Hey everyone. Last year I finally became vested in my public safety pension. My pension is the basic state pension and it won't pay anything for another 20ish years till I turn 60. It also isn't the greatest of pensions out there, but it is something at least. The last six or so months I've been trying to determine what I could do for the next fifteen to 20 years for a second career. I'm done with public safety, don't really care for working over half the weekends and possibly having to work certain holidays. Money isn't the biggest factor either. I'd be happy if I could just start out somewhere making $40K/year. I could at least pay bills and save a little on that. I actually would rather have a job that offers great vacation benefits, as my wife and I like to travel. The only other thing is I want to get into a field that pretty much has demand across the country in say metro areas of 500K or more.
So I started off thinking computer programming. I took my first intro class this year through a university. Needless to say, I'm just not feeling it. I can do the work, and will likely get a B+ or A- for the class, it is just I don't see jobs like Java Programmer, C++ programmer, full-stack programmer, as something I want to do. Maybe it is because of this particular class, but I know that most of this work will involve sitting at a computer writing new code, doing debugging, etc.. Right now, I just don't see me going that route. This sucks because jobs seem to be endless in this part of IT.
So when it comes to IT, I'm left with Help Desk type jobs and networking type jobs. Both of these aren't as plentiful as app development jobs, but they are out there. I know help desk jobs usually pay pretty low, mid to upper teens, more only if one gets into a more supervisory role. The networking side though can pay more, especially if combined with security as well. While I could continue on my certificate path of my current school, they offer no true industry certifications, plus it is mostly programming language stuff that wouldn't be much of a help for Help Desk type jobs. I've look at programs through Ivy Tech and they are more promising. They offer lots of two year degrees and you get to obtain various industry certifications with those degrees (CompTIA, Cicsco, Microsoft). They even have a current 20-24 week program with a paid eight week internship where you get to get a CompTIA A+ cert as part of the program. Any suggestions on this part of IT or IvyTech's programs would be helpful.
Outside of IT, I know I really like working with my hands and the skilled trades. I always enjoyed doing my own plumbing and electrical work around my house. Ivy Tech offers some programs focused on basic machine usage and some more advanced electronics/robotics type fields. I'm really considering some of the manufacturing factory jobs. I have two relatives who work at Honda and they enjoy it from what I can tell. I know the starting pay is around $17/hour, but I've heard once you get hired full-time as a Honda employee, it is closer to around $20. They have a handful of Sat. where OT is required, which is fine by me as I work over half the Saturdays as it stands now. Plus Sunday pay is double time last I heard. Greensburg though would be a drive for me, but I know there are other factory jobs in Shelbyville, Greenfield, Anderson, etc.. Any suggestions on the manufacturing side of things? Maybe even machine repair, upkeep? Outside of that I'm also open to any suggestions about HVAC and electrical/electrician work as well. This can be at the industrial, commercial, or even residential level.
I have another couple of years in my current job because I do need the money I currently make to finish some stuff around the home and to bank some cash since I have no idea what my future income will be. I currently make about $60K/year so I'm likely looking at taking a $20K-$25K hit if I start out low somewhere else. I'm OK with that since our finances should be OK, so the focus will more be time off benefits, retirement benefits, work schedule, and healthcare vs. wages.
Thanks everyone.
So I started off thinking computer programming. I took my first intro class this year through a university. Needless to say, I'm just not feeling it. I can do the work, and will likely get a B+ or A- for the class, it is just I don't see jobs like Java Programmer, C++ programmer, full-stack programmer, as something I want to do. Maybe it is because of this particular class, but I know that most of this work will involve sitting at a computer writing new code, doing debugging, etc.. Right now, I just don't see me going that route. This sucks because jobs seem to be endless in this part of IT.
So when it comes to IT, I'm left with Help Desk type jobs and networking type jobs. Both of these aren't as plentiful as app development jobs, but they are out there. I know help desk jobs usually pay pretty low, mid to upper teens, more only if one gets into a more supervisory role. The networking side though can pay more, especially if combined with security as well. While I could continue on my certificate path of my current school, they offer no true industry certifications, plus it is mostly programming language stuff that wouldn't be much of a help for Help Desk type jobs. I've look at programs through Ivy Tech and they are more promising. They offer lots of two year degrees and you get to obtain various industry certifications with those degrees (CompTIA, Cicsco, Microsoft). They even have a current 20-24 week program with a paid eight week internship where you get to get a CompTIA A+ cert as part of the program. Any suggestions on this part of IT or IvyTech's programs would be helpful.
Outside of IT, I know I really like working with my hands and the skilled trades. I always enjoyed doing my own plumbing and electrical work around my house. Ivy Tech offers some programs focused on basic machine usage and some more advanced electronics/robotics type fields. I'm really considering some of the manufacturing factory jobs. I have two relatives who work at Honda and they enjoy it from what I can tell. I know the starting pay is around $17/hour, but I've heard once you get hired full-time as a Honda employee, it is closer to around $20. They have a handful of Sat. where OT is required, which is fine by me as I work over half the Saturdays as it stands now. Plus Sunday pay is double time last I heard. Greensburg though would be a drive for me, but I know there are other factory jobs in Shelbyville, Greenfield, Anderson, etc.. Any suggestions on the manufacturing side of things? Maybe even machine repair, upkeep? Outside of that I'm also open to any suggestions about HVAC and electrical/electrician work as well. This can be at the industrial, commercial, or even residential level.
I have another couple of years in my current job because I do need the money I currently make to finish some stuff around the home and to bank some cash since I have no idea what my future income will be. I currently make about $60K/year so I'm likely looking at taking a $20K-$25K hit if I start out low somewhere else. I'm OK with that since our finances should be OK, so the focus will more be time off benefits, retirement benefits, work schedule, and healthcare vs. wages.
Thanks everyone.