From Washington Post. If you can't access it, let me know and I will copy and paste. Long Story short: crappy appliances are breaking down as use ramps up and there are not enough people to fix them.
Huge Need for Appliance Service Techs
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Sure would Love to hear combo's reply to this one.He won't return an email or phone message to a Yearning mind-- Why is this some sort of surprise story in 2020 ? Hell ,I can't pay a kid to wash my car for 20 bucks cash. Why should they be interested in repair work when there are fascinating games and social media in Mom's basement? Even if they do become interested in repairing ANYTHING they must join a website and be scolded for their manners, grammar, sentence structure and emotional presentation.If they ask anything of an old subject they are ignored or told THIS HAS BEEN COVERED SO MANY TIMES!! Yes sir, If I were young I'd be super enthused to get into this--LOL [this post was last edited: 10/23/2020-22:29]
Sure would Love to hear combo's reply to this one.He won't return an email or phone message to a Yearning mind-- Why is this some sort of surprise story in 2020 ? Hell ,I can't pay a kid to wash my car for 20 bucks cash. Why should they be interested in repair work when there are fascinating games and social media in Mom's basement? Even if they do become interested in repairing ANYTHING they must join a website and be scolded for their manners, grammar, sentence structure and emotional presentation.If they ask anything of an old subject they are ignored or told THIS HAS BEEN COVERED SO MANY TIMES!! Yes sir, If I were young I'd be super enthused to get into this--LOL [this post was last edited: 10/23/2020-22:29]
I've probably commented on this phenomena in the past he
A year or so before I retired from the railroad in 2005 this phenomena had already began to take hold. Around that time the railroad industry both in Canada and the US were around 10 to 15 years ahead of other industries in their numbers of employees who were at or near reaching retirement age. Our company put out an almost emergency broadcast to every employee basically pleading for everyone to ask their family and friends to apply for jobs. It really came to light when the Union Pacific to begin were having no luck in recruiting train crews. That led to having trains being left to sit wherever they happened to be because the crews hours had run out of hours and by federal laws they must stop and be re crewed. We had crews flying down from Canada to help them move trains. The US Dept of Labor investigated the situation and their finding was in a nutshell that todays youth are NOT interested in labor and only want to work in an office or retail environment in front of a computer and do not want to get their hands dirty Simple as that.
A year or so before I retired from the railroad in 2005 this phenomena had already began to take hold. Around that time the railroad industry both in Canada and the US were around 10 to 15 years ahead of other industries in their numbers of employees who were at or near reaching retirement age. Our company put out an almost emergency broadcast to every employee basically pleading for everyone to ask their family and friends to apply for jobs. It really came to light when the Union Pacific to begin were having no luck in recruiting train crews. That led to having trains being left to sit wherever they happened to be because the crews hours had run out of hours and by federal laws they must stop and be re crewed. We had crews flying down from Canada to help them move trains. The US Dept of Labor investigated the situation and their finding was in a nutshell that todays youth are NOT interested in labor and only want to work in an office or retail environment in front of a computer and do not want to get their hands dirty Simple as that.
Great minds....
I posted this same thing earlier. Do not believe 3 weeks of training prepares you to deal with today's appliances.
I posted this same thing earlier. Do not believe 3 weeks of training prepares you to deal with today's appliances.
vacerator
Well-known member
Show me
the money then! My social security too! I get my pension, but have 34 years paid into S.S. My sister works for the V.A., and they aren't deducting SS from her paychecks currently because of someone we all know of. It's B.S., and we're fed up with it all! Too many depend on social security. Same if they have a pre exhisting health issue! I'll be a gentleman and just say XXX&*^%$#@!*&#$%!!!!!!!!!!!
the money then! My social security too! I get my pension, but have 34 years paid into S.S. My sister works for the V.A., and they aren't deducting SS from her paychecks currently because of someone we all know of. It's B.S., and we're fed up with it all! Too many depend on social security. Same if they have a pre exhisting health issue! I'll be a gentleman and just say XXX&*^%$#@!*&#$%!!!!!!!!!!!
Weird.
Around 2006 I gave up a career in high tech/IT and went back to school to learn a trade: machining. It's never been as well paying as my IT work but I got a lot more personal satisfaction out of making things with my hands (and machines). Less BS and more results.
