I'm in the same boat. Just left the navy as an Electronics Tech fixing weapon systems now I'm installing telephone systems for a company called Commander. I hate it, pays crap. So for the past 8 months I have been applying for Electrical apprenticeships but the 16yr olds keep getting the jobs. I was once told at a group interview that I didn't encorage the younger guys to speak up. Im in Albury so I think that's half my problem.

I am a telecommunications tech and I install phone systems as well as install data / telephony cabling both copper and fibre. I also do a bit of Electrical Trades Assistant work as well when comms work is slow. I actually really enjoy the phone system installation part of it as it can be challenging and makes you use your brain and if you are only installing the system then you are in Air con the whole time. The hard part of being a comms tech / sparky is the crawling through ceilings or under floors when it is pushing 50 degrees in the shade not much fun. I have just recently changed jobs and am now working in a company that services a mine site and community and I am now earning a really awesome wage - over three times as much per year as I was getting!

Weve got sub-contractors at our work earning $2000-$2500 per week installing built in wardrobes.

Most are ex-carpenters or cabinet makers. Hard work but good money.

Edited January 28, 200917 yr by mercuryturbo

Not quite a trade but after helping my mrs setup her classroom for the year ahead today, my vote is to get mature age entry into uni and become a teacher....

Pro's

- 4 years of bulk talent / parties / mates at uni

- Decent pay (mrs takes home about 800 a week just outta uni so in next few years it'll be closer to 1K I guess)

- Mon-Fri

- always plenty of work

- 12 weeks of holidays a year and finally..

- easy way to meet some serious hotties. Maybe its just that I see a lot of younger teachers on the various social events, but damn, I wish I was in school again!!

Cons

- kids

Edited January 28, 200917 yr by Mat

my misses is a teacher and its not all fun and games. Its bloody hard work.

More cons:

She takes home heaps of stuff to prep for the next day/week.

Reports every 6months takes her ages to do.

Dealing with parents who cant believe little Johnny isnt anything but an angel.

Your capped to about $76k unless your a principle or exectuive

All your holidays cost more due to being peak holiday period when you take them(yes I know this is being picky)

people that are saying plumbers, what sort of plumbing are u talking about? Toilets and such or outside running main water pipes under the ground and such?

Trades have only been paid the good money in the last 8 years. All demand driven due to the oldies retiring/ minimal apprenticeships and a booming economy (at least in Perth).

Whilst I think there will still be OK money for tradespeople, it wont be anything like it was in the last 5 years.

Edited January 29, 200917 yr by turbotrana

my misses is a teacher and its not all fun and games. Its bloody hard work.

More cons:

She takes home heaps of stuff to prep for the next day/week.

Reports every 6months takes her ages to do.

Dealing with parents who cant believe little Johnny isnt anything but an angel.

Your capped to about $76k unless your a principle or exectuive

All your holidays cost more due to being peak holiday period when you take them(yes I know this is being picky)

My misses is also a teacher. The parents is what annoys here most. But you can't go past the hours and hoilday pay (plus maternity leave which she'll be getting soon.)

Same with my sister. She is a teacher at a private school, got paid $60k+ first year out of uni and just took her maternity leave and loves the holidays...Her opinion is the same though, it's the parents (especially at private schools) that are the downside of the job.

Im a qualified welder and work mainly in transport as a sub contractor building skeleton frames, chassis and bodys for tipping trucks.

There is other stuff involved its not just a matter of welding 2 pieces of steel together and going home, the work can be quite physical and hard on the body, espicially in the heat like this week.

Money is very good at the moment in the field due to the lack of interest with people wanting to do it (I sometimes dont blame them), I bring home anything from $1500-$2500 and im only 22 years old.

My advice would be that unless you really like metal work and dont mind being hot and dirty most days, try plumming or sparky.

Good luck