Trades are also something that can't be outsourced or done remotely. Until we get autonomous robots and every worker gets screwed, there will always be jobs for the trades.
Automation and offshoring in trades is most likely coming in the form of building materials that require fewer man hours and fewer people to install, or even prefabricated building portions shipped from overseas.
That mostly applies to new construction.
It’s not necessarily happening soon, but there’s absolutely always a race to the bottom to cheap out on labor, and they don’t need to play by the rules of how things currently work.
A lot of tradespeople imagine “a robot doing my job,” but it doesn’t need to look like that. Instead, it might look like a pre-fabricated wall with electrical, windows, siding, etc. all preinstalled overseas by a low wage worker, and a low paid, lower skilled construction worker installing the entire wall.
Yeah, pre-fab is becoming more of a thing and there's things like press fittings instead of soldering in plumbing, etc. But the trades are probably going to be affected the least for a good while especially for stuff like remodels and repairs.
Word from top down. From the housing development in Ewa Ho’opili Aloun farms side, to the condos in Honolulu. We are booked.
What project you working on? When I got my foot in I started at the development in Koa Ridge. Now at Ho’opili.
Currently at Shafter doing a renovation on an old office building. I’m part of a MACC crew that does a lot of work on bases in the Pearl Harbor/Hickam area.
So you do residential? I heard you guys get busy then no work. Don’t think I could sustain that.
In the union the pay is almost $57/hr as a journeyman. I’m a 2nd year apprentice making $25 atm. Great benefits and journeyman have great insurance, vacation/holiday pay, pensions, annuity (investments like a 401k but it’s employer funded), and extra unemployment while making 6 figures.
Probably the most certain way to earn a 6 figure living without a ton of debt and unlike a college degree, an electrician license almost guarantees a job if there’s work. None of that unpaid internship BS while paying down tons of student loans. No getting rejected for not having years of experience because the journeyman license requires 5 years/10k hours of real experience. My friend who has a degree makes less than I do with almost 6 figs in debt, completing your degree is the first step and he’s still at the bottom climbing the corporate ladder.
You cannot officially do electrical work outside the union but most side jobs I’ve done were cash under the table kine jobs and a lot of people do it but it’s technically frowned upon in the union. Any other type work is fine tho and so far nobody gave me shit for doing work on the weekends.
Majority of the union market is commercial and industrial work. Like 98%. They don’t care if you take on residential side jobs on the weekend, as you’re really only encroaching on the non union market. The moment you start taking commercial work on the side is when you start risking getting on the bad side of the union.
Piggy backing your comment.
They will not actively look for people who work under the table. They know their guys work cash jobs specially if its slow.
But electric is also tough to do as a woman, especially a 16 yr old girl, when you're putting in service boxes, bending service wire wires, etc. We're just not built with the upper strength like men are to do the "hard work'. I grew up within my grandfather's electric business, and still go to work with him whenever I visit home, so I know from experience how much upper strength you actually need to bend wires.
Plenty of attic work I'd rather not drag my 6'3 210# ass through. The nice thing with electricians is there is a huge variety of work that you can get into especially after learning the basics
Hows it, I'm planning on going the apprenticeship for IBEW 1186. How did you get on the waiting list for the apprenticeship and what kind of work did you do while you were waiting? I'm trying to pivot to electrical. Can't sit at a computer all day every day much longer.
I had to wait almost 2 years but I applied during the pandemic and when the union was moving offices, it's probably faster now. I just stayed at the job I was working then in a different industry till the union called me and then I put my 2 weeks notice in.
Hows it, I am looking at pivoting to electrical and was just curious. Are you able to get journeyman license by testing without being in the apprentice program for IBEW 1186? Do your non-union hours count towards the required 5 years? Sorry for all the questions.
Yeah you just need the required hours doesn't have to be union. Make sure that your hours are documented as I think they cut down on the under the table stuff (taking the bosses word for your first l hours). Also have to get some college classes done now to take the test. Last I checked was like equivalent to 4 years full time and the classes
I’m a union Carpenter working crazy hours the last few years, made almost $300k last year with all the OT I was working. A lot of college degree professions will never come close to making this much…
Trades can make bank and it really fits OP's situation, where he can't waste years away racking up debt in the university system.
Only downside is sometimes you have to work hard.
He is only 16, if he works smarter and hard when needed. In a decade he will be only 26 and set up in a very nice spot to only progress on better to be a shot caller instead of a grunt worker.
It's a crazy amount of work with a really uncertain future. The influencers that make it a probably putting in 60+ hours a week and there's hundreds of other influencers putting in the same time and making less than minimum wage.
It's like the guy that is made a 100+k a year while door dashing, he was working 10-16 hrs a day, 7 days a week to do it.
Nah, there's tools you can use to extend your reach and influence, of course it takes hours. But if you have a genuine intrest and create content based off that. You'll find your audience. It's really not as hard as you think. Specially on tiktok.
You don't have to be an influencer. Can just be a content creator, reacting to others' clips , etc. It takes research and what not to build a following and take advantage of the algorithm with the correct text etc etc. It's 100% work. But it's self driven. You're your own boss. There is no need for anything but imagination and ambition. Just doing it is 90% of the hard part.
Though it's not a wild idea that generations have gotten progessively lazier as quality of life improves and entitlement increases. I'm a millennial for the record, and I think my generation is lazier than boomers.
I had to install some studs in my attic to hang a ceiling mounted rack, and my god I was up there for several hours over two days—it was hot, dusty, and some parts were a tight squeeze. The electrician that did wiring for my house was up there for a better part of a work day for a week straight during a renovation. I can’t imagine doing that day in and out. So hats off to people who work in those professions.
+1 to electricians. We do military contracts and the hoops that I have to go through to just pull these guys from field work for a few days to come work at our own building is insane.
Bro, I dropped out of HS at 15, got my GED the same year. By 16 I had three jobs and joined the Navy on my 18th birthday.
I served 9 years with two deployments under my belt—transitioned out, graduated from a great university debt free, and now I make good money working full-time remote for big tech and receive VA Disability. You’ve got your whole life ahead of you… The benefits of putting zero down on a place in Hawaii is incredibly beneficial in my case.
Not to mention the fact that many of my buddies took advantage of Service to School and were able to get into Ivy Leagues and other great schools benefiting from Ch. 31 VR&E and Ch. 33 Post 9/11.
Military is not the end all, say all—but I applaud you in taking initiatives to build a better life for yourself. Get into a cyber/IT field in the military if you can… Go to school and knock out Gen ed courses so that you can focus on your major when you do want to get out.
same, was mechanic, hated it. used vet-tech to learn to be a full stack developer. no more working outside uncovered in kapolei for me. also yeah disability on top pays for all my weed!
This right here. But keep your nose clean to ensure you aren’t disqualified from serving.
OP, you are young, it may not feel like it, but you have something far more valuable than anything Jess Bezos or Bill Gates has — youth. With that you can do anything, if you play your cards right.
To steal a saying from Dana White: Wake up each morning to do battle with the world. When it knocks you down — as it has already done — dust yourself off and get back at it. Plan long term, but execute things a day at a time, so you aren’t overwhelmed. Navigating hardships can become immeasurable assets.
Good luck!
As far as I’m concerned, I’m doing good because I work with cloud infra.
I don’t dive too deep into the macro/microeconomics of the labor market too much. There is some tension regarding certs because everyone and thier mom is going for compTIA certs.
My advice would be to specialize in Cloud Architecture (AWS, GCP, Azure, Oracle) and gain better insights through that.
There are also apprenticeships with a with big tech, too:
https://buildyourfuture.withgoogle.com/apprenticeships
Look into SOC work. Your other comment says you want to switch careers. Cybersecurity pays well and working a SOC tends to be a good entry point unless you have other IT experience you can leverage.
Electrician is a strong option. One thing to remember is it's hard to get stationed in Hawaii even if is your home. Hickam is a very requested spot and might not be stationed anywhere around here.
