THE Post Peak Employment Thread (merged)

[Whitecrab]

Baring in mind you may get a few-decade recession, or a soft crash, or a hard crash, no one knows: what's the absolute best concievable profession to have right now? The one that all-but-guarantees a safe, secure, enjoyable life?

Doctor?
Farmer? (Get screwed by high fuel prices and having to relearn half your skills...)
Solar cell manufacturer?
Hydrogen car scientist?
Oil explorer?
Politician?
Police officer?
Martial artist?
Biochemical engineer?
Horse handler?
etc.

Who's got the best chances of leading a successful life in the time ahead?

[Sencha]

Pre-crash antique dealer

[lowem]

Sure, we'd probably always need doctors. The power supply might not be reliable but you'd think at least they'd try to keep the hospitals running, more or less.

On the morbid side, when push comes to shove and the dieoff / resource war / whatever really starts to take off, you might find a somewhat guaranteed job as an undertaker, mortician, etc ...

If humanity decides that we absolutely need to keep this Internet thing running and if it lives up to its purported fame as a network able to withstand disruptions and nuke attacks, you might want to be a (very busy) systems administrator - for a while - perhaps?

Or, as has been discussed elsewhere, join the military, and hope "they" don't send you to places where the locals like to shoot at you ...

[Itch]

Handymen will always be in demand, unless people somehow want to stop building things.

My fantasy job would be a CEO of some powerful water monopoly. Supply will be low and I'll be able to dictate prices to everyone, including the government .

[rebiptpa77]

yeah right until the government arrests you for not paying taxes. Refer to yukos!!!!

[Leanan]

Organic farmer, maybe. Of a farm so small it's not likely to be confiscated by the government.

Doctor would be good, too, but it's not easy to get an MD. Takes time and bucks. Becoming an EMT or something that ilk might be a good choice for those who don't want to deal with medical school.

[NiKfUrY69]

US DoD IT worker. And I'm trying to get on with the local county sheriff, as a member of the auxillaries. Being a quasi member of the local law enforcement can't hurt.

Also, my wife is an RN at the local Children's Hospital.

These should be some of the last jobs to close up shop.

Also, most folks would be surprised how much like a computer job is like a handyman's or rather a tinkerer (if actual repair of hardware is in your skill set).

A small forge is on my list of things to get installed. Besides basic metal working, I need to be able to shoe the horses.

Later - NiK in Oklahoma

[stepka]

How about a naturopath/herbalist? A recycler/tinkerer?
Electrician (to hook up the stationary bike to a battery type stuff)
A cook, especially someone who can cook from scratch--a lost art
An administrator--someone has to organize the community
A fantastic gardener who can teach those skills effectively to the community--it's not easy to learn to garden organically.
Most careers today could be turned into the careers of post peak with some tweaking. I'm a homeschool mom. Hmmm. . .

[NiKfUrY69]

Scrounger! We had these in the Marines overseas (probably all branches of the service). They were literally folks that got stuff - by hook or crook.

Need parts!??! - Tell the scrounger and they would start asking their contacts or keep an eye open for the lonely little items.

A combination of trade, politics and out right theft skills. But when you need something badly, they got it.

Later - NiK

[gg3]

Scroungers, eh? The Army Engineers and the Seebees had their own versions of that. Don't remember what they called 'em though.

I'm thinking that my gig as a telecoms engineer gives me an advantage as telecommuting becomes more and more prevalent. And a few other skills I have, could come in handy after a crash.

In general: building your skill sets is good. Include skills that make use of your muscles; skills that make use of your head; skills that involve building or providing basic infrastructure such as food, clothing, shelter; skills that relate to community defense; skills that relate to continuation of civilized culture e.g. education etc.; and skills that relate to organization and administration e.g. bookkeeping.

[Dustin]

Meat Cutter / Butcher

My father is a meat cutter at a grocery store in a low-income area of Kansas City. He has never been laid off. He has never had a pay cut. He has never worried whether the company is going to collapse from higher energy costs or anything.

In a post peak world, there will still be livestock and animals people will raise for food or sell. Either way, someone has to be able to take the living animal and turn it into 8oz steaks and riblets. Besides ripping meat off a bone and cooking it over a fire on a stick, how many people really know how to handle meat? I think as the world goes in a hand basket; he will still be working away at his job, bringing the paycheck home. (Side note: the one thing that everyone buys before gas, bills, and stuff is food. it might not be good food, but still food. So any job dealing with food items will be in demand.)

[MarkL]

I was wondering if people would want to share some ideas on dual-opportunity career paths as we prepare for a post peak society. I'd also be interested in hearing if any of these intentional communities plan on generating revenue?

My current occupation(computer programmer) is no longer viable with globalization and it won't be very useful after the peak anyway.

I've spent several years in a woodshop. I've had some blacksmith training(I still stink at it). I do all my own home maintenance(wiring, plumbing, carpentry). I also, work on old cars(body work, welding, engine rebuilding). I've always considered all this as a hobby but if I had to chose one that would be the most usefull post peak, it would be woodworking. What do you think?

