Assistant Curator to Carpenter
Kevin Carranza, 27
The Previous Job
I was working at Columbia, at the Fine Arts and Architecture Library as the assistant to the curator of the rare books department.
The Problem
I majored in comparative literature and had always liked libraries and thought it would be interesting to work in one. I had a few tasks, like returning used books and checking written requests, and when a new book would come in, I’d enter it into the system. It was very repetitive and I was not happy.
The Turning Point
Actually, before I started working at the library, I had read a chapter out of Shop Class As Soulcraft, by Matthew B. Crawford. He talks about how doing physical work is rewarding in all sorts of ways, and that resonated with me. I had always entertained the idea of wanting to train to do something with my hands, so I thought, What the hell. I left my job at the library and got on Craigslist and started looking at all these ads for assistants and apprentices to plumbers, electricians, and carpenters.
The New Job
I found a job as a carpenter’s assistant. At that point, I could tell a nail from a screw and knew what a hammer was, but that was it. My boss was OK with someone with no experience. I was a blank slate and he just wanted someone to work hard who he could train. When he saw I was trying really hard, there was never any barrier to advancement. Now I do all sorts of things: I’ll be doing carpentry one day, then I’ll be on the computer talking to architects, then it’ll be tiling or doing electrical work. A big problem with my old job was that I get so bored so quickly, and the one thing I’ve learned is that I don’t like doing one thing all the time. I’ve been doing this job for three and a half years, and I’m really happy. It is rewarding at the end of the day, and it does hold my interest.
The Result
There are two immediate rewards with this job. One is feeling good, because the more physical work you do—exercising and releasing endorphins—the better you feel. I sleep better than I ever have. Two, and I think that everybody feels this way: Whether it took you a year or a day, there’s no better feeling like looking at a project you finished. Even if you’re knee-deep in sawdust, that feeling is sustaining. Also, this may be old-fashioned, but it makes me feel like a man. Cliché, but it’s true.
Next: PR Flack to Schoolteacher
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Thank you for only including one Office Space style switch. I can’t stand how prevalent the idea is that manual labor is inherently better for everyone than a more cerebral job. Everyone gotta find they own bliss!