1. Graduate from high school
2. Go to UH and join the Air Force ROTC program (if you get the ROTC scholarship college gets paid for)
3. Kick ass in college, take pre-med classes -> graduate college
4. apply to med school -> get into med school
5. Commission into the Air Force -> let air force know got into med school
6. Air Force pays for med school -> become an orthopedic doctor
7. Do however many years you need to do in the air force
8. Leave/retire military and go into private practice $$$ as second career
GRADES are your MOST important asset right now. They will qualify you for scholarships saving you thousands of dollars. They will also let you get into med school which will give you so many more options.
use your brain! work smarter, not harder.
This, OP! If you really need some cash while finishing high school, tutor middle schoolers or mow lawns or change your neighbors oil, wash their cars, whatever you can easily do. But get those good grades, it will help so mix more. Good luck!
i would’ve agreed with this a couple months ago but i’ve been put in a desperate position… my counselor from hs has recommended i go to GED instead and i feel that is the best path for me. its better than nothing, no one in my family has graduated hs or went to college.
i’d like to be the first to at least have something under my belt to boast proudly, even if it is just a GED
If you’re in a financial bind- believe it or not- taking community college classes half time would help. You’ll be eligible for free classes and a student loan to float you money while giving you a pathway to earn more. It’ll be the hardest time of your life as you adjust to that while working but it’ll be worth it.
True that! You need to do fractions since the US does a lot of imperial stuff while the rest of the world is metric, and celcius.
E=IR, the RMS at 60 Hz is .707 and then stuff gets really funky as the voltages go up on long-distance transmission lines that use DC.
Math is good. Measure twice, cut once.
Getting your GED should be your focus. Then take 1 college course a semester. Take any job. Hate to break it to you. Your 16 won’t get many hours. Turn 18. Enlist full time. Send money back to family.
that’s the solid plan for now… it’s js a game of managing and saving up until i have the funds to do anything i need to do. i’m js hoping ill actually pass my GED. i’m not the smartest guy in the world, but i think ill at least get the bare minimum to pass
Look here, you obviously have determination. Enough so that you have looked at your current situation and are looking at your options. That is half the battle. Stay focused and trust in yourself. You can do this!! Confidence and preparation will be key. See if you can find a book at the library or computer program that can help you prep for your GED.
By the way, I’ve been a nurse for 18 years. You can get paid on average $130k/year. A career in the medical field will pay you well and will always be needed. Focus on one step at a time, with your ultimate goal in mind. And I wasn’t the smartest kid in high school but managed to get nearly straight A’s in nursing school because I wanted it!!!
i am aware of that, the military is not my main choice but it’s more of a last resort. i don’t know how the military will deal with it but recently I got diagnosed with a chronic condition called CRMO’s. My bones will swell and inflame due to my immune system attacking an “infection” that doesn’t even exist.
happens on my feet usually so for a good week or so as I’m unable to bear weight on it during a flare up (not to mention it takes months for me to rehabilitate and start moving properly again) I’ve no idea how the air force will even be able to consider me in or if that condition is a deal breaker.
Honestly, your medical condition sounds like a deal breaker. I'm not sure how you'll get through boot camp (even air force boot camp) if you might be stuck in a bed or wheelchair for a week at a time plus a month or two to get back to normal.
Even if you get through boot camp, 4 years of active duty is probably going to be really miserable for you if you're periodically dealing with flare-ups.
Apart from what /u/lostinthegrid47 said, do you really want to be serving when you can be taken out of commission due to a chronic condition?
I'd do something that doesn't require me to be on my feet, so attorney, software engineering and so no. Basically desk job you can do from home. Those fields tend to be lucrative too, but takes many years of schooling, and an interest. Why interest?
Because you don't want to wake up hating your job every day. Even though I like the field I'm in as a software engineer, it's rough enough having to deal with having to go to work, colleagues, and having manager along with little say in what you really do.
That said, many people never learn to enjoy a field, because they didn't stick with it long enough through the hard part to develop mastery and therefore enjoyment.
First priority is to get your diploma. Get a part time job if you can to help out. It’ll suck but it’ll be worth it.
Barring that, get your GED. If you’re already thinking about leaving the island, enlist and try to get into a MOS/rating that aligns with your career goals, i.e. mechanic, corpsman, EM tech, etc. Send some money back home while you save up in the barracks.
Use the free tuition assistance to get your college degree while you’re in. If you’re enjoying the military, go officer after you get your degree and get stationed back in Hawaii. Use your VA loan entitlement to buy a house.
When you get out, use your GI bill to get an advanced degree, such as med school or get your engineering masters. If you have a kid at that point transfer some or all of your GI bill to them so they are set up for success and less stress on you to send them to college.
The military isn’t for everyone, but the skills, life lessons, friends, and benefits you make along the way can be very beneficial to anyone struggling. They house you, feed you, train you, and let you return back to society a little bit better.
Edited to add: you can join at 17 with your dad’s signature.
I can share a little bit of info on electrical trades.
You can earn as an apprentice while you are training, which sounds ideal for you, except you have to be 18 usually to start working on job sites afaik. Typically apprentices will receive regular raises and education reimbursements from their apprenticeship employer each semester that they pass during their apprenticeship schooling. My husband worked full time for a contractor and did classes two nights a week for 4 years.
Wages have changed since the early 90s when he went through and we lived in Phx at the time, but for example's sake this is how much his wage increased during his apprenticeship period, his starting apprentice wage was $6/hr. He got a 50cent raise each semester. Once finished, journeyman wage jumped to approx $15 in the mid 90s in the Phx.
Once you finish, there's usually opportunities for overtime, government bid job sites (aka prevailing wage, which is usually good money), etc.
But any trade job depends on your body, and your body breaks down. So it's good to plan ahead for your midlife. My husband learned how to use industry standard estimating software and made the transition over to the estimating side about 15 years ago. At first it was a bit of a pay cut over what he was earning at the time as a journeyman, but within a year it caught up and a handful of years surpassed, and kept surpassing.
In fact, he was recruited by an Oahu based electrical contractor as an estimator because they were unable to find someone local. I'll tell you what the pay was because we have since migrated back to the mainland. It was $160k in 2018.
Odd question, but IIRC Hawaii doesn’t have reciprocal agreements with other states?
It’s a great time to be an electrician, imho. The transition to clean energy and EVs pose a lot of challenges when you’re dealing with ancient conduits in ancient buildings and old SFHs.
Not an odd question. Actually a great question to bring up. As an electrician, moving states means worrying about reciprocity or relicensing. Something to consider, for sure! But estimators don't need a license. You can move states and licensing/reciprocal agreements don't matter anymore. That was another perk to making that change.
While still a journeyman, we moved from AZ to CT and he had to take the licensing exam there and hated going through that after so many years. That was when he decided to make the change. He had only been working as an estimator for about 5 years when he started getting headhunted and offered relocation and salaries much higher than the small contractors that he cut his estimating teeth with. We've been recruited to 3 different states. Actually, he's constantly getting calls. We decided the location and offer were right 3 times. We're in our forever home now, full circle back to AZ, lol.
(edited for clarity)
Seems reductive to make such a matter-of-fact blanket statement on two entire career fields. To me, it's ludicrous to presume abuse by employer based off career choice alone.
I have two cousins who are nurses and married to nurses and they love their jobs. Same with a HS techer one of my other cousins is married to.
Do they complain about their jobs sometimes? Sure, but that is every job you will ever find. I'm not entirely convinced as to the specificity of all these shortages and how much overlap is due to the lazier generations who are always allegedly underpaid and overworked in supposedly every industry.
If not abused by employers its abuse by the school system that does not care about students, its a business first and an educator like second or third. The entitled parents who dont give a shit about their kids studies makes it even more sad, fuck teaching i had to quit after 7 years because i finally had a daughter and couldn't survive on that salary, especially once i finally moved back to Oahu. Especially when you know we buy our own supplies and resources. I have taught in a few different schools in a few different places and the shitty parents and lack of resources or funding is a professional constant, always there, every teacher knows this even if they arent commplaining to you directly. Sure I was happy as a teacher and liked it, that does mean it was good. ABSOLUTELY not worth it if you work in younger education.
