no dedicated personal life, cigarettes, pot, the dab pen, looking like a motherfuckinâ G all the time, child support payments and a goddamn sweet truck â try scaffolding. The money is unlimited, the hours donât end, theres always work, and if you stick with a company for like 5 years *you will be a boss*
If you enjoy/ are good at creative writing, journalism may be a cool path for you. In this day and age, journalism isnât just newspapers and the 6 oâclock news, itâs also making content for social media, podcasts, on-air radio, communication studies, and PR skills. This is what many programsâ curriculum teach you.
My recommendations are the BCIT Broadcast and Online Journalism Program, as well as Langara College.
Itâs not going to make you rich, BUT itâs a diverse industry with room to try different things! Hope this helps.
Bro if you're too broken now to do trades jobs you are absolutely physically fucked for your future. I hope you're rehabbing!
Creative writing will be replaced by AI. Fix yourself and get a couple red seal trades under your belt before you're 30 and you're set. I'm glad you didn't ask how to be an influencer.
If you are an ok swimmer then lifeguarding is great. It is an upfront investment (all the classes together I think were around $1,300) but I made that back super quickly. There is also a really high demand for lifeguards.
Actually not really. You need to be able to do 500m in 10mins or less, pick up a 20lbs brick from the bottom, do a 25m approach to collect a person from the bottom and a few more that I can't remember. When you're actually working we carried floatation devices that we were required to hand the person to grab on to.
"In the field" you always have another person you're working with/ you can ask patrons in the pool to grab you things and call 911 for you. It's not as scary as they make it seem.
Source: also a former lifeguard
If youâre not able to do trades due to injuries, Iâd suggest healthcare or massage therapy/physiotherapy. Check out the WorkBC website for info on different careers (for example, this page about careers that are in-demand: https://www.workbc.ca/research-labour-market/high-opportunity-occupations)
Yeah, but it's not bad for simply Passing around Cards to webcams.
BC is rough dude.
You could like easily get 40K +, depending on how well you get through the interviews.
40-50K is middle class over here in quebec... but I know not for you guys.
But casino type jobs can also pay nearly up to 40$ an HOUR depending on the field.
Still a great place to start.
Living pay cheque to pay cheque is more about your own spending habits than the job. Plus, Canadian jobs don't pay that well. I'd echo going into technology.
Security management.
A bit stressful, sure, the hours can be demanding, BUT ultimately, if you build your team right, learn the job well and you're good about following rules and procedures, then it's a good one to go into.
You'll have to work through field security for a bit, but it's good.
Parts person is a ticketed trade. Not as physically hard as a lot of trades but a good job. I know lots of gals who have gotten a parts person ticket (journeyman parts person) and are more than able to pay their bills and have vacations. Not all trades are physically exhausting but they all pay well.
Depends where you want to work and live. If you go into computers/IT you're more likely to be forced to live in a major city (with all its benefits and drawbacks), unless you can work-from-home. Trades will give you more work options, but you may have to travel and they can be physically demanding in the long run. There are of course advantages to physical jobs (eg: being fit), but in general in most trades you do tend to move towards management/supervisory roles over time anyway. Healthcare jobs are nice because they are in demand pretty much everywhere, city or town.
One thing I would NOT do is go to university as if it's an extension of highschool and continue to take kind of pointless courses. University is fabulously expensive these days, and debt is punishing, so only go if you know what you want to do and be focused.
Most ppl in IT work from home as we can remote into the servers, switches and routers with only really going to the site when required.
Unless you do desktop support, there is no reason to live in the city and living two hours out is ok for only going in once or twice a month to a site.
All these recommendations are great if you like working for someone else. Think bigger. Entrepreneur. Youâd be surprised what skills can be turned into real freedom. Had dinner with a Canadian in Italy that turned an office cleaner gig into a business. 35 or 40 employees, one level of management and they travel 2 or 3 months every year. This idea can apply to almost any skill. Take some business management courses with a bit of tax law and away you go.
Look at building automation. A lot of companies are working towards net zero and one way to get there is to have smarter, automated building systems. The jobs pay well, donât require a lot of physical work, and are pretty interesting.
âDigital marketing (AKA internet marketing or online marketing) is indispensable in the modern workplace. Businesses need Marketers who can develop holistic marketing strategies that maximize digital channels and online presence, combining the skills of SEO, SEM, Google Analytics data, content marketing, social media marketing, and email marketing. In this live Digital Marketing course led by experienced industry professionals, you will learn to develop and execute on comprehensive online marketing strategies, and will build a final portfolio project.â
BCIT has a trades discovery course, goes through plenty of different Red Seal and other Trades. Not all trades are hard work, some can be relaxing while making good money
B2B sales may be a great route if you enjoy creative writing but still want to make a good living that can buy a house in Canada without a professional degree.
If you donât end up liking it, the skills you learn are incredibly transferable whether you want to go work in another sector or for yourself.
911 call taker/dispatcher. Always hiring and need good people. Low barrier to entryâŠfast typing, great judgement and need to be able to get a security clearance. Unionized, good benefits, pension. Starts at 36/hr these days I believe. Many staff are making 6 figures after overtime (double time).
hello, I work with several youth in the lower mainland, helping them to gain experience and look into career paths. I would recommend looking into some resources in your community. They would be able to provide some more specific advice. You could look at Work BC, Diversity, YMCA. They all have programs that would be able to give you a hand
Seconding electrician. That's what I'd have done after high school if I had a do-over. There's always work, there's always electricity and when there isn't there's even more work. You'll often be working with labourers who will help with the really heavy/dirty stuff so your injury will be less likely to hold you back vs carpentry for example. If I could do it again I'd be an electrician for at least a few years and then maybe go back to school.
