Alternative job skills? [Archive]

J_Lannon

11-06-2008, 07:26 PM

Do any of you have alternative skills to fall back on if the economy continues to go south?

This aint political, I am just curious because I have a few friends outta work due to thier companies slowing down. None of them have other skills to fall back on. I am teaching one how to hang and finish drywall, and another guy keeps begging me to teach him how to operate a 18 wheeler.

The company that I work for is still going fairly strong, but I keep my CDL license current, and I am taking my marine engineers test next month.

hamlet

11-06-2008, 07:31 PM

A wise set of choices I believe... good economy or bad.

My alternate skills (been working on them since 1983)... growing food.
I have the land and the knowhow in case I end up with the need.

drawinout

11-06-2008, 07:39 PM

Alternative job skills??

I don't know, I was thinking about changing my legal name from Ryan to "P. Fishy" and becoming a professional rapper....

emanuel

11-06-2008, 07:43 PM

sprtsracer

11-06-2008, 07:57 PM

I think I can hang and finish drywall, wait tables, cook and if all else fails, I can fall back on my former career as a gigolo. :D

Actually, I can't do as much as I used to before I blew my back out.

And do you also take care of Aquarium Fish?:D

Since I'm pretty secure with my military retirement, I don't have too many worries, but I guess if I had to, I could go into manual typewriter repair, or sell typewriter ribbons and 8-track tapes:D

Someone else on here made a statement a month or two ago about going into the bar business. I'd have to agree with that. It will prosper when nothing else will.

BubbaHoTep

11-06-2008, 08:45 PM

J, I should have gotten my CDL. Good idea.

As a teacher, I'm dependent on public funds. I have experience designing online classes and workshops, and as long as there was money available, I could do that.

Of course, there's my clubmaking shop (golf), which I haven't done on a regular basis in several years. I don't know about the market for that though if everything goes south.

I tell you what I wish I could do: outboard motor repair. These shops around here charge a blinking fortune for that. I don't need anything else "on the side," but that's what I'd LIKE to do.

Bartending sounds like a good idea, too.

I'm surprised noone's said "exotic male dancer." I hear sprtsracer is moonlighting already. :D

emanuel

11-06-2008, 08:48 PM

I am a decent writer, I think some of y'all have seen my work. Lately, the only writing I have done was writing company policy documents. :redface:

RuddeDogg

11-06-2008, 09:10 PM

I do. if it came down to me being laid off, which I doubt cause there will always be crime, I can always go back to body guarding or further back when I was a procurer of owed money..........but then again I'd be a criminal so, what ever I'd have to do I would do. My oldman used to say, "The world needs ditch diggers to."

Too Busy

11-06-2008, 09:16 PM

I need to dust off my welding gear. I was formerly certified in muti-position pipe and structural steel. Also formerly certified in stainlees steel pipe (ASME boiler code work).

Drywall, hang and finish, but not a cheap as a crew of Mexicans.
General handyman. build decks, fences, repair dern near anything mechanical.

Used to build custom cedar stripped canoes for $100 per foot of finished length. Also built a few small runabouts, kayaks, and flats skiffs.

Resto-modded British sports cars. upgrading wiring to get rid of everything Lucas and provide enough power for car stereosand amps. Upgrading driveline to fully rebuilt orginal or replace with Mazda, Toyota or Nissan components.

But guys, if you see me working as a walmat greeter, do me a favor. Sneak up behind me and put me out of my misery.

lil red jeep

11-06-2008, 09:26 PM

As the old saying goes, "Jack of all trades, master of none" fits me pretty well. Quite fortunate, like Dogg that there will always be criminals, so my present occupation is pretty safe as far as being recession proof. Due to approaching retirement options, I've been looking at another recession proof line of work, and I'm leaning towards a medical second career. Once I can get the prereq's under my belt I can begin the schooling towards the actual field I'm interested in. About four years til retirement, and if all goes well, I'll be able to transition right into the new field.

Thrifty Angler

11-06-2008, 10:01 PM

And I am working on a rough draft of a romance novel. If things get a bit hard to handle, seems getting swept up in a steamy novel might be a direction many may not mind doing. So.....I'm trying my hand at it. And a bunch of you guys may be starring characters. I've been taking notes of personalities.
What!!!! ...you thought I was on pier and surf just to pick up fishing tips???? ;)

I do have such an active imagination. :)
I have to have one in order to characterize some of you guys as the studly type. :rolleyes: :D :D

sand flea

11-06-2008, 10:04 PM

I'm completely useless. I have some computer skills and I'm handy with the English language, but that's about it.

uncdub13

11-06-2008, 10:08 PM

i've got nunchuk skills, bowhunting skills, computer hacking skills....

