The average age of a Grenadier buyer…..

[rovie]

I think it's good if everyone goes to university and doesn't learn manual work anymore. Then everyone knows how to do it theortically, but no one has to do it.

Sorry, that was a joke. I see it exactly the same as you do.

 

[DaveB]

It’s the same in Germany they tell everybody that university is a must. They compared the German numbers of students with other countries and found out that we do not have enough of them. They failed to notice our incredibly good dual training system that combines vocational school and work in the company. If I would be asked what single thing/system is worth to be exported into the world it would be this dual training system after school!

We have a severe shortage of tradesmen in Australia
When I started my electrical apprenticeship at the age of 15 I had completed year 10 at high school.
I didn't see the point in doing the last two years as I had no intention of going to University.
It was common for people to start apprenticeships at this age (15/16) because it meant they could be employed at very little cost.
I was paid only 30% of the adult wage
A few years later it became common for people who had gone to year 12 to change their mind about UNI and they would do a trade.
This then became the norm for a few years.
Only problem was that the companies now had a very inexperienced 18 year old on their hands who they had to pay the full adult minimum wage for.
This also coincided with the legal drinking/nightclubbing age being 18.
So now they had tired, hungover, inexperienced teenagers on full pay.
They could hire a very experienced (30-50 year old) trades assistant for the same money.

Nobody took on the hassle of hiring apprentices anymore.

 

[Jean Mercier]

Same in Belgium: too much focus on University degree, and not on skills that are practical and useful for everybody! I am myself graduated as an engineer, and don't pretend that my studies or degree are not useful of course, and I am glad that I got such a valuable diploma.

As a consequence we import a lot of legal or illegal foreign workers, nothing against these guys (or women): they want to work!

I disagree with our politicians who only like to see a good score in "mathematical knowledge" on the world ranking instead of practical knowledge inside the country!

 

[klarie]

@bemax you re right. However craftsmanship was both not appraised and also not well paid unless selfemployed -
most of the time in apprenticeship are nicked (in German Stift pencil )
etc.
Those who are finished education get there money on moonlighting / illicit work where employer and taxoffice doesn't know about - sometimes in small companies the employer and employee do things both illicit. - Or you go get selfemployed.. There is a comic figure in Germany "Werner" .. cartooning this a bit.
Also - depends on the type of job, carpenters. car mechanics, plumbing, electric specialists, tilers that were sought specialists for moonlight work.
So these lads could get some money..
Well underpaid and hard work are the guys doing gardening. At least here - A hunting friend of mine has a masters degree - works self employed.
This is the only way he gets along and maintain a decent life. Btw also offroader.. Jeep Owner
Opposite - many of the ones doing University - may not have sufficent income to maintain a life - ph D and driving taxi.
A friend of mine is educated singer and violinist. - so sometimes she has some work - even in Bregenz or Opera Cologne for some time, then she must teach the violin to 5 year olds or educate phonation to beginners. So no steady income and she depends on her husbands income. So probably never be able to afford an IG - if she would want one. (Her violin has about the same cost as a fieldmaster now)
Dual education is probably the best. - I like to work with our duals.

 

[klarie]

I think it's good if everyone goes to university and doesn't learn manual work anymore. Then everyone knows how to do it theortically, but no one has to do it.

Sorry, that was a joke. I see it exactly the same as you do.

My professor for microelectronics told in a lesson for undergraduates:
Theory - all known -nothing works -
practical experience - everything works - but no one can explain the reason.

 

[groanadier]

My last car buy, I am71, hoping I still will be when it arrives.

 

[PT70]

54 and no thoughts of retirement. Although I am thinking that my holidays will become longer and more frequent with all the exploring I'm planning to do in the Grenadier.

 

[Cheshire cat]

A lot of good comments regarding vocational careers and all our various countries failing to recognise the importance of manual skills. When I was young it was quite rare to even know someone who went to university. It never made me feel like a second class citizen and I had great respect for those that went to uni. I personally have had a very successful career in what used to be known as blue collar professions and I have little regret in never attaining a degree level education.

