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Ask HN: Would love a physical job, any ideas?

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Re: Ask HN: Would love a physical job, any ideas?

#21

Post by TheSpiceIsLife »

mholubowski wrote: post #8
SkyMarshal wrote: post #7

I once spent a couple months building houses with a construction crew, and that was both physical and educational. I still enjoy walking into houses and buildings, looking around, and knowing how they're put together. It's like I can see through walls now, to the frame and studs. Getting out in the sun and doing physical labor was also refreshing and renewing, if also tiring. And no one will tell you it sounds like y…

SkyMarshal, how does a 31 year old programmer get into something like this? With little to no experience of construction?

I work in structural steel fabrication and construction, qualified boiler-maker here in Australia (Tasmania), 20 years in the game and 5 years in IT (up to remote-hands for the likes of Akamai and Google), and now driving a 4kW fiber laser cutter.

SkyMarshal's advice is sound. If you turn up, wearing steel cap books, an something resembling the appropriate clothing, and say something like "I can start now", I think you're in with a chance.

Here in Australia, particularly Tasmania, it's been so hard to find people willing to turn most days of the week I'd say you could get a job here tomorrow (okay, maybe not Saturday) for any number of construction companies.

My contact details are in my profile. I could potentially flick you some drawings for you to study so you'd be able to walk in and say "I can read a fabrication drawing and a marking-plan".

Re: Ask HN: Would love a physical job, any ideas?

#22

Post by SkyMarshal »

mholubowski wrote: post #8
SkyMarshal wrote: post #7

I once spent a couple months building houses with a construction crew, and that was both physical and educational. I still enjoy walking into houses and buildings, looking around, and knowing how they're put together. It's like I can see through walls now, to the frame and studs. Getting out in the sun and doing physical labor was also refreshing and renewing, if also tiring. And no one will tell you it sounds like y…

SkyMarshal, how does a 31 year old programmer get into something like this? With little to no experience of construction?

Adding to what Spice said, the starter equipment is:

1. Steel-toe boots

2. Safety glasses

3. Professional grade hammer *

4. Professional toolbelt

Show up with those four things and they'll take you seriously.

* practice with the hammer a bit first. There's actually an art to holding the hammer at its Point of Balance (PoB), flipping it with your wrist not your arm/elbow, and letting its weight and momentum do most of the work instead of your arm muscles. I can't find a video on this on YT atm, but will post one if I find it.

Re: Ask HN: Would love a physical job, any ideas?

#24

Post by ipaddr »

mholubowski wrote: post #8
SkyMarshal wrote: post #7

I once spent a couple months building houses with a construction crew, and that was both physical and educational. I still enjoy walking into houses and buildings, looking around, and knowing how they're put together. It's like I can see through walls now, to the frame and studs. Getting out in the sun and doing physical labor was also refreshing and renewing, if also tiring. And no one will tell you it sounds like y…

SkyMarshal, how does a 31 year old programmer get into something like this? With little to no experience of construction?

Go to a local job center. You will see tons of postings for plumber assistant or factory worker or call center worker. Talk to a councillor and they will place you.

Another option is temp companies.

Get your forklift license or trucking license if you want more of a career.

Re: Ask HN: Would love a physical job, any ideas?

#25

Post by toast0 »

Look at fedex/ups/maybe usps jobs near you. Package handling at a sorting facility is a physical job, and should be easy to get with no experience. Let them know you can type, and you might get on SWAK (scan, weigh, and key), which is a bit easier.

Doing deliveries is more social, but there's a lot of deadline stress.

Re: Ask HN: Would love a physical job, any ideas?

#26

Post by amerkhalid »

Great suggestions so far. Here are some of my ideas:

Landscape designer: There is a lot to learn about various plants, climate zones, etc. I am learning for our home but feeling overwhelmed. We are considering hiring a consultant and probably would do actual yard work myself. But there are a lot of landscaping companies that will do everything for you.

Realtor: I have real estate license, you meet a lot of people, explore new areas, learn about so many things. It was really enjoyable experience without being pushy salesperson as I didn’t need money. I stopped as most of work happen in evenings and weekends, and as a dad I felt it was not fair to my kids.

Handyman: Along the same lines as landscaping but probably more in demand. I personally rather do work outside.

Portrait photography: It has a lot of competition but also very rewarding and not as stressful as wedding photography. You get explore new places for the shoots. And it is very fulfilling to make people happy with your photos.

Re: Ask HN: Would love a physical job, any ideas?

#28

Post by milleniall »

I am a programmer, outdoor plumber and currently training to go to selection for Wildland firefighter.

If you like being active and more physical - just look at what interests you in terms of what you want to do physically and try to match it with something that can yield an income or trade.

Re: Ask HN: Would love a physical job, any ideas?

#29

Post by logicalmonster »

1) Hopefully your income stream will last, but just remember that monthly $5K you're counting on might not be around forever. You're probably going to have re-invent yourself multiple times in your life.

2) Pick a profession that you might be able to meld with your technical/computer skills and interests in the future. Maybe you'll have an idea for a future startup that combines your job that other people without the tech background haven't recognized.

Re: Ask HN: Would love a physical job, any ideas?

#30

Post by ted_bunny »

Wait tables. You don't need much experience, it can be fun, your glutes and hamstrings will thank you, and it's not bad money if you can manage to get into a good place. And it will make you cooler, as service industry types are one of the hippest slices of society. The downside is that it can suck you into a nightcrawler lifestyle.
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