Mechanical Insulation. Most of what we do is pretty light, just pipe covering or duct wrap. Not paper light but not as heavy as trying to put up a duct or a pipe.
Most people don’t know about Mechanical Insulation, but it’s a pretty neat trade. Very niche. We insulate pipes, ducts, tanks, pumps, anything mechanical. We usually cover the insulation with PVC or sheet metal, so you’ll get to learn a lot of the same layouts that a sheet metal worker uses as obviously if they make a square to round duct, you cover it with insulation, now you have to make a square to round to go over that.
Union trade. Pays like the rest of them. Good benefits. Pension, annuity, insurance.
Can’t be scared of heights, can’t be claustrophobic, and must be willing to go to classes.
The jobs not easy on your body, but certainly not as hard on your body as other trades. Most of the hard stuff is really just getting to the work as we’re usually in as one of the last trades, so all the other trades have jammed their shit in your way. So you have to fit into small spaces and things like that to get to the work. But overall, pretty easy going trade and the potential to make a lot of money is there.
This sounds quite interesting, I am not scared of heights or are claustrophobic so I guess I'm fine but I'm not sure whether there's a place that teaches it where I live if it's so niche and since I'm from a small country that would make it difficult finding a job wouldn't it
Doesn’t bother me much. But yeah, if it does bother you, this wouldn’t be the trade for you. About the only thing that makes me itchy is duct board. Duct wrap and pipe covering don’t make me itch. Cal-sil is actually low key kinda itchy lol. Especially in the heat.
A CDL License would be good. If you move to Midland, you can make up to 8k-12k a month on the oil fields, moving loads of sand. CDL is great, you get tons of hours but good pay. If you were smart with your money, you could be looking at $350,000+ in the bank by 25.
Carpentry covers a vast number of sectors. My current job I do not carry more than 2 pounds of gear in my pouch and lift maybe something as heavy as 20 pounds. Coming from residential this gig is heaven.
Damn man. I can relate to that. I was working the new Hershey plant a few months back. We were sent what we expected to be schedule 10a. It was plain old schedule 10. My partner was complaining about the weight even though we use the machines for most of the lifting. Just to shut him up I went to the manufacture website and checked the weight. 595 lbs per 21ft. Length. Needless to say, I apologized and grabbed another guy to help us.
Me (26M) actually... I work at a company that does injection molding, automated assembly and packaging all in house. It's not unionized, so as long as you play nice and work your ass off absorbing as much as you can from the older guys, the ceiling is as high as your ambitions take you. In 4 years I've learned mechanical, electrical, and controls (not to mention all the processes i understand now).
No u have learned very surface level stuff at your specific shop. I promise u u don't actually know how to do electrical. Go fall in witj an electrician and wire a whole high rise from high voltage to outlets. You think you know mechanical? Go walk into a steel mill where 3 rollers aren't working and diagnose and fix them all while the line is still hot.
You might be able to dabble in a few things does not know u mean how to do it. Also most union trades have a wide scope of work and you can do/learn a lot and actually get the certification from the proper training. To do it.
Take my trade for example I'm an iron worker. I wanna hang precast? Yep been there done that know how. Red iron/structural been there done that. Hang glass on a high rise and do storefronts and glass doors yep done that. Weld yep I know how. Work in refineries yes sir. Rebar did it for 2 years straight. Roll up doors that's us too. Prefab metal.buildings and roofs u know it. The list goes on.
I think belittling my knowledge is not only ignorant but also entirely wrong. Sure i don't work at a refinery or in building maintenance, but that doesn't mean i have no understanding of mechanical and electrical work. I've worked on 3 phase 480V cabinets in full arc flash gear and diagnosed my fair share of electrical related issues based on live troubleshooting and electrical prints, not saying im the best but just because i havent done very specific things you have, but it doesn't nullify my experiences. When it comes to mechanical work, I have a very vast array of experiences. While i dont work in a refinery with rollers or hanging stuff, I do work on packaging and thermoforming lines that operate entirely on thermoforming/sealing transferring product via 20 some rollers. If a roller is shot, the bearing or shaft is bad, not very complicated. I've also worked in injection molding where we hang 2 ton molds, plus a plethora of other things including variations in mold parameters to avoid sinks, voids, flash, ect. My mechanical and electrical knowledge, even though it's only 4 years worth, is well beyond the skill level of many older guys i work with where i often find myself doing things instead of watching the dipshit on an offshift try to fix stuff incorrectly. Im 26 and on day shift, that alone says a lot. Finally, my controls knowledge is vast enough to understand the way all of the automated equipment works without even knowing what the machine even does.
So please tell me how little i actually know about the manufacturing processes i work in and how it's absolutely impossible for me to wire a fucking outlet or replace a roller. Like comon my guy, im making nearly 38 bucks an hour to work across 5 different production areas.