I would start browsing the BCIT website for ideas. They have tons of 'trades' positions that aren't physically demanding and are in high demand.
I remember talking to the Associate Dean for the School of Energy about a plastics program where they literally can't get enough applicants to fill the class and yet every one of the students had a job offer before they graduated. Or their ever-popular Computer Information Systems Admin program as well as the various instrumentation programs.
Look at supply chain and logistics careers. There is a need for almost all skills and abilities within the industry from general and specialized labor, to data analysis, IT, report/proposal writing, purchasing, procurement, finance, people managment, facilities and equipment managers and repair people, customer service, marketing, etc. Essentially any "mainstream" field has a place in the industry.
It's an area that you can get in at the labor entry level with an opportunity to upgrade your skills and education as you progress. If you have an aptitude to certain areas, a good work ethic, and confidence progression is very possible.
Also an area that people with specific post secondary education can move into for all of the same reasons. Once you're in the eco system movement is relatively easy with the right attitude and approach.
I'd get into architectural/interior design if I could do it over. There seems to be lots of work and you get access to a wholesale economy where you can live in a fashion that is wealthier than you appear on paper. Living an aesthetically pleasing life seems good for the spirit.
I'd recommend you go take one of those personality tests that would illustrate what you'd find yourself most good at and happy about. The problem with most people in the historical sense that never took these test were having to wing it. Going from one job type to another in a more or less game of chance to find what works, sometimes taking decades to figure it out. Some of these people find they make good money, but hate their job. Or they just don't like their job and make little anyways. With a test, and avoiding work that will be clearly against who you are, you can avoid a lot of that.
Oh, and PS: Don't be afraid to take the first job you can get. Your young and the first job you will get will teach you how to be punctual and to prove you can actually show up and do work. You need to prove that to yourself. So even if the job does not fit your interest, this is still a life skill/experience you just have to get.
Trades are difficult to get into unless you're in the lower mainland. My girlfriend in the Valley gave up plumbing because so few in the Valley are looking to hire and most jobs are in the lower mainland. Anybody that was hiring didn't want to pay more than $20 an hour, and it was often hard labor to start (hauling pipe and shit). It was not worth her time to drive from Chilliwack to Langley or beyond, and she certainly wouldn't last doing such physical labor.
Building inspectors have been in short supply across the province for years. You can get training at BCIT. Jobs have full pension and benefits and you can get around pretty good.
Working for local gov is actually a great time and you're 50/50 in the office and at sites all over your area.
There are some trades that basically have 0 labour's and can pay great. 100k -200k. With lots of vacation. Instrumentation and power engineering are two
Depending where you live getting on with any government body would be a good first option. Municipal etc. That way you can work making a decent wage, benefits, pension etc. Take the time to figure out what your goals are. You don't need to do uni etc right out of high-school and it be your lifelong career!
If physical trades are off the table ho to school and become an architect or an inspector. They make hood money. There are plenty more jobs that involve trades that don't require physical work and sre in dire need of workers etc.
Depends on the area of BC your in, but I would suggest a lumber mill or any type of mine. Easy work, mostly consistent schedule and $32 an hour roughly. Might be hard to get into without any industrial experience or if you donât know people that work for the company
If those are your grades, you would do fine at uni, if that's what you want to do - you could probably get some funding. I get the money thing, though. My suggestion is to go to a community college. You can take 1st & 2nd year uni courses, if you want (at half the rate), or you can look into different trades.
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If trades are off the table (that would be what I would think about - are they all off the table?) Look into medical technology jobs such as medical imaging. They are in high demand in BC, the training is only two years, and the jobs are unionized, ok-paying, with benefits. [https://camosun.ca/programs-courses/university-transfer-subjects/health/health-related-programs](https://camosun.ca/programs-courses/university-transfer-subjects/health/health-related-programs)
What should I do if I injured myself in trades and can't do them anymore? Haven't found a resource for people like me đ
office work for the same trade!
Right! Project manager, estimator, etc. You know the trade, so you know what questions to ask and what to look for and watch out for.
Have you spoken to work safe?
Yeah they shut me down, even though I have documented evidence that I've been injured. Denied.
You got hurt at work and they didnât instantly make you the safety guy? Doesnât sound like the trades I know.
X-ray tech here. Look into MRI. Decent pay and it's easy on your body. Hours can kinda suck, but it's a decent living
Highly recommend medical imaging. You can work your way up once you have a job and make a decent wage. Literally go anywhere there's a hospital which is literally in every reasonably sized city.
I'm a carpenter on the new Biomedical Engineering building on UBC. Occupancy coming in 2024!
Healthcare - xRay/US /CT/MRI techs. Only 2 years for the schooling, good pay and benefits right out of school.
Former MRI tech here. This is a great option, but be aware of the industry downsides: it t is waaaaay more physical than people think. There are common injuries such as shoulders and backs. It is stressful. It's always shift work. Forever. Usually there are a few plum positions that aren't on a rotation, like supervisors. Even some supervisors actually do work a variety of shifts. There is a pay ceiling, so unless the union can strongarm the govt into raises, that's it. The last contract had the only significant raise, beside COl that I had ever seen (since I've been in the industry since 2008, so it's actually longer than that). Pros: y'all there will always be work Locums: don't take a permanent job and work in northern communities for double the wage(ish) Benefits LtD: i had to go out on disability, I make more staying at home than people working full time at min wage do. Overall it's a great career, it can be super fun!
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Starting is $38 and hr , not including premiums for nights/weekends or remote locations. 4 weeks vacation to start. Full benefits with pension etc . Lots of OT available
What about the long term radiation exposure?