 

[rovie]

A lot of good comments regarding vocational careers and all our various countries failing to recognise the importance of manual skills. When I was young it was quite rare to even know someone who went to university. It never made me feel like a second class citizen and I had great respect for those that went to uni. I personally have had a very successful career in what used to be known as blue collar professions and I have little regret in never attaining a degree level education.

Great statement! I take off my hat!

 

[DaveB]

A lot of good comments regarding vocational careers and all our various countries failing to recognise the importance of manual skills. When I was young it was quite rare to even know someone who went to university. It never made me feel like a second class citizen and I had great respect for those that went to uni. I personally have had a very successful career in what used to be known as blue collar professions and I have little regret in never attaining a degree level education.

The high school I went to was set up for 100% of the students to go to university.
out of the 120 students in my year I was the only one to not go on to year 12
By the end of year 10 we had studied to the same level as year 12 at the other schools.
The others who went on studied more advanced levels on maths, sciences, English, Latin & engineering so they could get into the higher level degree courses.
I am extremely happy with the path I took and the career I have had.
Happy for them also

 

[painter]

54 and no thoughts of retirement. Although I am thinking that my holidays will become longer and more frequent with all the exploring I'm planning to do in the Grenadier.

Work with long holidays is a good balance.

Work can provide the money and the holidays always count.

What you can't count on is how much time you will have. I've seen it both ways, work forever and pass and retire early and pass.

So as long as you're doing what you like, you're doing okay in my book !

 

[DaveB]

Work with long holidays is a good balance.

Work can provide the money and the holidays always count.

What you can't count on is how much time you will have. I've seen it both ways, work forever and pass and retire early and pass.

So as long as you're doing what you like, you're doing okay in my book !

I hope to die peacefully in my sleep just like a friend of mine did
Not crying screaming and carrying on............like his passengers.

 

[Tazzieman]

I hope to die peacefully in my sleep just like a friend of mine did
Not crying screaming and carrying on............like his passengers.

It's geting a bit maudlin! My dad says he just wants to wake up in heaven. Although he is an atheist.
He's banging on about Mary two timing Joseph
to anyone who wants a plausible conspiracy.

 

[Krabby]

I earned my undergraduate degree in journalism and after graduating spent nearly five years in the newspaper business as a photojournalist. Things in life changed and I have spent these last many years as a teacher. Over my 20-year career I have said this very sentiment time and time again. Our HS makes students feel as though they’ll be failures without a college degree. It drives me nuts and couldn’t be farther from the truth.

The message I continually give my students is that a high school diploma is not enough and they will need to continue their education upon graduation. That does not, however, equal college; college is not for everyone and that’s perfectly fine. Go to a trade school, become an apprentice, learn a vocation that can become your career.

 

[Wile E Coyote]

I'm 51 years young now and will be 52 when I receive the mothership!

 

[Sailor96]

63

Ditto

 

[Stu_Barnes]

Still not sure why I am flying the Norwegian flag. Not that I have any issue with that. Great people that they are.

A glitch in the matrix. I’m trying to learn how to bend spoons as I write this, so maybe in a decade or two….

 

[Gladstone]

38yo. Finished college, med school, residency and fellowship, and probably will still be paying for all of it forever.

College isn’t the problem, it’s the cost of it without eventual return for the student. I’ll do just fine financially (not at all complaining about my situation, and I love what I do), but for others without the same earning potential, college is no guarantee of success and yet is held up as the goal.

I suspect regardless of our ages (and perhaps what draws us to the Grenadier in the first place) is that all of us here have an appreciation for honest, hard work.

Okay, off my soap box…

 

[Pfk]

38 by the time I receive the grenadier (hopefully)

 

[DDG]

52 years old. Looking forward to an AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) discount!