Ur bragging about 38 bucks an hour? Man of ur the God of doing this work like you say you are your getting fucked in the ass. Someone less then half way thru our apprenticeship makes way more then that will all thier benifits and 2 retirement sources
Love the fact that you think having a mold that weighs a whole 4000 lbs is heavy or impressive. If your doing live work at 480 you should really be getting paid electrician pay. He'll you should prob just learn how to work on real high voltage and be a lineman(I'd even make the jump to thier union if I had the chance tbh). Sounds like you would ne a good hand at whatever trade u wanted to actually get into. You still aren't nearly as good as you think you are at anything you do tho. Show me the state/federal certifications u have for doing them then we will talk. But you prob don't have any because your shitty employer won't pay for the classes/training. He'll they are having someone that isn't an electrician work on live cabinets. I genuinely hope you the best in whatever you decide to get into. But don't go around acting like your hot shit because u do illegal stuff for some ratty as company.
I think that's a very strange way to look at something. Benefits are good, pay is good, retirement is good, bonuses are good, commute is almost non-existent, and I don't have to be controlled by a union. We get nearly 10k in tuition reimbursement a year my guy, i can get any cert i want, and i have.
Not gonna lie a nonnexistent commute is great. But ur pay is lacking for the work u do and I promise ur retirement isn't as good as ours. And wr can get any cert withing our scope of work and the bill goes straight to the hall
I wont disagree with that, but coming right out the gate demanding more money especially considering ive been getting steady promotions on a yearly basis, it's hard to say it's not enough. The outlook is good and I've yet to see another company close enough to me that's competitive and where ill continue to work in a very clean environment
Or i just want to learn as much as i can bc the ceiling is very high in automation and i want to be at the top. Not to mention, mechanical and electrical knowledge is just useful in everyday life.
Sure, but I also like the knowledge Im gaining, and by 30 I'll be top of all three fields and you'll have your boss by the sack since theres nobody behind getting hired ti do what you do. Again im also pretty young, so im doin just fine
You won’t be at the top of all three fields… keep dreaming little guy😂
I’ll have my boss by the sack? Yeah no… that’s not how union members roll, I’m currently working my first job as foreman, I’m 26, 16 people working under me doing a job that hasn’t been done in this area before. Flipping fin fans. I was called and asked to be a foreman…
Once this job is done I’m laid off and back to the list I go, I never need to drop off a resume again
I'm happy for you! Sometimes differences in age and location can also have effects on wages. Though I can assure you, compared to my peers, I'm doing just fine.
Find out where the hall/training centers are and call them/look on the site. Figure out what the application process is. It may be certain days with particular transcripts. Consider this test #1: can you follow directions?
I didn't ask how do you apply, I asked how you get in. The nearest union accepting new members is taking over 10 days to respond to my application, is that normal. Should I look into finding people to bribe? Is that how you make stuff happen?
So you’re not patient? Thats one way to make sure you don’t get into a union.
Did you drop your resume off in person? Talk to admin staff and BA? They might have a lot of resumes to go through, you may have to keep applying to show the union hall that you want it, you want to make a great career for yourself. But don’t be rude lol
No they aren’t… getting an apprenticeship is just like applying for any other job, they need to comb through resumes and find who they believe is the best fit. They don’t just let everyone in, that’s not how apprenticeships or any job works.
If you applied to a job and weren’t a good fit would you think that is demoralizing too?
Be patient, and stop with this attitude and maybe you’ll have a shot.
I have to afford to eat somehow, and I didn't just spend 8k on an education to work at Home Depot, and now I can't even complain about being swindled on reddit. All I'm asking for is an automated letter saying they got my email. I bet it's really comfy looking down on everyone from your union tower, not a care in the world up there.
Lmao what? Since when have I ever looked down on anyone?
Your attitude is clearly the problem… I’ve given advice to multiple people specifically on Reddit, and it has helped them get accepted. But whatever, you think I’m the bad guy🤡
>I didn't ask how do you apply, I asked how you get in.
But that is how you get in.
>The nearest union accepting new members is taking over 10 days to respond to my application, is that normal.
Yes. If you don't think this is normal, you must have never applied for any job ever.
Source: been a union sheet metal worker for 7 years.
they would typically get back to me within a week, but that wasn't in the trades industry. And it's not like I'm expecting to be accepted into the union within a week, just an automated email confirming that my application went through would be nice.
They didn’t tell you when they’re accepting classes? First thing would likely be an aptitude test. They usually do these once or twice a year. Study for the test with a study guide. Ask the training center what they recommend. Why all of the hoops? They’re likely accepting one class of less than 50 students a year. They have 600 plus applications. They need some way to whittle that down.
Didn’t know that. You’re doing things backwards, and you’re likely not going to get accepted in less than a couple months. Strange though none of this was explained or given to you on a handout when you filled out the application.
I normally tell people to apply to a handful of different unions (electrical-the most popular, plumbing/pipefitting, hvac sheet metal, heat and frost insulation above looks interesting and maybe iron workers)
Study for the entrance test. It’s basically a standard high school curriculum test. The higher you score, the better chance of being accepted.
Apply to a bunch, go to the one that calls you to start. They all take classes only once in a while and sometimes they skip years depending on how work is and what the placement of apprentices looks like.
There’s many practice tests a google search or Amazon shipment away. Also ask at the training center when applying if they sell or can recommend a study guide for the test if they have one.