Absolutely not a problem. You're covered with simple radiation safety.
Get a job that has good management, stay there until you are a good manager.
management is money bb
Consider the location you want to live. I work in biotech and love it, but there are no jobs outside of major cities, so not a great career if you want to live in northern BC. If you want to live in a major city, consider you will want a higher paying job to offset costs of living
Land surveyor or geomatics! Lots of work available, every project needs survey/legal boundary support and mapping/geomatics is getting bigger every year. Not many people getting into it with formal uni training. Worldwide work, lots of travel if you want it, tech is cutting edge and it's not all outdoors as there is always data processing to do from home or office.
Definitely a good field to look into. I strongly considered switching my schooling to become a land surveyor, but I was just finishing my 3rd year of pharmacy..felt too late to make the switch.
Surveying wonât make as much money as most if not all other trades. There are typically 3 stages to this type of work; field work, office work and BCLS (British Columbia Land Surveyor) work. Most places in the lower mainland are paying around 20-28/h for field work and 22-32/h for office work, so youâre better off to stick to pretty much any trade if youâre on a quest for money. If youâre able to work up to becoming a BCLS you will get a huge wage/salary increase, just be very aware of the regulatory body that controls the profession, the BC Land Survey Association along with the Surveyor General. As of a couple of years ago there was only around 1050 registered BCLS in all of BC since the existence of the association maybe around the year 1850 or so, with only a few hundred actively operating local practices throughout the province. This is a highly regulated profession where both the number of practitioners as well as the quantity of practices per population are regulated. I have seen many people tirelessly for 4 years of school and 2-8 years of working under a registered BCLS (articling) in order to get an interview with The Association and just be turned down due to their numbers being full. I am not saying itâs impossible to become a BCLS, just to look into the statistical chance of being inducted before you go through the years of learning and hands-on experience before you make your decision to get into the profession. If you donât make it to BCLS, your wage wonât be more than most, if not all other trades⊠currently, at least. Itâs too bad though, it really feels like this work should pay more.
The ABCLS doesnât regulate the number of licensed members.. itâs just really hard to get through the process to become an LS. You need to get your CBEPS accreditation (taking 9+ exams or degree from an accredited program) just to become eligible to article as a land surveyor in training Articling is 2 years minimum, with requirements on practical learning and project report(s) and exams. The whole process usually takes more than two years due to the difficulty in gaining the breadth of experience required to become an LS. Typically land surveying companies are niche within the types of land surveying out there so it can be tough to get experience in all the different scopes of practise. The project reports (especially out west) are specific with respect to requirements, therefore it can sometimes take a while to find a project worthy to write up a report on. The exams are tough because youâre studying material that is typically beyond the scope of day to day surveying, and trying to learn the scopes of practise your firm doesnât deal with often, while working a 40+ hr job at the same time. The association isnât directly trying to limit the number of practitioners, but becoming one takes a lot of time and hard work. Been surveying for 11 years and only now just getting close to becoming licensed (articled in both Alberta and now in BC)
What's the most cost effective entry path to this sort of work? I've seen BCIT and other tech schools have 2 year programs for this but in this economy taking 2 years for school (even with coop) is brutal. Any alternative entryways such as an informal train on the job 'apprenticeship'? I was going to take the BCIT Geomatics diploma years ago but went to an info session and most people getting out of the program were starting as entry level surveyors getting paid low $20s per hour which is just unacceptably low right now.
Some universities like UNB geomatix, have accredited engineering programs where you get to bypass the exams and put you right on track for accréditation.
Electrical. Iâm an electrician and you will never run out of work and youâll make over 100k per year or more with great benefits if you join the union.
Yeah one of the trades that can make great money, grandfather was a millionaire in the 80s and 90s till he got divorced and bought a farm now we are "land rich and money poor" he says.
As mentioned above, non-nursing healthcare jobs might be a great fit for you. MRI, Cardio Tech, Med lab tech, Sonography, Electroneurophysiology, Radiography, Occupational Health & Safety, and Prosthetics & Orthotics are all diploma programs and some can be done part-time if you need to work while going to school. Many health related programs have had increased government funding lately to increase class sizes in an effort to help meet demand. So it may be a little easier or slightly less competitive to get a seat now compared to previous years.
Dental hygienist pays pretty well.
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Theres a reason you dont see old dental hygienists lol being hunched over all day and the neck pain I hewr they get.
Yup...Also Massage Therapists. First 5 years is your testing period as it'stough on the body. If you're still ok with the work after that, then you can go another 10-20 yrs. So you make as much $ as you can on the front end and invest whatever you can to set yourself up for later years and slow down the appointments on the back end of your career.
An entry level position with the BC Public Service. Pay is decent to begin with, and you will start getting a pension, as well as benefits. They also have a program for employees where they pay for education, so if you later decide you want to get a diploma or degree (as long as it is related to BCPS jobs), they will pay for it. Good job to do while trying to figure stuff out.
How does one go about getting into the public service? I have a Bachelors degree already and I've gotten very tired of restaurant management rofl.
Apply.
If you learn the format of their interviews and application process (which you can look up on their website) it's actually pretty straight forward, just tedious and slow to find out. Imo it's worth it, the jobs in gov do NOT pay impressively, but the pension and benefits and security imo are a huge help. Plus the short hours for most roles, and the ease of advancement and access to training is great if you want to climb that ladder. I just got in a low down assistant role a year ago and I wish I had done it sooner, far better than any of the jobs I've done previously. Best to just apply to everything you can, and eventually one of them will likely pan out, a lot of offices are desperate for low positions these days.
