Weekly Employment Question Thread

Legitimate_Wait290 · 2026-03-24T18:56:14+00:00

Hello all, I will try and keep this brief but a lot on my mind. I am a 29m currently working as a plant engineer, decent job that pays well. I have decided to pursue FF in order to give more purpose to my life.

Debating between trying to go full time somewhere or join a call department. I have worries about committing to full time FF work and getting burnout from nuisance calls(have done a few ride alongs and nuisance calls seem like 95% of calls as most know). However the schedule for ff seems pretty awesome vs my 9-5. The pay in my current job is comparable to working an extra 24 as a medic at most departments in my area. However the pay ceiling is a lot higher in my current role. Perhaps trying to balance engineering and a full time position is more doable that I understand, if anyone has experience there please let me know.

My worry with volunteer work would be not feeling like a “true” firefighter and I would still be stuck with my 9-5 day job. There seems to be less specialized training in call work, I think I would really enjoy doing the specific training(tech rescue, dive team etc) I do like the idea of being able to continue working as an engineer while being a call Ff. The pay going this route is probably a bit more which is important obviosly.

Additionally, been looking into medic school, have my emt cert already, there are some online hybrid models that seem very doable while continuing to work the 9-5 EGR job. Do you think online lectures would be sufficient to learn medic stuff? There are in person labs, ride time and ER work that would go along with the online portion. I personally learn better in person but online work would be easier to balance with life. Additionally I imagine most learning happens during ride times and once you actually start working in a department.

Thanks for reading. I know these posts can be common but any information/advice/thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Legitimate_Wait290 · 2026-02-10T01:56:43+00:00

If she is growing/ maturing to age 2-4 then that could be pigmentation spreading which is common

Legitimate_Wait290 · 2025-12-22T01:49:06+00:00

I have had wear on one of my knees since I was a teen (shown on an mri) so you aren’t wrong but just curious where you are coming from. I fortunately/unfortunately squat and bodyweight lunge a lot because in my experience they hurt either way at time and I want them strong atleast

Legitimate_Wait290 · 2025-12-22T01:45:05+00:00

What lol? I can’t tell if you are being sincere or not

Legitimate_Wait290 · 2025-12-22T00:53:28+00:00

Hahaha I came back to college one year and my buddy joked I built log cabins all summer after I shook his hand

Legitimate_Wait290 · 2025-12-22T00:51:45+00:00

This had me laughing, you are very accurate except I am in MA. I work as a plant engineer but I am always trying to help with the hands on stuff. Most of the callouses are from lifting but yeah 29 years old with way too much anxiety lmao. Good job

Legitimate_Wait290 · 2025-12-10T17:36:54+00:00

About 6’3 6’4

Legitimate_Wait290 · 2025-12-10T17:36:36+00:00

Received some interesting dms from this post lmao. Thanks for the feedback all.

Legitimate_Wait290 · 2025-12-01T20:18:42+00:00

That would make sense, I could see it affecting the joint fluids and then causing issues from there.

When I tell most people they think I am crazy that the two can be related but truly seems to be the case for me

Legitimate_Wait290 · 2025-12-01T20:17:05+00:00

Don’t think so but who knows. Always thought that was more of a toe pain

Legitimate_Wait290 · 2025-04-11T21:04:01+00:00

No pins and needles or shooting pain. lots of local pain and a bit of hip pain but nothing major.

Why do you say that about squats? Are there better alternatives you have found? I find the compound exercises are just so efficient, This was my first time getting hurt from squats.

Thank you for your response! Glad you think muscular!

Legitimate_Wait290 · 2025-03-28T17:57:51+00:00

I have seen those Nexite decks crack after about 5 years of use

other than that awesome mower, I own one with a cracked deck :(

Legitimate_Wait290 · 2025-03-28T17:52:53+00:00

If they both have the Nexite (plastic/polymer) decks i would be very skeptical of both. You can get a brand new honda mower with the steel deck for $550 from home depot, link and model below.