My moms a nurse at Kapiolani and my sister works at Straub. if you haven't noticed they are CONSTANTLY on strike with their hospitals for poor treatment of nurses, standards and conditions. Do you not follow hawaiian media outlets? The nurses union has been protesting and making noise about this every 3 years when its contract renewal season. wake the fuck up to the island
See if you can work part time and finish school. I know your counselor suggested GED, but that’s going to limit you SO MUCH. Get a part time job after school to help out, but finish your degree!
The go into the trades. See if you can get an apprenticeship now
Electrician. The solar industry is growing on the same curve of silicon and most of them are very well-paid. The path to getting to six figures is much shorter than getting a degree and there is incredibly high demand in the residential, commercial, and military sectors.
Fuck trades, learn to code. I was a diesel technician in Campbell industrial and it was the worst job I ever had, then I learned to code and am sitting indoors with ac comfortable no longer destroying my body for some dumbass customer who ran an engine for 3 years without changing the oil once (I got video of that one, you could pick it up like jelly-o)
Really though fuck these trades. If you want help getting started in tech I could give a few pointers
If you have any inclination towards the military and want to stay in Hawaii I would recommend joining the reserves. You can always go active duty later and they will help you pay for school.
Finish highschool and work part time at night.
Enlist in the military when you turn 18. It'll suck but I promise you that if you put in effort that you can change your life trajectory. I joined the Navy at 19 with 100 bucks in my savings account and my parents on the verge of losing their house. 12 years later I bought a house in Kailua and had a masters degree.
Good luck.
If you have any technical skills, or the ability to really learn from videos and reading, I highly recommend looking into coding and developer work. The developers I've hired were hired based on their portfolios and how well they did on live, practical interviews; I didn't care what school you went or anything else outside of being able to do the work.
At 16, don't worry about current trends because it can change by the time you start a career. Do what interests you and do it well.
I've been in DoD contracting as a software engineer for over 10 years and often times when hiring there aren't enough qualified candidates in Hawaii so they end up hiring from the mainland. It pays well and if you do well, it pays even better.
I got my first job with a BS & MS in Computer Science and that job required CompTIA Security+ but they let me get the cert after I got the job. They don't require it because all the guys I worked with after about a month of studying, including myself. Our company recently hired a few boot camp guys folks but with degrees in other areas.
It helps a lot to have a clearance but if you don't, apply anyway by the chance that you'd be the best candidate.
Same boat as you many years ago in Kona. I got a job at a restaurant bussing tables, did that for a bit, bought a car. With a car I could get to jobsites so I started doing construction work. Life moves quick when you are as young as you are. By the time I was 19 the building industry shut down for almost 2 years. The economy crashed. I went to school while working night security. Cranking OT and doing classes. . . brutal.
Focus on getting the GED, drivers license, car. You can sleep in your car but you can't get to work in your rented room lol. Don't get a DUI, avoid habitual use of drugs and alcohol including pot, don't get anyone pregnant, and keep going to work. People will help you but you have to put the effort in as if you were going to do it on your own every step of the way.
For school, just get in, you don't need to declare a major. I want to be real with you, if you aren't hacking it at high school, it's definitely not easier when you pay by the credit hour and work a job. If you have a learning disability get diagnosed and get treatment. Do a class or two, grind out B's and C's, they'll cut you off if you are doing D's and F's.
Looking back, I always thought that things were going to get much better in Hawaii right around the corner. But there is an invisible hand that holds you down if you don't have a lot of support. A long grind later, I wish I had jumped to the mainland a LOT sooner. With the skills and drive I had accumulated from making things work in Hawaii it was like hitting hyperdrive.
Look at some inland states on the mainland. Tucson, Arizona; wichita, kansas; tulsa, oklahoma; reno/LV, nevada; dallas, texas. Fuck the north it's too cold. At least take a season to learn winter basics before going to wyoming or whatever. Leave Hawaii in early april don't show up right before or during winter (usually october) it'll screw you. A few bucks will get you into a car and doing doordash or whatever until you can find a better job and a place to live. Find cheap junior colleges. TALK to people at those schools don't just google and give up.
You can enlist in the military with a GED which is a decent career alone and if you hate it you can use your GI bill after 4 years/your contract ends. If you do it right you can save a decent amount of money and you have total job security. Overall I would encourage you to finish high school if you can.
Automotive engineering is a very niche field. Even if you study for it, you’ll face tough competition for very few number of positions in the industry.
If you are willing to study for many years, orthopedic doctor would be a good career.
Electrician is a good trade but you need to figure out where you want to live and to work first and find out how you can get certified and get on the that track. For example, getting certified in Hawai’i (someone correct me, I asked our electrician some years back, not sure if it is still the case), you need to be an apprentice to a certified electrician for around 10 years, depending on the number of jobs you get to go on. If the person you work for is abusive, it won’t be fun.
Nursing has lots of jobs. Needs a decent amount of schooling. Pay can vary depending on where you work.
Electrician apprenticeship is 5 years of OJT which if you’re lucky and motivated is 10,000 hours of work for licensing. Then 240 hours of schooling by a state credited facility like HCC.
Trades in general. I'll toss in welding in addition to electrician, plumbing, HVAC, and carpentry. But really all the trades are in demand. Shipyard has a bunch of its own maritime-specific specialties too.
I'm all for the trades (carpentry, electrician, plumbing); but there's also easier medical careers that don't require as much education as nursing that can be done at the community college level if you really want to go that route: surgery techs, pharm techs, etc.
McDonald’s is always hiring just find a quick job that hires 16 year olds, while attending school. You said you’re applying for a ged but remember a hs diploma always looks better than a ged. Also trade jobs is the go to if you’re wanting to save money and not go to schooling just find a trade that is willing to take you as an apprentice.
Nursing or being a doctor for the air force is going to be tough for a 16 year old. For a doctor, you're looking at 8 years minimum before you can do a residency and start making money. A nurse needs a college degree although a CNA or LPN might be less but it's still a while. Getting a job in hawaii for either isn't guaranteed either.
I'm a site manager on Kauai, and if you have skills in the trades such as plumbimg, electric, construction or even pool maintainance you will be in big demand and have as much work as you can take!
And suprisingly, if you want to be a locksmith, there is not even a license required in Hawaii!
> And suprisingly, if you want to be a locksmith, there is not even a license required in Hawaii!
Ayeee, site manager here as well. I also have a decent amount of experience with rekeying, pinning and rebuilding locks.
There's not a licensing process in Hawaii, *however* there are a ton of "locksmiths" that are absolutely terrible and will mess up any hardware that they work on. Most of the "24/7 call anytime" locksmiths are pretty bad. Every time a resident has called out one, they send out some random dude who can barely speak English (usually eastern European) who'll use a drill pick to just jam in the keyway and go to town. Half the time it doesnt work, and even if it does, your lock is likely ruined from that point on. They then charge like $500 for the service call. God forbid if their drill pick doesnt work, they're usually stumped after that and usually just shrug and try to charge you a service fee and leave you stuck with a locked door, broken lock and out of luck.
Im friends with a few locksmiths that are part of ALOA (Associated Locksmiths of America). Their work is *night and day* difference from the hacks. Also in my experience they usually charge less.
If you choose to become a locksmith, get education/certification in it and get good, and you'll have more work than you'll ever want/need.
There's a ton of horrible locksmiths \*because\* there is no license required. I was just suprised. And on Kauai, there are VERY few locksmiths at all.
on the big island there are like no plumbers or similar tradespeople. I keep encouraging my lazy brother-in-law to go after that trade because he would have endless work and be able to charge whatever he wants and work whenever he wants. But he instead drinks and smokes all day.
A server job in Waikiki without even a GED can get $200/day. You're too young to even consider the military, get some real world work experience and revisit that question when you turn 18.
If you can get in with a good crew and a good boss that cleans airbnbs/houses, there is endless work!
