• empireOfLove@lemmy.one
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    108
    ·
    1 year ago

    Also that construction worker: has bad back, bad knees, arthritic hands and skin cancer at age 42

    Don’t get me wrong the trades are amazing for a kid to get into right out of school, and they’re critically necessary. But don’t be expecting to make a lifelong career out of it, because it is absolutely hard on your body. Do it for 5 years max and move up to management.

    • TimeSquirrel@kbin.social
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      30
      ·
      edit-2
      1 year ago

      There are less intense trades. Sure, a bricklayer and drywaller is gonna be hurting after ten years, but telco, electronic security, automation, and fire alarm trades are quite sustainable and offer technical challenges often to keep things interesting. You just need to be okay with heights. We use scissor lifts quite a bit.

      • Obi
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        11
        ·
        1 year ago

        Ya lost me at the height part, I had to go up the roof of a not-quite-finished building once to cover the “highest bit” ceremony, climbing the last floors on some shitty ladders on the side of the building, I thought I’d pass out lmao.

    • hamster@kbin.social
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      24
      ·
      1 year ago

      Yeah, there’s nothing wrong with being a construction worker. It’s a super important and useful career. But it is hard work and it’ll chew you up, then you’re left not being able to work at all.

    • Jay@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      16
      ·
      edit-2
      1 year ago

      Bad back, bad knee, arthritic hands, missing the tips of 2 fingers, bad wrist, a lot of scars, pulmonary fibrosis (Scarred lungs from working in dusty environments) at 50 yrs.

      But thankfully no cancer yet lol

        • Jay@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          4
          ·
          1 year ago

          Nah, my body is just like that old truck you see once in awhile in traffic… old, rusted, worn out, full of dents, but by some miracle it still runs even though it burns a lot of oil and the steering wheel wobbles a bit between 20- 45 mph.

    • MammyWhammy@lemmy.ml
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      10
      ·
      1 year ago

      This is one thing continually overlooked when people bring up trade careers.

      I agree, it’s solid (and for me) fun & gratifying work. I really enjoyed my time in the field and wouldn’t trade it for anything.

      If it’s a skilled trade you can make more money than a lot of recent college graduates as well.

      But to your point, it WILL absolutely chew your body up over time and construction sites are an exceptionally dangerous work environment. You can do everything right and some asshole not paying attention can cause life changing injuries to occur.

      My advice for anyone looking at going into the trades is to get a few years under your belt, get some certifications and then find your way into an office management position.

    • Screwthehole@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      1 year ago

      I’m not in construction per se but I do make my money with tools and my hands. I keep it mostly to interior work and don’t find it negatively impacts my health. Very glad I swapped to this when I did…

    • devfuuu@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      5
      arrow-down
      3
      ·
      1 year ago

      All those having a seated job programming at home “so no difference and all the same problems + mental breakdowns and psychological problems”