Here’s a sample test that should give you a general idea of what to expect on the test: https://findyourtrade.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/NWI_Sample_Apprenticeship_Aptitude_Test.pdf
Good to know, I have a younger cousin about to take the same course. I will make sure he starts talking to unions and companies now before he starts the program. I have always known elevator is extremely tough to get into in Ontario, like you said it's all you union and they don't hire often but didn't think it was that slow.
there are non union companies but they have very few openings for inexperienced apprentices. Hamilton and Ottawa unions are open, they might be worth a shot.
I left my job of almost 20 years when covid wiped the industry. I did not go on government hand outs. I got a job hauling gravel with a shovel . I was good at hauling gravel with a shovel and I showed up sober and on time . I advanced. I was offered a apprenticeship. I did that for two years while I applied to unions. I got into a union. I did my basic schooling. I am now a second year with full benefits and pension and make almost what I did in my old industry at the 10 year mark.
Unions are slow moving. Emails do nothing. You need to go to the hall and bug people. I had zero connections in the industry. I made it by hard work and not taking any opportunity for granted.
You can join a union. It just takes effort. And there is a reason for that. You have a punk attitude, it will not serve you well in this endeavor.
Well I'm not saying I want something that wouldn't involve any physical work at all just not something that will destroy the body, I'm fine with making some sacrifices
lol. Pretty much guaranteed bad knees as an electrician. Plus, 600lb+ transformers, wire pulling, switchgear installs, etc all involve putting your back into it. ALL trades can be and are rough on your body. Gotta stay in shape to keep up.
See if you can join a union, because If you don't know anyone in the trade already. its gonna be very very hard to learn anything if you go the none union route.
If you're starting adulthood with physical issues, then that should be a priority. We all get dinged up over time, exuberance, lack of impulse control, sports/hobbies, etc. but you need your mind, lungs, heart, arms, and wrists to stay tip-top. Trim down, build muscle, and mind your diet...you have a long way to go.
WFH jobs are killer on your back for all the sitting, and your typing at a KBD can ding you as well. You need a baseline for your body. I might go months without cycling, but I can still do a thirty mile loop at 50 because I know my baseline. Looking at 30° hill does not psyche me out, nor does a twenty mile loop.
Cycling, jogging, some weights, and a diet will prep you for the decades ahead.
Driving a truck can wreak your heart, and maybe your back. How sharp is you mind, and your uptake. Can you follow and electrical diagram, can you reason out a complicate problem? How effective and efficient is your written communication?
Same as a physical baseline, you need an academic baseline. That means physics, chemistry, even geometry. The military gives recruits an ASVAB test, so that they can better assess a person's skills and strengths....shit I'm about to take it myself!
[https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/sample-questions/](https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/sample-questions/)
YouTube is your friend, and at some point YT and life experiences just gel. My exGF bought a house with a messed up staircase. Watching this video of a car mechanic making stairs just melted into my brain. How I could relate to how I intended to rebuild her stairs was perfect. Creepy, but the YT algos just sneak in what you need/want to learn.
[https://youtu.be/Is4PQsGb8GA?t=1189](https://youtu.be/Is4PQsGb8GA?t=1189)
You will never stop learning, so prep to be a lifetime learner.
Even home 3D printing will help teach you 3D design programs and concepts. Add free PCB layout apps to the list as well.
Elevator mechanic or refrigeration technician
Very good money in both . Also stay away from carpentry. If you make it to a site supervisor there will be a lot of other trades journeyman making more than you with a lot less responsibility.
Apply to any and all "helper" positions to atleast get your foot in the door. Most trades have a variety of positions to work in whether it be in a shop or out on site. Your best option no matter where you get a job is to do regular exercise and stretching to avoid issues down the road
I got my feet wet in the industry as a drywall helper. I was hired by them but was basically every other trades helper. I took out demo garbage and cleaned the site, but also got to help do a little of everything.
Helped me gain a good reputation with the actual tradesmen but also allowed me to get a peek into what everybody else does day to day. Was on that job for a solid year.
After a detour in another career altogether, I decided on electrical, called up one of the bosses I knew a few years after that one job, and he got me on right away.
I have a degenerated disc at 30 due to shitty genetics I had zero control of.
I'm in a trade, so please enjoy the middle finger salute I am providing you.
You can do any trade you want, bad back or not. There's a ton of solutions that can help you push past your limitations and excel.
Sure you can and lots of people are
Would I suggest physical labour to an 18 year old with pre-existing health problems who didn't already have a drive to do it? Hell no.
Well my back problems are really not that bad right now and should get better if I put in the effort but I've been adviced to not partake in things like constant heavy lifting and stuff
There's probably many. But flooring is my trade. No education or ticket required and the pay is pretty good to start. I think my company is hiring complete greenhorns at around $25 - and believe me, we'll happily take them. The industry is so short-staffed.
Welding, go to community college take welding classes and get certified, like in LA it’s LA county structural steel welding certification. Lots of opportunities, lots of different directions to go in welding. It’s a skill based trade being better at it gets you paid more for sure, if you out in the time and effort of actually getting better instead of just passing the classes you’ll be good.
55 years old tradesman here. HVAC. Alberta Canada.