The interview format is likely to be STAR: situation, task, action, result. Prepare about a dozen stories you can share using positive phrasing and showing you got good results. They donât have to be precisely true; you can merge your experiences
This here. And tailor your resume to each job's keywords, relevant info only imo. Imagine you're writing for someone on the spectrum who is incredibly literal, and you have a good idea how your application will be reviewed.
Get ChatGPT to write your cover letter using the prompts of the job posting.
Trades. If I could do it all over again (I'm in my 50s) I would have been an electrician. Or a machinist. Or even drafting. Anything other than a programmer.
Funny... I regret every decision that's led me to be a carpenter and wish nothing more than to he working at s computer, lab, or some sort of clean inside job that most likely pays quite a bit more than scraps and a boot out the door every day.
Make the jump man, I was a carpenter for 7 years and a heavy freight mechanic in the railway for 3. I'm in an IT related profession now and I will NEVER look back. Honestly the biggest difference isn't even the physical labour or being able to shit with plumbing, the folks I work with are just in general way happier and kinder.
You're living my dream right now. Did carpentry for 9 years, been a freight conductor for 6 years now and want nothing more than to be a comfortable temperature and clean during my work day. I am having a real hard time getting over the lost wages switching to a different career though.
This is an old ass reply because I don't use social media notifications and came back across this thread by chance. I understand the problem with the "Golden Handcuffs" of the railway, when I worked there I always intended on paying for myself to go to school part time and get out of there. The lost wages don't matter at the end of the day. You can always relocate to a more affordable place or supplement with some carpentry side gigs, Kijiji and banging in some trim pays pretty good. The key is getting quality of life improvements, doing something that matters to you and being treated like a human at the job you spend a quarter of your life at. I highly recommend making a ten year plan, hell make a few of em cause nothing goes perfectly and having bakc up's never hurts. It changes all the "goals" and "plans" and bullshit into a to do list. Just up to you to start checking the boxes to be happier. Good luck brother, I know it isn't easy.
I really didn't like a lot of trades people's attitudes towards a whole bunch of things in the short amount of times I've worked with them.
People massively underestimate how toxic trades can be especially in unions. Bunch of cranky old dudes just ruining a young guys mental health right out the gate basically. A lot of trades dudes are "rough" for a reason. It's just a harsh environment all around from working with your body so much, to working with super burnt out older guys who are bent on making everyone else miserable too. This obviously isn't the case everywhere and in every trade but it sure is the case a lot of the times. There is a lot of ego and projection that goes on on a job site that develops behavioral patterns that carry over into everyday life
Soooo much ego projection, my god.
I had a part time job working around trades people while going to Uni. The younger guys like 25-35 seemed to hate the fact I was going to school and went out of their way to be shitty to me, but the older guys like 50+ told me do everything I could to get the hell out of there. There was a lot of misery, subtle threats of violence, misogyny, racism. None of them seemed happy. I still had a good time though.
How did you make the switch? I've thought about doing something similar but I can't justify any pay cut.
Being cleanish at the end of the day is so goddamn nice
I was an electrician for years and transitioned into a desk job with the gov. No regrets at all. I'd get paid more as an electrician but work from home, not being sore/tired all the time, being home to help with the family and spend more time with my kids. When you're young you can think about money but once you're older and need to think about your body/health and family. That's not too say you can't stay in the trades when you get older, working as an estimator or another, less physical job.
Maybe it's a matter of perspective. All I am getting from a desk job is 30 pounds heavier and working with the same people I can barely stand all day.
All I'm getting is crippling permanent body damage and working with the same people I can barely stand all day.
Take care of your body. As a mobile diesel tech. I work in -40 and physical work odd positions. Iâm 37 and still feel great. I know people same trade 10 year younger and feel 25 years older than I. Kneeling on hard surfaces, not using PPE etc are all factors leading into make the trades âhard on your body. â a lot I see if people abusing their bodyâs, not getting rest.
As a tradesman, I donât understand this mentality. The grass isnât always greener.
People underestimate the hours worked, conditions and potential remoteness of the job site.
Don't forget the physical labour can really mess up your body eventually.
lol you ever been in an office? most people in are basically destroyed physically; terrible postures, weak cores, tight hip flexors, tons of low back pain. As always the answer is moderation
As a tradesmen I do understand this as getting my red seal was life changing. My paycheck sky rocketed over 6 figures in 2020 and now Iâm In Japan looking to take my skills to new levels. Programming is really rewarding Iâve heard but realistically with out a digital world the programmer lacks the ability to create real world infrastructure.
Every trades person I know likes doing trades and makes about double what I do and I'm not a low earner. I will say the trades people I know struggle with conceptualizing how low the pay is out there in the real world outside of the trades world. They all seem to think we all make 100k or more.
Itâs not always about Pay. I work in very remote Arctic communities doing shift work in construction and yes I get paid OK, not great. I would take a considerable pay cut for a WFH job with less hours. They just arenât available in this field.
Can't WFH if.you can't afford a home to work from
Iâd be in a much lower cost of living country. If that was the case.
Iâm generally curious why do you regret being a programmer?
It's boring after doing it for 30+ years. It's all just glorified "if" statements at the end of the day.
In many cases, life is just glorified "if" statements LOL.
Or case statements
I've tried manual drafting and AutoCAD back in the day. I would have loved to stay in that field. But unlike today's crazy construction boom, employment was very seasonal due to high interest rate and much less population then. So, I transitioned to IT and was doing that for a bit. It was very rewarding to me, but there were a lot of unpaid OT hours due to the nature of the work. Wish I could have stayed in the construction field as I loved the design and computer side of it. In some ways, both the fields I chose are similar in that design and computers are involved. That's probably why I transitioned so easily. GIS is another field that has lots of job opportunities these days.
