Sparky or Carpentry - Mature age apprentice
Sparky or Carpentry?
I know it's been asked many times before, but I want to ask with my particular situation and gather thoughts.
I left the corporate world because I was miserable and depressed after years of sitting behind a computer. My body was pretty mangled from sitting at a desk all day. I also found out I have ADHD in recent years, so I know that working with my hands is good for my mental health.
After lots of deliberation, I eventually decided on Electrical. My thought process was that it's physical, it's quite technical, it pays well, and it's more forgiving on the body (generally speaking), than most other trades.
I am nearly 40 - I am 7 months into my apprenticeship. Unfortunately so far, I really don't enjoy it. Note that I have only done solar and commercial so far. Thing is, in terms of job satisfaction, I'm not really sure if I can genuinely enjoy running cables, vs actually creating something like in carpentry. I am getting a lot of good feedback with my work ethic and quality, and I'm a year ahead of my trade school already.
However carpentry is definitely more of a passion, but I was worried about how I would cope physically, plus the money is typically not as good. I've got my eyes on roles that are probably easier on the body, like Finish Carpentry. I wouldn't be able to stand framing all day everyday.
Carpentry seems like it would be so much more useful and rewarding. I live in an old 1960s house and it needs so much work done, and I think about the skills I could learn to do it myself if I learnt carpentry.
Any way what are people's thoughts? Did anyone make a similar change ie from Electrical to Carpentry? Would you advise against the change? Why?