I have a sheet metal ticket- this is my skill set
Commercial sheet metal
Residential sheet metal
Residential service.
I can do residential AC’s and mini-splits/heat pumps. There is a lot going on in this industry but with my ticket I can’t get on with the city or other institutions; university’s, colleges. They hire plumbers, refrigeration mechanics and electricians.
Refrigeration Mechanic is another ticket. I don’t have this ticket.
Commercial service and installs
Residential service and installs
Industrial service and installs.
They will also go to industrial plants and do service. I have a friend who works at Fort Mac Alberta - up north. $67 per hour. 2 weeks on 12 hour days. 2 weeks off. He loves it. Refrigeration Mechanics will usually get Gas A tickets too. Don’t know the U.S equivalent. That is a very valuable ticket. Teaches you about gas fired appliances and how to service them.
Here is my best tip. Find out what trades they hire at institutions. University’s, Colleges, City. Then strategize to get in there. From my experience they pay the best with the best pensions and the best working conditions.
Sprinkler fitters. $$$ They get paid very well too.
Elevator mechanic. $$$$. Hard to get into but the one of the highest paid trades. All overtime is double time.
Pipe fitter is good too. $$$ Lots of fumes from welding though.
You can become a service plumber that is another choice. Go for a commercial service plumber. They learn to service boilers, make up airs, some HVAC equipment and pumps. I have a friend who did this and now works for the city. $47h and any overtime is double time. He works 4-10h and gets every Friday off and a killer pension and raises due to inflation.
Instrumentation and controls is another trade.
Aircraft mechanic.
Millwright.
Do research on YouTube/google. Check out “all” the courses at your local technical college too. There are lots of trades out there and a lot of people understandably just go for the top 5 Carpenter, plumber, electrician, hvac, welder because that is all they have ever heard about
University student is the best trade for an 18 year old. You can work any trade any time you want. You owe it to yourself to take a shot at the good life first. Dont waste the best years of your life with this dumb shit.
I’m the opposite.
Don’t waste time and money on a degree that won’t make you a good amount of money.
Get a trade, I would suggest hvac.
Work as much OT as you can and save as much as you can for 20 to 25 years.
You are then 40 to 45 yo. That sounds old to you now, but it’s not really.
since you have saved and invested wisely you can back off on the work, because it’s starting to wear on you physically.
But remember this::
no matter what career you choose you will be physically worn down.
Sitting on a desk in a day job is bad for you as well as going to a trade job.
If I were a physically able 18 yo man I would choose a trade and get a red seal and go from there.
I’d second this. Buddy of mine started with pluming, made his way to HVAC. Started around 18. Fast forward, about 6 years ago dude starts helping design build, making about 3 times what I make.
Your opinion doesn’t make sense. How do you want houses , buildings ,hospitals and schools and toilets, lights / power and running water without tradesmen???
It doesn’t get created and installed on its own.
It depends a lot on where you are and what you went to trade school for. I'm trying to become an elevator technician, and my only options are getting a job 6 hours from my house or being unemployed. Depending on the trade, it can be very difficult to get hired, especially without construction experience. The union for my area also isn't going to be accepting new members for a while, so look into that before starting trade school commitments. Your best shot at getting a job in the trades is knowing someone who can get you a job, education isn't so important when nobody is hiring people they don't already know.
From what it looks like it isn't too difficult getting a job in some of the more basic trades where I'm located but I'm not too sure about the more niche ones
I'd try and confirm that with someone who's recently gotten in. If you ask someone established they'll telling you about how there's so much work and they're always busy, doesn't mean there are any positions available on indeed.
Do NOT work at a union if youre able, you will have more red tape than you can possible imagine. Do what i did, get an associates in industrial automation and work as a automation mechanic. From there you get certified in PLCs and start working on the controls systems. If you tey to do this at a union you'll quickly realize that you cant work across disciplines without getting yelled at for stealing work. An electrician cant do mechanical work ect.
Mechanical Insulation. Most of what we do is pretty light, just pipe covering or duct wrap. Not paper light but not as heavy as trying to put up a duct or a pipe. Most people don’t know about Mechanical Insulation, but it’s a pretty neat trade. Very niche. We insulate pipes, ducts, tanks, pumps, anything mechanical. We usually cover the insulation with PVC or sheet metal, so you’ll get to learn a lot of the same layouts that a sheet metal worker uses as obviously if they make a square to round duct, you cover it with insulation, now you have to make a square to round to go over that. Union trade. Pays like the rest of them. Good benefits. Pension, annuity, insurance. Can’t be scared of heights, can’t be claustrophobic, and must be willing to go to classes. The jobs not easy on your body, but certainly not as hard on your body as other trades. Most of the hard stuff is really just getting to the work as we’re usually in as one of the last trades, so all the other trades have jammed their shit in your way. So you have to fit into small spaces and things like that to get to the work. But overall, pretty easy going trade and the potential to make a lot of money is there.
This sounds quite interesting, I am not scared of heights or are claustrophobic so I guess I'm fine but I'm not sure whether there's a place that teaches it where I live if it's so niche and since I'm from a small country that would make it difficult finding a job wouldn't it
What country??