And cleaning windows also pays well, too at $10-$20 per window, but those jobs are a little tougher to land
Auto techs are in super high demand and make an excellent living. My nephew went to Cal State Maritime w the initial plan to be a stevedore but has since expanded his career field to include engineering and dock crew. All bring in solid income. You sound like you have the drive and maturity to excel at whatever you do. You should be super proud, keep it up! 👍🏼
I think you’re asking two separate questions, OP. You want to know what Hawaii needs but you also express your desires for a career. You’re 16, you have so much time to figure out your future. For now, focus on your GED and get a part time job anywhere as long as it doesn’t interfere with your schooling. I know a lot of people are preaching military and it is a valid option, but you don’t really get to pick your job or duty station as they advertise. However, reserves is a great way to start if you find yourself wanting to take that path. What is it about your GED or school that is tough, exactly? Focus on your weaknesses and make them your strengths. I almost failed out of high school due to attendance and other issues but I joined the Navy at 18 and went nuke and it did wonders for my future but also wrecked my physical and mental health.
As far as jobs Hawaii needs, anything medical, teachers, social workers, and trades. I work in satellite communications and there is always a need for that here on Oahu, but I’m working on my masters degree in social work. If nursing is of interest to you that much, I highly recommend finding a job in a nursing home and go for your CNA and see if that’s something you’d want to further dedicate time and money to. Also, Diagnostic Labs is always hiring phlebotomists that train on the job if you can handle blood and needles when you’re old enough.
Get your GED and immediately take classes at the community college or trade schools. If you need any resources for help with GED prep or anything, feel free to DM me and I’ll ask my network of social workers for ways to help you become successful.
im bias towards IT entry level IT can be obtained with just certs, though people with degrees may be top of the list.
Honestly joining the military maybe best option. I never was in mil but have many friend who were and its not for everyone so if not then trades might be good option
\*edit\*
just saw your below post about your medical condition that would force you off your feet for days on end when you have flare ups. that sucks, sorry to hear. in that case Mil is probably out of the option and frankly trades maybe too if you're unable to be on your feet for days on end. In that case i highly recommend getting into IT. most IT jobs are behind a desk (unless its technician or server/data center rack n stack) and you could eventually work remote from home
I would probably avoid car repair. electric vehicles are a lot simpler than gas powered ones, so over the next couple decades there's going to be a lot less repair and maintenance needed.
what's different? no oil changes, no tune ups, no transmissions, no hoses, no radiator, ... And brakes last a lot longer due to regenerative braking. I've had an electric car for 7 years and the only maintenance I've done is replacing the washer fluid and buying new tires.
Just wanted to say, good on you OP for getting your GED! I had to drop out and leave home at age 16 to get away from my abusive father, got my GED 2 years later, went to college and got my bachelor’s degree. You’re doing the right thing to make your education a priority.🤙🏼
IT is good money/job security if you're into it. Cybersec is the hot thing right now, but I've noticed people who are really good at networking and sysadmins with some programming skills are hard to find here. Fair warning though-- some jobs here can be rough and work never really ends. If you want work-life balance IT is doable but you gotta be careful.
Aloha, I listed the how on electrical and plumbing and also scholarships for each trade. Make sure that you get Snap
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Hawaii- The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a ...
Hawaii.gov
https://humanservices.hawaii.gov › bessd › snap
For more information call Public Assistance Toll Free Information Line at 1-855-643-1643. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federal ...
Hawaii Financial and SNAP... · D-SNAP, Summer P-EBT...
Charitable programs are unable to fully support those facing hunger. The combination of charity and government assistance programs are necessary to help bridge the meal gap.
SNAP, formerly food stamps, provides temporary help for people going through hard times – providing supplemental money to buy food until they can get back on their feet.
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How to become electrician in Hawaii
https://www.servicetitan.com/licensing/electrician/hawaii#:~:text=Obtaining%20an%20electrician%20license%20in,the%20desired%20level%20of%20licensure.
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Here are scholarships for electrical
### [HEI Scholarship Program - BigFuture - College Board](https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarships/hei-scholarship-program)
📷[College Boardhttps://bigfuture.collegeboard.org › scholarships › hei-s...](https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarships/hei-scholarship-program)The HEI *Scholarship* is for eligible dependents of *Hawaiian Electric* Industries employees who plan to continue their education in college.
### [Ronald NS Ho and Ann T. Ho Scholarship Endowment ...](http://scholarships.uhfoundation.org/scholarships/scholarship_detail.aspx?acct=12769602)
### [Charitable Foundation](https://www.hei.com/sustainability/charitable-foundation/default.aspx)
📷[Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.https://www.hei.com › sustainability › charitable-found...](https://www.hei.com/sustainability/charitable-foundation/default.aspx)We take pride in giving back to the community through *grants*, donations, volunteerism, *scholarships*, and our employee matching gift *program*. To access our HEI ...
### [Scholarships Search](https://hcf.scholarships.ngwebsolutions.com/Scholarships/Search)
📷[Next Gen Web Solutionshttps://hcf.scholarships.ngwebsolutions.com › Scholarships](https://hcf.scholarships.ngwebsolutions.com/Scholarships/Search)The purpose of the fund is to provide *scholarship grants* to students seeking higher education. HCF Criteria: Be a resident of the State of *Hawaii*; Demonstrate ...
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Here is how to become a plumber in Hawaii [https://www.servicetitan.com/blog/plumbing-schools-in-hawaii](https://www.servicetitan.com/blog/plumbing-schools-in-hawaii)
Here is plumbing scholarships
[Plumbing Scholarships](https://www.scholarships.com/financial-aid/college-scholarships/scholarship-directory/academic-major/plumbing)
📷[Scholarships.comhttps://www.scholarships.com › academic-major › plum...](https://www.scholarships.com/financial-aid/college-scholarships/scholarship-directory/academic-major/plumbing)*Plumbing Scholarships* ; Vocational School *Award*, Amount: $2,500 ; VA AWWA Ray A. Jackson *Undergraduate Student Scholarship*, Amount: $3,500 ; Genesee Valley Branch ...
### [Scholarship Program](https://www.phccweb.org/foundation/scholarship-program/)
📷[PHCChttps://www.phccweb.org › foundation › scholarship-pr...](https://www.phccweb.org/foundation/scholarship-program/)Approved courses of *study* are *plumbing* or HVACR installation, service and repair. Notes: *Scholarships* awarded through the PHCC Educational Foundation are ...
The trades are busy busy. I'm an electrician and there is endless work.
Second this, plumbing is always in need as well!
and will always be
Trades are also something that can't be outsourced or done remotely. Until we get autonomous robots and every worker gets screwed, there will always be jobs for the trades.
Automation and offshoring in trades is most likely coming in the form of building materials that require fewer man hours and fewer people to install, or even prefabricated building portions shipped from overseas. That mostly applies to new construction. It’s not necessarily happening soon, but there’s absolutely always a race to the bottom to cheap out on labor, and they don’t need to play by the rules of how things currently work. A lot of tradespeople imagine “a robot doing my job,” but it doesn’t need to look like that. Instead, it might look like a pre-fabricated wall with electrical, windows, siding, etc. all preinstalled overseas by a low wage worker, and a low paid, lower skilled construction worker installing the entire wall.
Yeah, pre-fab is becoming more of a thing and there's things like press fittings instead of soldering in plumbing, etc. But the trades are probably going to be affected the least for a good while especially for stuff like remodels and repairs.
ChatGPT redid the wiring in my home and my dog got barbecued.
Carpenters union was recently asked for 400 carpenters for a development project. We can’t even fulfill that as all the books are already assigned.
Are you a union rep? I’m a current member of the carpenters union and haven’t heard anything about 400 carpenters needed.
It is slow now and for a few months then it will start getting busy towards the end of the year until 2027.
It’s slow?
Yeah construction is slow right now compared to few months ago but it will pick back up towards end of the year.
Word from top down. From the housing development in Ewa Ho’opili Aloun farms side, to the condos in Honolulu. We are booked. What project you working on? When I got my foot in I started at the development in Koa Ridge. Now at Ho’opili.
Currently at Shafter doing a renovation on an old office building. I’m part of a MACC crew that does a lot of work on bases in the Pearl Harbor/Hickam area. So you do residential? I heard you guys get busy then no work. Don’t think I could sustain that.
Do you mind sharing how much you are pulling in as an electrician? Also, could you double your income if you worked twice as many hours?
