Career

[dolphinangel]

I'm a builder. I understand what your saying, but there's a few other things you didn't think about.

1) When you sell the house, the buyer has a walk through. A walk through consists of you or someone in your company walking the house with the buyer and making a list of things they would like fixed or touched up. Essentally your working for them to make them a happy customer. Word of mouth can make or brake a builder. You can't make everyone happy but it's in your best interest to try and do so.

2) Inspectors and codes officials. Here, we have a footing, waterproofing, framing, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, insulation, and final inspections. I rarely have the rough ends (plumb, elec, and HVAC) and framing inspections pass on on the first time. Essentally your working to make the officals happy in this aspect.

It is not required to have any kind of degree to be a contractor. You just have to pass the test to get your contractors license. A bank will usually want you to show 10 percent of what your going to borrow to build.

Right now is a Schity time to get into the bis though... Sales are slow. I wish I had a degree to fall back on too. Kinda like insurance.

I use to work for a builder and now I am out of a job. The company I worked for did exactly what your company does. They closed the office i was working in and just kept our construction offices open. My stuff is now in the corporate off in Albq. NM. Construction business is a hard business. Commercial side is doing better than the housing market. Wish everyone luck in their career.

 

[steveyz250fpilot]

I'm a builder. I understand what your saying, but there's a few other things you didn't think about.

1) When you sell the house, the buyer has a walk through. A walk through consists of you or someone in your company walking the house with the buyer and making a list of things they would like fixed or touched up. Essentally your working for them to make them a happy customer. Word of mouth can make or brake a builder. You can't make everyone happy but it's in your best interest to try and do so.

2) Inspectors and codes officials. Here, we have a footing, waterproofing, framing, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, insulation, and final inspections. I rarely have the rough ends (plumb, elec, and HVAC) and framing inspections pass on on the first time. Essentally your working to make the officals happy in this aspect.

It is not required to have any kind of degree to be a contractor. You just have to pass the test to get your contractors license. A bank will usually want you to show 10 percent of what your going to borrow to build.

Right now is a Schity time to get into the bis though... Sales are slow. I wish I had a degree to fall back on too. Kinda like insurance.

Yeah, I'm a builder also, that is why I stated what I did. I thought of everything you said, however, while the building process is occurring, I am nobody's biatch. Not the bank, not the inspectors (yeah you have to pass inspections, but hell, that's about building a good house and doing the job right, not about being the inspectors biatch), not a future customer, nobody. I am my own boss while building a spec house.

By the way, the market here in Huntsville, Alabama is good. We are our own little world here. I can't think of anything I would rather be doing. heck, look...I am running my mouth on the X in the middle of the day just because I feel like taking the day off! Ha!:moon:

Also, a side note about inspections and inspectors. I look at them as my subcontractors. I pay for my permit, and these guys come out to my house and help me catch things that don't see or possibly don't know!! they help me build a better home!!!

 

[yamanube]

Once you graduate, waste no time getting into college. The big mistake I see with a lot of my friends is they graduated high school then partied, relaxed, or just took some time off school. For many this is the WRONG way to do things, sure a year off is nice, you get to enjoy being young and have a good time but then you are 1 year behind everybody else and easily lose motivation to do it once you get sucked into a "decent" paying 9-5.

Personally I was in college 2 months after graduating high school, I only have an associates (if I had to do it again I would get a 4 year, but I will likely never go back) school is not my thing, doing it quick and getting it done worked perfect for me...I had 16 months of school got out a 19 and made some pretty good money. I dont make a TON now (thats where the 4 year would be nice) but I do pretty good, got an easy job, a nice house and time to do the things I love.

IMO the people that say "do the things you love" are full of shiot...once a hobby becomes a job, its a job flat out. I know VERY few people who really actually love going to work...so I would recommend doing what you are good at, you may not LOVE it but it will make it that much easier, you will then learn to like your job.

Being "the man" is where the money is at, working for yourself or having others work for you is generally where you will make the most BUT with it comes LOTS of responsibility. Personally that is where I am at now, at my job I could come in early, work my a$$ off 100% of the day, leave late, spend free time learning. I would move up faster, my pay would increase and in the end I would be more successfull but I am not at that point in my life, I want to ENJOY it, I work the hours I need to, get the work I need to do, done and leave. I dont stress myself over work, I dont think about work outside of the office and I dont run myself ragged to move up. I figure enjoying life now, liking my job more, and not getting old grumpy and pissed off because I work too hard is worth a little less $$ on the check, I make the money I need to do the things I want and I do as much work as that takes.

Good luck in your decision, remember your choice is not 100% permanent.

 

[dolphinangel]

Also, a side note about inspections and inspectors. I look at them as my subcontractors. I pay for my permit, and these guys come out to my house and help me catch things that don't see or possibly don't know!! they help me build a better home!!!

yep thats for sure! Glad the market is still good there! Good luck!

 

[Katie]

Katie's got a Master's?

I suspected she was a lot smarter than me and now I have proof.

LOL. I let Mark know all the time how much smarter I am!

 

[Katie]

Yep sure did and we were even expected to have a couple at lunch.

When I went to Earthgrains, that was spun off from AB and all AB employees that made up the company we could still had beer at lunch.

Mark44

Times have changed though. Mark worked for them back in prohibition hahaha!

On a side note I knew some people that have worked there recently and they really cut down on giving away beer. It was a case a month and I think it even went down to a case every six.

 

[Mark44]

Times have changed though. Mark worked for them back in prohibition hahaha!

On a side note I knew some people that have worked there recently and they really cut down on giving away beer. It was a case a month and I think it even went down to a case every six.

Yea well you just get back to your silly little hybrid seeds!:sleeping:

 

[kevbo]

That statement is soooo wrong. I'm involved in hiring, and it's pretty easy to tell who is bs'ing and who actually knows how to learn. If you've ever sat in on an interview with a good HR manager, you'd know what I mean.

I was thinking of professional positions where all qualifications for employment have been met, like a pilot or doctor. At this point they're just looking for someone that they like, so be pretty and have a good line of bull.