Learning Carpentry

How can an entry-level Call-Center young-guy get into the Carpentry trade/building houses in BC?

This question is also somewhat an emotional outpouring reflecting the confusion and predicaments that I'm experiencing in my life recently, so I do apologize if I may be off-topic/verbose/and not making sense. I am a 24-yr old university drop-out (2 years of university, took Architecture courses) who have had a few Calling Center experiences, the biggest employer so far being TELUS. Consequently, it seems only Calling Center employers would hire me for the wage I am expecting (~$12/hr). But then again, maybe I am just afraid to try other industries...it distresses me already just ~thinking~ about the possibilities of bothers and fears of putting myself out there in job markets other than call center, expecting every field to tell me "you're no good at it; work for $8.00/hr instead". I don't know why I'm such a wimp; I apologize for being such a wimp. In fact I apologize for just being. The real problem with me is that I am basically born an artist... In addition to having sold a lot of pieces, I just love it. But you can't get a job as an artist... On top of that, I'm actually just not good with people. In every call center job I was in, I had received awards because I'm smart (i was good in school...which employers usually don't care about...but my being smart did help actually), but really, at the end of the day, I am sooo not suitable for it. I'm really good with my hands, and have done a little carpentry, and I guess my question is, how do you steer yourself away from a career path you KNOW is suicidal, and strive--without a college degree--to get into a field you have ZERO credentials/prior experience for? In other words, how do you start over? I can borrow money from my very generous parents, enough to support my living until I finish ~some~ kind of school (vocational school for carpentry maybe?). But what then? Wouldn't I be just where I was at before? A lot of my grad friends aren't doing anything with their degrees. I've been freelancing for 6 years now (a la "use day job to fund night job") for something as uselss as Fine Art which gets no money. Should I just do another 6 years of just gritting my teeth through my day job and ~wish~ my art will be promoted some day? Should I ditch art altogether as a career and just focus on something which I like which *DOES* pay the bills (e.g. carpentry). I would REALLY like to build houses (framing) for a living...that is my daydream. The first time I've done carpentry it, it was apparent to my supervisor that i was good at it, and that I LOVE it. But I am really confused (sorry)...while I know it's totally do-able, it just feels so impossible...getting into something totally brand new with no qualifications...but somthing you're actually good at, something you were actually made for. Thank you so very much for reading. p.s. I specialize in pencil portrait drawing, wood carving, and antique restoration i.e. Japanese Swords. I cannot use my prior carpentry experience on my resume, because that was in prison

Public Comments

1. Man you are sooo down on yourself. Work on how you feel about who you are. By the way, construction jobs are loaded with ex-cons. Just do not bring drugs to the job site...if your beef was drug related. Like all of us, bill paying comes first. But, don't give up on art. Construcion trades hiring is down pretty much everywhere. But, framers can make significantly more than call center workers. I guess you'll just have to wait till the economy 'picks up.'