Mark G

11-06-2008, 10:48 PM

I could do consulting in a number of fields, but don't how profitable that would be, as most ask for change when I say here's my .02 worth. :D

emanuel

11-06-2008, 10:59 PM

I've thought of doing consulting for a sort of accounting/loss prevention type of field. I've found that I like nailing the bad guys both on paper and slapping cuffs on them.

Mark G

11-07-2008, 12:57 AM

I've thought of doing consulting for a sort of accounting/loss prevention type of field. I've found that I like nailing the bad guys both on paper and slapping cuffs on them.

That would be forensic accounting, which was a hot field in the wake of the Enron/etc scandals.

wolfva

11-07-2008, 01:29 AM

I'm with Jeep and Dog, I think my job's secure. Then again, you never know.

Ya'll wanna know what a REAL recessionproof job is? Undertaker. The worst things get, the better if you're up for a real undertaking.

sprtsracer

11-07-2008, 06:17 AM

Big Rad

11-07-2008, 08:22 AM

I am an electrician. I still pay union dues even though I only do home jobs anymore. I could go back to working construction.

jcreamer

11-07-2008, 10:14 AM

Retired Army..Retired from Pentagon in 79.
18 years in manufacturing retired from that (company closed and lost that retirement)
worked as a security gaurd
working full time in shippping/receiving and doing incoming inspections
for Northrop Grumman.
Due a lot of medical expenses am working still and will probably stay working at something.

if need be will move to a tent city somewhere but will survive and make the most of it.

Shooter

11-07-2008, 10:45 AM

I will pass along a few words of wisdom my wise ol daddy gave me years ago,,, "Get the best education you can because that's one thing that can never be lost or taken away but always be willing to work with your hands and get dirty because that way you can always find a job"

The one thing in this life I have found out is, if you strive to be the best in your field of work people will come looking for you and pay your price.

TimKan7719

11-07-2008, 10:47 AM

I can shoot guns, blow stuff up, I can prity much do anything I set my mind to. In hard times, I got tons of Black powder and lead I can make slugs for my black powder. So if it gets too bad Look for me in a coon skin cap and buck skin outfit, on the shore casting a line.
Tim

JeepMike

11-07-2008, 10:58 AM

I'm working on my EMT training, so that would be a nice backup.

Plenty of commercial fishing to be done here as well. (One of the oldest occupations on Earth)

Hopefully people will still come on vacation here and keep food on my plate!!

JeepMike

11-07-2008, 10:59 AM

Oh, and I can ride the hell outta some horses if it came down to it again... haha

Mark G

11-07-2008, 11:34 AM

Oh, and I can ride the hell outta some horses if it came down to it again... haha

Do you work for one of the outfits that provides horse riding to the tourists?

My wife usually makes a couple of trips down with the girl scouts and they frequently schedule rides. Not sure who they do business with, but I can steer them your way, if that's what you do.

dirtyhandslopez

11-07-2008, 11:55 AM

Here here on what Shooter said. Even if you loose on some customers for the sake of doing things the right way, you will always have the best customers.

Gissa job mister, icandothat!

JeepMike

11-07-2008, 12:20 PM

Do you work for one of the outfits that provides horse riding to the tourists?

My wife usually makes a couple of trips down with the girl scouts and they frequently schedule rides. Not sure who they do business with, but I can steer them your way, if that's what you do.

Surfcat when I first moved here I was in that business, but have since moved on, I have been riding all my life, and it's sort of nice not having to do it for food now. I do have some people down here I recommend over others, just PM me if your interested and I'd be happy to relay the info.

Jigmaster

11-07-2008, 01:11 PM

I've thought of doing consulting for a sort of accounting/loss prevention type of field. I've found that I like nailing the bad guys both on paper and slapping cuffs on them.

Sounds interesting have you done that before???

AL_N_VB

11-07-2008, 01:28 PM

, I can fall back on my former career as a gigolo. :D

.

Deuce Bigalow...male escort and fishing guide service...:D

AL_N_VB

11-07-2008, 01:31 PM

I'm completely useless. I have some computer skills and I'm handy with the English language, but that's about it.

flea...yer real good at them 12 ounce curls and takin' shots....

Wait a minute...that's not a skill, that's a co-dependency....

Yeah...that's the pot callin' the kettle black...:D

AL_N_VB

11-07-2008, 01:39 PM

As a former jar head, my carreer path has been a weird road....

I've:

Stocked shelves at the Navy commissarry
Washed dished and bussed tables
Did 24 hours of fire watch with a deranged welder
Spent 14 years as warehouse employee...the last 7, I got promoted as a supervisor
Currently working in Export Freight Forwarding with a logistics company....did I mention that I also do their warehousing?

