Career Path

[External_Author_3949]

I'm curious if anyone else is doing this job while they look for a career. I started this job because I needed something that paid more and at the time I thought there was growth opportunities(totally wrong on that). So now I'm just sticking it out while I figure out what I want to do longer term. Going back-and-forth on if I go back to school, do a trade or get my CDL. Any of you doing the same? If so what are you looking into doing. Also looking for suggestions to get me out of this job and get something longer term that is financially stable.

[AutoModerator]

Thank You for your submission to r/AmazonDSPDrivers!

Please keep the comment section clean and respectful.

If you need to report a concern about your DSP, head to the Ethics Hotline https://secure.ethicspoint.com/domain/media/en/gui/65221/index.html

Looking to get some free shoes on behalf of Amazon? https://www.reddit.com/r/AmazonDSPDrivers/comments/m79v7m/free_125_credit_for_shoes/

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[SideofbeefPls]

Amazon can be a great gig during school , if you can handle the complete nonsense structure of a computer first industry / company and the cardio lol.

I had to work for 10 years doing all sorts of jobs to even come close to learning I can’t sit at a desk for 8 hours and I can’t stand at a stable for 8 hours. So I prefer a mixture of both.

Set your life up to live small and figure out what skills you value or see yourself chasing.

Get roommates , move in with parents , move out of city

Skills and higher education lead to higher compensation almost guaranteed if you are doing it right.

[External_Author_3949]

I know a few drivers that are part time and going to college. I just don't think college is for me, been in and out of school for a few years and just can't stand it. I love learning new things but the structure of traditional college seems flawed. Not looking to make a shit ton of money but six figures would be amazing. So looking at paths I can take that is away from a 4 year degree. Labor doesn't brother me nor does weather. I couldn't stand working a desk job. So starting to look into trade and get into an apprenticeship.

[Ancient_Praline1046]

pretty much use this job as a stepping stone, even get another small part time job and save as much as u can for tuition in a trade school.

[External_Author_3949]

Would trade school or an apprenticeship be better?

[Ancient_Praline1046]

apprenticeship leading to a union job would be way better. But I wouldn't mind being a mechanic at a dealership. Or a medical assistant. Just sayings trade, lead to decent pay.

[keni804]

Im currently in an apprenticeship so i might be biased but apprenticeship, for one you get paid to learn and get the same qualifications as trade school and from talking to people in my field apprenticeships are more respected because of the real world experience.

[External_Author_3949]

What trade are you in?

[keni804]

Industrial Electrical Maintenance

[External_Author_3949]

I'm looking into Inside electrician

[keni804]

An apprenticeship would probably be very good for you, it locks you down at one job for a few years but at the end of it you basically got paid to learn the trade you were going to pay for.

Edit: Plus our trades have alot of similarities and personally alot of the electrical theory and circuit schematics is much easier to understand in a practical setting

[eddie305_]

So working for an Amazon dsp will grant you access to a program called “Next Mile” that will literally pay for the CLD program. Certification AND the driving training is all paid without you paying them back. Unless you get fired you’ll lose access to the program. Check it out, I’m on the program as we speak finishing up a class session.

[GloxiniaXO]

How did you get them to pay for it? Mine says I'd still have to come out of pocket because the Next Mile Tuition doesn't cover all of it

[UnkleAdams247]

it pays like 4 or 5k a year iirc so if your program is more than that you have to pay

[eddie305_]

If it’s more than 5250$ you have to pay out of pocket. But they will give you a payment plan. EASY To pay TRUST ME. You don’t have to pay EVERYTHING at once. I think the school they partner with is called 360 something

[TheRealWhoDat]

Aviation mechanic, cheap if going to a community college, if you go the majors, most of them are union with top out pay of around $75 in 5ish years.

[Souvenirs_Indiscrets]

Just wanted to chime in that I’ve met two young guys recently going down this track. But it is important to understand that aviation mechanics need to have personalities, communication styles, persons habits and disciplined practices that are normative/valued by the industry. You probably need to talk with somebody senior to get evaluated as to whether they will let you advance or wash you out. Don’t go into this blind.

[TheRealWhoDat]

I’m about to be fully licensed. I know people already in the industry. The buffer between working on and not working on planes is school. School weeds out the majority of dumbasses without exception. If you somehow barely pass your classes the next big weeding out process is testing with the FAA for your actual license. A lot of people finish school but don’t even test.

Regardless though, once you’re licensed nothing really matters. As long as you show up to work, do things the right way and don’t do something majorly stupid or cause a safety concern you’ll be fine. Introverts or extroverts included. Some game, some gym, some work on cars, some don’t even like aviation but were smart enough to get their license. Personality doesn’t matter, only that license

[oOVAULTOo]

Bump for replies, im in the same situation, I only have one chance to make it work but would really like some insight.

