Brandon's career's

Blog #10 – Career Exploration - Craftsperson


Education and Training - Craftsperson

1. What kind of degree or certification do you need?

No real educational requirements are needed; however, a high school diploma is recommended and specific training or an apprenticeship in the area of interest is needed. Most craftspeople study crafts in college and get a degree. This helps crafts person to better understand the history of their crafts, as well as techniques.

2. What in-state schools offer the programs that you need?

Lake Michigan College in Benton Harbor, Michigan is a two-year college that offers courses and a program in the arts. Most community colleges also offer courses (such as Schoolcraft College)

3. How long does it take to get the necessary training?

The necessary training for a Craftsperson will depend on the type of craft. Some crafts take a year to master, others many more years.

4. How much does it cost to get the necessary education and training?

Classes at Lake Michigan College cost $142.00 per credit hour; Training is usually provided by the employer and is hands on.

Starting Level – Craftsperson

1. What kind of work will you be doing?

A Craftsperson can make anything like welded art, shoe repair, specialized car parts, and leather goods.

2. What kind of wages will be you be paid per hour/week?

The starting pay for a Craftsperson depends upon the type of craft. Anywhere from $7.52 to $14.40 per hour.

3. Describe a day in the life of a Craftsperson

Many Crafts persons work long hours and are self employed. Much of their time is spent working with their hands and spending long periods of time standing or sitting. Many Crafts persons work at home or in private studios.

Reflection - Craftsperson

After investigating more about Crafts persons, I have decided that this not the career for me. What I dislike about this career is that you have to work long hours and not get much pay for it. Additionally, many Crafts persons work out of their home or even alone. I want to work as part of a team. The future need of a Craftsperson is not that good and I think it would be hard to get a job as a Craftsperson. The pay is what really concerns me and I could provide for a family with such low pay. The one thing that I would like about being a Craftsperson is that you can determine your own hours and that you can be very creative in your work. For me, this type of job would be a part time hobby.


Blog #10 – Career Exploration – Manufacturing Machine Operator


Education and Training - Manufacturing Machine Operator

1. What kind of degree or certification do you need?

High school diploma is highly recommended; while in school one should also take classes such as Shop, Reading Blueprints, and Math. For those who wish to be in Supervisory positions, a 2 or 4 year degree is required in either Business, Manufacturing Technology or Industrial Engineering. Depending on some jobs, Trade Union certifications are required

2. What in-state schools offer the programs that you need?

There are a number of in-state schools offering programs to prepare you for a career as a Manufacturing Machine Operator. Some schools include Central Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, Henry Ford Community College, Wayne Ste University and Lawrence Technological University.

3. How long does it take to get the necessary training?

The necessary training for a Manufacturing Machine Operator will depend on the type of work and industry. College work can take 2 or 4 years and on the job training can take anywhere from two weeks to several years. Certifications for some jobs require three years and class work.

4. How much does it cost to get the necessary education and training?

Tuition costs at Colleges vary by school. Wayne State University costs $7,182 per year, while Lawrence Technological University costs $21,659 per year. On the job, the employer provides training.

Starting Level – Manufacturing Machine Operator

1. What kind of work will you be doing?

Manufacturing Machine Operators usually perform one of two types of work. One type of work is setting up equipment and machines to run production. This work also includes planning the sequence of operations to a final product.

The other type of work is monitoring the machines to make sure that everything is going well. Other jobs include loading and unloading machines, maintaining the machines, making adjustments and inspecting the final product.


2. What kind of wages will be you be paid per hour/week?

The starting pay for a Manufacturing Machine Operator depends on several factors such as whether a Union is present, the type of industry, and the size of the company. The average starting salary can range from $18,000 to $40,000 per year. With good experience a Manufacturing Machine Operator can make more than $45,000 per year, while Supervisors can make over $60,000 per year.


3. Describe a day in the life of a Manufacturing Machine Operator

Manufacturing Machine Operators work in shifts for 40 hours per week. The work can be very fast paced, repetitive and require heavy lifting. The work environment is in a factory and can be noisy. Sometimes workers can be exposed to dangerous fumes


Reflection - Manufacturing Machine Operator

After investigating more about Manufacturing Machine Operators, I have decided that this not the career for me. What I dislike about this career is that it involves a lot of repetitive work. After a while, I would think that this would be every boring. The pay is not enough to support a family on and it is my understanding that many manufacturing jobs are moving out of the country. I am very surprised that so many of these jobs are moving out of the country. It is my understanding that our country was built on manufacturing jobs. I think that having experience in being able to build and repair cars and other items around the house is a very good skill to have.