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.
Tell us a little more about him. What would he do if left to his own devices, has he ever had any natural talents or interests over the years? What were the family names of his immediate grandparents (clues to long held vocations handed down within the family).
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Originally Posted by Biff
If the NHL ever needs an enema, Edmonton is where they'll insert it.
Dude, I thought you were just kidding lol. Do you really think robots are gonna roll up to somebody’s house in the next 10 years, carefully pack away their belongings, as discussed with the sales bot, then paint their house? Maybe the new plumbing robot can assess why there’s water dripping through the light fixture in your kitchen, diagnose the issue, and calmly explain what options you have moving forward.
It's important to note how hard any of this is to properly forecast. Keep in mind we went from "AI can't do math" to "AI is solving PhD level math" in about a year.
Based on the weekly progress we're seeing in robotics, I'd be surprised if anything you've listed here will be difficult within 5 years. I mean, with a series of cell phone photos and a ChatGPT subscription we can probably do 90% of your plumber scenario today. To me the more likely scenario is one guy shows up acting as a foreman for the 3 robots he brings along.
The thing with robots is once one learns a skill, they all have that skill. Training 1 to replace a lightbulb means that task comes off the list. We're starting to realize that they can successfully train in virtual environments, so instead of Neo learning Kung-Fu, it'll be a little R2D2 thing learning to swap out a light switch.
Capitalism talks, and replacing tradespeople is probably a trillion dollar treasure chest. I don't see how solving that "problem" doesn't get full attention from very powerful people.
The original thread question is outrageously difficult to answer. My kid is 15 and I'm at a total loss where to point him. Trades make the most sense yes, but when huge swaths of work disappear (basically anything that involves words), guess where everybody is going to end up?
So maybe "training people to be tradespeople" is the answer?
My serious answer is the "follow your passion" advice is overly simplistic and ignores a few factors. To me it works better if we find the overlap between:
1. What are you good at
2. What do you like
3. What does the world need
4. What will the world pay for
If you can hit at least 3 out of 4, you'll probably do great.
Last edited by Russic; 03-31-2025 at 12:02 PM.
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- lawyers
- engineers (oh, so many miserable 'geers)
- teachers
- doctors
- every IT position ever
- plumbers
- electricians
- pharmacists
- veterinarians
- police officers
- bus drivers
- secretaries
- hvac
- accountants
- directors
- executives
- CEOs
And of course, middle managers. The most miserable of them all.
It has nothing to do with trades and a lot with the people you fortunate or unfortunately have encountered in your life. And just the general stress of life as you get older and you hit more death, divorces, etc.
And coming Great Depression? Man, some of you guys really need to take an economics course before you decide to jump off a cliff.
Never said it had anything to do with "trades". Tiling for 40 years is hard on the body. It's not a complicated thing to understand.
Who's ready to jump off cliffs? I mean, I'd probably jump off a cliff before I chose to take an economics course I don't need.
There's a #### load of bliss to be derived from a lucrative career though
I've had similar conversations with other parents in our peer group and when it comes to future-proofing career paths, if I had to distill everyone's opinion down to one thing, it would be to follow something that is generally relationship-based.
The theory is that as AI takes a bigger and bigger role in people lives, there will be a missing component of human interaction that leaves people wanting. So maybe your child uses AI to conduct 80% of their tasks, but it's that remaining 20% that can be conducted on a personal level that will keep careers viable going forward.
Teachers can have individualized lesson plans catered to each student, but the student still responds better to teacher-pupil interaction.
Doctors can use AI tools to help with diagnosis and screen for conflicts in treatment options, but sick people will still want the warmth of another person to present the information.
Lawyers will have AI draft agreements, but will still need to negotiate finer points directly in difficult deals.
Salespeople can use AI to identify the best solution for their customers, but the customer will still want to be taken to the strippers entertained - before making a purchasing decision
I'm basically in sales, so this all sounds reaonable to me, but who knows what the future will bring.
And yes, obviously this is less applicable to the introverts and I'm not sure what the answer is there.
Well introverts still have a basic human need to connect with people. Not like it's non-existent.
The difference is they get their fill/need met with a modest amount of socialization, then go off to do individual activities and recharge.
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Me as a student: I'm thinking of law school
Every lawyer i said that to: Good God don't do it
Me: hahaha you're funny
Me as a law student: I'm in law school
Every lawyer: Good God don't do it
Me: hahaha you're funny
Me now: ahhhh you're weren't joking!
Seriously though. I'm going to encourage my kids to do what they want, find something they don't hate and to work hard at it.
Ideally, something with a good pension and that has good benefits.
The job is not like Suits. At All.
I got an education degree, enjoyed being in front of the kids, but was not sure I could work in the 'industry.' Plus, I had to resolve my daddy issues and went to law school. I have had an interesting career, but with lots of ups and downs. The fun parts are about 3% of the job. The pay is okay with what I am doing, but not enough to make the rest worth it. Plus, working with psychos, lawyers and clients, really sucks.
My friend was a teacher as well. He is now a principal and will retire in a year or two. Then he can be a principal sub, WHILE HE COLLECTS HIS FULL PENSION. He has the best life because his father in law has worked in industry and has a cabin and boat they can enjoy but did not have to pay for.
As I get closer to the end, but nowhere near retirement, I am really starting to kick myself. A therapist would have been way cheaper than law school...
What I tell people considering law school, don't do it. But if you do want to do it, do some reading, talk to some lawyers about what their days are really like and then really reflect on why you want to do it. Your parents had a bad marriage so you want to do family law? Go for it. You were a victim of crime so you want to be a prosecutor? Great. You think the career is like Suits or a John Grisham novel? You will have a difficult path.
