I have no clue what I want to do next....

[Fantom]

I'm at a loss, I have no idea what to do next. I'm dealing with WCB, my skills assessment came back with high scores, all primarily in the following fields: (not much surprise there)
Engineering, Design, Graphics, Machining, Mechanical, Electrical Technician, Air Traffic Control (no idea how they came up with that one), and Mapping Technician.
From the personality tests it resulted in: (also not a shock)
That I prefer to work in an environment that is free or restrictions and set guidelines, allows creativity, has traditional values (honesty, trust, bla, bla), is not focused on human interaction (no social service, sales, or customer support jobs), and something that challenges me.

WCB is allowing me to chose, and as long as whatever I chose is not any longer than 1-2 years of schooling, I'm OK. Pretty much every job on the list is 4 years of schooling, some more.
My WCB guy still hasn't figured out what I can do so I need to tell him but to be honest, I have no clue what I can chose, with only a time frame of 1-2 years of schooling to get a piece of paper on something I likely already know 1/2 of. Then of course, it also has to be in a field that actually is looking for people so I can get a job afterwords, and not work at Starbucks with a diploma on the wall for something that's useless.

WCB has not been very helpful with resources so if you guys have a suggestion that I am missing and google isn't helping me with, throw it out there, you guys know me fairly well by now.

All I know is that Graphic Design, in Vancouver, is almost as good of degree as that of an Actor. Toronto, Montreal, New York, those are places that have a lot more opportunity in that field....and I am not moving there.....well maybe Montreal, the women are nice.....off topic, never mind.

 

[sailor]

Lounge singer? joke- Air traffic control was one I thought would be pretty good actually, but then I like planes, just not going up in them...

 

[Fantom]

Have you seen the movie with John Cusack?
I don't know about that one, besides, I installed the A/V systems in Nav Canada and saw the environment they work in, beyond boring. All they do is stare at a screen with little dots on it and try to move the dots around so they don't crash - kind of like an old Atari game, only even more boring.

 

[Enigma]

What past education do you have? Some courses can be shortened depending on past education credits and trade.
Mechanical design course at BCIT is a 2 year program.

BCIT : : Mechanical Engineering


Mapping might be pretty cool, could possibly have the opportunity to drive around in the woods with gps

 

[Enigma]

Have you seen the movie with John Cusack?
I don't know about that one, besides, I installed the A/V systems in Nav Canada and saw the environment they work in, beyond boring. All they do is stare at a screen with little dots on it and try to move the dots around so they don't crash - kind of like an old Atari game, only even more boring.

Isn't it one of the most stressfull jobs? No thanks.

 

[Fantom]

Grade 12, and life experience.....and I'm Polish.....but I'm not sure that counts in this country

 

[Enigma]

Well one scenario is to start chipping away at night school courses for any of the full time course prerequisites.
Like physics 11 for example, I took it 4 times before I finally said fxxx it and just took the mechanical drafting course, and now a bunch of people with letters after their names work for me

 

[AJAEbj42]

Are you physically able to do any kind of work? or are you limited in some way still?

My family business services the commercial greenhouse industry and needs people that are well rounded in "Engineering, Design, Graphics, Machining, Mechanical, Electrical Technician", to varying degrees. It's a really 'learn on the job' kind of environment (based in Surrey).

Question is whether you can still do field work such as ladders, wiring, etc?

 

[Vanny]

How about a train engineer. Talked to a guy who worked the yard downtown for many years. He would do nights and move cars around the city. He said they would move what they needed to, go home and get paid for 8 hours. His best week was working for 4 hours and getting paid for 40. Sounds pretty good. Just wait till the strike is over.

 

[neoworm]

Technical Writer

 

[Fantom]

I'm limited to no overhead work, and to some degree the ability to flex my head into certain positions. Mostly I limited and have to stay off the ladders, but anything from the floor up to chest hight is no issue.
This is one of the main reasons why I have to look for another job, my regular job is 1/2-3/4 overhead, wire pulling, speaker install, etc.

As for a CN job, union, start at the bottom, be the b!t(h, then after 10 years you're working a good position.....besides, I hate unions....unless I'm wrong on that particular job.

I can do technical writing, but how to get there and is there a demand for it? requirements?

I'm looking at the Mechanical Engineering stuff in more detail.

Thanks guys, getting me thinking about options.

 

[Wheelingnoob]

Isn't it one of the most stressfull jobs? No thanks.

I have a friend that has been doing it for 4 years now. Last year they did $190k with overtime. They also have 5 weeks vacation and somthing like 20 personal days a year. Stressfull job.....yes.....boing yes......sounds like my job but I get paid much much less a year. Mat what ever you need to do make sure you will enjoy what you do. It seems you are into some design work so maybe look in that filed. Do not know you well enough to help but there are lots of option if you keep your eyes open.

 

[Enigma]

I can do technical writing, but how to get there and is there a demand for it? requirements?

.

Not sure what kind of a demand there is for it, but it's an interesting course to pad the resume with. I took part of it a couple years ago at BCIT.

We have a tech writer on staff. He does up all the manuals; has to know (and learn) a lot about the process, extracts drawings and images from our models and drawings, goes to site a lot for feedback on new installations.
It could be an interesting option.

 

[Vanny]

Work on a tug boat. Good money, freedom, on a boat for weeks with 2 other men...awe forget it.

 

[BCR4619]

How about a train engineer. Talked to a guy who worked the yard downtown for many years. He would do nights and move cars around the city. He said they would move what they needed to, go home and get paid for 8 hours. His best week was working for 4 hours and getting paid for 40. Sounds pretty good. Just wait till the strike is over.

You make a boat load if you work the road, and if you do we will lever see Mat. As for the 4hour quits I don't think that is going to last much longer.

I have countless friends in this job, I like trains as a hobby but I would keep it at that... I'll keep my 7-3 job with weekends off

Plus the schooling at BCIT is around 10g for a guaranteed job interview.

 

[wrongway around]

glad to hear your options but remember 1 to 2 years is every thing all in. think fast and at least do your upgrades now . i would go to bcit and talk to a counsler maybe get your feet wet. some tickets you can chalenge if you have a ticket in a related field.mapping sounds different , might be alot of field work, mining and exploration ,enviromental assesments. you already have the tecknical writing skills, might excell real quick. just have to get used to living in the bush. then again if air traffic control is not your bag ,think outside the box ,cause that is what i read out of your assesment, creativity !create your own plan.

 

[LanceCruiser]

What about some of the jobs at Seaspan?

Just looking at their career directions on their sites, some titles that might up your alley.

Mechanical Designer in the Operations section.

Machinist in Skilled Trades section.

 

[sailor]

Yeah, Seaspan, Dennis Washington isn't running out of money any time soon... Some real knuckleheads make large cake there..

 

[Fantom]

Thanks guys, some really good suggestions here.
I'm actually going to harass BCIT and see what they have and what I can realistically take or challenge.
I don't mind working in the field, if anything I've always loved travelling and preferred being on the road over staying put.

 

[chet]

Look into water and waste water management. Huge growing market due to every town big or small needing operators and maintenance people certified. Can get a nice municipal job our of it too!