Okay, so oftentimes I see peope on here asking questions looking for direction whether they are taking a break from college or settling down for a few months to earn some money to go travel.
I've mentioned before with so many job possibilities out there how do people even know where to look without just aimlessly browsing CL or the classifieds and calling places where you have no idea what duties or pay are.
Figured I would kick this off and would love to hear others comment as well. I'm talking about jobs that don't require a college degree, technical training, or any special skills like web design or SEO. Jobs where you can make a decent buck and fairly easy entry.
I'll kick it off...
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I worked this job about 8 years ago so industry is going away due to smart meters and pay is probably higher but most stuff will still be relevant.
METER READER
Duties:
Walked around reading meters for water and electric
Pay:
$14 per hour plus $2 per hour for vehicle usage. We really only drove to one neighborhood and walked the entire day, maybe grabbed lunch out or drove to a second neighborhood but probably drove 10 miles a day or less so essentially made $16 per hour as you really didn't use your car but you did get paid for it.
Average Day:
Showed up at 7am. Got my route and picked up my little handheld computer and meter gun. Grabbed a walkie talkie and map of my route for the day. After that I would drive to my route, start walking it.
I would go up to the little black plastic circles on peoples house, shoot the gun at it, take a reading and enter it into computer. Then walk to electric meter. Take a reading, pop on a new plastic tab so you can tell if people reset and tamper with it and onto the next house.
Nice job, nobody telling you what to do, nobody looking over your shoulder. Get your route done and everyone leaves you alone. You can listen to music, talk on the phone to friends, listen to audiobooks, do whatever you want while you are out as long as your able to walk and take your readings. Honestly I would normally go fast and then take a break and go to the library for a few hours each day, sit, read, look on internet. Probably even better gig today with smartphones where you could do more of your own stuff throughout the day if you also want to run a biz on the side or something.
Pros:
1. You walk about 15-30 miles a day so great excercise
2. Nobody breathing over your back, very easy job you know what you have to do.
3. Freedom to listen to music, books, etc
4. Good pay
5. Nice schedule, in at 7 out by 3 or 3:30 eveeryday.
Cons:
1. Snow, Rain, sleet. It sucks having your feet soaked and being cold 30 minutes into the day and knowing you have another 8 hours.
2. Rough job to do hungover, especially in bad weather.
Just a few other comments about this gig. This job is kinda going away. Many cities are getting smart meters which allow them to read remotely so no need for meter readers. Also some cities have technology where a truck can drive down the street at like 10mph and take readings so you don't need a dozen walkers you only need like one person. There still are plenty of these jobs out there. They pay well and really require no special skills or education to get into. I got this job when I was like 21 with a prettyy crappy resume at the time, Anyone can do it really.
One interesting things. This used to be a job for cityworkers but most cities have contracted it out. It was kinda funny some people who worked there for a long time worked for city so they got better pay, better benefits. In cold weather like below freezing they got a 15 minute break every hour, didn't work if temp dropepd below such and such degrees. Lotsa perks like that. Those of us who started later worked for a contracting company. Don't get me wrong we still got paid well and was still a good job but we were out no matter the weather, weren't treated with kid gloves and babied like cityworkers are in nearly every industry.
That's my easy well paying gig. Curious to hear others.
I've mentioned before with so many job possibilities out there how do people even know where to look without just aimlessly browsing CL or the classifieds and calling places where you have no idea what duties or pay are.
Figured I would kick this off and would love to hear others comment as well. I'm talking about jobs that don't require a college degree, technical training, or any special skills like web design or SEO. Jobs where you can make a decent buck and fairly easy entry.
I'll kick it off...
---------------------------------------------------------------------
I worked this job about 8 years ago so industry is going away due to smart meters and pay is probably higher but most stuff will still be relevant.
METER READER
Duties:
Walked around reading meters for water and electric
Pay:
$14 per hour plus $2 per hour for vehicle usage. We really only drove to one neighborhood and walked the entire day, maybe grabbed lunch out or drove to a second neighborhood but probably drove 10 miles a day or less so essentially made $16 per hour as you really didn't use your car but you did get paid for it.
Average Day:
Showed up at 7am. Got my route and picked up my little handheld computer and meter gun. Grabbed a walkie talkie and map of my route for the day. After that I would drive to my route, start walking it.
I would go up to the little black plastic circles on peoples house, shoot the gun at it, take a reading and enter it into computer. Then walk to electric meter. Take a reading, pop on a new plastic tab so you can tell if people reset and tamper with it and onto the next house.
Nice job, nobody telling you what to do, nobody looking over your shoulder. Get your route done and everyone leaves you alone. You can listen to music, talk on the phone to friends, listen to audiobooks, do whatever you want while you are out as long as your able to walk and take your readings. Honestly I would normally go fast and then take a break and go to the library for a few hours each day, sit, read, look on internet. Probably even better gig today with smartphones where you could do more of your own stuff throughout the day if you also want to run a biz on the side or something.
Pros:
1. You walk about 15-30 miles a day so great excercise
2. Nobody breathing over your back, very easy job you know what you have to do.
3. Freedom to listen to music, books, etc
4. Good pay
5. Nice schedule, in at 7 out by 3 or 3:30 eveeryday.
Cons:
1. Snow, Rain, sleet. It sucks having your feet soaked and being cold 30 minutes into the day and knowing you have another 8 hours.
2. Rough job to do hungover, especially in bad weather.
Just a few other comments about this gig. This job is kinda going away. Many cities are getting smart meters which allow them to read remotely so no need for meter readers. Also some cities have technology where a truck can drive down the street at like 10mph and take readings so you don't need a dozen walkers you only need like one person. There still are plenty of these jobs out there. They pay well and really require no special skills or education to get into. I got this job when I was like 21 with a prettyy crappy resume at the time, Anyone can do it really.
One interesting things. This used to be a job for cityworkers but most cities have contracted it out. It was kinda funny some people who worked there for a long time worked for city so they got better pay, better benefits. In cold weather like below freezing they got a 15 minute break every hour, didn't work if temp dropepd below such and such degrees. Lotsa perks like that. Those of us who started later worked for a contracting company. Don't get me wrong we still got paid well and was still a good job but we were out no matter the weather, weren't treated with kid gloves and babied like cityworkers are in nearly every industry.
That's my easy well paying gig. Curious to hear others.