YMMV
Around 2006 I gave up a career in high tech/IT and went back to school to learn a trade: machining. It's never been as well paying as my IT work but I got a lot more personal satisfaction out of making things with my hands (and machines). Less BS and more results.
YMMV
What's to fix?
It's all electro/plastic throw-away drek.
Now, someone who learns to repair existing old stuff will have a future because NOBODY likes the new drek!
Everybody I know is desperate to keep their old stuff up and running.
Those of us "in the know" should have been warehousing NIB washers/dryers/dishwashers/etc.
Can you imagine the market for NOS Hobart/ Kitchenaid Supurba's and Patrician's.
What would someone pay for a set of NIB Maytag 806's? 608'S?
On and on.
Lefevers are pretty smart warehousing all those old parts, after all. They may take up a lot of space but, I imagine the market for them is pretty hot these days.
It's all electro/plastic throw-away drek.
Now, someone who learns to repair existing old stuff will have a future because NOBODY likes the new drek!
Everybody I know is desperate to keep their old stuff up and running.
Those of us "in the know" should have been warehousing NIB washers/dryers/dishwashers/etc.
Can you imagine the market for NOS Hobart/ Kitchenaid Supurba's and Patrician's.
What would someone pay for a set of NIB Maytag 806's? 608'S?
On and on.
Lefevers are pretty smart warehousing all those old parts, after all. They may take up a lot of space but, I imagine the market for them is pretty hot these days.
Popularity of Old Stuff
Not so much on the whole. I rebuilt a 1999 direct-drive Kenmore 90 a couple years ago. New tub support (includes spin bearings). New basket drive/brake/clutch (includes agitate bearings). Transmission serviced with new agitate shaft (to mate nicely with those new bearings), neutral drain kit (includes spin gear), fresh oil, and new oil seal on the input shaft. Base pedestal was previously treated with POR-15. Listed it for a few months on CraigsList and Facebook Marketplace for $365 (cost of parts + $50) with details of what had been done (perhaps that was the mistake?). No interest so it sits in the parents' garage awaiting for a family member to need it.
Not so much on the whole. I rebuilt a 1999 direct-drive Kenmore 90 a couple years ago. New tub support (includes spin bearings). New basket drive/brake/clutch (includes agitate bearings). Transmission serviced with new agitate shaft (to mate nicely with those new bearings), neutral drain kit (includes spin gear), fresh oil, and new oil seal on the input shaft. Base pedestal was previously treated with POR-15. Listed it for a few months on CraigsList and Facebook Marketplace for $365 (cost of parts + $50) with details of what had been done (perhaps that was the mistake?). No interest so it sits in the parents' garage awaiting for a family member to need it.
We've done this to ourselves with all this nonsense about everyone needing to go to college and earn a professional degree of one sort or another. We've all heard the saying, "Don't be a fool, stay in school." Having worked as a draftsman and technical illustrator many years ago I learned that sitting behind a desk all day wasn't going to work for me, and since I've always had an interest in repairing broken things I shifted my focus to aircraft maintenance. To qualify to take the FAA exams I enrolled in the A&P program at Glendale College(which has now been shut down due to lack of interest). That program required me to be in class from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm five days a week for four semesters which was far more class time than any number of four year degrees would've required of me, and yet I am officially considered an unskilled laborer by the Federal Government and many others. When interviewing for a Director of Maintenance position for a corporate flight department one increasingly finds that a Bachelors degree in any subject is required in addition to the FAA licensing and years of experience. A degree in aircraft maintenance would be great, but any subject will satisfy the requirement. As it happens I also have an Associates degree from Glendale College which took me an additional two years of study to earn bringing my total class time up to the level of many Masters degrees, but this impresses no one. All that matters is that I don't have a Bachelors. As long as this sort of uninformed snobbery persists young people will shun the trades in favor of traditional four year degrees.
vacerator
Well-known member
Earning statistics show and prove
that educated people earn more in the long term, and are happier. You don't need a degree for a technical job unless it requires specialized knowledge in science, math, biology, engineering, or chemistry.
that educated people earn more in the long term, and are happier. You don't need a degree for a technical job unless it requires specialized knowledge in science, math, biology, engineering, or chemistry.