[Permanently_Baffled]

I think dustin makes a very good point , there could be a whole host of new jobs that the post peak society is based on. I reckon the following list may play a part(?):
1) Land fill miners -- to get at all those lovely plastics
2) Agriculture -- anyone with previous experience of getting higer yields will be worth there weight in gold.
3) Bio Diesal production -- Maybe small quantities but hell it will be in mega demand!!
4) Labourers -- Someone is going to have to rip up all those lovely retail parks for agricultural use!
5) Sub Urban asset strippers -- All those empty estates from defaulted mortgages are going to be gold mine of fuels, tools, and various other bits !
6) Turd(sh*t) Shovellers -- Someone will need to get that human manure and make it useful!!

Most of these will be sh*t pay(especially the last one ) , but hell post peak I will do anything!!

[Viper]

My current occupation(computer programmer) is no longer viable with globalization and it won't be very useful after the peak anyway.

This is where I think you're wrong. Whereas it would certainly be nice to fantasize about being a blacksmith in a little medieval hamlet, the technological world will continue in spades after peak. Bet on it. The question will be whether or not you will have the financial resources to stay above the teaming masses.

As for computer programming being not viable, you might want to think that one through as well. Many companies are discovering that they cannot manage projects nearly as well across an ocean, and that when you describe a project to some one who doesn't speak very good english, you don't always get what you were asking for.

If you're already in the field, just work hard at keeping your edge sharp, make sure that you are better than most of the programmers you interact with (this may require spending copious amounts of time in the evening writing code.), and go for pay over stability. I am also a developer, and except for a slight slowdown right after 9/11, my career has been going up and up and up. If I keep going at this rate, I will probably be ready to retire in about 7 or 8 years.

Remember, the world has always been falling apart, for poor people the world is falling apart as we speak. After peak, there will simply be more poor people. So, the trick is: Don't be poor.

[Felix]

I assume by the best job, you want something that gives you some standing in whatever social group is left post crash. So, go for something like this;

-Doctor, preferably a GP rather than a surgeon. You can still do a lot of good work without sophisticated equipment.

- Vet. People need their livestock looked after, and again, you can still work without drugs or equipment.

- Tradesmen. Any trade really, carpenter, plumber, electrician. The simpler the better, and be skilled in the use of hand-tools. Trademen also develop a very practical, hands-on way of thinking that will be invaluable.

- Metalworker. Think blacksmithing if you want, but any trade that can take scrap metal and turn it into usable implements and tools.

- Horse Breeder. Takes some money to set up, but if you have some good stud Clysdales you'll be set as there will be a severe draught horse shortage.

- Soldier. Provided you're not in a country about to fight in Africa or the Middle East, this may work. Soldiers will be needed to maintain order and defend the country, and if it really falls apart, you've got access to weapons, you're skilled in their use, and you have a tight-knit bunch of people to guard your back. Men with weapons always eat, and so do their families.

- Police. Ties in with the above, but may be better in that you won't be sent to Baghdad or Tehran.

- Grocer/Shopkeeper. Only works if you can ensure a steady supply of goods, but if you do, you're quids in. The men who made the money in the Gold Rushs weren't miners, but those who sold them their supplies. One of the most important and prestigous roles in an early small town (be prepared to defend your store though).

There are plenty more, but this should give you some idea anyway. Hope this helps.

[NiKfUrY69]

In 1996 the American Horse Council gave out the following figures:

- 6.9 million horses in the USA

- 615 thousand+ in the Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas region

Anyone remember the old western movies?

Every town had a livery stable, with a black smith and usually horses & wagons for rent, plus stables for boarders (feed, stall, etc.).

Sounds like a great opportunity for small towns/communities. Also an opportunity for fertilizer sales on the side.

Horse stealin' will probably gain hangin' status again.

Later - NiK in Oklahoma

[gogota]

I am a computer technician. I believe that computer industry will not survive post peak. But the first few years after post peak, computer will be a good business because people will be working from home to prevent driving to work. But the thing is our post peak world cannot sustain complex technology.

For myself, I planning on becoming a farmer or good delivery guy or bicycle repairman. Maybe all together. The thing now is do a lot of exercise and make your body stronger. You will not regret.

[NiKfUrY69]

I am a computer technician. I believe that computer industry will not survive post peak.

Kinda disagree on this item. The key is to be employed at a place where it will be the last to shut down its network - DoD, Federal, State, County, Municipal govt. Don't even have to be a govt employee with all the contractin' goin' on.

Suspect these will be the only computer jobs that survive the debacle, short of an alternative discovery.

I've been doin' the govt contractor thing for nearly 7 years now, with a mjor DoD contractor at the local base.

Later - NiK in Oklahoma

[Viper]

But the thing is our post peak world cannot sustain complex technology.

Please forgive the bluntness of this response, but I believe we will be turning third worlders into biofuel before we give up on complex technologies.

Enter Heston yelling : Unleaded premium green is people!!!!

-Viper

[dmtu]

Like it or not, coal miner.