I feel like I have no future... No idea what career I want...

[MelissaWV]

This^

Or welding, locksmithing, plumbing, auto/diesel repair, sewing, etc. Get a skill that people in a broken economy will need.

Ain't gonna need sociologists, political scientists, or teachers of same. Or lawyers (the career I pursued and now regret).

Despite your assertions, freedom-related publications, websites, books, banners, signs, and other materials still need proofreading I do very well in this kind of environment.

If the SHTF, I have other skills to survive with, but that's another matter, and I won't be concerned with pay at that point. The dollar will be fancy printed toilet paper.

 

[brandon]

The concern I have with some of these jobs is that they are hurting hardcore right now due to illegal immigration pushing their wages very low.

Thoughts?

No they're not. Illegal immigrants usually do unskilled labor. Most of the careers for skilled labor are protected by unions and the employees make a killing. I have a friend my age (26) who just finished his 4 year apprenticeship as a lineman...now he's making 90k/year with great pension+ benefits.

And if the unions eventually crumble you still have the skill you learned, and there will always be some demand for it. In 10 years or so you have the option of combining your skill with some business sense and going at it on your own...with potential huge rewards.

 

[Reason]

No they're not. Illegal immigrants usually do unskilled labor. Most of the careers for skilled labor are protected by unions and the employees make a killing. I have a friend my age (26) who just finished his 4 year apprenticeship as a lineman...now he's making 90k/year with great pension+ benefits.

And if the unions eventually crumble you still have the skill you learned, and there will always be some demand for it. In 10 years or so you have the option of combining your skill with some business sense and going at it on your own...with potential huge rewards.

What are your thoughts on this plumbers complaints in this video?

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=250655

 

[teacherone]

Go abroad and teach. See the world. Pick up some languages.

These people below will place you in a private international school where English is spoken regardless of the country's language.

The money is usually very good. The students are usually very rich so you can supplement your income through tutoring or side teaching (guitar, English etc). Many countries in the Middle East or Asia charge international teachers NO income tax meaning you can SAVE TONS.

Hell, even Germany will allow you to stay and teach two years and get ALL your social security AND income tax RETURNED if you stay no longer than two. We are talking easily 10,000 plus EUROS on the way out--after earning a decent wage while working and travelling Europe on the MANY breaks.

Check out some of the international teaching fairs. The biggest one is below.

http://www.searchassociates.com/associates/fair_info.cfm

 

[ClayTrainor]

Have you considered internet marketing, and entrepreneurship?

 

[Reason]

Have you considered internet marketing, and entrepreneurship?

I really don't know how I would break into that tbh

 

[Acala]

future wages

The concern I have with some of these jobs is that they are hurting hardcore right now due to illegal immigration pushing their wages very low.

Thoughts?

Everyone's wages will be low. But prices will be low as well. If you have a useful skill you will do okay once the underground economy stabilizes. Anyway, consider the alternative - no work at all. Or a job on a government farm paid in Obama Bucks.

 

[Acala]

Don't know

Despite your assertions, freedom-related publications, websites, books, banners, signs, and other materials still need proofreading I do very well in this kind of environment.

If the SHTF, I have other skills to survive with, but that's another matter, and I won't be concerned with pay at that point. The dollar will be fancy printed toilet paper.

I have no opinion about proofreading as an underground skill since I have not really thought about it. It certainly involves producing a tangible product that people are willing to pay for by choice, which makes it much better than being an attorney, for example. I suspect that at first the underground economy will consist of trade in goods and services that are needed for survival but will quickly expand out from there.

 

[Acala]

competition

What are your thoughts on this plumbers complaints in this video?

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=250655

I would say that he needs to compete. If he can do a better job than the other guy - illegal or not - then he can charge more. If he can't, he shouldn't be paid more.

I also, frankly, doubt that he can only get $10 an hour as a plumber.

 

[Brian4Liberty]

The concern I have with some of these jobs is that they are hurting hardcore right now due to illegal immigration pushing their wages very low.