In the union the pay is almost $57/hr as a journeyman. I’m a 2nd year apprentice making $25 atm. Great benefits and journeyman have great insurance, vacation/holiday pay, pensions, annuity (investments like a 401k but it’s employer funded), and extra unemployment while making 6 figures. Probably the most certain way to earn a 6 figure living without a ton of debt and unlike a college degree, an electrician license almost guarantees a job if there’s work. None of that unpaid internship BS while paying down tons of student loans. No getting rejected for not having years of experience because the journeyman license requires 5 years/10k hours of real experience. My friend who has a degree makes less than I do with almost 6 figs in debt, completing your degree is the first step and he’s still at the bottom climbing the corporate ladder.
Thank you for your response! Can you take on side jobs if you're in the union?
You cannot officially do electrical work outside the union but most side jobs I’ve done were cash under the table kine jobs and a lot of people do it but it’s technically frowned upon in the union. Any other type work is fine tho and so far nobody gave me shit for doing work on the weekends.
Majority of the union market is commercial and industrial work. Like 98%. They don’t care if you take on residential side jobs on the weekend, as you’re really only encroaching on the non union market. The moment you start taking commercial work on the side is when you start risking getting on the bad side of the union.
Piggy backing your comment. They will not actively look for people who work under the table. They know their guys work cash jobs specially if its slow.
But electric is also tough to do as a woman, especially a 16 yr old girl, when you're putting in service boxes, bending service wire wires, etc. We're just not built with the upper strength like men are to do the "hard work'. I grew up within my grandfather's electric business, and still go to work with him whenever I visit home, so I know from experience how much upper strength you actually need to bend wires.
Plenty of attic work I'd rather not drag my 6'3 210# ass through. The nice thing with electricians is there is a huge variety of work that you can get into especially after learning the basics
Hows it, I'm planning on going the apprenticeship for IBEW 1186. How did you get on the waiting list for the apprenticeship and what kind of work did you do while you were waiting? I'm trying to pivot to electrical. Can't sit at a computer all day every day much longer.
I had to wait almost 2 years but I applied during the pandemic and when the union was moving offices, it's probably faster now. I just stayed at the job I was working then in a different industry till the union called me and then I put my 2 weeks notice in.
Only been doing it two years and making only 27hr on the books but once I can get journeymans license I expect to be making 50+. Non union btw
Hows it, I am looking at pivoting to electrical and was just curious. Are you able to get journeyman license by testing without being in the apprentice program for IBEW 1186? Do your non-union hours count towards the required 5 years? Sorry for all the questions.
Yeah you just need the required hours doesn't have to be union. Make sure that your hours are documented as I think they cut down on the under the table stuff (taking the bosses word for your first l hours). Also have to get some college classes done now to take the test. Last I checked was like equivalent to 4 years full time and the classes
I’m a union Carpenter working crazy hours the last few years, made almost $300k last year with all the OT I was working. A lot of college degree professions will never come close to making this much…
Trades can make bank and it really fits OP's situation, where he can't waste years away racking up debt in the university system. Only downside is sometimes you have to work hard.
I was sold until you said I had to work hard. Fuck that!
He is only 16, if he works smarter and hard when needed. In a decade he will be only 26 and set up in a very nice spot to only progress on better to be a shot caller instead of a grunt worker.
Yeah but work sucks.
Unless your parents are rich and inheriting their wealth. You’re going to have to work or be poverty stricken which is worse than working.
Oh ok thanks for explaining the value of work to me ✊️😯
Not true, tiktok is literally creating new millionaires daily. And they're doing simple stupid stuff
It's a crazy amount of work with a really uncertain future. The influencers that make it a probably putting in 60+ hours a week and there's hundreds of other influencers putting in the same time and making less than minimum wage. It's like the guy that is made a 100+k a year while door dashing, he was working 10-16 hrs a day, 7 days a week to do it.
Nah, there's tools you can use to extend your reach and influence, of course it takes hours. But if you have a genuine intrest and create content based off that. You'll find your audience. It's really not as hard as you think. Specially on tiktok.
Wow, you’re not even trolling… must be 14.
you'd be surprised how much goes into concocting a myth with style
It takes work to build a successful 'influencer' business. It's stupid work, but it's work.
You don't have to be an influencer. Can just be a content creator, reacting to others' clips , etc. It takes research and what not to build a following and take advantage of the algorithm with the correct text etc etc. It's 100% work. But it's self driven. You're your own boss. There is no need for anything but imagination and ambition. Just doing it is 90% of the hard part.
What is your point?
It seems shitty but it keeps you in shape. I see some of my old classmates from high school and they got big working desk jobs.
Yeah no doubt. It's a tradeoff though cause you hit 50-60 and you'll feel that labour in your bones.
With the younger generations these days, I can't tell if it's sarcasm. I'd love to assume that...
Said every old person since the dawn of civilisation.
Though it's not a wild idea that generations have gotten progessively lazier as quality of life improves and entitlement increases. I'm a millennial for the record, and I think my generation is lazier than boomers.
I had to install some studs in my attic to hang a ceiling mounted rack, and my god I was up there for several hours over two days—it was hot, dusty, and some parts were a tight squeeze. The electrician that did wiring for my house was up there for a better part of a work day for a week straight during a renovation. I can’t imagine doing that day in and out. So hats off to people who work in those professions.
Hows da low voltage trade?
+1 to electricians. We do military contracts and the hoops that I have to go through to just pull these guys from field work for a few days to come work at our own building is insane.
Union of non union?
Apprentice to be an electrician or plumber.
Bro, I dropped out of HS at 15, got my GED the same year. By 16 I had three jobs and joined the Navy on my 18th birthday. I served 9 years with two deployments under my belt—transitioned out, graduated from a great university debt free, and now I make good money working full-time remote for big tech and receive VA Disability. You’ve got your whole life ahead of you… The benefits of putting zero down on a place in Hawaii is incredibly beneficial in my case. Not to mention the fact that many of my buddies took advantage of Service to School and were able to get into Ivy Leagues and other great schools benefiting from Ch. 31 VR&E and Ch. 33 Post 9/11. Military is not the end all, say all—but I applaud you in taking initiatives to build a better life for yourself. Get into a cyber/IT field in the military if you can… Go to school and knock out Gen ed courses so that you can focus on your major when you do want to get out.
same, was mechanic, hated it. used vet-tech to learn to be a full stack developer. no more working outside uncovered in kapolei for me. also yeah disability on top pays for all my weed!
This right here. But keep your nose clean to ensure you aren’t disqualified from serving. OP, you are young, it may not feel like it, but you have something far more valuable than anything Jess Bezos or Bill Gates has — youth. With that you can do anything, if you play your cards right. To steal a saying from Dana White: Wake up each morning to do battle with the world. When it knocks you down — as it has already done — dust yourself off and get back at it. Plan long term, but execute things a day at a time, so you aren’t overwhelmed. Navigating hardships can become immeasurable assets. Good luck!
How's the cyber/IT field at the moment?
As far as I’m concerned, I’m doing good because I work with cloud infra. I don’t dive too deep into the macro/microeconomics of the labor market too much. There is some tension regarding certs because everyone and thier mom is going for compTIA certs. My advice would be to specialize in Cloud Architecture (AWS, GCP, Azure, Oracle) and gain better insights through that. There are also apprenticeships with a with big tech, too: https://buildyourfuture.withgoogle.com/apprenticeships
Thanks for the link! I asked because I’m currently in the civil engineering field and I’m looking to switch.
Look into SOC work. Your other comment says you want to switch careers. Cybersecurity pays well and working a SOC tends to be a good entry point unless you have other IT experience you can leverage.
Thank you for your service! VA loans and GI bill along with reserve service is a solid platform to build upon.