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My brother wanted to go into the trades and I wanted to be a recording engineer, but our parents steered us both into engineering. We’ve both had good careers but he bitterly regrets it. I on the other hand am happy that I chose the direction that actually pays, while being able to pursue the other as a hobby.
Not gonna read through to see if it's been said, but I tell a lot of kids to get into Millwright. Jack of all trades, good money, work shutdowns 6 months of the year and travel the rest. I also meet a lot of them that have been on the tools, then make their way into management.
Get into the Alberta apprenticeship program (RAP) in High School, find a job somewhere and start accumulating hours. Finish High School, go to Sait, and get into the workforce.
Some recently described law to me as: 50% boredom, 45% anxiety; 5% interesting.
The first 5-7 years of law suck. The years after are sort of "meh, this job isnt so bad" to being buried with work and moving from one fire to another.
In my specialization i deal with different people at different jobs every day.
- some people LOVE their jobs; but the jobs they love just suit their personality. Definitely not what i would enjoy.
- most people are usually content with what they do. its a job.
- There is a reason people working in For Mac get paid well. Those jobs sound like they suck! no life beyond work; intense physical work that leaves long-lasting damage to your body. Almost all the money is made in OT - so your really just getting paid to work more hours than anyone else.
- i've seen too many people with "hard" jobs (i.e. physically straining jobs) get messed up over time (knees, back, etc.) and get thrown to the curb as soon as expedient to the employer. LTD and CPP Disability do not pay as well as people think.
- The highest paid people are always the ones that need money the most/quickest. Their lives are entirely built on maintaining an income and they are leveraged to the hilt.
- Sales is the weirdest in terms of compensation. I have seen salespeople take home 1+ mil a year; while others in the same industry are getting paid 70k.
My daughter has been accepted into engineering at UofA and the Math program at UofC.
She's been unable to make a decision and I don't want to make the decision for her.
What would future opportunities look like between them?
We live out towards Priddis so while UofC is closer it'll be a crappy commute. She is really good at math but not a savant/prodigy and my concern is that she'll need to be competing with those sorts in the math program.
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"Teach a man to reason, and he'll think for a lifetime"
That's a tough one. I'm not an engineer but I work with lots of them, and it seems to be a race to the bottom for wages. Lots of overseas engineers coming over and working for pennies on the dollar. Again, just what I've seen at a few of the major engineering firms - I know there's some engineers on here that could probably chime in.
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My daughter has been accepted into engineering at UofA and the Math program at UofC.
She's been unable to make a decision and I don't want to make the decision for her.
What would future opportunities look like between them?
We live out towards Priddis so while UofC is closer it'll be a crappy commute. She is really good at math but not a savant/prodigy and my concern is that she'll need to be competing with those sorts in the math program.
I think it is better for students not to live at home for University (even if studyng in the same city where the parents live).
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Teacher. 2/3 of a day 3/4 of the year, amazing benefits and super short career with a full pension.
My daughter is in education and I'm so excited for her to be on easy street once she graduates!
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Originally Posted by Sainters7
I love ya but I hate how your lazy, option class teacher friends have given you this impression of the industry. I just hope she's getting into it for the love of the work, and not for thinking it'll be easy street. Because if so and she's teaching core subjects, she'll be in for a big surprise.
Yes, agreed. Not to mention that burnout rates are really high in education at a variety of levels. It's not for the faint of heart.
If I could advise anyone to choose a career that is essentially bulletproof, it would be cybersecurity.
Rapid growth industry with endless job opportunities across a wide range of organizations. Everyone needs it, there's not enough workers in the field, and the increasing connectivity of everything to the network creates thousands of new security problems that need resolution. Plus, the job pays quite well, and you can kind of make your own hours.
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My daughter has been accepted into engineering at UofA and the Math program at UofC.
She's been unable to make a decision and I don't want to make the decision for her.
What would future opportunities look like between them?
We live out towards Priddis so while UofC is closer it'll be a crappy commute. She is really good at math but not a savant/prodigy and my concern is that she'll need to be competing with those sorts in the math program.
At the end of the degree she can get a job with the Eng. but what to do with a Math degree? That is how I would look at it. Having said that, with the marks she must have had to get into eng, she can likely do whatever she wants.
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My daughter has been accepted into engineering at UofA and the Math program at UofC.
She's been unable to make a decision and I don't want to make the decision for her.
What would future opportunities look like between them?
We live out towards Priddis so while UofC is closer it'll be a crappy commute. She is really good at math but not a savant/prodigy and my concern is that she'll need to be competing with those sorts in the math program.
I should have done math, probably would have liked it batter than Engineering (which would surprise some). Definitely some savants in the Math department. Dr Bos!! My kid is loving U of A and I hate U of C so it works out.
Engineering I think would be broader obviously but I have no idea what the math people eventually do other than academia or Actuary.
Engineering was a kick in the head though. You think you are smart in high school then you get there and realize you are dumbass compared to some of those people. Weirdly the people who barely got through their Engg degree are by far the most successful in $$$. Buddy used to draw cacks on my notes daily is now the president of a large company and makes a killing. Other friend who copied every assignment from me sold his company for $20MM. Brainiacs seem alright but never ultra successful. If $$ is the performance measure.
I always wished my parents had zero'd in on my interests more as a kid instead of trying to nail down "what was best". I think the fact is you can find work doing basically anything adjacent to your own interests. I was told over an over I couldn't make money doing things I liked, or wouldn't like being something I was interested in like they knew anything about what I liked or would like.
Even if what they think sounds incredible or pedestrian to you, if they become good enough at it, they WILL be a success somehow. Maybe they want to be a pilot, maybe they don't become a pilot but work on planes as a mechanic, or drones, or it leads them down a direction they never thought. All industries have jobs surrounding them that we don't think about or see.
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