David-------
as usual, follow the $$$$. The educational system here in the US is badly broken. We have a young part-time employee who just graduated from a local liberal arts college with his BA in Social Science. He now has over $80K worth of Govt. loans to pay back and can't get a full time job doing anything. BUT, the College already knew that. They have prepared him for NOTHING and they knew it all along. Buyer Beware! His father would like to choke his counselor! But, he is part of the ruse. He is lucky we can use the extra help BUT he is either un-qualified, un-interested, or just plain afraid of the death care industry.
Even if he was interested, all the Mortuary Science Courses offer these days is sadly lacking. At great expense, ALL they teach is how to pass the National and State Boards. Period. They tell them they will have a high-paying job, new suits and a BMW in the driveway in no time. BUT---When the Graduates come looking for a job they are essentially clueless, (not to mention whiney and shiftless as well).
The worst part is that the Colleges are fully aware that the death care industry in this country, as we have always known it, is dying on-the-vine (which is a whole different discussion!). If the Colleges had to "Guarantee" the Graduate would have a job within 90 days of Graduation or their money back, they would discontinue the course. (That can be said of all these major Colleges!)
IMO A Trade School, these days, makes a LOT more sense at a lower price and a MUCH larger return on the money invested.
as usual, follow the $$$$. The educational system here in the US is badly broken. We have a young part-time employee who just graduated from a local liberal arts college with his BA in Social Science. He now has over $80K worth of Govt. loans to pay back and can't get a full time job doing anything. BUT, the College already knew that. They have prepared him for NOTHING and they knew it all along. Buyer Beware! His father would like to choke his counselor! But, he is part of the ruse. He is lucky we can use the extra help BUT he is either un-qualified, un-interested, or just plain afraid of the death care industry.
Even if he was interested, all the Mortuary Science Courses offer these days is sadly lacking. At great expense, ALL they teach is how to pass the National and State Boards. Period. They tell them they will have a high-paying job, new suits and a BMW in the driveway in no time. BUT---When the Graduates come looking for a job they are essentially clueless, (not to mention whiney and shiftless as well).
The worst part is that the Colleges are fully aware that the death care industry in this country, as we have always known it, is dying on-the-vine (which is a whole different discussion!). If the Colleges had to "Guarantee" the Graduate would have a job within 90 days of Graduation or their money back, they would discontinue the course. (That can be said of all these major Colleges!)
IMO A Trade School, these days, makes a LOT more sense at a lower price and a MUCH larger return on the money invested.
There is that somewhat made up story going around in IT students:
There was a job offer once from a somewhat larger technology company.
They were asking for 10 years of experience in a programming language that only was 8 years old.
There was a job offer once from a somewhat larger technology company.
They were asking for 10 years of experience in a programming language that only was 8 years old.
good-shepherd
Well-known member
His father would like to choke his counselor!
Where was the father when the kid choose his major and signed his life away to pay for it?
When I was in college I avoided loans like the plague. Went to the county college for two years then transferred, commuted all four years while working part time, and costs were way lower then.
(These days one can earn a four year degree from Rutgers through the county college, I would have jumped on that back then).
Not bragging I just hated the idea of graduating in debt.
Where was the father when the kid choose his major and signed his life away to pay for it?
When I was in college I avoided loans like the plague. Went to the county college for two years then transferred, commuted all four years while working part time, and costs were way lower then.
(These days one can earn a four year degree from Rutgers through the county college, I would have jumped on that back then).
Not bragging I just hated the idea of graduating in debt.
vacerator
Well-known member
My stepson
almost has his student loans repaid. He graduated in 2016 from a private technological university, top 5 in his class. He almost grosses 6 figures already.
He does not regret college.
almost has his student loans repaid. He graduated in 2016 from a private technological university, top 5 in his class. He almost grosses 6 figures already.
He does not regret college.
warmsecondrinse
Well-known member
i have a friend who's bilingual (English 1st, French 2nd), is a published author, an historian who routinely guest lectures at Ivy League and second tier colleges, moderates and MC's countless debates, conferences, hosted the Gannick awards a few years back. He needs to clone himself to keep up.