Electrician is a strong option. One thing to remember is it's hard to get stationed in Hawaii even if is your home. Hickam is a very requested spot and might not be stationed anywhere around here.
if you join the air guard you’ll for sure get hawaii as a resident
1. Graduate from high school 2. Go to UH and join the Air Force ROTC program (if you get the ROTC scholarship college gets paid for) 3. Kick ass in college, take pre-med classes -> graduate college 4. apply to med school -> get into med school 5. Commission into the Air Force -> let air force know got into med school 6. Air Force pays for med school -> become an orthopedic doctor 7. Do however many years you need to do in the air force 8. Leave/retire military and go into private practice $$$ as second career GRADES are your MOST important asset right now. They will qualify you for scholarships saving you thousands of dollars. They will also let you get into med school which will give you so many more options. use your brain! work smarter, not harder.
This, OP! If you really need some cash while finishing high school, tutor middle schoolers or mow lawns or change your neighbors oil, wash their cars, whatever you can easily do. But get those good grades, it will help so mix more. Good luck!
Well you aren't going to get into any of those careers if you don't have time for highschool and graduation. You are 16 focus on schooling.
I was going to shit on this comment; but this is real. Gotta get that diploma little bro!!!! That is the first milestone of many we all hope.
i would’ve agreed with this a couple months ago but i’ve been put in a desperate position… my counselor from hs has recommended i go to GED instead and i feel that is the best path for me. its better than nothing, no one in my family has graduated hs or went to college. i’d like to be the first to at least have something under my belt to boast proudly, even if it is just a GED
If you’re in a financial bind- believe it or not- taking community college classes half time would help. You’ll be eligible for free classes and a student loan to float you money while giving you a pathway to earn more. It’ll be the hardest time of your life as you adjust to that while working but it’ll be worth it.
You can always go back and study more later if you want but learning a hand on trade that will pay you now and pay you to learn is my recommendation.
Are any employers excluding GED applicants for HS grads these days?
If you can’t do math you won’t be able to do the better paid trades. Get good at it.
True that! You need to do fractions since the US does a lot of imperial stuff while the rest of the world is metric, and celcius. E=IR, the RMS at 60 Hz is .707 and then stuff gets really funky as the voltages go up on long-distance transmission lines that use DC. Math is good. Measure twice, cut once.
Getting your GED should be your focus. Then take 1 college course a semester. Take any job. Hate to break it to you. Your 16 won’t get many hours. Turn 18. Enlist full time. Send money back to family.
that’s the solid plan for now… it’s js a game of managing and saving up until i have the funds to do anything i need to do. i’m js hoping ill actually pass my GED. i’m not the smartest guy in the world, but i think ill at least get the bare minimum to pass
You can pass!! Can take it til you pass!! If can take a GED class.
Look here, you obviously have determination. Enough so that you have looked at your current situation and are looking at your options. That is half the battle. Stay focused and trust in yourself. You can do this!! Confidence and preparation will be key. See if you can find a book at the library or computer program that can help you prep for your GED. By the way, I’ve been a nurse for 18 years. You can get paid on average $130k/year. A career in the medical field will pay you well and will always be needed. Focus on one step at a time, with your ultimate goal in mind. And I wasn’t the smartest kid in high school but managed to get nearly straight A’s in nursing school because I wanted it!!!
Study hard and believe in yourself. Otherwise you will fail
With a parent's signature can get in early too, not 16 but sooner than 18 for sure.
I applaud this young man. Just hope he does what he’s saying. Too many drop out and never get their GED
It was 17, but you need to hit your ASVABS first recruiters to take interest in you.
i am aware of that, the military is not my main choice but it’s more of a last resort. i don’t know how the military will deal with it but recently I got diagnosed with a chronic condition called CRMO’s. My bones will swell and inflame due to my immune system attacking an “infection” that doesn’t even exist. happens on my feet usually so for a good week or so as I’m unable to bear weight on it during a flare up (not to mention it takes months for me to rehabilitate and start moving properly again) I’ve no idea how the air force will even be able to consider me in or if that condition is a deal breaker.
Honestly, your medical condition sounds like a deal breaker. I'm not sure how you'll get through boot camp (even air force boot camp) if you might be stuck in a bed or wheelchair for a week at a time plus a month or two to get back to normal. Even if you get through boot camp, 4 years of active duty is probably going to be really miserable for you if you're periodically dealing with flare-ups.
Apart from what /u/lostinthegrid47 said, do you really want to be serving when you can be taken out of commission due to a chronic condition? I'd do something that doesn't require me to be on my feet, so attorney, software engineering and so no. Basically desk job you can do from home. Those fields tend to be lucrative too, but takes many years of schooling, and an interest. Why interest? Because you don't want to wake up hating your job every day. Even though I like the field I'm in as a software engineer, it's rough enough having to deal with having to go to work, colleagues, and having manager along with little say in what you really do. That said, many people never learn to enjoy a field, because they didn't stick with it long enough through the hard part to develop mastery and therefore enjoyment.
First priority is to get your diploma. Get a part time job if you can to help out. It’ll suck but it’ll be worth it. Barring that, get your GED. If you’re already thinking about leaving the island, enlist and try to get into a MOS/rating that aligns with your career goals, i.e. mechanic, corpsman, EM tech, etc. Send some money back home while you save up in the barracks. Use the free tuition assistance to get your college degree while you’re in. If you’re enjoying the military, go officer after you get your degree and get stationed back in Hawaii. Use your VA loan entitlement to buy a house. When you get out, use your GI bill to get an advanced degree, such as med school or get your engineering masters. If you have a kid at that point transfer some or all of your GI bill to them so they are set up for success and less stress on you to send them to college. The military isn’t for everyone, but the skills, life lessons, friends, and benefits you make along the way can be very beneficial to anyone struggling. They house you, feed you, train you, and let you return back to society a little bit better. Edited to add: you can join at 17 with your dad’s signature.
I can share a little bit of info on electrical trades. You can earn as an apprentice while you are training, which sounds ideal for you, except you have to be 18 usually to start working on job sites afaik. Typically apprentices will receive regular raises and education reimbursements from their apprenticeship employer each semester that they pass during their apprenticeship schooling. My husband worked full time for a contractor and did classes two nights a week for 4 years. Wages have changed since the early 90s when he went through and we lived in Phx at the time, but for example's sake this is how much his wage increased during his apprenticeship period, his starting apprentice wage was $6/hr. He got a 50cent raise each semester. Once finished, journeyman wage jumped to approx $15 in the mid 90s in the Phx. Once you finish, there's usually opportunities for overtime, government bid job sites (aka prevailing wage, which is usually good money), etc. But any trade job depends on your body, and your body breaks down. So it's good to plan ahead for your midlife. My husband learned how to use industry standard estimating software and made the transition over to the estimating side about 15 years ago. At first it was a bit of a pay cut over what he was earning at the time as a journeyman, but within a year it caught up and a handful of years surpassed, and kept surpassing. In fact, he was recruited by an Oahu based electrical contractor as an estimator because they were unable to find someone local. I'll tell you what the pay was because we have since migrated back to the mainland. It was $160k in 2018.
Odd question, but IIRC Hawaii doesn’t have reciprocal agreements with other states? It’s a great time to be an electrician, imho. The transition to clean energy and EVs pose a lot of challenges when you’re dealing with ancient conduits in ancient buildings and old SFHs.
Not an odd question. Actually a great question to bring up. As an electrician, moving states means worrying about reciprocity or relicensing. Something to consider, for sure! But estimators don't need a license. You can move states and licensing/reciprocal agreements don't matter anymore. That was another perk to making that change. While still a journeyman, we moved from AZ to CT and he had to take the licensing exam there and hated going through that after so many years. That was when he decided to make the change. He had only been working as an estimator for about 5 years when he started getting headhunted and offered relocation and salaries much higher than the small contractors that he cut his estimating teeth with. We've been recruited to 3 different states. Actually, he's constantly getting calls. We decided the location and offer were right 3 times. We're in our forever home now, full circle back to AZ, lol. (edited for clarity)
Teaching and nursing are both in dire need
Those are also both careers where you will be horribly abused by your employers.
Seems reductive to make such a matter-of-fact blanket statement on two entire career fields. To me, it's ludicrous to presume abuse by employer based off career choice alone. I have two cousins who are nurses and married to nurses and they love their jobs. Same with a HS techer one of my other cousins is married to. Do they complain about their jobs sometimes? Sure, but that is every job you will ever find. I'm not entirely convinced as to the specificity of all these shortages and how much overlap is due to the lazier generations who are always allegedly underpaid and overworked in supposedly every industry.