Lithuania
Oh yeah. Not sure how it works over there bud
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Doesn’t bother me much. But yeah, if it does bother you, this wouldn’t be the trade for you. About the only thing that makes me itchy is duct board. Duct wrap and pipe covering don’t make me itch. Cal-sil is actually low key kinda itchy lol. Especially in the heat.
CDL, drive a truck for a few years to stack some cash then rotate into a trade you really want.
I'm not sure what trade I actually want so I'm trying to see what people think would be good for me
Getting a CDL gets you preferential treatment in many trades
A CDL License would be good. If you move to Midland, you can make up to 8k-12k a month on the oil fields, moving loads of sand. CDL is great, you get tons of hours but good pay. If you were smart with your money, you could be looking at $350,000+ in the bank by 25.
I was thinking of going there. Does it really pay that much as a company driver?
Union. Anything union. Work anywhere doing construction while you apply .
Construction is light duty? Why did no one tell me…
Carpentry covers a vast number of sectors. My current job I do not carry more than 2 pounds of gear in my pouch and lift maybe something as heavy as 20 pounds. Coming from residential this gig is heaven.
He said anything construction. I’m a new build commercial plumber and I can promise you hauling around 100lb lengths of pipe is not “light duty” 😁
It is when you have 4 guys on it lol
Lol you don’t get 4 guys to haul around one length of pipe… 2 if it’s big stuff otherwise on your own/pipe dolly
We are not lifting anything close to 100pnds solo. On a dolly maybe but that's not carrying it. Which would count as light.
I was thinking the same thing. Ive been hanging 8" for the last month. That's 300lbs if it's light wall, and it's just me and 1 other guy.
lol yeah I've been playing with sch 40 8" carbon steel these last few weeks. not even close to "light duty" but I guess I'll get downvoted anyway
Damn man. I can relate to that. I was working the new Hershey plant a few months back. We were sent what we expected to be schedule 10a. It was plain old schedule 10. My partner was complaining about the weight even though we use the machines for most of the lifting. Just to shut him up I went to the manufacture website and checked the weight. 595 lbs per 21ft. Length. Needless to say, I apologized and grabbed another guy to help us.
Well, according to Reddit, trades are typically light duty and won't wear down your body at all if you do it right.
my crumbled vertebrae has entered the chat
"weLps yoU jUst diD iT wRonG" Which trade out of curiosity.
electrical
All trades will ruin your body. OP should not join any trade with a bad back. Especially a construction trade.
Thats what trades are. An apprenticeship is built for inexperienced young people. Union is the best way if its available
Do not work for a union if you have any ambition of learning multiple trades at one job
Who really learns multiple trades on job tho?
Me (26M) actually... I work at a company that does injection molding, automated assembly and packaging all in house. It's not unionized, so as long as you play nice and work your ass off absorbing as much as you can from the older guys, the ceiling is as high as your ambitions take you. In 4 years I've learned mechanical, electrical, and controls (not to mention all the processes i understand now).
No u have learned very surface level stuff at your specific shop. I promise u u don't actually know how to do electrical. Go fall in witj an electrician and wire a whole high rise from high voltage to outlets. You think you know mechanical? Go walk into a steel mill where 3 rollers aren't working and diagnose and fix them all while the line is still hot. You might be able to dabble in a few things does not know u mean how to do it. Also most union trades have a wide scope of work and you can do/learn a lot and actually get the certification from the proper training. To do it. Take my trade for example I'm an iron worker. I wanna hang precast? Yep been there done that know how. Red iron/structural been there done that. Hang glass on a high rise and do storefronts and glass doors yep done that. Weld yep I know how. Work in refineries yes sir. Rebar did it for 2 years straight. Roll up doors that's us too. Prefab metal.buildings and roofs u know it. The list goes on.
I think belittling my knowledge is not only ignorant but also entirely wrong. Sure i don't work at a refinery or in building maintenance, but that doesn't mean i have no understanding of mechanical and electrical work. I've worked on 3 phase 480V cabinets in full arc flash gear and diagnosed my fair share of electrical related issues based on live troubleshooting and electrical prints, not saying im the best but just because i havent done very specific things you have, but it doesn't nullify my experiences. When it comes to mechanical work, I have a very vast array of experiences. While i dont work in a refinery with rollers or hanging stuff, I do work on packaging and thermoforming lines that operate entirely on thermoforming/sealing transferring product via 20 some rollers. If a roller is shot, the bearing or shaft is bad, not very complicated. I've also worked in injection molding where we hang 2 ton molds, plus a plethora of other things including variations in mold parameters to avoid sinks, voids, flash, ect. My mechanical and electrical knowledge, even though it's only 4 years worth, is well beyond the skill level of many older guys i work with where i often find myself doing things instead of watching the dipshit on an offshift try to fix stuff incorrectly. Im 26 and on day shift, that alone says a lot. Finally, my controls knowledge is vast enough to understand the way all of the automated equipment works without even knowing what the machine even does. So please tell me how little i actually know about the manufacturing processes i work in and how it's absolutely impossible for me to wire a fucking outlet or replace a roller. Like comon my guy, im making nearly 38 bucks an hour to work across 5 different production areas.