Somewhere in the midst of this he earned an ESL teaching certificate (TEFLA?). A few years back work was slow so he though he'd teach ESL. EVERY single institution wanted a Bachelor's. You could have a bachelor's in math and that made you qualified to teach ESL. But a certificate that's recognized as a teaching credential the world over means nothing because he doesn't have a bachelor's.
A couple years ago a headhunter found me somehow and enticed me to interview for an interpreting position at some big tech company that had several Deaf software engineers. I passed the first couple of interviews then my recruiter told me they're passing on me because the company wanted an experienced, certified ASL interpreter who was ALSO a software engineer with years of experience! I told the recruiter she'd be wise to stop trying to fill that spot for the tech company because in order to find someone with both sets of credentials they'd have to double the offered salary.
This seems to be a general trend. The field doesn't seem to matter. As you go up the ladder each step earns a smaller increase in compensation.
#2
It would be interesting what those railroad jobs paid, where they were located, and how those two factors compared with what office and retail jobs were offering. Sometimes the increase isn't commensurate to the increase in work. When I left teaching for interpreting my pay dropped by 25%, my work/energy expenditure by 50%, and paperwork & aggravation both dropped by 90%.
Somewhere in the midst of this he earned an ESL teaching certificate (TEFLA?). A few years back work was slow so he though he'd teach ESL. EVERY single institution wanted a Bachelor's. You could have a bachelor's in math and that made you qualified to teach ESL. But a certificate that's recognized as a teaching credential the world over means nothing because he doesn't have a bachelor's.
A couple years ago a headhunter found me somehow and enticed me to interview for an interpreting position at some big tech company that had several Deaf software engineers. I passed the first couple of interviews then my recruiter told me they're passing on me because the company wanted an experienced, certified ASL interpreter who was ALSO a software engineer with years of experience! I told the recruiter she'd be wise to stop trying to fill that spot for the tech company because in order to find someone with both sets of credentials they'd have to double the offered salary.
This seems to be a general trend. The field doesn't seem to matter. As you go up the ladder each step earns a smaller increase in compensation.
#2
It would be interesting what those railroad jobs paid, where they were located, and how those two factors compared with what office and retail jobs were offering. Sometimes the increase isn't commensurate to the increase in work. When I left teaching for interpreting my pay dropped by 25%, my work/energy expenditure by 50%, and paperwork & aggravation both dropped by 90%.
neptunebob
Well-known member
My father did not want me in a "blue collar" job
I don't believe it was the job so much but the "culture". Dad wanted us to go to college because he was a college graduate himself, he was a dentist with the Veterans Administration who was a 1952 Georgetown Dental School graduate. So he had a lot of education. It was believed back then that college made you a "better person", that is, you would study literature and learn about history and you would be a kinder person who was good with people and have good conversations. You would not be part of the culture of for example, steelmaking/coal mining that was get off work, go to the bar, get drunk, go bowling, play the lottery, cuss and swear all the time, get the wife pregnant and just go and do it all again.
Unfortunately, I think by the time any of us came along that "college myth" was gone, because unfortunately, some of the worst people I have known are educated. When I transferred to a 4 year college it was one of the worst parts of my life, with mean people, mean faculty, bad food, boring weekends and having to learn all alone. Another school might have been better, but I was not there long.
Anyway, when I would tell dad I might want to work for Sears as a repairman (back when it was possible) I would be told I was throwing away and opportunity. Of course, back then, college was much less money than it was today. Also, I was "too nice" a person to be in that "awful' culture.
Meanwhile, I have found many college educated people to be complete assholes, so much for the "better person" myth. When growing up in our neighborhood, a number of engineers lived there. All of them were surly, bitter, men who yelled at their kids, cusssed and swore, were rude ushers in the church, were abrupt (never said a complete sentence), and had large families because they were getting the wife pregnant all the time. I had no idea what an engineer even was. Later, I worked as a maintenance person at a JCPenney store. JCPenney requires all manager candidates have a college degree (why? It's not like you have to have chemistry to know about clothes). All these managers did was hang around the store manager and tell him how wonderful he was (actually, he was quite obnoxious). Meanwhile, none of them could even figure out how to put clothes on hangers!
