MidLifeCATrisis
Member
Hello everyone,
Hope you're all having a great day!
I can’t keep this short, so I’ll keep it honest (LOL).
I’m 30 and looking to change directions. I’ve always LOVED big equipment—especially CATs. As a kid, all my toys were trucks, dozers, and loaders. I’d move tons of dirt from one side of the yard to the other and back again (LOL). My grandpa was a HET working on CATs—he was my rock.
I always wanted to work on heavy equipment, but coming from a traditional Middle Eastern family, I was forced to go to university. (I mean, I caved—though not before getting my ass whooped a few times and even sleeping on benches in the park, LOL). I built a solid career, earned a good income, and checked all the "right" boxes, but damn, I regret it.
After 12 years of mostly white-collar factory jobs (FMCG), a bachelor's in Industrial Engineering, and an MBA, I’ve decided to give my dream a shot. Maybe it's a midlife crisis (I mean, look at my username!), but after months of asking for advice and soul-searching, I know this is what I want. It might sound like I have a rosy vision, but I understand (as much as a desk jockey can) all the challenges that come with this career.
I LOVE working with my hands, solving problems, and getting dirty. I hate sitting behind a desk. I want a physical job, outdoors, where I earn my paycheck through hard work. Even now, whenever I can, I ditch the desk and spend my time with the operators and maintenance crew on the shop floor.
I’m moving to Canada in a few months, and as an immigrant, I’ll have to restart my career anyway (that’s just how it is, I guess. "Fresh start" and all that). So, I might as well take this shot. If I truly can’t hack it, I’ll swallow my pride and go back to an office job. I know my career so far has been pretty sheltered, and that’s true. But I’m no stranger to overwork—I’ve been working two jobs for the past 12 years (While going to school for 6 years of it), saving money for immigration.
I’m here to learn from all of you and absorb as much knowledge as I can. Right now, I’m focused on making myself more competitive while waiting for my immigration case to process. So far, I’ve:
My plan is to land in Western Canada (Alberta) and apply for Finning (CAT)’s ThinkBIG program. If I get in—great! If not, I know there are tons of opportunities in mining, forestry, and other industries. My backup plan is to self-indenture, complete my first year of schooling (it’s only two months), and then go shop to shop with my tools in the back of my truck, introducing myself and asking if they’d take me on as a helper, wash bay worker, or lube tech—anything to get my foot in the door and work my way toward an apprenticeship.
What else can I do to improve my chances of landing a job? Also, where’s the best place to ask these kinds of questions?
If you have any advice, I’m all ears.
Thanks a ton! And sorry for all the unnecessary enthusiasm—it might sound over the top, but you guys are like my childhood heroes!
Hope you're all having a great day!
I can’t keep this short, so I’ll keep it honest (LOL).
I’m 30 and looking to change directions. I’ve always LOVED big equipment—especially CATs. As a kid, all my toys were trucks, dozers, and loaders. I’d move tons of dirt from one side of the yard to the other and back again (LOL). My grandpa was a HET working on CATs—he was my rock.
I always wanted to work on heavy equipment, but coming from a traditional Middle Eastern family, I was forced to go to university. (I mean, I caved—though not before getting my ass whooped a few times and even sleeping on benches in the park, LOL). I built a solid career, earned a good income, and checked all the "right" boxes, but damn, I regret it.
After 12 years of mostly white-collar factory jobs (FMCG), a bachelor's in Industrial Engineering, and an MBA, I’ve decided to give my dream a shot. Maybe it's a midlife crisis (I mean, look at my username!), but after months of asking for advice and soul-searching, I know this is what I want. It might sound like I have a rosy vision, but I understand (as much as a desk jockey can) all the challenges that come with this career.
I LOVE working with my hands, solving problems, and getting dirty. I hate sitting behind a desk. I want a physical job, outdoors, where I earn my paycheck through hard work. Even now, whenever I can, I ditch the desk and spend my time with the operators and maintenance crew on the shop floor.
I’m moving to Canada in a few months, and as an immigrant, I’ll have to restart my career anyway (that’s just how it is, I guess. "Fresh start" and all that). So, I might as well take this shot. If I truly can’t hack it, I’ll swallow my pride and go back to an office job. I know my career so far has been pretty sheltered, and that’s true. But I’m no stranger to overwork—I’ve been working two jobs for the past 12 years (While going to school for 6 years of it), saving money for immigration.
I’m here to learn from all of you and absorb as much knowledge as I can. Right now, I’m focused on making myself more competitive while waiting for my immigration case to process. So far, I’ve:
- Started physically preparing—working out every day and reaching my ideal weight.
- Learned to drive stick as a step toward getting my CDL in Canada.
- Started learning to read wiring and hydraulic diagrams.
- Been watching YouTube videos to familiarize myself with the lingo and tools.
- Begun studying technical resources to brush up on the technology (using THIS resource).
- Signed up for MIG welding classes (I have some hobby-level experience with stick welding, machining, casting, and electronics).
My plan is to land in Western Canada (Alberta) and apply for Finning (CAT)’s ThinkBIG program. If I get in—great! If not, I know there are tons of opportunities in mining, forestry, and other industries. My backup plan is to self-indenture, complete my first year of schooling (it’s only two months), and then go shop to shop with my tools in the back of my truck, introducing myself and asking if they’d take me on as a helper, wash bay worker, or lube tech—anything to get my foot in the door and work my way toward an apprenticeship.
What do you guys think?
What else can I do to improve my chances of landing a job? Also, where’s the best place to ask these kinds of questions?
If you have any advice, I’m all ears.
Thanks a ton! And sorry for all the unnecessary enthusiasm—it might sound over the top, but you guys are like my childhood heroes!