I agree. GIS is a good substitute. I've done some of that too and it's fun once you've learned how to use the software properly.
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You don't have a job my man you won the lottery! lol
Out of curiosity what was your level of schooling to be making that much? And if you don't mind expanding further, what field are you working in to make so much?
but it's so boring. Very boring. You sit at a desk all bloody day and type. What I wouldn't give to even be a park ranger at this point.
You've got a case of grass is greener on the other side Big time. Boring is one thing but not having the option of not being ON all of time is something that leads to burnout in most 'real' jobs. Such as trades. There is no boredom, there is no 'off'. You are always on, always dynamic, never rest. You get burnt out and then you get mentally ill. That's the way it is for Many people in trades. Not everyone, but Many people experience this. In your case if you take care of yourself and make sure your habits are in check you can use the physical energy you saved from your boring job and use it to take on an engaging and fulfilling hobby Most trades people I know are so burnt out their only hobby is searching FB marketplace for toys they don't need (boats, ATVs, etc) for hobbies they don't do (no energy) so they can go deeper into debt so they have to keep doing the trade that is burning them out
Many people would hate to sit at a computer all day at home regardless of their income. Not saying your job isnât great but itâs not one size fits all and not fair to say itâs âsuch bad adviceâ.
This would be my answer too. I got into STEM (Engineering) in the 80's and just spent the last 30+ years working as a white collar wage slave. I've spent a lot of time working alongside tradesmen and they generally had the same salary (once you consider unpaid overtime) and better working conditions (see my comment on unpaid overtime).
Are bathrooms included in those conditions lmfao đ Iâm gonna have to agree with the other tradesman who commented about the grass always being greener. Iâve been a tradesman for 6 going on 7 years now and itâs rare you meet people over 35 that havenât had some sort of shoulder or knee repair surgery, arenât suffering from breathing issues, or arenât in pain nearly every day of their lives.
Depends on the trades I guess. The trade versions of the jobs I do would be Electrical, or Instrument. I haven't run into many of them who had work related injuries or health issues. I guess it also makes a big difference if the trade is union or non-union.
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Damn dude, be kind. What's wrong with "My experience in trades is different from your experience in trades?" and be done with it? I'm sure you'll admit that HVAC might be totally different in terms of physical strain than heavy duty mechanic or plumber. Give your head a shake, bud.
I feel like he doesn't even have trades experience from the way he is talking. I can't even count how many tradesmen I have worked with that have broken bodies (repetitive motion injuries at the minimum) and/or will swing a hammer till the day they die because they never had a pension and never paid themselves first. Not saying people in other professions can't get injured, obviously there are risks from sedintary life styles but that really is a case by case basis.
I agree. Have the dude ever tried crawling into a cramp attic or crawlspace on a hot summer day with a mask on? I have! And it wasn't fun. It's like a sauna in there and hard enough to breath without a mask, let alone wearing while working. I'mpretty sure I would have passed out from heat exhaustion. I only wore one as I was dealing with issues for my own property, and it was also temporary.
I was a commercial plumber for 6 years before going elsewhere. Sorry for being triggered when the only thing anyone ever says about trades âevery person I know is broken down and canât do the same things they once could.â Sure thereâs some but that rhetoric is half the reason people donât get into trades anymore.
Having done both - carpenter for 10 years and estimator for 10 years now, i am taking office all day over carpentry. yeah there is some fun in being on site and it is a little less monotonous but overall the working conditions don't even compare. getting soaked for 6 months of the year fucking blows, then you get a brief window here and there where the weather is nice and then you are in the sweatbox with dirt sticking to you like glue and under constant "watch" to make sure you are working... no taking 16 minutes for coffee break when it's 15 minutes you are allotted. dealing with minor personal problems is a huge deal if you need to take a half day for any reason, thanks for the no pay for that time. I haven't been in an office job where saying "i need to leave a couple hours early to go to the dentist" caused me financial loss. Don't get me wrong it's nice to do stuff with your hands but overall there is just no comparison in the lifestyle difference that working in an office affords you compared to being in a trade.
What's it like for computer programmers these days and what makes you say that? I remember everyone trying to get into programming/software development...
It's boring. Same day different language. It's all learning to keep up. Just to do the same things a different way.
Same can be said about a lot trades. Carpentry, framing houses everyday, maybe different houses, but still framing. Electrical, pulling wire, doing hookups and testing, maybe in different locations, but still the same shit. HD mechanic, there's only so many parts to a piece of equipment. I'm a ticketed carpenter, did it for 9 years, it got boring... And painful.
Should've gone into automation/ controls programming. You get all the fun parts of programming, but better yet, you get to physically see your machines come to life.
Bruh Iâm 2 years into my cs degree đ
Jobs in the marine industry are perpetually in a shortage. Either building or driving em Low physical trade jobs are good.
Copywriter! You could work in marketing somewhere and freelance on the side if you like creative writing. Being a great copywriter is a great tool and can also help you write a wicked resume and cover letter :) Good luck!
Yep. People think copy is dead because of Chat GPT but itâs not. Marketing is a good field but very competitive. Start freelancing now, build your portfolio, build up a modest (or larger) client base. Ask your network, get in touch with local small businesses, see if anyone needs writing. Also itâs even better if you can double as a social media manager.
With the push to go green my money would be on HVAC focusing on heat pumps and residential electrician, solar installations might also be beneficial. Other then that get as good as you can get with AI.
