Thinking Of Turning Your Hobby As A Handyman Into A Career?

Posted by Tony Buchanon on August 28th, 2018

The old adage “do what you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life” might sound fanciful, but it can ring true in some cases. For instance, if you love working with your hands, have a knack for fixing things and a passion for DIY, you might benefit from turning your hobby into a full-time career. The demand for handymen is on the rise and pursuing the following jobs could well be a lucrative career move.

Painter

When people are looking to spruce up their property, they usually start with a paint job. There are no set requirements for someone to become a painter. When it comes to skills all one needs is the mix of practical skills and great attention to detail. You could take a college course in basic painting and decorating, which will definitely help you to find your first gig. Course or no course, practice makes perfect. As you get more comfortable with doing more skilled detail work, you’ll be able to charge more for that for a run of the mill paint job. There are also several specialty painting gigs that you can take up, that can blend with other hobbies you might have. Vehicle painting, boat painting, and special miscellaneous protective and waterproof paint jobs, just to name a few.

Carpenter

Who wouldn't like to be able to build their own furniture? If you have good mechanical skills, physical strength and a knack for basic math, carpentry might be the right choice for you.

Carpenters build in accordance with plans and blueprints. They measure, cut and prepare building materials, which means that the job itself is very demanding, but also rewarding. Being a carpenter is no walk in the park as there will be days when you have to lift very heavy objects, operate dangerous equipment or stay outside in the rain. Not only can you make money by selling your creations, but you can even become an Instagram star if you’re good at it.

Some of the ways to start are obtaining a high school diploma or entering the apprentice program.

Electrician

Arguably one of the most demanding jobs you can do is working as an electrician. Not only can it be dangerous, but the list of skills one should have is pretty long. If you’re used to repairing electronics in your home, you’ve probably achieved the number one skill. Do not forget that you’ll probably need to be comfortable with working at heights, as being electrician is not only about replacing a wire or two, but climbing the roofs, ladders and sometimes even lampposts.  

In order to get paid for your hobby, you can use the starter electrician kit Open Colleges provides and start working immediately after graduation. An aptitude for math, mechanical ability and strength, followed by the ability to focus and distinguish colours makes a good electrician.

Repairman

The most universal in-demand handyman is hands-down the repairman. From replacing a lightbulb and drilling holes in the wall to equipment maintenance and troubleshooting, the repairman is the go-to person when someone has a problem in their home. The repairman isn’t someone who will be able to fix everything, but it’s definitely someone who will point you in the right direction. There are two ways to go, either you will be a jack of all trades or a master of one. Either way, it pays dividends to have a network of skilled colleagues who you can collaborate with in case you need a helping hand. If you would like to have more security in your job, you might consider applying to an office or housing complex and becoming a full-time repairman or maintenance staff support.

In our increasingly digital age, a mind-bogglingly high percentage of people work eight-hour office jobs sat in front of a screen. Taking on any career listed above will most definitely save you from this drudgery. Working with your hands can be extremely rewarding, and if you’re skilled and well prepared, you can make a killing working outside of the office.