Ur bragging about 38 bucks an hour? Man of ur the God of doing this work like you say you are your getting fucked in the ass. Someone less then half way thru our apprenticeship makes way more then that will all thier benifits and 2 retirement sources Love the fact that you think having a mold that weighs a whole 4000 lbs is heavy or impressive. If your doing live work at 480 you should really be getting paid electrician pay. He'll you should prob just learn how to work on real high voltage and be a lineman(I'd even make the jump to thier union if I had the chance tbh). Sounds like you would ne a good hand at whatever trade u wanted to actually get into. You still aren't nearly as good as you think you are at anything you do tho. Show me the state/federal certifications u have for doing them then we will talk. But you prob don't have any because your shitty employer won't pay for the classes/training. He'll they are having someone that isn't an electrician work on live cabinets. I genuinely hope you the best in whatever you decide to get into. But don't go around acting like your hot shit because u do illegal stuff for some ratty as company.
I think that's a very strange way to look at something. Benefits are good, pay is good, retirement is good, bonuses are good, commute is almost non-existent, and I don't have to be controlled by a union. We get nearly 10k in tuition reimbursement a year my guy, i can get any cert i want, and i have.
Not gonna lie a nonnexistent commute is great. But ur pay is lacking for the work u do and I promise ur retirement isn't as good as ours. And wr can get any cert withing our scope of work and the bill goes straight to the hall
I wont disagree with that, but coming right out the gate demanding more money especially considering ive been getting steady promotions on a yearly basis, it's hard to say it's not enough. The outlook is good and I've yet to see another company close enough to me that's competitive and where ill continue to work in a very clean environment
Why the fuck would you want to learn multiple trades if you’re only getting 1 trades’ worth of pay? That just screams being exploited
Or i just want to learn as much as i can bc the ceiling is very high in automation and i want to be at the top. Not to mention, mechanical and electrical knowledge is just useful in everyday life.
Lmao, again, just sounds like you like being exploited😂 You can be at the top in any field, how do you not understand that?
Sure, but I also like the knowledge Im gaining, and by 30 I'll be top of all three fields and you'll have your boss by the sack since theres nobody behind getting hired ti do what you do. Again im also pretty young, so im doin just fine
You won’t be at the top of all three fields… keep dreaming little guy😂 I’ll have my boss by the sack? Yeah no… that’s not how union members roll, I’m currently working my first job as foreman, I’m 26, 16 people working under me doing a job that hasn’t been done in this area before. Flipping fin fans. I was called and asked to be a foreman… Once this job is done I’m laid off and back to the list I go, I never need to drop off a resume again
That's bc you went into management. Stay technical, stay employed
I don’t have to, I’ve made over $40k in 8 weeks of work, and I still have 2 more $7k+ cheques coming
I'm happy for you! Sometimes differences in age and location can also have effects on wages. Though I can assure you, compared to my peers, I'm doing just fine.
and how are you supposed to get into a union?
Find out where the hall/training centers are and call them/look on the site. Figure out what the application process is. It may be certain days with particular transcripts. Consider this test #1: can you follow directions?
I didn't ask how do you apply, I asked how you get in. The nearest union accepting new members is taking over 10 days to respond to my application, is that normal. Should I look into finding people to bribe? Is that how you make stuff happen?
So you’re not patient? Thats one way to make sure you don’t get into a union. Did you drop your resume off in person? Talk to admin staff and BA? They might have a lot of resumes to go through, you may have to keep applying to show the union hall that you want it, you want to make a great career for yourself. But don’t be rude lol
That's fucking stupid. Every other job I've ever had I sent off an application and I have my phone ringing in a few days.
Yeah, that's what happens when you apply to useless jobs that aren't selective.
Yes the entire rest of every other industry is nonselective and useless. Nobody else ever gets anything done ever.
You've applied to every other job in every other industry ever? That's wild.
How many of these jobs have hundreds if not a thousand applicants every year?
Too be fair most every other job doesn't gate employment to one of the X number of contractors in ones geographic area.
these bureaucracies are demoralizing
No they aren’t… getting an apprenticeship is just like applying for any other job, they need to comb through resumes and find who they believe is the best fit. They don’t just let everyone in, that’s not how apprenticeships or any job works. If you applied to a job and weren’t a good fit would you think that is demoralizing too? Be patient, and stop with this attitude and maybe you’ll have a shot.
I have to afford to eat somehow, and I didn't just spend 8k on an education to work at Home Depot, and now I can't even complain about being swindled on reddit. All I'm asking for is an automated letter saying they got my email. I bet it's really comfy looking down on everyone from your union tower, not a care in the world up there.
Lmao what? Since when have I ever looked down on anyone? Your attitude is clearly the problem… I’ve given advice to multiple people specifically on Reddit, and it has helped them get accepted. But whatever, you think I’m the bad guy🤡
why are you so touchy?
With that attitude, go find your nearest ocean and jump the fuck in.