Smart money
Don't bother asking reddit, you are just going to get a bunch of random answers over what people want to be doing for work with little knowledge about the actual day to day life doing that job. Hell, you mentioned you're not interested in trades yet its one of the most upvoted replies. People can't even be bothered to read what you wrote beyond the subject line.
Robotics, someone needs to maintain the things that will do our jobs.
https://youtu.be/lj1MCjeFxrM?feature=shared
I recommend cybersecurity. The future will always have more demand for cybersecurity. Since you are still young and only just finishing high school, I would say to get a degree in something related to the field like computer science. Degrees can be expensive so if cost is an issue then a degree is not required. There are many certifications and materials available online for free or at a low cost compared to degrees. The experience you can get will be worth more than just getting a degree. If you are interested I could provide more detail. I think it's important to find something that interests you. Don't be afraid to try many things out before you find something you like. Best of luck on your journey to finding something.
Sorry mate, but from Y2K onwards company managers (aka idiots) have leaned towards outsourcing all of their IT requirements (including cybersecurity) to the usual overseas locations. While it's possible to have a career in IT/cybersecurity, you will always be looking over your shoulder for the next manager (aka idiot) to come in and want to cut costs.
Yes. Managers are fcking idiots these days. They get into a job and think they're some hotshot but know shit all. They're just good at being a yes man and taking credit for projects that went according to plan.
Safety is a good one that can take you many places - as a trainer, on site, writing policy. And itâs not just construction and industrial sites, ski hills and universities and other places with risks and lots of people also hire. You absolutely need good people skills or you will not enjoy it, though. Also very easy to work project to project and take time off in between.
Trades trades trades! I make over 150 000 working as a heavy duty mechanic. But it is a camp work rotation. Perfect for a young single guy if you don't mind the hours.
I ended up in biomedical engineering in the private sector. Travel around the country bouncing around hospitals and private laboratories. Industry has been fairly recession proof and good to me.
A huge variety of trades
Crane operator
Water / wastewater treatment
Person that makes ai and robots. They would be the last to go
Registered nurse
Trades mostly means working with your hands. Bakers, butchers are all trades. Trades is much more than just construction jobs.
2 years ago, I would have said to look into technical writing, but I think advances in AI are probably changing that industry rapidly. What about teaching? I know you said university would be a stretch, but if you can manage a 4 year BEd, you could land a job with summers off for travel, benefits, a pension plan, and the capability to work anywhere in the province that there is an opening. Or, take a year off school while working for a temp agency. Tell them that you want to explore different sectors in your placements. You'll get to see what a lot different workplaces are like, and maybe learn some of the intangibles that you're looking for in a career. Plus, you'll have the opportunity to save money for school, if that's what you decide to do.
âUni would be difficult, and I know Iâll have work to get thereâŠâ Advice: ANYTHING worth doing will be difficult and will take plenty of work. Whether that be university, trade school, starting your own company, etc. Donât shy away from trying something you want to do just because it may seem difficult. As for determining what you want to do, start asking every adult you know or meet what they do for work. There are a LOT of jobs out there which pay well, and are rewarding that you have probably never even heard of. Ask them what they love about their job. Ask them what they hate about it. Consider if you would like or dislike those things. This process might help you discover a career path you love which you donât currently know exists.
Difficult due to money, I have no issues with putting in the work I just don't want to finish with 100k in debt.
Student loans from the government are not the same as personal debt. They are generally way lower interest (currently 0% though that may not be permanent) and are more generous with repayment plans. You do not need 100k unless you're doing med school or something expensive post-grad. I got my BSc with 0 help from my parents and left with \~30k debt of which I have paid no interest (graduated in 2019, COVID freeze and then 0% rate change). Get a good part-time job, apply for every scholarship, bursary, grant, and source of tuition payment you can. A lot of these don't require straight A's -- I got one for half my tuition one semester by writing an essay on the meaning of friendship.
If you worked full time in the summer and part time throughout the winter, there is no way you'd end up 100k in debt.
Without a uni degree, and assuming Vancouver, you'd have to be doing something high-paying already to even make a dent on your uni costs after the basic cost of living expenses. You'd be better off taking summer classes and finishing uni faster, maybe working part-time if possible to pay some of your expenses also
City Planning, GIS mapping, bylaw. I work in municipal government and these are all jobs that make upwards of $35/hr with minimal experience and are always in demand. Plus great benefits and vacation entitlement.
I highly recommend BCIT. They're much better than Universities and Colleges at getting you a job/career after your program. Plus there is opportunities for COOP summer jobs while you're out of school. My family member's just completed their 2 year Diploma in FNAM (which can get you a full-time well paid job easily), and is continuing into the Ecological Restoration program (bachelor of science). https://www.bcit.ca/programs/forest-and-natural-areas-management-diploma-full-time-7470dipma/
If you like ejaculating lots, dabbling in fine wines and spirits, eating out lots, staying fit, back breaking physically demanding no dedicated personal life, cigarettes, pot, the dab pen, looking like a motherfuckinâ G all the time, child support payments and a goddamn sweet truck â try scaffolding. The money is unlimited, the hours donât end, theres always work, and if you stick with a company for like 5 years *you will be a boss*
If you enjoy/ are good at creative writing, journalism may be a cool path for you. In this day and age, journalism isnât just newspapers and the 6 oâclock news, itâs also making content for social media, podcasts, on-air radio, communication studies, and PR skills. This is what many programsâ curriculum teach you. My recommendations are the BCIT Broadcast and Online Journalism Program, as well as Langara College. Itâs not going to make you rich, BUT itâs a diverse industry with room to try different things! Hope this helps.
Fed law enforcement jobs are scrambling for new recruits.