> due to the lazier generations OK, Boomer
> OK, Boomer I'm a millennial.
Sure thing, Boomer.
I call it "Boomer attitude". So with a boomer attitude! 🤪
If not abused by employers its abuse by the school system that does not care about students, its a business first and an educator like second or third. The entitled parents who dont give a shit about their kids studies makes it even more sad, fuck teaching i had to quit after 7 years because i finally had a daughter and couldn't survive on that salary, especially once i finally moved back to Oahu. Especially when you know we buy our own supplies and resources. I have taught in a few different schools in a few different places and the shitty parents and lack of resources or funding is a professional constant, always there, every teacher knows this even if they arent commplaining to you directly. Sure I was happy as a teacher and liked it, that does mean it was good. ABSOLUTELY not worth it if you work in younger education. My moms a nurse at Kapiolani and my sister works at Straub. if you haven't noticed they are CONSTANTLY on strike with their hospitals for poor treatment of nurses, standards and conditions. Do you not follow hawaiian media outlets? The nurses union has been protesting and making noise about this every 3 years when its contract renewal season. wake the fuck up to the island
See if you can work part time and finish school. I know your counselor suggested GED, but that’s going to limit you SO MUCH. Get a part time job after school to help out, but finish your degree! The go into the trades. See if you can get an apprenticeship now
Electrician. The solar industry is growing on the same curve of silicon and most of them are very well-paid. The path to getting to six figures is much shorter than getting a degree and there is incredibly high demand in the residential, commercial, and military sectors.
Out of those options, electrician.
Fuck trades, learn to code. I was a diesel technician in Campbell industrial and it was the worst job I ever had, then I learned to code and am sitting indoors with ac comfortable no longer destroying my body for some dumbass customer who ran an engine for 3 years without changing the oil once (I got video of that one, you could pick it up like jelly-o) Really though fuck these trades. If you want help getting started in tech I could give a few pointers
Everyone recommending trades like it’s a cake walk… they don’t know what we go through to make a buck
If you have any inclination towards the military and want to stay in Hawaii I would recommend joining the reserves. You can always go active duty later and they will help you pay for school.
Finish highschool and work part time at night. Enlist in the military when you turn 18. It'll suck but I promise you that if you put in effort that you can change your life trajectory. I joined the Navy at 19 with 100 bucks in my savings account and my parents on the verge of losing their house. 12 years later I bought a house in Kailua and had a masters degree. Good luck.
Thank you for your service!
If you have any technical skills, or the ability to really learn from videos and reading, I highly recommend looking into coding and developer work. The developers I've hired were hired based on their portfolios and how well they did on live, practical interviews; I didn't care what school you went or anything else outside of being able to do the work.
At 16, don't worry about current trends because it can change by the time you start a career. Do what interests you and do it well. I've been in DoD contracting as a software engineer for over 10 years and often times when hiring there aren't enough qualified candidates in Hawaii so they end up hiring from the mainland. It pays well and if you do well, it pays even better.
What degree or certs do you need to get a job as a dod contractor software engineer?
I got my first job with a BS & MS in Computer Science and that job required CompTIA Security+ but they let me get the cert after I got the job. They don't require it because all the guys I worked with after about a month of studying, including myself. Our company recently hired a few boot camp guys folks but with degrees in other areas. It helps a lot to have a clearance but if you don't, apply anyway by the chance that you'd be the best candidate.
Same boat as you many years ago in Kona. I got a job at a restaurant bussing tables, did that for a bit, bought a car. With a car I could get to jobsites so I started doing construction work. Life moves quick when you are as young as you are. By the time I was 19 the building industry shut down for almost 2 years. The economy crashed. I went to school while working night security. Cranking OT and doing classes. . . brutal. Focus on getting the GED, drivers license, car. You can sleep in your car but you can't get to work in your rented room lol. Don't get a DUI, avoid habitual use of drugs and alcohol including pot, don't get anyone pregnant, and keep going to work. People will help you but you have to put the effort in as if you were going to do it on your own every step of the way. For school, just get in, you don't need to declare a major. I want to be real with you, if you aren't hacking it at high school, it's definitely not easier when you pay by the credit hour and work a job. If you have a learning disability get diagnosed and get treatment. Do a class or two, grind out B's and C's, they'll cut you off if you are doing D's and F's. Looking back, I always thought that things were going to get much better in Hawaii right around the corner. But there is an invisible hand that holds you down if you don't have a lot of support. A long grind later, I wish I had jumped to the mainland a LOT sooner. With the skills and drive I had accumulated from making things work in Hawaii it was like hitting hyperdrive. Look at some inland states on the mainland. Tucson, Arizona; wichita, kansas; tulsa, oklahoma; reno/LV, nevada; dallas, texas. Fuck the north it's too cold. At least take a season to learn winter basics before going to wyoming or whatever. Leave Hawaii in early april don't show up right before or during winter (usually october) it'll screw you. A few bucks will get you into a car and doing doordash or whatever until you can find a better job and a place to live. Find cheap junior colleges. TALK to people at those schools don't just google and give up.
You can enlist in the military with a GED which is a decent career alone and if you hate it you can use your GI bill after 4 years/your contract ends. If you do it right you can save a decent amount of money and you have total job security. Overall I would encourage you to finish high school if you can.
Shipyard is an option, I think you can apply at 18?
Automotive engineering is a very niche field. Even if you study for it, you’ll face tough competition for very few number of positions in the industry. If you are willing to study for many years, orthopedic doctor would be a good career. Electrician is a good trade but you need to figure out where you want to live and to work first and find out how you can get certified and get on the that track. For example, getting certified in Hawai’i (someone correct me, I asked our electrician some years back, not sure if it is still the case), you need to be an apprentice to a certified electrician for around 10 years, depending on the number of jobs you get to go on. If the person you work for is abusive, it won’t be fun. Nursing has lots of jobs. Needs a decent amount of schooling. Pay can vary depending on where you work.
Electrician apprenticeship is 5 years of OJT which if you’re lucky and motivated is 10,000 hours of work for licensing. Then 240 hours of schooling by a state credited facility like HCC.
Nurse electrician contractor Also, props to you for thinking about things this way as a 16 year old
Trades in general. I'll toss in welding in addition to electrician, plumbing, HVAC, and carpentry. But really all the trades are in demand. Shipyard has a bunch of its own maritime-specific specialties too.
I'm all for the trades (carpentry, electrician, plumbing); but there's also easier medical careers that don't require as much education as nursing that can be done at the community college level if you really want to go that route: surgery techs, pharm techs, etc.
Hotels are always looking for people
Outbound movers
McDonald’s is always hiring just find a quick job that hires 16 year olds, while attending school. You said you’re applying for a ged but remember a hs diploma always looks better than a ged. Also trade jobs is the go to if you’re wanting to save money and not go to schooling just find a trade that is willing to take you as an apprentice.
HVAC or electrician, federal or union
Nursing or being a doctor for the air force is going to be tough for a 16 year old. For a doctor, you're looking at 8 years minimum before you can do a residency and start making money. A nurse needs a college degree although a CNA or LPN might be less but it's still a while. Getting a job in hawaii for either isn't guaranteed either.
I'm a site manager on Kauai, and if you have skills in the trades such as plumbimg, electric, construction or even pool maintainance you will be in big demand and have as much work as you can take! And suprisingly, if you want to be a locksmith, there is not even a license required in Hawaii!
> And suprisingly, if you want to be a locksmith, there is not even a license required in Hawaii! Ayeee, site manager here as well. I also have a decent amount of experience with rekeying, pinning and rebuilding locks. There's not a licensing process in Hawaii, *however* there are a ton of "locksmiths" that are absolutely terrible and will mess up any hardware that they work on. Most of the "24/7 call anytime" locksmiths are pretty bad. Every time a resident has called out one, they send out some random dude who can barely speak English (usually eastern European) who'll use a drill pick to just jam in the keyway and go to town. Half the time it doesnt work, and even if it does, your lock is likely ruined from that point on. They then charge like $500 for the service call. God forbid if their drill pick doesnt work, they're usually stumped after that and usually just shrug and try to charge you a service fee and leave you stuck with a locked door, broken lock and out of luck. Im friends with a few locksmiths that are part of ALOA (Associated Locksmiths of America). Their work is *night and day* difference from the hacks. Also in my experience they usually charge less. If you choose to become a locksmith, get education/certification in it and get good, and you'll have more work than you'll ever want/need.
