My dad told me to learn a trade, not just code, and it saved my job

About two years ago, I was working as a data entry clerk for a logistics company in Omaha. My dad, who's been a plumber for 30 years, kept telling me, 'Robots can sort numbers, but they can't snake a drain in a tight spot.' I brushed it off, thinking automation was for factory jobs. Then, six months ago, my whole department got replaced by a new software system. I was out of work. I finally listened to him and used my savings to take a 9-week course for HVAC basics. Last week, I got hired by a local shop. The owner said he needs people who can think on their feet in attics and crawl spaces, not just follow a script. My dad was right. Has anyone else found that hands-on skills are holding up better than you thought they would?

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viola_lopez305mo ago

My mechanic uncle said the same thing, spot on.

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adams.uma5mo ago

So your uncle is a mechanic and he agrees? That's a relief, I was half convinced my car knowledge came from a weird dream about a talking carburetor. Guess I can stop feeling like a fraud now.

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emery2905mo ago

Trust me, @adams.uma, that fraud feeling is totally normal. I once spent a whole week quoting car facts I learned from a YouTube deep dive, convinced I'd get called out. The key is to just own the knowledge you have, even if the source feels silly. Like, if you know a rattling sound on a cold start might be a loose heat shield, just say it. Most people are just happy for the help, they don't quiz you on your diploma.

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