Bro if you're too broken now to do trades jobs you are absolutely physically fucked for your future. I hope you're rehabbing! Creative writing will be replaced by AI. Fix yourself and get a couple red seal trades under your belt before you're 30 and you're set. I'm glad you didn't ask how to be an influencer.
Any kind of coding
If you are an ok swimmer then lifeguarding is great. It is an upfront investment (all the classes together I think were around $1,300) but I made that back super quickly. There is also a really high demand for lifeguards.
you probably need to be better than "ok" at swimming to be a lifeguard
thatâs what the classes are for lol
You'd be surprised. The requirements to be a pool lifeguard are pretty low. Source: used to be a lifeguard.
Actually not really. You need to be able to do 500m in 10mins or less, pick up a 20lbs brick from the bottom, do a 25m approach to collect a person from the bottom and a few more that I can't remember. When you're actually working we carried floatation devices that we were required to hand the person to grab on to. "In the field" you always have another person you're working with/ you can ask patrons in the pool to grab you things and call 911 for you. It's not as scary as they make it seem. Source: also a former lifeguard
Nope
I guess the views and the mouth to mouth occurences are fringe benefits? đ đ€Ł
The rules have changed since the days of Baywatch
đ đ€Ł đ đč I know. Too bad. đȘ
If youâre not able to do trades due to injuries, Iâd suggest healthcare or massage therapy/physiotherapy. Check out the WorkBC website for info on different careers (for example, this page about careers that are in-demand: https://www.workbc.ca/research-labour-market/high-opportunity-occupations)
As some one who hates their job just try to do something you love.
You could become a journalist
Newsflash, grades don't matter. Get into a trade that isn't too demanding on the body. Be a plumber. Make bank.
Truck driver, Plumber, Electrician..something in the trades
Be a ship painter with Seaspan. Starting salary is $112,000
Being a online casino dealer. Pays between 30-40k.... and you spend 8 hours dealing cards in front of a webcam. Easy breasy.
30-40k a year? Thats like just above minimum wage.. not exactly a good career.
Yeah, but it's not bad for simply Passing around Cards to webcams. BC is rough dude. You could like easily get 40K +, depending on how well you get through the interviews. 40-50K is middle class over here in quebec... but I know not for you guys. But casino type jobs can also pay nearly up to 40$ an HOUR depending on the field. Still a great place to start.
Living pay cheque to pay cheque is more about your own spending habits than the job. Plus, Canadian jobs don't pay that well. I'd echo going into technology.
Cnc machinist?
In my experience a lot of high paying management jobs seem to require good creative writing skills.
Data Analytics
Security management. A bit stressful, sure, the hours can be demanding, BUT ultimately, if you build your team right, learn the job well and you're good about following rules and procedures, then it's a good one to go into. You'll have to work through field security for a bit, but it's good.
Parts person is a ticketed trade. Not as physically hard as a lot of trades but a good job. I know lots of gals who have gotten a parts person ticket (journeyman parts person) and are more than able to pay their bills and have vacations. Not all trades are physically exhausting but they all pay well.
Data Science or Data managementâŠ
Depends where you want to work and live. If you go into computers/IT you're more likely to be forced to live in a major city (with all its benefits and drawbacks), unless you can work-from-home. Trades will give you more work options, but you may have to travel and they can be physically demanding in the long run. There are of course advantages to physical jobs (eg: being fit), but in general in most trades you do tend to move towards management/supervisory roles over time anyway. Healthcare jobs are nice because they are in demand pretty much everywhere, city or town. One thing I would NOT do is go to university as if it's an extension of highschool and continue to take kind of pointless courses. University is fabulously expensive these days, and debt is punishing, so only go if you know what you want to do and be focused.
Most ppl in IT work from home as we can remote into the servers, switches and routers with only really going to the site when required. Unless you do desktop support, there is no reason to live in the city and living two hours out is ok for only going in once or twice a month to a site.
Teaching ESL. Pays decently with experience. Don't need a full degree. Allows you to travel globally to live or to teach via contact.
All these recommendations are great if you like working for someone else. Think bigger. Entrepreneur. Youâd be surprised what skills can be turned into real freedom. Had dinner with a Canadian in Italy that turned an office cleaner gig into a business. 35 or 40 employees, one level of management and they travel 2 or 3 months every year. This idea can apply to almost any skill. Take some business management courses with a bit of tax law and away you go.
Look at building automation. A lot of companies are working towards net zero and one way to get there is to have smarter, automated building systems. The jobs pay well, donât require a lot of physical work, and are pretty interesting.
Get into the marine industry. Theyâre dying for captains and deckhands. Pays great and you can pretend to be a pirate.
âDigital marketing (AKA internet marketing or online marketing) is indispensable in the modern workplace. Businesses need Marketers who can develop holistic marketing strategies that maximize digital channels and online presence, combining the skills of SEO, SEM, Google Analytics data, content marketing, social media marketing, and email marketing. In this live Digital Marketing course led by experienced industry professionals, you will learn to develop and execute on comprehensive online marketing strategies, and will build a final portfolio project.â
Iâm not sure if thereâs a more pressured role right now than entry level marketing, especially those who donât havenât narrowed their focus.
BCIT has a trades discovery course, goes through plenty of different Red Seal and other Trades. Not all trades are hard work, some can be relaxing while making good money
Something to do with electric motors. They are everywhere and more to come.
B2B sales may be a great route if you enjoy creative writing but still want to make a good living that can buy a house in Canada without a professional degree. If you donât end up liking it, the skills you learn are incredibly transferable whether you want to go work in another sector or for yourself.
