Career development and Halls

[Younggunz]

Hi everyone,

Where to start? Well, I have read a lot of the threads on these forums having to do with career recreational diving. It seems that the majority of them are somewhat negative. I also sense a lot of negativity when it comes to the Hall's Career Institute, due to their prices, time, location, ect.

Here are some things I want to figure out...

First off, most people say "don't expect to get rich diving for a living". Well, I could say the same thing about every job offer I have had with my BA in Psychology, and no
one warned me about that!! So, I guess I need more clarity about the type of income one can expect coming out of a place like Hall's institute. They claim they have 100% placement and starting pay between 30-40 grand a year. How true do you all think those numbers are? Of course the benefits of diving go beyond money, but I have to have a grasp on reality as well.

What is everyone's input on Halls institute in general? I've read all the threads I could find about it, but thought I would ask the questions straight out. I'm sure I'll think of a hundred more questions to bug you all with soon enough.

Thanks everyone for helping me out
Gunnar

 

[Gary D.]

I know nothing about these guys and didn’t until this post. But I’d be a bit cautious and ask a lot of questions and follow up by contacting a LOT of the graduates to see just how happy they are.

There is very little Blue Sky in diving businesses including the commercial side. Most are doing good to make wages let alone get into the high 5 or 6 digit figures they are boasting.

I did notice that the wages they posted went from $20 to $60,000 and $25 to $40,000 a year. Now is that supposed to be $20.00 to $60,000.00 or $20,000.00 to $60,000.00? This could be very deceiving and if they placed 100% of the students for $30.00 a year they could state they had a 100% placement and not be lying.

Then there is the $100,000.00 per year if you own your own business. Hummm, in most cases that won’t pay the overhead let alone support anyone.

I’m not saying the training isn’t any good as it might very well be good. What I’m saying is do your homework to keep from being disappointed later. There are a few of their classes I would be skeptical about but I don’t think they would pertain to what your after.

Get a list of students and graduates over a few year period and contact as many as you can to see what the reality of it is.

Just like truck driver schools around the country. You can make $40,000.00 a year to start and more if you’re an owner operator. Yea right, the price of fuel and the new DOT restrictions have put thousands out of business and the used truck market is flooded. It looks attractive from the outside looking in but it changes once your inside.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK.

Good luck

Gary D.

 

[MikeFerrara]

I have no idea who these "Hall" people are but if I thought I could make 40k/year, I might just do it.

I've been an instructor with 2 different agencies teaching everything from entry level to entry level technical courses and gas blending and even owned a dive shop.

The shop grossed over 100k/year but I usually spent about 125 K/ year LOL and to date, diving has done nothing but cost me money. I worked a day job so I could come up with the extra 25k.

There are certainly people who do manage profit but I think there are very few positions that even pay what it would take to support a family even living very modestly. A young single person who want to live in paradise for spending money and room and board...maybe they can even save a few bucks but...

In fact, about the time I was closing my shop, I knew that the company I worked for during the day wasn't going to be around long. I thought it might be fun to live where the diving is better. I talked to various people in "vacation areas" about full time teaching jobs. I thought that having my range of experience beyond just teaching I might be able to get something half way decent. Oh, I could have gotten a job but when they told me what I was going to make and I asked if that was per hour and they responded no...it's per week LOL we really couldn't do business. LOL, it wouldn't have kept my dogs in the mannor in which they have become accustomed.

 

[Scuba-Jay]

You can PM me regarding Halls if you like. I have what i would consider good 2nd hand knowledge but I'm not going to slander an OP in an open forum..

 

[undefined]

I have what i would consider good 2nd hand knowledge but I'm not going to slander an OP in an open forum..

Jay,

That sums it up pretty good from my perspective

 

[Younggunz]

If I ask for a list of contacts of past graduates, don't you think they will just give me ones that will give good feedback?

 

[Meng_Tze]

Uh........... I would most certainly.

 

[Gary D.]

If I ask for a list of contacts of past graduates, don't you think they will just give me ones that will give good feedback?

I said, "Get a list of students and graduates over a few year period and contact as many as you can to see what the reality of it is." I don't mean a partial list, get the entire list. Find out how many have graduated and how many referals they give. If they won't give it I be wondering what's wrong.

You might even try and approach them as a potential employer for one of their students and see what they say. Say something like you’re paying $150.00 a week for an instructor on a 10 or 11 month contract and see what they say.

I don’t have good vibes here. It looks almost too good to be true.

Gary D.

 

[Richesb]

Your salary is as good as you are!!!!!!
Hall's is a reputable shop/school, been around a long time. I personally can't say anything negative about them and neither should any of you without facts.
The Keys is an awfully good place to be in the dive business with year round clientele willing to spend and tip well.

 

[pupdiver]

Your post seems to be focused on the salary claims. When I looked at the website the salary claims looked like the same thing you hear from a lot of technical training institutes - they give a broad range with a low minimum. They hope people will look at the maximum and assume that is what they will be able to get. I don't imagine that their graduates get more money than anyone else with the same qualifications and skills. That just isn't how a marketplace works.

If you search ScubaBoard on "Hall's" I think you will get a good picture of the opinion of the dive community. The training might be good but it is expensive. Only you can decide whether it is worth it. I would advise looking at other options so you can at least compare though.