What would you tell your kids to do for a living? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

GomerPile · 03-28-2025, 01:45 PM

I dont have any kids, but my Nephew asked me what he should be when he grows up? I got thinking and wasn't really sure.

So, what do you do, and what would you tell a pre teen to be when they grew up?

I formally was a construction project manager with Fortis and The City of Calgary, and now own and operate a small brewery. I think I will tell my nephew to do a trade, work for himself and be as busy as he wants? I don't foresee robots taking that over.

The question really did get me thinking.

Locke · 03-28-2025, 01:49 PM

Electrician.

Be a Sparky.

photon · 03-28-2025, 01:49 PM

1. Pick something that you love to do
2. Do that for a job

Then you'll always enjoy your work and will often be better than most at it so will always have a job as long as your entire job type doesn't disappear.

Locke · 03-28-2025, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by photon

1. Pick something that you love to do
2. Do that for a job

Then you'll always enjoy your work and will often be better than most at it so will always have a job as long as your entire job type doesn't disappear.

Sorry photon. I like and respect you but I'm going to vehemently disagree with this.

If you do something you love and end up doing it for work, you will eventually and inevitably learn to hate it.

Do something you're good at and that provides a living. Leave the 'stuff you love' for a hobby.

I cannot tell you how many mechanics became that because they loved working on cars. You know how many tool on their own project cars after work?

A very small number.

gasman · 03-28-2025, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locke

Electrician.

Be a Sparky.

I second this. Such a versatile career, and once you get the experience you can spin it in to something entrepreneurial. Downside, if you go the residential route, be prepared to spend a fair amount of time in attics, which are never fun places to be.

I would steer them far away from oil and gas... And I say that as someone who has spent my entire career in oil and gas.

undercoverbrother · 03-28-2025, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by photon

1. Pick something that you love to do
2. Do that for a job

Then you'll always enjoy your work and will often be better than most at it so will always have a job as long as your entire job type doesn't disappear.

I think love is too strong a word.

You are least need to enjoy it and it shouldn't be on the road to being obsolete.

We are currently struggling with our youngest boy.

He doesn't know what he wants to do.

TheIronMaiden · 03-28-2025, 01:58 PM

I would say, do something that you're interested in. You don't have to "love it" but finding it interesting is helpful.

Otherwise, I would say find something that does not destroy your body.

Locke · 03-28-2025, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gasman

I second this. Such a versatile career, and once you get the experience you can spin it in to something entrepreneurial. Downside, if you go the residential route, be prepared to spend a fair amount of time in attics, which are never fun places to be.

I would steer them far away from oil and gas... And I say that as someone who has spent my entire career in oil and gas.

We're trying to electrify the entire world. Sparkys are going to be drowning in work for the foreseeable future.

And you're right its a very versatile career.

chedder · 03-28-2025, 02:02 PM

I've tried to find a tile guy to re-do my ensuite shower. Anyone good is booking into September. And the prices. Wow.

Go find an old tiler who wants to teach a young guy and I doubt you'll ever be out of work.

On that residential electrician comment, my buddy does that, he's in his early thirties and already curses attics. I guess that's what apprentices are for.

Hindsight being 20/20 but I wish I would have been exposed to the trades, or firefighting when I was done university. With firefighting you could do both and have a great side gig.

Shazam · 03-28-2025, 02:07 PM

Youngest is bound and determined to be a vet.
Oldest is wanting to be a pharmacist.

Tiler is a great profession to get into, but if you don't like re-doing someone else's #### job, because you will do many, many, many of these (I found one tiler and that's all he does, and he hates life), don't do it.

If I were to do it all over again I would do biological research.

flamesfever · 03-28-2025, 02:07 PM

I always told my kids to pick something they like doing, do it to the best of their ability, and create a market for their own talents.

I think it's also important to pick something that people are going to need for a long time or forever e.g. undertaker, healthcare, something to do with food or shelter, transportation, communication etc.

Roughneck · 03-28-2025, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chedder

I've tried to find a tile guy to re-do my ensuite shower. Anyone good is booking into September. And the prices. Wow.

