Career Change to Arboriculture: Reality vs Romanticism

That's a great offer. If not with Evo, with someone closer. A working vacation of a week to a few weeks could tell a person a lot. It might save doing all kinds of education prep only to find out you don't like certain aspects of the work or daily grind.
 
That's OK I haven't had time to go look for it today, I have a couple of other places to look as well, I will put up a link if it turns up.
 
Someone looking to start in this industry and someone looking to get out, all in the same state only like 50 miles away from each other...
http://www.treebuzz.com/forum/threa...a-small-tree-care-business.36469/#post-537087

I thought this match was interesting, but you really should get experience with a company working your way up before you become an owner operator. Anyway, I thought I would share this other thread if you hadn't seen it.
 
Hi everyone. This is my first post, or I guess comment, so howdy!

Im down in Austin, Tx and this thread couldnt be more perfect for me as I too am making a career change into this field. My action list is very similar to @jesselangdon 's, though I have 26 years of rock climbing experience, 10 years technical work at height, and have been in a project management role for the past 12. The past 2 have included construction and safety management.

Very recently my life kind of blew up and I am walking away from a successful climbing gym I founded. Starting at $12-15/hr is totally fine with me. Downsizing my life and costs will make that reasonable. My goal right now is to learn from the bottom up under skilled educators so that I can attain certifications and navigate my way through the industry to wherever there are good fits.

I've envisioned finding a company that is willing to take me on and encourage my growth. Ultimately looking to move out of Texas. Open to many places, but would prefer a place with water, mountains, seasons, big trees, and a healthy, supporting industry. Happy to consider academic education as well.

I am working my way through many ISA & TCIA literature as well as attending my chapter's annual conference where I plan to network my butt off. Any suggestions from this community on companies that I could pair well with? I've been directed to Bartlett and am encouraged by their growth paths, and ability to transfer around the country.

I greatly appreciated @Frax 's detailed and encouraging response.

Thanks so much yall.

Matt
 
Very true and definitely on my mind. But that is still a good ways off, and there are many possible twists and turns between now and then. For now... I'm still a monkey!
 
Yes, I realized I should follow up on my original post.

I'm still really intersted in the idea of this career change, but to be honest, I think the reality of the decrease in pay is keeping me from following through. In my current role as a GIS analyst/programmer, I make decent money. I'm definitely not getting rich (my wife makes the real money), but the idea of working for several years making roughly half of what I make now is not too appealing (particularly since I have kids). I also feel pretty nervous about my long-term prospects - I'm 44 this year, and if I get started as a groundie now, progress at a steady pace, I could maybe see myself being a certified climbing arborist within a few years (i.e. 47!) Then I have maybe 10 years of full-on work as an arborist. Then what? I'm not sure I'll want to be climbing in my late 50s, early 60s.

So I'm still thinking about it, but the financial realities are sobering...
 
@jesselangdon
I feel your conflict. I too am in a stable well paying cubicle job with benefits. I'm 49 and am really bored and frustrated with my current job but don't know what else to do. I guess for me it's just resort to rec climbing and learning arborculture at my own pace in order to tend my tree crop and do side jobs maybe. I just find myself staring out my window at the trees too much....
 
jesselangdon said:
Hey Evo,

Sorry for not getting back to you sooner, and thanks so much for the offer! I'm pretty sure the commute would be pretty brutal for me, but I do really like the idea of taking a "working vacation" and getting a taste for what the work would really be like.
Click to expand...
No worries, also wondering how it’s going for you
 
Steve-o said:
@jesselangdon
I feel your conflict. I too am in a stable well paying cubicle job with benefits. I'm 49 and am really bored and frustrated with my current job but don't know what else to do. I guess for me it's just resort to rec climbing and learning arborculture at my own pace in order to tend my tree crop and do side jobs maybe. I just find myself staring out my window at the trees too much....
Click to expand...

Enjoy climbing trees.


Go stand in the rain during your lunch breaks. haha.

My accountant (neighbor to my job today) asked me if I was having fun. I very clearly knew the answer, NO. I was working hard, making sure everything was going safely, efficiently, and effectively, and hoping that I was making enough money.
 
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