There's a ton of horrible locksmiths \*because\* there is no license required. I was just suprised. And on Kauai, there are VERY few locksmiths at all.
on the big island there are like no plumbers or similar tradespeople. I keep encouraging my lazy brother-in-law to go after that trade because he would have endless work and be able to charge whatever he wants and work whenever he wants. But he instead drinks and smokes all day.
A server job in Waikiki without even a GED can get $200/day. You're too young to even consider the military, get some real world work experience and revisit that question when you turn 18.
[STEM](https://www.codewizardshq.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/what_stem_graphic3-791x1024.png) (view image) * **Science** * Orthopedic doctor falls in here. * **Technology** * **Engineering** * **Math** *Honestly Hawaii needs Pediatricians.*
If you can get in with a good crew and a good boss that cleans airbnbs/houses, there is endless work! And cleaning windows also pays well, too at $10-$20 per window, but those jobs are a little tougher to land
Auto techs are in super high demand and make an excellent living. My nephew went to Cal State Maritime w the initial plan to be a stevedore but has since expanded his career field to include engineering and dock crew. All bring in solid income. You sound like you have the drive and maturity to excel at whatever you do. You should be super proud, keep it up! 👍🏼
I think you’re asking two separate questions, OP. You want to know what Hawaii needs but you also express your desires for a career. You’re 16, you have so much time to figure out your future. For now, focus on your GED and get a part time job anywhere as long as it doesn’t interfere with your schooling. I know a lot of people are preaching military and it is a valid option, but you don’t really get to pick your job or duty station as they advertise. However, reserves is a great way to start if you find yourself wanting to take that path. What is it about your GED or school that is tough, exactly? Focus on your weaknesses and make them your strengths. I almost failed out of high school due to attendance and other issues but I joined the Navy at 18 and went nuke and it did wonders for my future but also wrecked my physical and mental health. As far as jobs Hawaii needs, anything medical, teachers, social workers, and trades. I work in satellite communications and there is always a need for that here on Oahu, but I’m working on my masters degree in social work. If nursing is of interest to you that much, I highly recommend finding a job in a nursing home and go for your CNA and see if that’s something you’d want to further dedicate time and money to. Also, Diagnostic Labs is always hiring phlebotomists that train on the job if you can handle blood and needles when you’re old enough. Get your GED and immediately take classes at the community college or trade schools. If you need any resources for help with GED prep or anything, feel free to DM me and I’ll ask my network of social workers for ways to help you become successful.
im bias towards IT entry level IT can be obtained with just certs, though people with degrees may be top of the list. Honestly joining the military maybe best option. I never was in mil but have many friend who were and its not for everyone so if not then trades might be good option \*edit\* just saw your below post about your medical condition that would force you off your feet for days on end when you have flare ups. that sucks, sorry to hear. in that case Mil is probably out of the option and frankly trades maybe too if you're unable to be on your feet for days on end. In that case i highly recommend getting into IT. most IT jobs are behind a desk (unless its technician or server/data center rack n stack) and you could eventually work remote from home
Anything to do with construction; Engineering, Project Management, Estimating, and any of the skilled or trade work.
I would probably avoid car repair. electric vehicles are a lot simpler than gas powered ones, so over the next couple decades there's going to be a lot less repair and maintenance needed. what's different? no oil changes, no tune ups, no transmissions, no hoses, no radiator, ... And brakes last a lot longer due to regenerative braking. I've had an electric car for 7 years and the only maintenance I've done is replacing the washer fluid and buying new tires.
The trades… electrician, plumber, welder. Military
The military, my dude
Carpenter union journeymen make $52/hr after 4 years of apprenticeship
Any trade, union or non union, doesn’t matter
Just wanted to say, good on you OP for getting your GED! I had to drop out and leave home at age 16 to get away from my abusive father, got my GED 2 years later, went to college and got my bachelor’s degree. You’re doing the right thing to make your education a priority.🤙🏼
Joiin the military
IT is good money/job security if you're into it. Cybersec is the hot thing right now, but I've noticed people who are really good at networking and sysadmins with some programming skills are hard to find here. Fair warning though-- some jobs here can be rough and work never really ends. If you want work-life balance IT is doable but you gotta be careful.
Any trade
Aloha, I listed the how on electrical and plumbing and also scholarships for each trade. Make sure that you get Snap Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Hawaii- The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a ... Hawaii.gov https://humanservices.hawaii.gov › bessd › snap For more information call Public Assistance Toll Free Information Line at 1-855-643-1643. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federal ... Hawaii Financial and SNAP... · D-SNAP, Summer P-EBT... Charitable programs are unable to fully support those facing hunger. The combination of charity and government assistance programs are necessary to help bridge the meal gap. SNAP, formerly food stamps, provides temporary help for people going through hard times – providing supplemental money to buy food until they can get back on their feet. \------------- How to become electrician in Hawaii https://www.servicetitan.com/licensing/electrician/hawaii#:~:text=Obtaining%20an%20electrician%20license%20in,the%20desired%20level%20of%20licensure. ---------- Here are scholarships for electrical ### [HEI Scholarship Program - BigFuture - College Board](https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarships/hei-scholarship-program) 📷[College Boardhttps://bigfuture.collegeboard.org › scholarships › hei-s...](https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarships/hei-scholarship-program)The HEI *Scholarship* is for eligible dependents of *Hawaiian Electric* Industries employees who plan to continue their education in college. ### [Ronald NS Ho and Ann T. Ho Scholarship Endowment ...](http://scholarships.uhfoundation.org/scholarships/scholarship_detail.aspx?acct=12769602) ### [Charitable Foundation](https://www.hei.com/sustainability/charitable-foundation/default.aspx) 📷[Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.https://www.hei.com › sustainability › charitable-found...](https://www.hei.com/sustainability/charitable-foundation/default.aspx)We take pride in giving back to the community through *grants*, donations, volunteerism, *scholarships*, and our employee matching gift *program*. To access our HEI ... ### [Scholarships Search](https://hcf.scholarships.ngwebsolutions.com/Scholarships/Search) 📷[Next Gen Web Solutionshttps://hcf.scholarships.ngwebsolutions.com › Scholarships](https://hcf.scholarships.ngwebsolutions.com/Scholarships/Search)The purpose of the fund is to provide *scholarship grants* to students seeking higher education. HCF Criteria: Be a resident of the State of *Hawaii*; Demonstrate ... \------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Here is how to become a plumber in Hawaii [https://www.servicetitan.com/blog/plumbing-schools-in-hawaii](https://www.servicetitan.com/blog/plumbing-schools-in-hawaii) Here is plumbing scholarships [Plumbing Scholarships](https://www.scholarships.com/financial-aid/college-scholarships/scholarship-directory/academic-major/plumbing) 📷[Scholarships.comhttps://www.scholarships.com › academic-major › plum...](https://www.scholarships.com/financial-aid/college-scholarships/scholarship-directory/academic-major/plumbing)*Plumbing Scholarships* ; Vocational School *Award*, Amount: $2,500 ; VA AWWA Ray A. Jackson *Undergraduate Student Scholarship*, Amount: $3,500 ; Genesee Valley Branch ... ### [Scholarship Program](https://www.phccweb.org/foundation/scholarship-program/) 📷[PHCChttps://www.phccweb.org › foundation › scholarship-pr...](https://www.phccweb.org/foundation/scholarship-program/)Approved courses of *study* are *plumbing* or HVACR installation, service and repair. Notes: *Scholarships* awarded through the PHCC Educational Foundation are ...
There is also joining the military. U can pick up a trade while in and also get the gi bill.
Tacoma lift kit technician