Question of going back to school for the PPOT braintrust...
 

Edited for brevity:

I've been in construction forever. Nobody is hiring without a degree in Construction Mgt, Engineering, Architecture, etc. and several years of experience. I've got a BBA in Mgt. Is it worth going back to school at age 51 to get another degree in a new field (and hopefully a job)?

My wife thinks it's a great idea. I think not.

I'm almost inclined to go back to school to learn a trade like welding. I won't get rich, but it's an income.

What are your thoughts?

Thanks,
Jim

talk to some guys in those fields that have hiring authority

also get some projection info from the state labor dept.

Thanks.

Any more thoughts and/or advice?

No one ever regretted getting an education - prolly be a few years until you graduated through. Laying down a good bead is important. People are always looking for a good welder. In Canada they pay very very well. Then again who the f*** wants to move to Canada?

51 tough call, with a four year degree going full time you'd be 55/56, which is my age now. Wouldn't you be competing with guys half your age and with the same time out of school? You've worked in the field that you are looking to get a degree in, so maybe it would give you a leg up. Don't get me wrong, additional educations/degrees/credentials never hurt. I have an MBA, and have for over 20 years, but I'd stand a snowballs hell in chance of competing with freshly minted MBA's. Especially since I've never worked in the field.

Take RWebb's advise and go to the decision makers and have a frank talk with them.

could you live with being a nurse or similar?

- reason is -- they can't outsource that; but they can outsource welding

Hugh - I didn't know you were such a young punk!

are you talking about 4 years of full time schooling?

At age 51, I don't think that's a great idea, financially. If you are set financially and just want to do it, that's ok.

Why do you need to be hired by someone? Can't you create a business of your own, with the experience and skills you have?

Well, nursing is a good business whether it can be contracted or not. And in demand.

Welding, not so much. I sometimes look on line to see what there is available for welders. $15/hr to start if you can find a job within 30 miles.

Starting a business right now may or may not be a good idea. If the plan is to not make any money and build a business while the economy is trashed, maybe. Lot of people are out of real estate right now and someone looking for experience with no expectations might be poised to make some good money in a few years.

But, if income is the objective, I'd say working for peanuts is a better way to go. I'm doing handywork as if it was a sideline. It's my only line, but I get work as long as I don't get aggressive in pricing. I don't advertise, so I don't know where this would go. The last I advertised was 2008 and I was throwing my money away.

The point there would be new businesses have to have aggressive ways to bring the business in. It's either very expensive or very time consuming, or both. Depending on the business, I wouldn't expect a paycheck for a year or longer.

Tough call, but I'd say it's worth it. I don't know how long you plan to work, but most of our people here (construction related) are upper 40s to high 60s.

i am an engineer. i manage and administer huge state projects. at 51 you still have tons to offer!! in my office, there is no substitute for construction experience. i work with a guy. he is maybe 55. he came up in the trades. a carpenter. his boss discovered he had a knack for reading plans. he slowly moved up. he got a bunch of certs under his belt, and now there is nobody better equipped with dealing with building, utility, etc codes. he is unrivaled. if he had a degree, i would be calling him boss. he blends old school construction ethics with his knowledge. he steam-rolls the contractor. it is awesome to watch.

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With the BBA most states have a program that is 1 year or less to get you certified to teach K-12. With a Masters you can teach at the community college level. My adjunct pay for a 3 credit class this term is $1900...

I don't know why teacher is on that list as we are now in a serious decline of students, because people aren't having as many kids. Up here new grads can't find a job, unless it's overseas.

Great advice guys. Thanks.

Income now is a plus and I'll probably be working longer than I planned, but that's ok. Work is good for ones self.

Starting a new business in residential construction would be like going to Vegas right now. The odds are against me, with construction loans difficult to get, plus a huge supply of existing and forclosed homes available, it just doesn't seem to make it feasible. A lot of the guys I know are doing carpentry and punch work are just hanging on. Guys that were busy doing new construction, are doing what ever they can to make a buck.

I was thinking some of my classes would transfer and it would be a two year deal. Four years would be a deal breaker. And as mentioned, I'd be competing against folks half my age. Who's going to hire a 50+ newb?

My wife is an ICU RN with 30 years experience. She just moved from one hospital that was going down like the Titanic, for one that opened today, as a house supervisor. She's never had a problem getting a job.

Pharmacy Tech is a thought.

Nursing would take too long I believe. If I was younger, I'd look into Nurse Anathetist (sp?).

There's a technical college here that has welding classes. It's more than just laying down a bead, as it's a year long program covering all types of materials and welding. There are local jobs available, but who knows in a year?

I did talk to a friend up in Charlotte NC. He has a side business hanging and finishing drywall. He said I could run it and have what ever I made. I'm just not sure now is the time or if money is to be made. I'm going to follow up with him this week.

All this to re-invent myself.

Long post and I'm on my iPhone, so forgive me for my errors and lack of cohesion.

I have been thinking about getting into the hearing aid business (you could expand that into any medical supply). That or funeral home. For a younger man those are two that are going to grow by leaps and bounds as the boomers hit the age.

I see the guys getting the 2 year welding degree at our school having a rough time getting a job. If you do want to weld, stick welding on pipe seems to be where the jobs are right now, in this area anyway.

I am working on my masters degree in engineering tech. right now and also had 3 semesters of Mig and Tig welding. I was in the class with guys in the full welding program, so I had a good grasp of what was going on. The instructors are also friends of mine.

Mid 40's here and 1 year left in school.

Welding and pipe fitting is what I've seen as well. Of course, they want experience, so how to get that...