Possible Life Changing Need Some Outside Advice

[Konitz]

People in Mass seem to be pretty close minded; don't like to jump out of their comfort zone and take a risk. Well I have posted a couple time on here about jobs and things of that nature and now I have a very big decision to make; I got ahold of an old boss/friend and I asked him about seeing if I could work in his construction business. He told me I could join in as a laborer then move up to operator but only if I go back to school to get my degree as a civil engineer.

Of course my family says you can't afford to go back to school, you already have a degree anyways. I truly think they want me to fail so they feel better about themselves.

But this guy is single with no family the company will have to get handed off to someone at some point and it takes in roughly 20 mil per year. It feels like one of those points in life that could shape the way the rest of my life turns out.

I feel like this board has a diverse group of people which would help get some good views.

[Bouncer]

I think you should do what you want to do bro. If you think it is the right move i say go for it.

[Konitz]

I think you should do what you want to do bro. If you think it is the right move i say go for it.

I really think I am he told me to make my decision by next fall, so I have time; he did so much work at the college he said he will just pull strings so I can take the engineering courses only and get done in two years.

[decadecadeca]

Would he be willing to cover the cost of school if you agreed to work for him for a set number of years?

Sort of an apprentice program or length of service contract type deal?

[Konitz]

Would he be willing to cover the cost of school if you agreed to work for him for a set number of years?

Sort of an apprentice program or length of service contract type deal?

Meeting with him Friday; that was a question I was thinking of asking him. Good to hear someone else bring it up.

[ROCKETW19]

I have to agree with B if you want to do it then do it. dont worrie what other say. they may have good points or not but who cares its your life.

[bigscott]

if you feel good about doing it then by all means do it -- only way you find out how things go in life is climbing on that horse and riding that bitch !!! you leave no regrets behind

[Konitz]

Well I'm gonna meet with him today; I wrote down a bunch of questions/issues. I am really leaning towards it, I mean why the economy is in the toilet why not take on more education and get some more experience out in the construction field; if anything this will get me in the union.

[Timma]

As a person who works in the construction field and has seen all of this first hand, my questions to you are have you done this sort of work before, and are you willing to absolutely bust your ass in the beginning?

If you can say yes then go for it. I have worked as an inspector for construction jobs and the laborers bust their asses all day everyday. But almost everyone I have spoken to wishes they were doing something else with their lives, or wish they were higher up. So if you can go through hell to get to the top then I say do it.

[Konitz]

As a person who works in the construction field and has seen all of this first hand, my questions to you are have you done this sort of work before, and are you willing to absolutely bust your ass in the beginning?

If you can say yes then go for it. I have worked as an inspector for construction jobs and the laborers bust their asses all day everyday. But almost everyone I have spoken to wishes they were doing something else with their lives, or wish they were higher up. So if you can go through hell to get to the top then I say do it.

I worked construction for 5 years; loved it.Only went to school because everyone said that was the right thing to do.

He said while I was going to school for civil engineering the first summer he would higher me as a laborer then the next summer higher me as an operator; I have all my licenses and he does mostly prevailing wage jobs so the cash I made in the summer would let me get through the year. It would only be two summers then he would put me on as a civil engineer.

[redback]

I worked construction for 5 years; loved it.Only went to school because everyone said that was the right thing to do.

He said while I was going to school for civil engineering the first summer he would higher me as a laborer then the next summer higher me as an operator; I have all my licenses and he does mostly prevailing wage jobs so the cash I made in the summer would let me get through the year. It would only be two summers then he would put me on as a civil engineer.

I agree with timma. I started in construction and ended up running my own business and can tell you it is a very tough industry. You said you worked in construction for 5 years. What did you do?

There is a big difference between a labourer and a civil engineer. I don't want to sound like an asshole but do you honestly believe after two years you can just be given a role as a civil engineer? You mentioned in your post that this person runs a multi million dollar business and that he has no family. You think this guy is going to leave you his business?? I don't know much about you and may have missed some details but it sounds like your deluding yourself a little mate.

[Timma]

I worked with this one crew over the summer and the operators loved their jobs. Now the supervisors on the other hand didn't. I talked to the one and he had his civil degree and let me tell you this guy will be dead by 40 if he doesn't find a new job. They had him running around all over. He would smoke like a fiend, chew at least a tin a day sometimes more, drink Mountain Dew 2 litres and he had a wife and kid at home that he barely saw. This guy is 30 and he's a mess.

But everything depends on the outfit you work for. I'm not trying to scare you in any way, but just want you to see what i've seen. I have never seen an operator/engineer unless he wants you to become an owner operator?

I've seen companies come and go and hit some bad times. So you just have to roll with the punches. But also like redback said don't count on getting the guys company if that's what you're thinking.

[Konitz]

I agree with timma. I started in construction and ended up running my own business and can tell you it is a very tough industry. You said you worked in construction for 5 years. What did you do?

There is a big difference between a labourer and a civil engineer. I don't want to sound like an asshole but do you honestly believe after two years you can just be given a role as a civil engineer? You mentioned in your post that this person runs a multi million dollar business and that he has no family. You think this guy is going to leave you his business?? I don't know much about you and may have missed some details but it sounds like your deluding yourself a little mate.

I think it just comes down to the internet and thing being interpreted the wrong way. I shortened up the whole discussion I had with the guy but he said yes go to school get your civil engineering degree and I will then hire you as a civil engineer and you can start off helping me estimate jobs.

[Konitz]

I worked with this one crew over the summer and the operators loved their jobs. Now the supervisors on the other hand didn't. I talked to the one and he had his civil degree and let me tell you this guy will be dead by 40 if he doesn't find a new job. They had him running around all over. He would smoke like a fiend, chew at least a tin a day sometimes more, drink Mountain Dew 2 litres and he had a wife and kid at home that he barely saw. This guy is 30 and he's a mess.

But everything depends on the outfit you work for. I'm not trying to scare you in any way, but just want you to see what i've seen. I have never seen an operator/engineer unless he wants you to become an owner operator?

I've seen companies come and go and hit some bad times. So you just have to roll with the punches. But also like redback said don't count on getting the guys company if that's what you're thinking.

It is all about how you handle stress; my job I am at people are freaking out all the time, and I sit back stress free; its all about if you let things get to you. Things in life are trivial and unimportant no reason to lose your mind or in that guys case his life over work.

Some people are not very bright so they work stupid and honestly that guy sounds like that's his problem. They aren't good at delegating time and then they have to cram everything last second.

Same thing with kids in college they would be freaking out doing 6 hours a night of homework; I don't think I worked on homework in college for more than a couple hours a week and graduated dean's list with a 3.8 gpa.

it's all about how you work/delegate time that equate's to how stressful your life is.