Let me be perfectly honest. Ever since I got into building maintenance I’ve never felt as stressed as I did in retail or security. Compared to restaurants this shit is cake. You get to solve any problems you find and, as long as you give them a heads up, managers don’t give a fuck about how you do your job(of course there are exceptions). I get to work with tools, talk to people casually, and take my time with whatever I’m working on.
That being said, there are way too many right wing nut jobs in this industry. I heard one an instructor of mine say, “Democrats make the poor poorer, Republicans make the Rich richer. So I’ll vote for the one who can pay me.” He’s a high ranking member of NAPE
Stop giving a shit about what they believe and just take their industries from them.
They get hired because of how they love the lie of the “Good Ol’ Days” that management shares with them.
Bite the bullet and go to whatever trade school you can.
Don’t settle for less.
Shoot the shit with your instructors. Make friends in these industries, good ones.
Once you have skills with Electrical, plumbing, HVAC, Welding, WHATEVER, you’re labor will be valued as it should be.