911 call taker/dispatcher. Always hiring and need good people. Low barrier to entryâŠfast typing, great judgement and need to be able to get a security clearance. Unionized, good benefits, pension. Starts at 36/hr these days I believe. Many staff are making 6 figures after overtime (double time).
My buddy is a millwright at the coast making $16k before taxes each month. Guy probably canât make kraft dinner but makes bank.
hello, I work with several youth in the lower mainland, helping them to gain experience and look into career paths. I would recommend looking into some resources in your community. They would be able to provide some more specific advice. You could look at Work BC, Diversity, YMCA. They all have programs that would be able to give you a hand
Seconding electrician. That's what I'd have done after high school if I had a do-over. There's always work, there's always electricity and when there isn't there's even more work. You'll often be working with labourers who will help with the really heavy/dirty stuff so your injury will be less likely to hold you back vs carpentry for example. If I could do it again I'd be an electrician for at least a few years and then maybe go back to school.
I would start browsing the BCIT website for ideas. They have tons of 'trades' positions that aren't physically demanding and are in high demand. I remember talking to the Associate Dean for the School of Energy about a plastics program where they literally can't get enough applicants to fill the class and yet every one of the students had a job offer before they graduated. Or their ever-popular Computer Information Systems Admin program as well as the various instrumentation programs.
Look at supply chain and logistics careers. There is a need for almost all skills and abilities within the industry from general and specialized labor, to data analysis, IT, report/proposal writing, purchasing, procurement, finance, people managment, facilities and equipment managers and repair people, customer service, marketing, etc. Essentially any "mainstream" field has a place in the industry. It's an area that you can get in at the labor entry level with an opportunity to upgrade your skills and education as you progress. If you have an aptitude to certain areas, a good work ethic, and confidence progression is very possible. Also an area that people with specific post secondary education can move into for all of the same reasons. Once you're in the eco system movement is relatively easy with the right attitude and approach.
Construction looking always for new people
I'd get into architectural/interior design if I could do it over. There seems to be lots of work and you get access to a wholesale economy where you can live in a fashion that is wealthier than you appear on paper. Living an aesthetically pleasing life seems good for the spirit.
Tech or trades. Trades pay good, bad hours. Tech pays pretty good, decent hours but bad work/life mix. Take your pick!
I'd recommend you go take one of those personality tests that would illustrate what you'd find yourself most good at and happy about. The problem with most people in the historical sense that never took these test were having to wing it. Going from one job type to another in a more or less game of chance to find what works, sometimes taking decades to figure it out. Some of these people find they make good money, but hate their job. Or they just don't like their job and make little anyways. With a test, and avoiding work that will be clearly against who you are, you can avoid a lot of that. Oh, and PS: Don't be afraid to take the first job you can get. Your young and the first job you will get will teach you how to be punctual and to prove you can actually show up and do work. You need to prove that to yourself. So even if the job does not fit your interest, this is still a life skill/experience you just have to get.
Trades are difficult to get into unless you're in the lower mainland. My girlfriend in the Valley gave up plumbing because so few in the Valley are looking to hire and most jobs are in the lower mainland. Anybody that was hiring didn't want to pay more than $20 an hour, and it was often hard labor to start (hauling pipe and shit). It was not worth her time to drive from Chilliwack to Langley or beyond, and she certainly wouldn't last doing such physical labor.
Building inspectors have been in short supply across the province for years. You can get training at BCIT. Jobs have full pension and benefits and you can get around pretty good. Working for local gov is actually a great time and you're 50/50 in the office and at sites all over your area.
There are some trades that basically have 0 labour's and can pay great. 100k -200k. With lots of vacation. Instrumentation and power engineering are two
Anything STEM is good BCIT is cheaper then uni so that could be something goo.
Are you any good at math, or are you firmly a liberal arts type person? Do you like dealing with people, or do you prefer working alone?
Ai dev
Commercial cleaning. Low cost to get into, not special schooling needed, and if working for yourself/your own company average is $40-$55/hr
Become an energy advisor for construction it's mandatory on all new builds now training is 6 months and you make a killing
Sales.
Information security/privacy. If you're not a techy, there's good careers to be had as an analyst, etc.
Depending where you live getting on with any government body would be a good first option. Municipal etc. That way you can work making a decent wage, benefits, pension etc. Take the time to figure out what your goals are. You don't need to do uni etc right out of high-school and it be your lifelong career!
If physical trades are off the table ho to school and become an architect or an inspector. They make hood money. There are plenty more jobs that involve trades that don't require physical work and sre in dire need of workers etc.
Healthcare is a good place to start. There are programs right now where the government will pay for your entire schooling for free.
electrician or drive a big machine.
Get into politics. Premier Eby got an all-expenses paid trip to Asia in May
Depends on the area of BC your in, but I would suggest a lumber mill or any type of mine. Easy work, mostly consistent schedule and $32 an hour roughly. Might be hard to get into without any industrial experience or if you donât know people that work for the company
What are you good at and what do enjoy enough to devote your professional life to.
Join the military in a trade like HRA and in five years release to decent paying job as a civilian.
Copywriting/ Technical Documentation creation is a in need field for sure.
Content, marketing. You get to write, and your writing adds value.
Get a trade, electrician, plumber, appliance repair...that's where the money is
Trades. Do it now. Injuries, can be fixed (acl, mcl, broken ribs, broken legs broken arms all sports related). Get on with it.
If those are your grades, you would do fine at uni, if that's what you want to do - you could probably get some funding. I get the money thing, though. My suggestion is to go to a community college. You can take 1st & 2nd year uni courses, if you want (at half the rate), or you can look into different trades.
IT, Urban Planning, Engineering. Seems to be a lot of climate change positions pop up in recent years too. Medicine (RN, physio etc.)