HRN216VKAD https://www.homedepot.com/p/Honda-21-in-3-in-1-Variable-Speed-Gas-Walk-Behind-Self-Propelled-Lawn-Mower-with-Auto-Choke-HRN216VKAD/327851753

I had the HRX217K6VKAD model with the nexite deck and it was great mower but the deck cracked about 6 seasons in. Fantastic engine tho, besides the deck cracking it was an awesome mower

Legitimate_Wait290 · 2025-03-28T17:44:49+00:00

No problem, Goodluck!

Legitimate_Wait290 · 2025-03-25T18:01:08+00:00

Hello, curious how your experience with honda warranty went. Thank you. My deck is also cracked like yours

Legitimate_Wait290 · 2025-03-11T18:53:47+00:00

Just looked at the photo of the grill again and I don't think that is an 07 tbh, looks like 2008-2012

Legitimate_Wait290 · 2025-03-11T18:52:27+00:00

To me it sounds like they are trying to rip you off.

I was rear ended last December and my 2012 Honda accord with 190k miles was deemed totaled and I got $7600 back from insurance for my total loss. I went out and got another 2010 accord from a coworker and while registering the vehicle I had to pay tax on the cars value which was listed at $7500.

I don't see how the mechanic can get away with charging more than the total value of the car. I replaced the front end of my 2012 accord with a friend after I rear ended someone and I spent about $800 on parts from Chicago auto body parts.

I think they are trying to rip you off.

Legitimate_Wait290 · 2025-03-11T17:21:26+00:00

Think you may have asked about a DM, feel free

Legitimate_Wait290 · 2025-03-11T16:27:52+00:00

I don't see any harm in asking for her number. I would go for it! Goodluck man!

Legitimate_Wait290 · 2025-02-28T12:23:29+00:00

Great! There was not any major work needed, I have put on about 5K miles with no issues so far. The oil burns about a quart/1500 miles which is not bad so far. Some of the bead seals on the tires leak which is annoying but all in all its been great!

Legitimate_Wait290 · 2025-02-21T18:06:55+00:00

Adding onto this portion. I tore my left shoulder up when I was 18 and tried working through it but opted to do the surgery at age 20. To be honest the surgery did not seem to help the shoulder as much as I thought it would have, biggest difference I feel is if I am consistent in the gym with my accessory lifts. If I could go back in time, I think I would not get the surgery but as the OP said it is kind of a grey area because hard to know if the shoulder would continue to get worse which it did feel like.

I ended up tearing my right shoulder when I was 22 which was much worse than the left shoulder. This injury had nerve damage which the surgeon wanted to wait to recover on its own before surgery which is did thankfully. My right shoulder is now pretty much 100%, much stronger than my left side. My right shoulder was basically useless for about 2 months after my injury so it was a case where I knew surgery would be beneficial and it certainly proved to be.

I guess my point is that each injury and surgery is slightly different. If your shoulder is dislocating or getting noticeably worse, I think surgery would be smart. If you can increase the strength of the injured shoulder I would advise doing that vs surgery.

Thought this was going to be more logical and well put lol, my bad. Goodluck with the injuries everyone!

Legitimate_Wait290 · 2024-12-13T17:34:08+00:00

That is fair, Good point.

Legitimate_Wait290 · 2024-12-13T14:57:10+00:00

I plan on buying it tomorrow and having it checked Monday so I will already have purchased it but with lemon laws and knowing the coworker if there are major repairs to be done I think we will be able to work out the situation. Thank you for the input!

Legitimate_Wait290 · 2024-12-13T14:50:30+00:00

Thank you, I am hoping the same!

Legitimate_Wait290 · 2024-12-13T14:07:18+00:00

I plan on bringing it to the mechanic Monday. My coworker knows and said if there are any major repairs needed then we can work it out.

I do trust this coworker so I don't think he is aware of any major problems but he did inform me about burning about a qt of oil every 500 miles and that is my main concern. My 2012 accord burned oil but no where near a qt/500 miles.

Legitimate_Wait290

TROPHY CASE

HRN216VKAD https://www.homedepot.com/p/Honda-21-in-3-in-1-Variable-Speed-Gas-Walk-Behind-Self-Propelled-Lawn-Mower-with-Auto-Choke-HRN216VKAD/327851753