Help EN Worlders!

[Harmon]

I need to change careers and I need ideas.

My wife and I are having a baby (due is February). We both work during the day light hours. She works as an X Ray Tech and makes a few dollars more then I do an hour, plus her benefits are better, so after a couple months of maternity leave she will return to work and I will stay at home.

I have been a carpenter for sixteen years, prior to that I was a stock clerk & a maintenance engineer (<cough> janitor <cough>) at Sears and a prior to that I was a security guard. I have certifications in Project Management, and Estimating. I have lots of classes directed towards drafting though that is about five years old.

The plan is that I go to work somewhere between six PM and five AM so that I can sleep while Princess Harmon sleeps, then the wife will take over during the evening. I need to make a fairer wage the 7/11 or fast food pays, but get in where it’s not social (I have no social skills what so ever, so bartender or waiter is out).

Eventually I hope that I can get into school full time and get through the nursing program or X ray program (their pay level starts just about what I make now as a carpenter, plus the hours are much more stable).

There would be no objection to working at home, day or night so if you think of something I can do while watching a little one suggest that.

I need serious suggestions. Thank you for your thoughts and for getting this far in the thread.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

First: congratulations!

There would be no objection to working at home, day or night so if you think of something I can do while watching a little one suggest that.

Watch another little one or two.

Incidentally, say good-bye to sleep your first three months. Plan that in.

Some areas, like North Virginia, are seeing crazy housing booms. Maybe a small relocation? Carpenters here pretty much do what they want. I think they're a law unto themselves. They drive around in gold limosines and throw cigarette butts at doctors and venture capitalists. It's pretty wild.

 

[Harmon]

Thanks BG.

Actually BG I am looking to get out of construction, and with my wife's career we can't actually leave the area. The idea is that I do the stay at home Dad thing, while the wife works. Unfortunately we (like so many) can't be a one income household. If I can rack in just a thousand or so a month we think we could make it once she goes full time (which she will do when she gets back from having the little one.

There's another thread that I am keeping an eye on for ideas- I have checked it out and some of the ideas there, but so many of the "work at home, online," things are just traps to get your SSN and personal information to steal your identity.

 

[Rel]

There's another thread that I am keeping an eye on for ideas- I have checked it out and some of the ideas there, but so many of the "work at home, online," things are just traps to get your SSN and personal information to steal your identity.

Sounds like you and I are in somewhat the same boat, Harmon. I wish you luck and let's agree to share ideas if we stumble onto something workable and flexible.

 

[omrob]

24 hour jobs

I would look at other places that have to be open 24 hours a day like:

Hospitals
Police/Fire Dispatching
Cleaning serviices - operate at night cleaning businesses that operate during the day.
Grocery stores - have generally night time stocking jobs and stuff
Casinos ?

(I guess this all assumes you are nearby big cities with a decent concentration of this stuff)

aside from fast food, gas stations and convenience stores

 

[Harmon]

Sounds like you and I are in somewhat the same boat, Harmon.

Ya, kinda looks that way.

I wish you luck and let's agree to share ideas if we stumble onto something workable and flexible.

North Carolina is where you live? Ya, its NC. I live in California so ya, we can share .

That would be cool, I will keep you in mind should I figure this out. Take care, Rel.

 

[Harmon]

I would look at other places that have to be open 24 hours a day like:

Hospitals
Police/Fire Dispatching
Cleaning serviices - operate at night cleaning businesses that operate during the day.
Grocery stores - have generally night time stocking jobs and stuff
Casinos ?

(I guess this all assumes you are nearby big cities with a decent concentration of this stuff)

aside from fast food, gas stations and convenience stores

Can't work for the police so that is out. The cleaning service and grocery store, both a good idea. I would like to get something in a hospital, so that I can work my way around and into something that will help me when I get that RN or RT after my name.

No casinos that are close enough- sides I dispise them (but thats another story).

Thanks for the ideas and suggestions.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

Can't work for the police so that is out. The cleaning service and grocery store, both a good idea. I would like to get something in a hospital, so that I can work my way around and into something that will help me when I get that RN or RT after my name.

No casinos that are close enough- sides I dispise them (but thats another story).

Thanks for the ideas and suggestions.

I know you said you don't have social skills, but what about telephone skills? Are there any call centers in your area? They often need shift workers. I know someone who did that in my area for a number of years at night. It wasn't telemarketing, it was a customer support line. You do have to deal with annoying and angry people sometime, so it might not be your thing.

 

[Harmon]

. . . . customer support line. . . .

I will put that one on my list, thanks for the idea.

 

[Mark CMG]

I need to change careers and I need ideas.

My wife and I are having a baby (due is February).

Stay-at-Home-Dad and you can make furniture (or dice rollers) in your garage in the evenings and sell them online. Once the kid starts school you can start doing some carpentry during school hours. That's my two cents . . .