I am currently looking for a new carreer paths...possibly just exports.....I do like the white collared world.

The good thing is, with my back ground in exports.....and since I live in Hampton roads...finding a job to suit my skills would not be very hard....but....

I'll never do fire watch again.

jcreamer

11-07-2008, 03:21 PM

fishnut

11-07-2008, 03:59 PM

I can skin a buck and I can run a trot line cause a country boy can survive!!

I can also take care of all your electrical and plumbing needs! LOL

chesapeake_kid

11-07-2008, 08:28 PM

Before I was a plumber I was a chef but what good is that if people can't afford to eat out but I have a trade that people will hopefully always need. So I guess I can barter to GOD I hope it doesn't get that bad.

emanuel

11-07-2008, 08:41 PM

Sounds interesting have you done that before???
Yup, used to be loss prevention when I was in college. It was something to do and I rather liked it. I've done a little forensic accounting/auditing on the side at my current job and unearthed some pretty crazy stuff.

POMPINOLOVER

11-08-2008, 03:44 AM

I have sold on ebay on and off for about 10 years and I have enough inventory if need be, to make it 3 years or so...albeit only making about 22,000 or so a year but thats better than nothing:)

kooler

11-08-2008, 01:55 PM

maybe they could try songwriting. if i can do it anybody can. sad country seems popular right now.:cool:

your too young for a mid life crisis
so why dont you just accept it and wear your wrinkles proud,
proud just like keith richards.
go ahead and scream if it makes you feel better
but dont forget you got to remember that the future lays and yesterday cannot be denied
and the truth will survive.
now your too young for a mid life crisis
so why dont you just accept it wear your wrinkles proud, proud just like keith richards.
go ahead and dream make your path just like a new sprung spring.
overflow if you must and you have to trust and believe that the future lays and yesterday
cannot be denied and the truth will survive, the truth survives.
now your too young for a mid life crisis
so why dont you just accept it and wear your wrinkles proud, proud just like keith richards.
copyright 11/8/2008 b.l.

racewire20

11-08-2008, 09:05 PM

J,

I'm surprised noone's said "exotic male dancer." I hear sprtsracer is moonlighting already. :D

Hey sprtsracer, Need to borrow my fish net mantyhose?:D

sprtsracer

11-09-2008, 08:03 PM

Hey sprtsracer, Need to borrow my fish net mantyhose?:D

Don't wear them, so don't need them...BUT...if anyone knows where I could find a Med. G-string with a XXXL Pouch, I'd appreciate it!!! :D

BubbaHoTep

11-09-2008, 09:19 PM

Don't wear them, so don't need them...BUT...if anyone knows where I could find a Med. G-string with a XXXL Pouch, I'd appreciate it!!! :D

*whispering* You'll notice that he didn't say whether the pouch should be in the front or the back. :D:D:D

Thrifty Angler

11-09-2008, 09:53 PM

Don't wear them, so don't need them...BUT...if anyone knows where I could find a Med. G-string with a XXXL Pouch, I'd appreciate it!!! :D

Sounds like someone has some hefty size nuts that need storing away for the winter. ;)

Perhaps up front for easy retrieval. :rolleyes:

parkstreet1234

11-10-2008, 05:33 PM

I was in the private security business (glamorized security guard) and I also did a hitch in the military. I don't really feel qualified for anything with security, and I work in the computer field now. Where i worked paid well, and tons of overtime but there was a very high possibility of getting injured.

My latest interest is video editing (much safer). I think putting enough effort into learning a video editing software package may land you some easy part time work, if not full time. You can also make videos of whatever is of interest to you, and possibly sell them. Port them to different media, like DVD, the internet, ipods. I think the possibilities are endless. It is a form of communication.

Someone said to me "Hey you should do weddings", but that is really not my bag. I like weddings and all, but maybe I am more artistic in my little world :) I also don't know that much about taking videos, just editing them. I guess one thing at a time...

BubbaHoTep

11-10-2008, 06:12 PM

. . . .My latest interest is video editing (much safer). I think putting enough effort into learning a video editing software package may land you some easy part time work, if not full time. You can also make videos of whatever is of interest to you, and possibly sell them. Port them to different media, like DVD, the internet, ipods. I think the possibilities are endless. It is a form of communication.

Someone said to me "Hey you should do weddings", but that is really not my bag. I like weddings and all, but maybe I am more artistic in my little world :) I also don't know that much about taking videos, just editing them. I guess one thing at a time...

This is worth looking into, parkstreet. The only video editing I have done was a little photo CD with music for my parents' 50th Anniversary celebration, but I know the lady who did our wedding pics/video made a bloody fortune for a day's work.