<p>I would look at the programs being offered at the CC’s as they are often creating niche programs specifically for the local industries that need workers. Some of these are just certificate programs, so the time and investment is less than going back for an associate’s degree. I know you’re in WNY, but the CC’s in CNY and Albany area are offering a number of programs related to the green energy industries that are cropping up. In CNY, gaming certificate programs are also popular…professional dealers do make a fairly good living from what I’ve seen! I’ve read things on UB’s website regarding the need for training local workers to support the growing medical/research complex in Buffalo so Erie or Genesee CC may be a good place to find those types of programs.</p>
<p>Maintenance positions with HVAC certification are available. When we moved from CA to IN he found himself unable to get the property management jobs (and salary) of his old life. He works maintenance. He was just offered a union job 5 minutes from home, so I never expect to see him in a suit and tie again.</p>
<p>Drug dealing, loan sharking aren’t too bad… ;)</p>
<p>Seriously, a lot comes down to contacts and nepotism…my children are in college and HS and have great paying jobs anytime they want to work…Pay is over $16 per hout for PT work…</p>
<p>Hey! Not if I’m the customer behind you - stop with the chit-chat already and just place your order, pay and move on so I can get to my pumpkin chai latte! :-)</p>
<p>I would disagree about plumbers and electricians. I own a construction company in CA. I know lots of experienced electricians who have no work. I know a self employed plumber who is about to lose his house. some people think getting in with the unions is the ticket but in my area even the union contractors are laying off the journeymen and apprentices. Older guys who were superintendents are now doing the actual work.</p>
<p>Wow…ebeeee…where I am in CT, it’s almost impossible to get a plumber to do work at your house…unless you happen to be family friends. The plumbers around here are so busy they are not taking new customers. SO if you have an emergency of some sort…well…it can take time to find someone to fix your problem. </p>
<p>While new building is slow, the electricians around here are also busy. Especially when there are things like Hurricane Irene…these folks are also impossible to get to even answer their phone calls. They are quite busy.</p>
<p>My tree guy (the guy who cuts down trees) is fabulous. I’m quite sure he does not have a college degree. Of course, his equipment is expensive. He told us that it took him a number of years to save to purchase his own equipment but he is excellent and in demand now.</p>
<p>$10 an hour to pour coffee?! My magna cum laude, top 20 May grad would love to earn that much in her job at THE coffee shop!! </p>
<p>She doesn’t see the need to retrain, though. Jobs don’t just fall from the sky, and sometimes it takes a bit of time, patience, networking, etc to get that good job.</p>
<p>Again may dependon where you live. In CA insurance for tree guys is very expensive. Nanny and childcare are in demand but they don’t pay more than ten dollars an hour.</p>
<p>I think that jobs like nanny and child care worker pay more in areas where people earn more. But then, the cost of living in those areas is bound to be higher, as well.</p>
<p>In teh current economic climate I woudn’t recommend what I am about to mention, but when things turn around getting a real estate license can lead to a lucrative career.</p>
<p>Things are stunningly different these days. And, I’m finding, completely confusing students just coming out of high school or college who have always been told that college is a must - and now are suddenly being told that they should have gone to voc ed or a career high instead of taking those AP classes. They don’t know what to do.</p>
<p>My son made shockingly good money at his post high school summer job this year at a local dairy. Doing what? Slathering ganache onto ice cream cakes and cutting out cake forms. He made more money hourly than the starting wage of someone in the job I hold (liberal arts type) which requires a minimum Bachelor’s. We were half expecting him to decide not to go to college because he would make even more as a regular (not summer) employee.</p>
<p>I think much depends on where you live. Around here, h.s. kids who graduate from the linesman class at the local vocational school have multiple job offers well before they graduate and are begged by companies to come work for them. Hard job, climbing telephone poles and such, but the money and benefits are outstanding. Diesel mechanics graduates are also in great demand and those kids have jobs before they graduate.</p>
<p>I would suggest taking a look, as someone suggested, at what the local CC and/or vocational school in your area is offering, as they do take up programs which help train for local needs. A respected CC in our area is just now developing and adding a solar/wind program, working with a major well-known industry in this area that has a need for such employees. Already it is garnering interest and support from other industries as well. </p>
<p>Students with talents and interest in humanities, who often have BA degrees, are in a tough spot, aren’t they? :(</p>
<p>“He made more money hourly than the starting wage of someone in the job I hold (liberal arts type) which requires a minimum Bachelor’s. We were half expecting him to decide not to go to college because he would make even more as a regular (not summer) employee.”</p>
<p>I made more as a hotel waiter on weekends while in high school than I did even 10 years later, post two graduate degrees. (It was HARD work!)</p>
<p>What about administrative assistant? I can totally see my D’s education and internships ( English with a journalism and documentary studies certificate) preparing her for that.</p>
<p>If you have a BA and can write well or conduct research, what about starting your own business using elance.com? Some folks seem to be running a pretty good profitable business this way!</p>
<p>If you know anyone who works on the railroad it is nice work. The pay is easily $60k+ for a person mid career. There is absolutely no school needed as you will be paid to train. The only downside is that you really need to have an in by knowing someone who can recommend you. If you can not find a recommendation you can start out working in the rail yards and on signal crew doing repair and eventually move up.</p>
<p>As the article says, “Administrative assistants, also referred to as secretaries. . .”</p>
<p>In high school, I took a two-year secretarial program.
Then I got a BA, taught ESL for a couple years. Got an MA (also in English/ESL) and found a job as an administrative assistant. (Never made or poured coffee–worked for chair of med school dept.–paid better than teaching.)</p>
<p>In CA, a decent bookkeeper makes $35-60/hr. Few of them have college degrees, and they’re in demand. All you need is a basic accounting class or two, and a Quickbooks class and you’re ready to go. As long as you’re detail oriented and can work with people, you can make good money and set your own hours.</p>
<p>“Administrative assistants, also referred to as secretaries. . .”</p>
<p>Does it fit the OP’s criteria? It fits mine! And being a “virtual” assistant would be right up D’s alley.Does the salary in the article sound right? Does a college degree, maybe one from a “fancy” school make a difference?</p>
<p>FWIW, the administrative assistant/secretary for my husbands medical group might have been the most important person in the group!</p>
<p>I agree about phlebotemists, but it’s not a lot of humanities majors have experience with. Also, around here, most things related to corrections and the prison system are always looking, and they seem to retire REALLY early!</p>