By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor
If you’re considering a career in fluid power, you must weigh all your options. There are solid arguments on both sides of the courtroom, so I will pitch my side of the debate to help you out. Here are my top 7 reasons not to pursue a career in fluid power.
1. You don’t like engineering. Fluid power is a vocation that relies heavily on myriad engineering fields and backgrounds — from mechanical to electrical and from fluid dynamics to physics. There is a place for every engineering degree in our industry, but if that’s not your thing, steer clear.
2. You don’t like job security. Let’s face it: if you’re a programmer, artist, or lawyer, your days are numbered unless you can create a niche that requires physical interaction. The fluid power industry will always require salespersons, technicians and mechanics, which is not something easily replaced by robots.
3. You don’t want to be part of something bigger than yourself. With this one, I’m not just talking about an altruistic cause or purpose, although those exist in fluid power. I’m literally talking about the most giant machines on the planet and how almost every one of them employs fluid power to achieve its job. The Space Crawler, Big Bertha tunnel borer, and Bagger 293 bucket wheel – these are machines bigger than buildings, and all use fluid power.
4. You don’t want to make a lot of money. Even before the rise of artificial intelligence, fluid power careers paid well. Now that everything from McDonald’s cashiers to the hundreds of film crew staff is about to be replaced, what’s left will be hands-on careers requiring a unique skill set and specific training. Expect fluid power salaries to outpace many other fields.
5. You don’t like working in teams. Many of the jobs you’ll find in fluid power, from distributor sales teams to engineering groups, provide a solid team environment. In today’s superficially connected social environment, these are real people with whom you can form genuine connections.
6. You don’t like working alone. The variety of roles within fluid power is so expansive that there is a place for any personality. If working in teams is not your thing, many technician and mechanic jobs give you the freedom to work alone or in small groups. You could even be a one-person mobile technician show, travelling hours to help remote customers repair their hydraulic machinery.
7. You don’t like working with your hands. Not all jobs require manual labor, but many salespersons have even started their careers fabricating hose assemblies or working on power units as they built their technical foundation. Working with your hands can be exceptionally gratifying as you take what was previously raw material and mold it into something with purpose.
The fluid power industry is diverse and welcomes people from all expertise and vocations. We even need accountants, HR teams and office staff, so if you’re in the early phase of your work life or looking for a great place to land after a career change, consider fluid power.
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