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Well paid jobs that require you to be physically active?

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Re: Well paid jobs that require you to be physically active?

#61

Post by seiji »

mtw wrote: post #59
tpanzarella wrote: post #44

Field robotics. Technically very challenging (involves computer science, math, physics, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, control systems engineering, etc.) and very fun. Provides many different areas to specialize in, e.g. perception, planning, learning, control, etc. And you get to spend time physically working with machines just as often (if not more) than sitting at your laptop writing code. For exa…

do you know if there are any successful bootstrapped startups in field robotics? for instance, 1 or 2 guys in a garage who succeed into designing and selling their own UAV? or maybe design a new wheeled robot toy?

DIY Drones is pretty successful at selling parts to make your own UAV: http://diydrones.com/

Re: Well paid jobs that require you to be physically active?

#62

Post by mtw »

gamble wrote: post #42
mikeditkaditka wrote: post #15

firefighter in an urban/suburban area. starting pay in chicagoland area for a firefighter/paramedic is 55K. exorbitant increases as you gain seniority, along with a pension.

These jobs are extremely hard to land. My brother spent about ten years trying to become a firefighter. He went to firefighting school, got his B.Sc., and worked as a private firefighter on a military base - didn't help. I don't think a single person from his graduating class in firefighting school actually became a firefighter.

why so? competition? or the physical standards are so high barely nobody can manage it?

Re: Well paid jobs that require you to be physically active?

#63

Post by jseliger »

The more obvious question might be, "What can I do that combines physical activity with what I do now?"

I had a professor in college who decided he was going to work construction during the summer. He's obviously in a different situation than you, but I still liked the idea.

A few thoughts:

1) Read "Shop Class as Soulcraft:" http://www.amazon.com/Shop-Class-Soulcraft-Inquiry-Value/dp/... . I have no idea if it will help.

2) Have you thought about an IT job that requires, say, moving around computers (as colleges must require somewhat regularly), or maintaining systems on ships, or something like that? I have no idea if any of that would work.

3) Could you combine two part-time jobs? An IT job that pays bills, perhaps, with a job doing something else?

Re: Well paid jobs that require you to be physically active?

#68

Post by gamble »

mtw wrote: post #62
gamble wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

These jobs are extremely hard to land. My brother spent about ten years trying to become a firefighter. He went to firefighting school, got his B.Sc., and worked as a private firefighter on a military base - didn't help. I don't think a single person from his graduating class in firefighting school actually became a firefighter.

why so? competition? or the physical standards are so high barely nobody can manage it?

Way, way too much competition. Besides being the one gov't occupation the public has unalloyed respect for, firefighters get great pay and benefits and a lot of free time. Plus there aren't that many positions available, and many of the ones that do open up often go to 'legacies' and others with insider connections. Even before the recession, advertised positions routinely got hundreds of qualified applicants.
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