Blue Collar and Proud of It: The All-In-One Resource for Finding Freedom, Financial Success, and Security Outside the Cubicle

Blue Collar and Proud of It: The All-In-One Resource for Finding Freedom, Financial Success, and Security Outside the Cubicle by Joe Lamacchia, Bridget Samburg

Book: Blue Collar and Proud of It: The All-In-One Resource for Finding Freedom, Financial Success, and Security Outside the Cubicle by Joe Lamacchia, Bridget Samburg Read Free Book Online
Authors: Joe Lamacchia, Bridget Samburg
Tags: Business
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collectors—also fall into this category. Most everyone is familiar with how hard they work to haul and empty garbage, all while sticking to an assigned route and sometimes a tight time schedule.
    Work Setting
    Material-moving work tends to be repetitive and physically demanding. Some people in this field work at great heights, and some work outdoors, regardless of weather and climate. These jobs can expose workers to fumes, odors, loud noises, or dangerous machinery. But for the most part, the jobs are less dangerous than they used to be, thanks to safety equipment and regulations. Material movers generally work eight-hour shifts, and some work through the night depending on the company and need.
    Training and Certification
    Most training for this occupation is done on the job. Some employers may require that applicants pass a physical exam due to the amount of physical lifting that is sometimes involved. Material movers generally learn skills informally from more experienced coworkers.
    Workers who handle toxic chemicals or use industrial trucks receive specialized training in safety awareness and procedures. For some of these jobs, such as crane operators, there are training and apprenticeship programs available. Some states require crane or other heavy equipment operators to be licensed. You can find out more by checking with your state’s motor vehicle licensing division.
    The Numbers
    Despite little change in employment projections, job openings should be plentiful since there are somany of these jobs and turnover is high. In 2006, materialmovers held 4.8million jobs.Out of those jobs 2, 416, 000 were laborers and material movers while 637, 000 were industrial truck and tractor operators. Hourly earnings of material movers vary significantly, but wages can be low to start. In May 2006, median earnings for gas compressor operators were $21.83 and $18.77 for crane operators. For refuse and recyclable material collectors, it was $13.93.
    GROUNDSKEEPER, LANDSCAPER, AND ARBORIST
    First impressions are everything. When you drive up to a friend’s house or walk past a nearby business, one of the first things you may notice is the lawn, the landscaping, the bushes, the trees, or maybe the lack of anything green. If you’re looking for a new condominium, you may immediately notice whether the grounds are well maintained. A well-cared-for lawn says a lot. Landscapers, groundskeepers, and arborists—or tree experts—are the ones responsible formaking sure that first impression is a good one.
    Nothing relaxes me more than a perfectly cut lawn, a well-shoveled walk, and a newlymulched garden. I guess that’s because I’ve been in the landscaping business long enough that I can spot a blade of grass out of place like a barber sees a single strand of hair that is too long. I enjoy driving away from a customer’s house knowing that my crew has created something beautiful, hasmaintained something the owner can enjoy, and has added value to a neighborhood.
    I got lucky when I started my business almost thirty years ago. That’s when more and more women started working out of the house. That meantmore takeout dinners, less time tomow the grass, andmore landscaping business for me. As women found themselves with less time to garden, weed, and generally tend to their lawns, we landscapers found a ton of business. And now, people are busier than ever, so you can be sure there is still plenty of work available for professional landscapers.
    The Work
    A groundskeeper typically refers to someone who tends to the lawns, shrubs, and flowers on residential and commercial property. Some work at estates, college campuses, and private parks. Landscapers tend to have multiple customerswith different tasks or duties at each location. I always thought itwould be a blast to be the groundskeeper at aMajor League ball field. For those who go in this direction, it’s important to understand artificial turf while knowing how to maintain the

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