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I’m a high school drop out who ended up spending a decade programming, operating and maintaining industrial robots.

My twenty-something son is trying to figure out how to get into a hands on job and I thought the job you do might be a good opportunity. Any advice on how to get the younger generation pointed into this field?

I’m not there anymore because that factory has been closed for better than a decade. It was plastics and there’s a fair amount of painting in plastics.

I started that job as a temp and just fell into it but the basic advice I was given a long time ago is sound. Pay attention and show an interest, don’t hang with the slackers at break time, if equipment is being worked on at break time, offer to skip a break and lend a hand. Ask intelligent questions and never skip an opportunity to learn. Basically take the bull by the horns.

I had the same experience in a bindery years ago. I went in as a temp and ended up as the sole operator and maintenance man on the one of the two primary machines in the building.

My twenty-something son is trying to figure out how to get into a hands on job and I thought the job you do might be a good opportunity. Any advice on how to get the younger generation pointed into this field?

Another technically ept High School dropout here. I have heard "oh, you're one of those..." often enough to suspect that I'm no rare bird.

My user profile contains a short tutorial about how to write data driven webpages using free software on your personal machine. I wrote it with my nephew in mind and he is currently working the tutorial. Feel free to point him at it and I will answer questions from anybody who is working it.

My resume starts with a list of my skills software and hardware, then a list of what I have designed and built where. I have never listed any education credentials (outside of Naval Nuclear Power School) and have never had a problem with it. Building real stuff in the world is better than a masters degree, seriously.

Free course management software for homeschoolers and educators. Beta testers wanted, Free.