Legal and illegal immigration do push wages lower. But it effects very specific areas. Some jobs are not effected at all, some jobs Americans can hardly get. Most jobs are filled by association (word of mouth, who knows who). If a new immigrant gets a job in gardening, and they recommend their brother for a job, he will become a gardener too. Before long, these guys are in charge of hiring, and they only bring in more friends, relatives, fellow villagers, etc. After a while, only these people have the gardening jobs, but they are very concentrated in that particular job area. It's one of the reasons so many people don't care about this issue. "So what if all the kitchen staff are underpaid immigrants, I am not personally effected. And who cares about the steel industry being outsourced. I am not a steel worker, and my job is great."

Bottom line: Choose a profession where cheaper imported labor has not penetrated the market. How do you find out? Go to a lot of actual jobs sites where the work you want to try is being done. See who is actually doing the work.

Also, a lot of people have the times of their lives going to foreign countries to teach English...like someone said, it can be good money and you get to see the world.

 

[Matt Collins]

Get your degree. That will put you at least one step above the rest of the crowd.

 

[MelissaWV]

Get your degree. That will put you at least one step above the rest of the crowd.

Unless he winds up deciding he wants to be his own boss, or to go into a field that values certification/experience over a college degree

 

[Philhelm]

A college degree isn't the end all be all; however, it does open up doors that may have otherwise been closed. It all depends on which direction one wishes to take though.

 

[Nate-ForLiberty]

I did not complete my degree in music education. Now I've got my own business teaching piano. I'll be making as much as a college professor (or more) with only 20 hours of work a week.

I get to do what I love how I want to do it, and I'm responsible only to myself. Didn't need a degree.

 

[heavenlyboy34]

I did not complete my degree in music education. Now I've got my own business teaching piano. I'll be making as much as a college professor (or more) with only 20 hours of work a week.

I get to do what I love how I want to do it, and I'm responsible only to myself. Didn't need a degree.

I would like to teach too, just to get on my feet. (though I would rather teach music theory than an instrument) How does one get into the private teaching business?

 

[Nate-ForLiberty]

I would like to teach too, just to get on my feet. (though I would rather teach music theory than an instrument) How does one get into the private teaching business?

I assume you know how to play piano? Can you teach little kids? There are tons of parents who want their kids to learn piano. Really all you have to do is advertise that you give lessons. And don't give up when at first you get no response. You first student will lead to more and so on.


Market for piano lessons = huge
Market for theory lessons = not so huge

You can use your piano lessons as a way into theory.

*Remember it takes time. I'm at only half the number of students that I want, but it's continuing to grow each month.

 

[heavenlyboy34]

I assume you know how to play piano? Can you teach little kids? There are tons of parents who want their kids to learn piano. Really all you have to do is advertise that you give lessons. And don't give up when at first you get no response. You first student will lead to more and so on.


Market for piano lessons = huge
Market for theory lessons = not so huge

You can use your piano lessons as a way into theory.

*Remember it takes time. I'm at only half the number of students that I want, but it's continuing to grow each month.

I don't play piano much, but am proficient at guitar and electric bass. I've never taught little kids, so I don't know yet if I can. Do you advertise in papers, music stores, etc.?

 

[Nate-ForLiberty]

I don't play piano much, but am proficient at guitar and electric bass. I've never taught little kids, so I don't know yet if I can. Do you advertise in papers, music stores, etc.?

Teach guitar! There are plenty of people who want to learn guitar. The most effective marketing I've used so far is door to door canvassing. Make up a flyer and go to it. There more advertising you do the more likely you'll get responses. Do cheap advertising! [Flyers, business cards (you can get them for free online, and word of mouth] If you don't have any experience teaching, you may want to experiment on family/friends.

 

[Matt Collins]

Unless he winds up deciding he wants to be his own boss, or to go into a field that values certification/experience over a college degree

Of course, but if he ever wants to get employed a degree will give him an advantage.

 

[MelissaWV]

Of course, but if he ever wants to get employed a degree will give him an advantage.

*shrugs* That's not true for every field, and I'm not even sure it's true for most fields in a normal economy, but if people want to keep propping up this idea, I'm sure the colleges and universities would be happy for the help.