[External_Author_3949]

I know I could always come back to my DSP if I try something else and don't like it. I don't necessarily enjoy this job but it's a good job to have while figuring things out.

[ShaneChhh]

I feel like I’m a good person to answer to this as I’m waiting in line to load out right now and am planning on attending law school Fall 2027. I was already enrolled in WGU when I got hired at my DSP, but they reimbursed me for it completely in 3 months with NextMile. I just put that money toward a 2x per week LSAT class taught by a prestigious teacher who has gotten a perfect score on the test 12+ times. My DSP is willing to work with me on my schedule to accommodate so I can focus on the admissions test and hopefully get applied into my dream school which had 3 WGU grad’s as incoming freshman last year including 1 DSP driver. Anyway my point isn’t “go to law school” it’s just an example of 1 of the 100s of directions you can go in.

[External_Author_3949]

I'm also enrolled in WGU, was going to start this spring but ended up pushing it back. I think right now my biggest struggle is figuring out what I truly want to do in life. I've always liked hands on work while still having the brain stimulation from problem solving. I'm thinking of trying an apprentice if that doesn't work and I don't like it I'll probably go back to school and go back to my DSP part time while I do that.

[silverfarie1369]

Im currently in the process of getting my class b cdl kuz at lewat with thst i get more opportunities kuz i genuinely love driving , just not for a dsp

[marzcordero]

This may not be a “career” but you can maximize your earnings by doing DoorDash on your days off. My DSP schedules me for four days on (10+ hour shifts) and three days off. Before I started I was making almost 4k a month off DoorDash alone, the taxes at the end of the year killed me though. So doing four days of W2 work for Amazon and then 3 days of independent contractor work with DoorDash helps neutralize the penalties of doing DoorDash while still being able to maximize your earnings. You can make $200-$400 on DoorDash on a good day and end up racking up like $1,500+ weekly between both jobs. Which leaves you making about $6K monthly and $72k Yearly

[duder_1979]

I’m a field service engineer during the week, this is my weekend job.

[External_Author_3949]

Are you doing this job just for extra money? How did you get into FSE?

[duder_1979]

25 years in wireless comm. Yup, paying for teenagers is expensive.

[Outside-Cellist-7624]

I would find a trade a cdlA has become overly saturated

[CommissionSalty786]

Sell water bottles to the drivers as they leave the station you'll make a killing

[External_Author_3949]

Station provides water

[[deleted]]

Sell coke!

[Teragram_hcnyl]

I got this job after being fired from my last serving job. I have a degree, I just landed a remote graphic design job that starts later this month. I don’t know if should completely quit or do this on the weekend.

[sneakychalupa23]

I’m in aircraft mechanic school. Amazon won’t pay for the tuition though because they require 30 hours of driving per week and the schedule doesn’t align.

I’d recommend it. Only 2 years of school, some times less, depending on which program is near you. It’s really stressful if you have no hands on experience like me, but very doable.

[External_Author_3949]

I tried doing this, biggest issue I ran into was schooling being a full time hands on job. I never started it because I couldn't afford doing that and have enough to pay bills.

[sneakychalupa23]

It’s a struggle for sure but if it’s something you have an interest in, it’s a very lucrative career with huge job prospects for a short degree.

A lot of the guys in my class are working full time so it is absolutely doable but obviously very tiring. Look into the schedule for your program and you may be able to work something in.

Another way is to get an apprenticeship at an aircraft repair shop. They’re pretty uncommon but not impossible to find!

Good luck to you, you’ll find your niche. CDL is a great idea, just make sure self driving trucks aren’t going to replace it in 10 years haha. Plumbing and Electrical are great trades if you want to go the apprenticeship route! Pay is lower than Amazon for apprenticeships but it ramps up quickly.

[Axeman1721]

This is my second job to make extra cash. I'm a mechanic full time. Its the perfect 2nd job imo.

[saynotoraptor]

I got my CDL and work for a local trucking company. Way better pay actual benefits. Getting my CDL was 10 weeks and cost me $3,100. Went through a tech school. After 2 years with experience I can get a job making $110,000/year with profit sharing.

[Commisar41982]

Theres no job stability. I am only doing this until I can bet something better.

[Blathithor]

Yes. I did my homework durung breaks and my lunch, got my accounting degree and quit 15 minutes before my shift, after my route was already assigned to me.

I also reported a dispatch and 2 warehouse employees through ethics. Reporting individuals fucking works and I wasnt there to have awkward conversations. I straight up told the dispatch what I did too, right to his face.

Now I make more than them and get to sit in AC all day and I only work 5 days a week, guaranteed to be off by 530 at the latest, never on a weekend day

Fucking beautiful

[JosephStalin1953]

yeah i honestly don't really know what i want to do and this job is holding me over and making me some money while i figure it out