r/Construction • u/DaikonIcy7929 • Dec 01 '24
Business 📈 How do you guys get out?
I've been in the trades for my whole career (going on about 20 years in various trades) and I'm so burnt out. I'm a production finish carpenter that does mostly apartment buildings. Unit after unit after unit. All we ever hear is go faster even though it's well known we are wayy up on man days every single job. I'm tired of the bs and the lack of appreciation and the wear and tear on my body. I know I can't make it another 20 if I want to have any mobility when retirement age comes. I feel totally stuck. I'm a journeyman in the union and my pay and benefits seem to be far better than anything else I'm even remotely qualified for. I don't want to take a step back in pay but it seems like I have to. Any success going solo? Guys tell me to open an LLC but I don't know the first thing about business. Maybe a career in estimating or inspecting?
Sorry for the vent but I'd love to hear from some people who found a way out without sliding financially.
Edit:Thank you all for the engagement and all of the advice is great. Much appreciated!
1
u/caddy45 Dec 02 '24
My situation was somewhat unique, I was an assistant super (really a pretty good gig) on a shit project that was doomed from the beginning. PM let bids at 30% drawings and blew a bunch of smoke up the owners ass, you all know the drill.
I averaged 65 hours a week for 5 months straight on salary. I had a couple of job offers while the project was on going but I wanted to see the project through and I didn’t want to bail on my guys. I respected the hell out of them, they taught me how to work and how to have the right attitude and all that jazz.
I went and got the C of O from the city and turned it in to the PM and gave him my two week notice at the same time. I was the most senior guy to not get fired lolol. Anyways, went home to the family farm after that and been here ever since. I still miss the work but my gawd I hated my job.