Inside Sales vs Skilled Trade

I wrote a job post extolling the virtues of an inside sales job working at a construction products supply house over the hardships of being a skilled tradesman.  And I have to say that truly I was a little worried about offending all of the many great construction workers that we know.   Well true to form, that’s kind of what happened.  I got an email from TG:

Hi John, Who are you snowing here? $35,000- $45,000 and having to take a lot of crap from everyone, compared to a skilled tradesman that makes that in 6 months and then can take the winter on NY unemployment, along with side unreported income.

I wish I had learned a good trade, especially in these times.
Thanks, TG

I looked up TG’s resume in our files and TG has worked in inside sales most of his adult life, so he certainly writes from a position of having earned the right to say so.

I’m going to say for the record that for myself I would rather be a carpenter any day over being in inside sales.  I loved those days.  Today I sit at a desk writing blogs for my website dreaming of the smell of fresh cut studs when framing a house. I can still remember the first one I worked on 28 years ago!  And for the kid who has his whole life ahead of him, and is physically able, and healthy… go man go! Be a tradesman.  But for the guy who’s maybe in his late 40’s, early 50’s, who maybe went a little too hard–inside sales can be a nice gig for some of the reasons sited.

And in fairness, not everybody wants what you want TG.  There are plenty of folks (I talk to them every day) who want your job but they feel relegated to construction.  We’re all different.  And to each his own I say.

What say you?