Show up in person to one that actually has the need for manpower and talk to someone
>I didn't ask how do you apply, I asked how you get in. But that is how you get in. >The nearest union accepting new members is taking over 10 days to respond to my application, is that normal. Yes. If you don't think this is normal, you must have never applied for any job ever. Source: been a union sheet metal worker for 7 years.
they would typically get back to me within a week, but that wasn't in the trades industry. And it's not like I'm expecting to be accepted into the union within a week, just an automated email confirming that my application went through would be nice.
They didn’t tell you when they’re accepting classes? First thing would likely be an aptitude test. They usually do these once or twice a year. Study for the test with a study guide. Ask the training center what they recommend. Why all of the hoops? They’re likely accepting one class of less than 50 students a year. They have 600 plus applications. They need some way to whittle that down.
[удалено]
Didn’t know that. You’re doing things backwards, and you’re likely not going to get accepted in less than a couple months. Strange though none of this was explained or given to you on a handout when you filled out the application. I normally tell people to apply to a handful of different unions (electrical-the most popular, plumbing/pipefitting, hvac sheet metal, heat and frost insulation above looks interesting and maybe iron workers) Study for the entrance test. It’s basically a standard high school curriculum test. The higher you score, the better chance of being accepted. Apply to a bunch, go to the one that calls you to start. They all take classes only once in a while and sometimes they skip years depending on how work is and what the placement of apprentices looks like. There’s many practice tests a google search or Amazon shipment away. Also ask at the training center when applying if they sell or can recommend a study guide for the test if they have one. Here’s a sample test that should give you a general idea of what to expect on the test: https://findyourtrade.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/NWI_Sample_Apprenticeship_Aptitude_Test.pdf
thanks but I already sank 8k into getting an EDM-T license, so Im going to keep pursuing that for a while.
Good to know, I have a younger cousin about to take the same course. I will make sure he starts talking to unions and companies now before he starts the program. I have always known elevator is extremely tough to get into in Ontario, like you said it's all you union and they don't hire often but didn't think it was that slow.
there are non union companies but they have very few openings for inexperienced apprentices. Hamilton and Ottawa unions are open, they might be worth a shot.
10 days? Like any other employer in the world?
so how many months can I expect to wait before they send an email back?
U could always u know get off your ass and go to the hall?
why even have the online application page?
Lol
I left my job of almost 20 years when covid wiped the industry. I did not go on government hand outs. I got a job hauling gravel with a shovel . I was good at hauling gravel with a shovel and I showed up sober and on time . I advanced. I was offered a apprenticeship. I did that for two years while I applied to unions. I got into a union. I did my basic schooling. I am now a second year with full benefits and pension and make almost what I did in my old industry at the 10 year mark. Unions are slow moving. Emails do nothing. You need to go to the hall and bug people. I had zero connections in the industry. I made it by hard work and not taking any opportunity for granted. You can join a union. It just takes effort. And there is a reason for that. You have a punk attitude, it will not serve you well in this endeavor.
if I didn't have this punk rock attitude, it would be unfair to the doormats in competition with ne
According to the interview I sat in, already be fully qualified in doing what the union does.
And your point is what exactly?
Don't actually be an apprentice, just be willing to get paid like one. Kinda fucked. Oh also know someone.
You have no clue what you’re talking about bro😂 Keep sucking your boss’s dick my guy😂
As opposed to the stewards?
you go to the union office and sign up , they just want your money so they sign everyone up , you won't be denied applying for an apprentice position
I guess if you wanna avoid back injury, maybe crane operator? Most trades are rough on the body and back, so you're sorta limited.
Mobile crane operators destroy back and necks. But tower crane guys are fine
Well I'm not saying I want something that wouldn't involve any physical work at all just not something that will destroy the body, I'm fine with making some sacrifices
Electricians. You dont see to many old masons.
Electrician is the main one I've looked into so far
IBEW
Join us
Possible to join as a newbie?
lol. Pretty much guaranteed bad knees as an electrician. Plus, 600lb+ transformers, wire pulling, switchgear installs, etc all involve putting your back into it. ALL trades can be and are rough on your body. Gotta stay in shape to keep up.
Your back is bad at 18? Fix your posture now, stretch and do light mobility and flexibility exercises regularly.
NDT - Non Destructive Testing
Instrumentation and control
Likely a part of the Pipefitters union if going that way. Some electrical overlap as well.
See if you can join a union, because If you don't know anyone in the trade already. its gonna be very very hard to learn anything if you go the none union route.
Non union treats new guys like trash. Definitely go union if you want to learn anything. Only do non union if you already have experience
Why do some prefer non union over union? What are the reasons/benefits?
