this post was submitted on 06 Jan 2024
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So, I'm looking for a career change since I'm probably going to move to a city of approx 200K people. What's something that everyone needs either it's simple or more complex?

Not interested in funeral services πŸ˜›

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[–] NakariLexfortaine@lemm.ee 19 points 10 months ago

If you're willing to deal with the later costs on your body, learn a trade.

Plumber, electrician, HVAC. Everyone needs something serviced, it's just getting your name out/getting with a good company. Bonus, these things can follow you anywhere. Big city to small townships.

Welding is another solid one. Good welders can be in high demand.

Again, be forewarned, take care of yourself now, and be ready for it to catch up with you down the line. It's rough on your body.

[–] bjoern_tantau@swg-empire.de 7 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Garbage men. You can shut down a city pretty well by not collecting any garbage. But I hope you're not in the USA. The way I hear it it's mostly really hard dangerous manual labour in that backwards country.

[–] BDC 4 points 10 months ago

I worked summers in high school with my town street maintenance department, shoveling asphalt in the Virginia heat and other assorted fun tasks.

One day the trash department was short a body and my boss volunteered me to help them for the day. It was the single hardest work day of my life, and we were done with our route by noon. I have no end of respect for the people that do that job.

[–] peter@feddit.uk 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

In what country is it not?

[–] Nath@aussie.zone 1 points 10 months ago

I'm probably being ignorant because I don't know whether there's more to it, but Australian garbos drive a truck and control a big robot claw. They don't need to actually touch the bins.

[–] Nomecks@lemmy.ca 7 points 10 months ago

Salespeople. I'm going to get downvoted for this, but there's always good sales jobs for the right person.

[–] BiggestBulb@kbin.run 6 points 10 months ago

You said you needed something more immediate, I'd say there's nothing wrong with being a waiter / waitress / bartender while learning something else. They're not the most secure jobs for sure, but they're not exactly going extinct.

Alternatively, hotel staff make a lot (at least a lot for the small town I grew up in).

If you're looking for a trade skill - HVAC, plumbing and being a mechanic will all be skills that will stick with you through life and they all pay pretty well.

Truck driving is really, really in-demand right now. If you're willing to drive 12-14 hours some days, shower at travel stops and sleep in your cab (at least, that's what I'm hearing a lot) then that could be for you.

[–] athos77@kbin.social 5 points 10 months ago

Starting during the Great Depression, my grandmother insisted that every one of her children become either a teacher or a nurse, because those were the only people who were never out of work during the Depression. Both can be hard jobs (in different ways), but if you're looking for something where you're constantly employable, that's where I'd start looking.

[–] metaStatic@kbin.social 5 points 10 months ago

Hand jobs and cheeseburgers

[–] Horsey@kbin.social 4 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Nearly every single business either employs a full time CPA or uses a CPA firm to check their books.

[–] Catsrules@lemmy.ml 4 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Basic human needs,

Food, water, shelter. Go into any of these and you should be good.

Long term needs would add healthcare, education.

[–] OceanSoap@lemmy.ml 4 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (2 children)

Do you know any CAD? Civil is desperate for CAD drafters and designers. Doubled my pay. I design Substations now.

[–] WeAreAllOne@lemm.ee 1 points 10 months ago

I've done some in the past yes. Interesting.. Will explore thank you.

[–] intensely_human@lemm.ee 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

How much do you make? What were you doing before?

[–] OceanSoap@lemmy.ml 1 points 10 months ago

I make $62k, or $30/hr. Previously I was a veterinary hospital receptionist for years and years.

Generally, any trade will always have good job security and decent pay. Trucking, maintenance (welder, electrician, plumber, or mechanic (diesel or heavy equipment, auto is usually over staffed) and HVAC) and accounting seem to have been the most reliable trades to find work over the last 20 years or so. Construction is very boom and bust. Medicine and maintenance are VERY short staffed currently, especially in rural areas.

In 2008 I chose trucking. Initial training was 6 weeks and cost me $10,000 USD back in 2008 followed by 3 months over the road with a trainer. Hate the job, but the pay is decent-ish (I've generally made between $55K and $75K), it doesn't usually matter where you live and the few times I've found myself needing a new job I've been hired within 72 hours of applying for the position.

If you do go trucking, avoid any company with a Teamsters Union presence like the plague. Every Teamster I've met to date has been an complete and total self-important asshat and they seem to have a tendency to call strike just for the hell of it (Though they are payed well).

Any other union is probably fine.

[–] PeepinGoodArgs@reddthat.com 2 points 10 months ago

Does the city of $200K have advertisements for city jobs? Rather than trying to be universally employable, maybe cater to where you actually are/will be?

[–] bluGill@kbin.social 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

what is your goal? Are you planning on moving to a different city and employeer every year, or just want to settle down in aspecific place?

there are lots of jobs. However some places have specifit needs. Some jobs can be worked remote from anywhere. Some jobs depend on word of mouth so you can't move after getting the skills.

[–] WeAreAllOne@lemm.ee 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Settle down there. Remote jobs seem interesting though usually require an IT degree.

[–] bluGill@kbin.social 1 points 10 months ago

you will often find the best bet is figure out what niche that city needs. Many cities have a specalty that is unique.

[–] Snejp@feddit.uk 1 points 10 months ago

I don't know if he's making good money or anything but in my town of around 100k there is one guy who is a bit of a jack of all trades (and to me it seems he could be a master as well, but I wouldn't know). He does stuff like copying keys, leatherwork, sharpening knives and so on. This is the guy you go to if you need some more obscure thing done. Might be something for you if you like that sort of stuff.

[–] Maeve@kbin.social 1 points 10 months ago

Clean farming, medical (complete, mental/physical, many choices).

[–] SlowLoudEasy@r.nf 1 points 10 months ago

Home Inspector. Every home sale needs one, they cost 400-600 hundred. You are not liable for anything missed or that can go wrong in the future. Just need your ladder and flashlight

[–] intensely_human@lemm.ee 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Do you really need 200,000 customers? Why not target something that enough people need to support you?

Like if you can find something 100 people in that city need, you’re fine.

[–] WeAreAllOne@lemm.ee 1 points 10 months ago

It's like the 80-20 rule i get it. I thought about this and I tend to believe that such professions are either niche or take much time to learn and apply eg Doctor.