Go find an old tiler who wants to teach a young guy and I doubt you'll ever be out of work.

On that residential electrician comment, my buddy does that, he's in his early thirties and already curses attics. I guess that's what apprentices are for.

Hindsight being 20/20 but I wish I would have been exposed to the trades, or firefighting when I was done university. With firefighting you could do both and have a great side gig.

Being a bad electrician and a good firefighter ensures steady work.

Twitchy15 · 03-28-2025, 02:08 PM

lots of trades seem to be in big demand, have to be careful with university because so many people go and get a degree and cannot get a job or find a job that is unrelated. In my sait program so many people in my class had university degrees that were not super useful unless you were continuing on for a significant professional degree.

SAIT has some great programs and the medical programs starting wage is decent.

iggy_oi · 03-28-2025, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locke

Sorry photon. I like and respect you but I'm going to vehemently disagree with this.

If you do something you love and end up doing it for work, you will eventually and inevitably learn to hate it.

Do something you're good at and that provides a living. Leave the 'stuff you love' for a hobby.

I cannot tell you how many mechanics became that because they loved working on cars. You know how many tool on their own project cars after work?

A very small number.

This is silly.

Is your advice essentially to do something you hate for a living?

While I’ll admit this is anecdotal I know a lot of mechanics who enjoy working on their own projects outside of work. If you know many who don’t maybe it’s because they got to enjoy working on vehicles all day and want to do something else they enjoy outside of work.

I agree that people need to consider what careers will pay the bills, but if you can have a well paying job that you also enjoy and find fulfilling you’d be crazy not to do that.

GomerPile · 03-28-2025, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chedder

With firefighting you could do both and have a great side gig.

I always find this interesting, I know a few Firefighters and their unions always push for work life balance in schedule etc.... then they all have side gigs, which would defeat that balance IMO. I also know several firefighters who have had major mental health issues and a few succumbed to it, for that reason I dont recommend it.

Torture · 03-28-2025, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chedder

I've tried to find a tile guy to re-do my ensuite shower. Anyone good is booking into September. And the prices. Wow.

Go find an old tiler who wants to teach a young guy and I doubt you'll ever be out of work.

On that residential electrician comment, my buddy does that, he's in his early thirties and already curses attics. I guess that's what apprentices are for.

Hindsight being 20/20 but I wish I would have been exposed to the trades, or firefighting when I was done university. With firefighting you could do both and have a great side gig.

idk, I think in the trades you have to be careful about trading wear and tear on your body, particularly as you get older. You can earn a living but at what cost if you can't enjoy it after work?

chedder · 03-28-2025, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shazam

Youngest is bound and determined to be a vet.
Oldest is wanting to be a pharmacist.

Tiler is a great profession to get into, but if you don't like re-doing someone else's #### job, because you will do many, many, many of these (I found one tiler and that's all he does, and he hates life), don't do it.

If I were to do it all over again I would do biological research.

Hah. My kids are a future engineer and a future pharmacist. Today, anyway.

Sainters7 · 03-28-2025, 02:13 PM

Something that is fairly stable and insulated against a change in government. You don't want your livelihood riding on who wins an election.

Shazam · 03-28-2025, 02:17 PM

There are lots of career planning tools available online, like these:

https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/career-planning/quizzes

https://www.ucalgary.ca/career-perso...an-your-career

U of C has a really thick paper one that they'd give out on open house day, I'm sure you can ask for it at https://www.ucalgary.ca/career-personal-development there.

chedder · 03-28-2025, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GomerPile

I always find this interesting, I know a few Firefighters and their unions always push for work life balance in schedule etc.... then they all have side gigs, which would defeat that balance IMO. I also know several firefighters who have had major mental health issues and a few succumbed to it, for that reason I dont recommend it.

Traumatic stress injury and other mental health issues are definitely a factor. As long as that doesn't get you, you only work like 8 24 hour shifts per month. That leaves a lot of time for work life balance. The side gig, for many, can be a stress reliever.