Career choices for the outdoorsman-What should i do?

[Danny20gauge]

Thanks for all the advise guys, i have a LOT of thinking to do you guys really opened my eyes to just how many jobs there are available to me and the choices i should make. Wish you guys all the best at work and in the field

[Grasu200]

In my opinion, think of a job that will keep you in the comfort of an office and will provide the means for a lifestyle that you desire (outdoors enthusiast). Really what will make a difference is WHERE will you be in your new job. You can be an IT analyst somewhere up north, where you have wildlife in your backyard, or a clerk or bank employee, real estate agent or whatever you want to be. What is important is WHERE will you live your life to be able to do what you love to do - in your case - being outdoors.

Just my opinion......

Ok guys, i know theres tons of people on here that work many different jobs/careers, so with your expert opinions what should i do??? Im in grade 11 right now soon to be in grade 12 so i really have to decide what im doing now. I have been thinking of OPP officer for a long time now and thats my first choice, always wanted to be a police officer and OPP will most likely get me somewhere out of the city. Second choice would be farmer however i live in Toronto (I did not choose this, hate it here) and with no family members owning farms (at least in this country) or family friends i have no real way of learning, so not very likely although i would love to become one. I have also been looking at land surveyor however must land surveyors survey new subdivisions that are destroying the country side and i just cant support that i hate urbanization. Trades interest me particularly welding (2 uncles are welders) however im not sure how easy it would be to do that in the country. My main priority is getting a job that will allow me to be outside of the city and live... comfortably (fairly good pay for the people not understanding). So with so many fellow outdoorsmen out there i would love to hear what you guys do and education, job availability and satisfaction you guys have experienced. Hope you guys can help me out with what i should do, and i guess this could also become a good resource for younger people in the future.

1. Needs to be out of city
2. Decent pay
3. Not nearly impossible to get into

[MikePal]

Just to add a link to a resource that you may find helpful Danny....there are a few government grands and loans available for apprentice programs....worth knowing about , may help financially. Good Luck !!

http://www.esdc.gc.ca/en/support_apprentices/index.page

[Angus]

I would think long and hard about the policing option. Great pay and benefits with lots of time off. There are lots of northern police agencies in addition to OPP opportunities. Thunder Bay , North Bay, Sudbury, etc...

My opinion differs from some of the others in that if you want to police, then gear your education to that career. Commit to it and you will be a police officer. I believe in the Policing Foundations programs. Check them out. See their job placement ratios, then go for it 100%.

[Fenelon]

Werner raised a good point about pensions. If I was a young lad now starting out, this would be a very important issue for me. Gone are the days of being able to save and invest your money so that you have a retirement stash to support you in your later years. It used to be that you could get an easy 10% low-risk return on your saved money, and you'd see it grow exponentially (I remember 18-22% on GICs, Canada Savings Bonds, etc). For the past 10 years, you're lucky if you get 1.5% on anything safe. Nothing is going to grow in an RRSP anymore. The thought of not having a pension for income would be a serious concern for me. If I could turn the clock back 25 years (I'm going to be 50 soon), I would have invested my savings in purchasing land instead of dismal GICs, mutual funds, etc. I would have taken some bank loans, carried more debt, and purchased some cheap land parcels. I'd be retired now if I had done that. The boomers are all retiring, and the price of land is (and will) only go in one direction. Around where I live, that 150 acre parcel that was $100K only 10 years ago has more than doubled. One acre country severance lots that could easily be bought for $20K less than 10 years ago are now $80K. I think the Irish and Scots who settled this area 150 years ago knew the same thing. Buy land......they sure aren't making any more of it. The world population will double by 2035. Can you imagine what a 50 acre bush property will be worth then !
You are a wise young man to be putting some serious thought into what you want to do in life. Some will beg to differ, but what you decide and do in the next 15 - 20 year period of your life will have big implications. The "system" is no longer as forgiving as it used to be. Right now I truly do feel sorry for the generation of young folk coming out of school. I see 25 year olds who come out of 3-4 years of school, and owe $50-60K, even though they used savings to go to school, and even worked while attending. Pair that off with a girlfriend/boyfriend who's in the same boat, and you're deep in the hole before you even get a kick in the cat. Prepare to specialize. Getting an education as a generalist will leave you unemployable. I'm liking the armed forces advice that others have suggested. Go get your skilled trades training in whatever field interests you. Get your training paid for, and have income at the same time. Have some fun while you're at it and see some of the world. Decide what you want to do 5 years down the road, when you're certified, and most importantly debt-free. Just remember to get 3 penicillin shots in your bum before you go to either Gaugetown, or Wainright!

[3030]

If it was me I ask TR to hook me up that guy has me jealous with his job

[Ugo]

I suggest you go to University. Tailor your courses so that you can become an astute politician and make changes on behalf of "us".
Lastly, you won't have to worry about the pay being decent. Once you've done enough terms, it's cash for life. You'll then have tons of time off to go hunting! Most importantly, it would be nice if you could invoke a law that states that all hunting/fishing revenue MUST be dedicated to hunting and fishing. I know....that's really crazy thinking but......
I also commend you for having the smarts to think about your future now. I wasn't so smart and that's why I ended up where I did. If you have the academic ability, university is never a wrong choice, other than F&W as already mentioned. You will assuredly have trouble finding a job there-in.
I sincerely wish you all the best!

[Kilo Charlie]

That used to be my first choice however if you think about it when are they needed most? Hunting season, that means ill be missing out on the season. I would be a good CO but i would miss out on the hunting season so id rather not.

My nephew (now 31) was a game warden in Manitoba and Nunavut. He loved the work but was missing SOME of hunting season. However, there are a LOT of different trades that work at MNR and have great outdoor jobs and they can take holidays when they want.
My nephew is now an RCMP officer, lives in Northern B.C. and fishes and hunts as much as he wants. This fall he went for sheep, goat, elk, moose, mulie and whitetail. Next year he's going to take his uncle along....

[longpointer]

WOW ! Lots of good advice. I'm near retirement and work in the water/wastewater treatment biz. People must have clean water, right ? Next they need food , shelter and then sex ! Pick something in one of those fields and you will always be in a job ( ie; making money). To find a job/career that you love and can make a living at is near impossible so be ready to compermise because it's all about the money !

Good Luck & Good Hunting !

[MikePal]

To find a job/career that you love and can make a living at is near impossible so be ready to compermise because it's all about the money !

I don't think its hard to find a job/career that excites you.....it's what you saddle yourself with in life that creates those demands that make you settle for briefcase and living in the burbs. Most guys could live off the grid and be happy living year round at the moose camp in Kapuskasing...but you'd probably have a hard time convincing the wife (or her mother) and your kids to stay there with you...lol.