Leaving IT for Construction

[2canSAM]

Brief history. I work for a small company as part of their IT department. There are only 3 of us in IT and we handle everything, Servers, Network, SQL, Desktops, Phone System, anything related is ours. I enjoy my job but there is also alot down time. As a matter of fact most of my days are spent surfing and neffing.This was great for a while but has gotten boring very fast. I am looking at a career change and really like construction. I love building things. Do you any of you guys work in the construction arena, either commercial or residential, if yes, what are your pros and cons. Any other jobs where I can combine my love of technology and building things? Money is not a huge issue are we are pretty set financially.

 

[MegaVovaN]

Not enough work? How about moving to a different company?

 

[BarneyFife]

You don't know how good you have it...

 

[Deeko]

Did you watch Office Space recently or something?

 

[judasmachine]

You have to find whatever it is that makes you happy. Work will always be work, but it's up to you to find that job that doesn't make you want to slit your wrists everyday.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

Seemed to work out well for the guys from office space. Go for it.

 

[Nitemare]

Sounds like someone has a case of the Mondays

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

I work in construction management.

Are you interested in working in the field, or the office?

 

[KeithTalent]

I think it also depends on which city you live in. Where I live they are dying for people in construction, so you could easily find decent paying work, however in some cities it may be a little more difficult and much less stable. Back before the big construction boom here, I was working part-time at my buddies dad's construction business and I would always see people getting layed-off, plus they were much more selective in their hiring process but now they will take pretty much anyone who has opposable thumbs.

I guess what I am saying is construction may not necessarily have you busy 24/7 unless you are either very good at what you do, or if you are in a very active construction market.

KT

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: BarneyFife
You don't know how good you have it...

 

[MisterJackson]

Originally posted by: Nitemare
Sounds like someone has a case of the Mondays

You'd get your ass kicked on the construction site for saying that

 

[2canSAM]

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
I work in construction management.

Are you interested in working in the field, or the office?

I guess a little of both. I would not mind working on the project management side of things but I would like to actually do some of the work too.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

I'm doing the dry wall up there at the new mcdonalds.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: 2canSAM

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
I work in construction management.

Are you interested in working in the field, or the office?

I guess a little of both. I would not mind working on the project management side of things but I would like to actually do some of the work too.

I tried to do a little of that man.

Dude. It is a LOT...A LOT of work, and rough markets make dry spells a bitch too.

 

[Nitemare]

The money in I/T is too good. I'll do some carpentry or framing on the side sometimes though

 

[frostedflakes]

Have you asked if there are more responsibilities you could take on at your current job? Or is it not so much boredom at your current job, you just want to pursue a different career?

 

[zig3695]

OP sounds like a true expediter to me. those are the guys that oversee the job and help out whenever they feel like it. you got to have some experience first though.

its going to be hard to find a construction job that isnt stressful. go for the highest paying job you can, because the low-paying construction jobs are nothing but grunt-work all day.

 

[MisterJackson]

I'm in IT now, and I'll be honest with you OP, I miss working outdoors. One of my first jobs was as a point man in a land survey crew. 10-16 hour days, working in the sweltering heat and humidity or the freezing cold. Digging rebar out of the ground to place new pins, swatting off biting insects and watching for snakes and other baddies as I cut line (thickets, brush, etc....oftentimes over my head) with a machete or bush ax...

...it was back breaking, extremely hard work. But it was extremely fullfilling work as well. Plus you slept like a log at the end of the day!

It's not for everyone, but I suggest everyone try working outdoors once if they never have.

In your case, I say follow your gut and do it. You can always go back to IT somewhere if it doesn't work out.

 

[sniperruff]

eh why not. you only live once. im switching from a stable 7-4 job in health care, going back for an MBA and hoping to break into finance. you should really go for it... after serious considerations and research of course.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Originally posted by: 2canSAM

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
I work in construction management.

Are you interested in working in the field, or the office?

I guess a little of both. I would not mind working on the project management side of things but I would like to actually do some of the work too.

In commercial construction, you would need some experience to get your foot in the door. If you have never worked any construction at all, I would recommend looking into obtaining a degree in construction management. That would give you the knowledge and skills to become a construction superintendent, estimator, or project manager. No contractor is likely to hire you for anything but unskilled labor without any experience or education.

I see you are in the Alabama area. You might contact Feldnak and ask him his opinion of your area's market, as he used to work for a general contractor in Auburn in the IT department. He might also be able to talk with you and see if there might be any way to leverage your IT background with a contractor, so you can get your foot in the door and maybe pick up some education looking over other's shoulders.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats

Originally posted by: 2canSAM

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
I work in construction management.

Are you interested in working in the field, or the office?

I guess a little of both. I would not mind working on the project management side of things but I would like to actually do some of the work too.

In commercial construction, you would need some experience to get your foot in the door. If you have never worked any construction at all, I would recommend looking into obtaining a degree in construction management. That would give you the knowledge and skills to become a construction superintendent, estimator, or project manager. No contractor is likely to hire you for anything but unskilled labor without any experience or education.

I see you are in the Alabama area. You might contact Feldnak and ask him his opinion of your area's market, as he used to work for a general contractor in Auburn in the IT department. He might also be able to talk with you and see if there might be any way to leverage your IT background with a contractor, so you can get your foot in the door and maybe pick up some education looking over other's shoulders.

agreed x 100. Implement a CRM etc...

 

[rudder]

Sounds like a plan... until you reach 45 and your body is racked with arthritis!

And remember you will be competing against illegal immigrants. No $20/hour jobs with benefits.

But you never know. There was an article about a builder in our local paper. He built 2-3 high dollar homes a year and was in demand. They were unqiues custom built homes so there canbe a niche somewhere.

 

[paulxcook]

As bad as cube life is sometimes, I'll take it over a manual labor job. I've done that, and while it was a great way to drop 30 lbs, it also sucked after the initial enjoyment wore off.

Unless you get to be the guy to tell people their cancer is gone, chances are you'll get tired of whatever job you get, so make the best of your current situation. though if you are "set" financially, you can basically do whatever you want.

 

[Kelemvor]

Break a few things and then fix a few things. Keep going and you won't be bored any more.

 

[Jhill]

PM thesiege, he did something like that recently and he really likes it. I am not sure I would like construction but he seems to. I don't think he has any regrets about his change. He is an electrician so it's not just grunt work.