How much do you think this "culture" factor has to do with why some jobs are hard to fill?
I don't believe it was the job so much but the "culture". Dad wanted us to go to college because he was a college graduate himself, he was a dentist with the Veterans Administration who was a 1952 Georgetown Dental School graduate. So he had a lot of education. It was believed back then that college made you a "better person", that is, you would study literature and learn about history and you would be a kinder person who was good with people and have good conversations. You would not be part of the culture of for example, steelmaking/coal mining that was get off work, go to the bar, get drunk, go bowling, play the lottery, cuss and swear all the time, get the wife pregnant and just go and do it all again.
Unfortunately, I think by the time any of us came along that "college myth" was gone, because unfortunately, some of the worst people I have known are educated. When I transferred to a 4 year college it was one of the worst parts of my life, with mean people, mean faculty, bad food, boring weekends and having to learn all alone. Another school might have been better, but I was not there long.
Anyway, when I would tell dad I might want to work for Sears as a repairman (back when it was possible) I would be told I was throwing away and opportunity. Of course, back then, college was much less money than it was today. Also, I was "too nice" a person to be in that "awful' culture.
Meanwhile, I have found many college educated people to be complete assholes, so much for the "better person" myth. When growing up in our neighborhood, a number of engineers lived there. All of them were surly, bitter, men who yelled at their kids, cusssed and swore, were rude ushers in the church, were abrupt (never said a complete sentence), and had large families because they were getting the wife pregnant all the time. I had no idea what an engineer even was. Later, I worked as a maintenance person at a JCPenney store. JCPenney requires all manager candidates have a college degree (why? It's not like you have to have chemistry to know about clothes). All these managers did was hang around the store manager and tell him how wonderful he was (actually, he was quite obnoxious). Meanwhile, none of them could even figure out how to put clothes on hangers!
How much do you think this "culture" factor has to do with why some jobs are hard to fill?
ATTENTION ALL OUT-OF-WORK PERSONAL TRAINERS:
Become an appliance repairman! You've got the core strength/general muscle power to wrestle heavy appliances and you probably look good in a tool belt. Attendance at the University of YouTube is tuition-free!
Another complex socioeconomic/employment problem solved before 8:00 in the morning.
Become an appliance repairman! You've got the core strength/general muscle power to wrestle heavy appliances and you probably look good in a tool belt. Attendance at the University of YouTube is tuition-free!
Another complex socioeconomic/employment problem solved before 8:00 in the morning.
vacerator
Well-known member
Bob,
I know a few A-holes too. A few didn't go to college, some have. It doesn't give you common sense, but should at least nurture the skill sets necessary to think, reason, and solve problems better. That can lead to good leadership skills.
Many corporate mission statemesnts are also B.S., and no actual policy.
I believe that we are not all meant to go to colege of course, and those willing to work, learn, and be assertive in a job or career should be well compensated.
The money earned is only worth what it's buying power is. The more we earn, and spend, the more goes back to where it came from to begin. It's a tool of life cycle.
Those who rise to positions of power should recall from whence they came, and run a company, a city, state, or nation that way. Some were spoon fed all along, and are out of touch. Saying things like NY city will suffer, and that's their problem is one recent example. It was on a huge billboard. The person who paid for it grew up in a wealthy Manhattan family. He is married to the potus' daughter.
I know a few A-holes too. A few didn't go to college, some have. It doesn't give you common sense, but should at least nurture the skill sets necessary to think, reason, and solve problems better. That can lead to good leadership skills.
Many corporate mission statemesnts are also B.S., and no actual policy.
I believe that we are not all meant to go to colege of course, and those willing to work, learn, and be assertive in a job or career should be well compensated.
The money earned is only worth what it's buying power is. The more we earn, and spend, the more goes back to where it came from to begin. It's a tool of life cycle.
Those who rise to positions of power should recall from whence they came, and run a company, a city, state, or nation that way. Some were spoon fed all along, and are out of touch. Saying things like NY city will suffer, and that's their problem is one recent example. It was on a huge billboard. The person who paid for it grew up in a wealthy Manhattan family. He is married to the potus' daughter.
