Anonymous wrote:There are some great union training programs in this area for all of the trades. Electricians get paid very well! Def go union though for the benefits, the stability and the fact that you have a group that has your back, professionally. I wish there was a union for office worker drones tbh.

+1 But people suggest the trades as if it's an easier path. There is a ton to learn as an electrician and the training is demanding. It takes a lot of commitment but is a great field if you can see it through.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You might look and see what the local CC's have on offer. Maybe just perusing the program list will spark some interest. Talk to your neighbor, for sure. Think about what he likes to do, his hobbies, his preference for inside/outside, computer/hands, interacting with others/working alone, etc. And have him consider some basic business classes at a CC, which are useful for lots of different vocations -- running his own business or working for a small business.

I was going to make this same suggestion about programs offered at community colleges - lots have certificate programs to start in a career with advancement opportunities after a year or two of training.

Another idea is ultrasound technician.

+1 I was looking at the NVCC programs with a student I was helping and thought that for myself that seemed the most interesting option.

As a PP mentioned, athletes often find physical therapy interesting. It's a lot of education to become a PT but a lot less to be a PT Assistant.

Anonymous wrote:Air Conditioning and Heat. Our neighbor does this and has a very nice lifestyle and hours.
- Construction logistics or vendors are in high demand.
- Anything in auto sales and management is huge right now and in very high demand.
-Real estate

+1

We have friends who are in the construction and AC/Heat business and make very good money.

We also have friends who do real state fixer uppers and do extremely well.

All make over 1M yearly. You do need to be handy and have an entrepreneur mentality to start.

There are some great union training programs in this area for all of the trades. Electricians get paid very well! Def go union though for the benefits, the stability and the fact that you have a group that has your back, professionally. I wish there was a union for office worker drones tbh.

There are lots of good options listed on this thread, but HVAC and electrician may be among the best in terms of income, lifestyle, and opportunities for the future owning his own business. As far as job counseling, use his high school counselors - they should be equipped with some ability towards vocational counseling if he is in public school - and even private schools should be able to give you resources for this. Good luck, OP! While your son may not know what he's interested in, he's smart enough not to throw away good money going to college aimlessly and pursuing a degree without a plan. Wishing him a great senior year and future success!

Carpenter- my cousin went to college for two years, realized it wasn’t for him. He had always been good with woodworking so he apprenticed with a carpenter family friend and now make more money then his Ivy League educated brother!

What ever path your child decides to go down, I would encourage at least taking 1 class a semester at a local college for a few years.

Also - there are a lot of great ideas that were thrown out - when you sit with your child, ask what they like about a life style of some adults they know. You want them to discover things that they value. I have a brother who was REALLY good at restaurant management. He started as a bartender, but always had a sense of where help was needed and would naturally step in and do it. He wound up being the "turn around" guy for a small chain of restaurants in the mid west and would either help open up new sites OR go in and fix. However - the restaurant (hospitability) hours are hard. He did not want to have to work every weekend and wanted a more traditional work schedule (did not want to get home at midnight). In addition, the culture was hard as it was common for people to sit and grab a drink after a shift to wind down. My brother just gave it all up as he realized it was not a path he could see for himself 5 years down the road. HOWEVER - it was great experience that he was able to leverage - so as you support your child, this do not need to be perfect path. Get dirty - try something - reassess.

Other "traditional" ideas - UPS and USPS

Anonymous wrote:Mortuary science. UDC has a two year program.

Funeral directors don’t make much and have horrible hours.

I’d suggest electrician, plumber or HVAC. Once he knows what he’s doing, he could work towards owning his own business. Our neighbor growing up started out as a plumber, grew a plumbing business. He obviously did well- be lived in a $2M house.

Anonymous wrote:Military. If he is physically/medically able.

It doesn’t matter how “interested” he is it now. He doesn’t seem to be interested in much of anything passionately at the moment.

The military will teach him a skill, he will gain leadership knowledge, it is character building, provides everything he needs, money for future college.

It isn’t permanent. He can serve 4 yrs then do something else, but it is a fantastic springboard for many many things. A great opportunity creator

Ew no.

Anonymous wrote:elevator repair. They make bank.

YES. Architect here for reference

Anonymous wrote:Catering
Dental tech
Sonographer
Painting cars
Car repair
Car rental business like hertz eventually doing corp/govt accounts
Paralegal
Help desk support
Medical marijuana

Over half of what you listed take 4 year degrees

Catering
Dental tech
Sonographer
Painting cars
Car repair
Car rental business like hertz eventually doing corp/govt accounts
Paralegal
Help desk support
Medical marijuana

A lot of these suggestions vary wildly in terms of interface. If he is a cheerful guy who loves talking to people I'd pursue the sales options - car dealership / real estate etc.

But if he's quiet and prefers to tinker with stuff I'd pursue the electrician / plumber options more seriously.

Air Conditioning and Heat. Our neighbor does this and has a very nice lifestyle and hours.
- Construction logistics or vendors are in high demand.
- Anything in auto sales and management is huge right now and in very high demand.
-Real estate

Anonymous wrote:Peace Corps? Not a long term career options, but a great experience for 2 years, maybe give him time to see where he fits into society and a great opener for any job applicant.

Peace Corps is for college grads but Americorps has a number of programs that take kids right after high school NCCC is particularly compelling. They do disaster response.