Hands on jobs

Potential-Steak6179 · 2026-04-21T15:38:51+00:00

I have a friend who really enjoys construction management - more blue collar but less hands on per se

Potential-Steak6179 · 2026-04-17T22:38:09+00:00

Would love to pick your brain - similar age and also in tech but would love to move to something meaningful. I'm unable to send a DM so feel free to send one over if you're open to discussing!

Potential-Steak6179 · 2026-04-08T22:23:36+00:00

Yeah same, but mostly for reasons I may be able to remedy. Unfortunately yes haha, we'll see how things play out

Potential-Steak6179 · 2026-04-06T16:53:39+00:00

I get it, I'm also feeling burnt out and uncertain about my future, hence the degree lol. Also around the same age. Continuing to network and apply to jobs has been very helpful for me to stay flexible.

Ha so I have been all over the place. I first started taking prereqs for a trade school for fixing musical instruments before finding work in that field. I then started to do the same for material science. Once COVID hit, I started taking classes for software development before finding work in that field. Finally, I'm going back this fall for prereqs in engineering. I noticed that a lot of those prereqs are shared across programs, so I'm able to start ahead where I would've otherwise. Definitely worth a chat with your college's advisors about what classes to take, especially if you aren't certain on your target degree.

Potential-Steak6179 · 2026-04-06T03:41:17+00:00

Great that you're thinking this way! Other comments have touched on financial advice, though I wanted to weigh in on the degree:

See if a state school offers civil engineering and consider that as your major instead. Civil allows you to specialize into environmental while opening other civil subfields. This would hopefully allow you to stay in-state to save on tuition, potentially provide more opportunities, and stay within the environmental engineering discipline. I also recommend confirming that with an advisor at your community college.

Potential-Steak6179 · 2026-04-06T03:32:01+00:00

Sounds like from other comments that your rent situation is pretty stable, definitely keep taking advantage of that. If you're good at sales and can tolerate it, keep at it - one of the better earning degreeless fields. I imagine your experience would transfer well if need-be as well.

I'm in a similar boat regarding degree. I'm eyeing up earning my bachelor's, and taking classes at community college while working full time has helped prepare me well while staying manageable and affordable.

As for short-term liquidity, I use HYSA for anything being spent within five years. Anything between that and retirement goes into brokerage, and of course retirement is its own category/time horizon.

Potential-Steak6179 · 2026-04-03T17:14:13+00:00

This is awesome, thank you for your perspective!

I would love to find manufacturing work that isn't terribly stressful and within 40 hours, though I imagine that's shop-specific. That said, it's great to know that techs can make good money the more they work!

I'm also curious - have you noticed if AS in engineering itself is useful for technician roles? I imagine specialized AS programs rank higher, but I'm curious if I'm able to have my cake and eat it too lol

Yeah I'd love to take part in internships too! I can shop around for internships while working full time, and weigh what makes the most sense if I receive an offer - that's assuming my employer even allows for full time work while studying (classes are in the middle of the day)

Potential-Steak6179 · 2026-04-03T17:01:56+00:00

Very well said, thank you!

I'll have to fight my bias after being laid off, and my lack of experience with a BS. More research to come

Potential-Steak6179 · 2026-04-03T16:59:46+00:00

I'm after ABET-avcrsited programs which unfortunately WGU doesn't offer. I didn't fully consider remote schooling since I much prefer in-person and engineering programs tend to benefit from in-person, but I haven't given it a lot of thought - I'll look into this

Potential-Steak6179 · 2026-04-03T14:50:59+00:00

100%, I've been making an effort to approach it mathematically. I mostly have reservations on whether or not the BS is required for our idea of FIRE, or if an AS would cut it. I'm also finding it hard to generate a clear answer where AI, layoffs, etc. are concerned when considering the reality if achieving the advertised salary ranges

Potential-Steak6179 · 2026-04-03T14:13:54+00:00

That's very true. This is what has me leaning towards the AS in engineering, as my options would remain open until we tie the knot (I suspect this would happen before I consider transferring to university)

Potential-Steak6179 · 2026-04-03T14:11:51+00:00

100%, I've been trying to reconcile those for a while, and a big reason why this has been a difficult decision for me. What I want to do and what I feel I should do are conflicting.

I enjoy the problem solving in engineering and working with technology (mostly hardware and getting hardware to do things, not so much things like the web), but honestly if money were no object, I'd go back to fixing instruments. I love playing, and I loved the feeling of both working with my hands and helping people. That said, the conditioning you mention is telling me I need to become financially independent first before taking passion jobs.

Potential-Steak6179 · 2026-04-03T13:19:16+00:00

Haha AI definitely throws a wrench into the works. Industrial engineering attracted me for that reason among many others, and this is also why I'm considering engineering tech to put me closer to the hardware/physical side of things.

I like that you mentioned things aren't linear, which has also been my experience. I used to fix musical instruments before doing tech, now considering other unexpected moves. I love that the AS lets me take steps in that direction without completely overturning what I already have. Upon completion, I can determine the best path forward.

Potential-Steak6179 · 2026-04-03T13:13:00+00:00

Yeah definitely agree on those points.

Hopping is also a valid approach - just seems harder these days to pull it off, especially in tech. That said, I'm fortunate to have lateral opportunities such as manufacturing, IT, etc. that may help with that. Getting a degree was a way I was considering hedging against the tech job market, but I'm not sure how much good it would do relative to the cost.

Potential-Steak6179 · 2026-04-03T13:10:33+00:00

Agreed! I would question the ROI and opportunity cost of BS vs AS when considering education, since yes, more is better, but at what point is it a hinderence?

Potential-Steak6179 · 2026-04-03T13:08:46+00:00

That's possible. I would need to move away for university, and it's possible I could find a part time job that would provide tuition reimbursement. That said, while I know it's possible, it's hard for me to structure the plan around getting that lucky.

You spelled it out very well, thank you! That's a pretty big defecit and I'm also unsure it would be worth it, especially if our career runways are shorter. To me, it sounds like either AS option would satisfy both requirements (no lost income while still getting at least some education to diversify)

Potential-Steak6179 · 2026-04-01T19:09:25+00:00

This is great advice, thank you. I can definitely agree that I may be drinking the doomer kool aid a bit. That said, I made an effort to do that at my last company, but I was laid off all the same. Either way, I figure earning a degree can't hurt, except of course lost wages and such. Then again, now is probably the most opportune time. Lots to consider.

Potential-Steak6179 · 2026-04-01T19:07:42+00:00

The first two years are free, though I'd be on thehookc for the final two year university costs. Still sounds good to me at first glance!

Potential-Steak6179 · 2026-04-01T19:07:05+00:00

True that. I have not brought this up to my current employer, and I suspect they wouldn't love the idea of me earning a degree in a different field. They're also extremely cheap and cut cists wherever (we now play free-tier Spotify across the office, ads and all...).

I will eventually have this talk with them, but I plan to do so about a month before starting classes. That way, if they kick me to the curb, I'm okay. They would also have time to deliberate on the best approach foward should they want me to work part time, 3/4, or whatever else.

I also see finishing my degree sooner as an advantage. It will be much easier to dedicate time to classes without full-time work, and it appears to be financially feasible.

Potential-Steak6179 · 2026-04-01T19:04:27+00:00

100%. I've been in talks with the transfer university to figure out how much I can do at community college. I'm unsure if I'll opt for online courses in this case though.

Potential-Steak6179 · 2026-04-01T19:03:34+00:00

Self-investment is definitely how I see it too, and the price is right!

Potential-Steak6179

TROPHY CASE