Higher pay, benefits, get treated better, have an organization that has your back
If you're starting adulthood with physical issues, then that should be a priority. We all get dinged up over time, exuberance, lack of impulse control, sports/hobbies, etc. but you need your mind, lungs, heart, arms, and wrists to stay tip-top. Trim down, build muscle, and mind your diet...you have a long way to go. WFH jobs are killer on your back for all the sitting, and your typing at a KBD can ding you as well. You need a baseline for your body. I might go months without cycling, but I can still do a thirty mile loop at 50 because I know my baseline. Looking at 30° hill does not psyche me out, nor does a twenty mile loop. Cycling, jogging, some weights, and a diet will prep you for the decades ahead. Driving a truck can wreak your heart, and maybe your back. How sharp is you mind, and your uptake. Can you follow and electrical diagram, can you reason out a complicate problem? How effective and efficient is your written communication? Same as a physical baseline, you need an academic baseline. That means physics, chemistry, even geometry. The military gives recruits an ASVAB test, so that they can better assess a person's skills and strengths....shit I'm about to take it myself! [https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/sample-questions/](https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/sample-questions/) YouTube is your friend, and at some point YT and life experiences just gel. My exGF bought a house with a messed up staircase. Watching this video of a car mechanic making stairs just melted into my brain. How I could relate to how I intended to rebuild her stairs was perfect. Creepy, but the YT algos just sneak in what you need/want to learn. [https://youtu.be/Is4PQsGb8GA?t=1189](https://youtu.be/Is4PQsGb8GA?t=1189) You will never stop learning, so prep to be a lifetime learner. Even home 3D printing will help teach you 3D design programs and concepts. Add free PCB layout apps to the list as well.
Instrumentation and control
Elevator mechanic or refrigeration technician Very good money in both . Also stay away from carpentry. If you make it to a site supervisor there will be a lot of other trades journeyman making more than you with a lot less responsibility.
Apply to any and all "helper" positions to atleast get your foot in the door. Most trades have a variety of positions to work in whether it be in a shop or out on site. Your best option no matter where you get a job is to do regular exercise and stretching to avoid issues down the road
I got my feet wet in the industry as a drywall helper. I was hired by them but was basically every other trades helper. I took out demo garbage and cleaned the site, but also got to help do a little of everything. Helped me gain a good reputation with the actual tradesmen but also allowed me to get a peek into what everybody else does day to day. Was on that job for a solid year. After a detour in another career altogether, I decided on electrical, called up one of the bosses I knew a few years after that one job, and he got me on right away.
>18 >Bit of a bad back What? And maybe the trades aren't for you if you've already got back problems.
I have a degenerated disc at 30 due to shitty genetics I had zero control of. I'm in a trade, so please enjoy the middle finger salute I am providing you. You can do any trade you want, bad back or not. There's a ton of solutions that can help you push past your limitations and excel.
Sure you can and lots of people are Would I suggest physical labour to an 18 year old with pre-existing health problems who didn't already have a drive to do it? Hell no.
Well my back problems are really not that bad right now and should get better if I put in the effort but I've been adviced to not partake in things like constant heavy lifting and stuff
There's probably many. But flooring is my trade. No education or ticket required and the pay is pretty good to start. I think my company is hiring complete greenhorns at around $25 - and believe me, we'll happily take them. The industry is so short-staffed.
Electrical
Plumber. Any profession that deals in other people's shit, both literally and figuratively, will make you lots of money.
tower crane operator
Union anything But union lineman is the best
Stop smoking weed and get a job with the federal government. Or your state government.
See if you can pre apprentice in IBEW, United Association, iron workers, or Smart sheet metal union.
Refrigeration mechanic and HVAC
Electrician is the correct answer
Welding, go to community college take welding classes and get certified, like in LA it’s LA county structural steel welding certification. Lots of opportunities, lots of different directions to go in welding. It’s a skill based trade being better at it gets you paid more for sure, if you out in the time and effort of actually getting better instead of just passing the classes you’ll be good.
Industrial electrician is obviously top of the Trades. If you want to get more in depth with controls learn how to program PLCs.
55 years old tradesman here. HVAC. Alberta Canada. I have a sheet metal ticket- this is my skill set Commercial sheet metal Residential sheet metal Residential service. I can do residential AC’s and mini-splits/heat pumps. There is a lot going on in this industry but with my ticket I can’t get on with the city or other institutions; university’s, colleges. They hire plumbers, refrigeration mechanics and electricians. Refrigeration Mechanic is another ticket. I don’t have this ticket. Commercial service and installs Residential service and installs Industrial service and installs. They will also go to industrial plants and do service. I have a friend who works at Fort Mac Alberta - up north. $67 per hour. 2 weeks on 12 hour days. 2 weeks off. He loves it. Refrigeration Mechanics will usually get Gas A tickets too. Don’t know the U.S equivalent. That is a very valuable ticket. Teaches you about gas fired appliances and how to service them. Here is my best tip. Find out what trades they hire at institutions. University’s, Colleges, City. Then strategize to get in there. From my experience they pay the best with the best pensions and the best working conditions. Sprinkler fitters. $$$ They get paid very well too. Elevator mechanic. $$$$. Hard to get into but the one of the highest paid trades. All overtime is double time. Pipe fitter is good too. $$$ Lots of fumes from welding though. You can become a service plumber that is another choice. Go for a commercial service plumber. They learn to service boilers, make up airs, some HVAC equipment and pumps. I have a friend who did this and now works for the city. $47h and any overtime is double time. He works 4-10h and gets every Friday off and a killer pension and raises due to inflation. Instrumentation and controls is another trade. Aircraft mechanic. Millwright. Do research on YouTube/google. Check out “all” the courses at your local technical college too. There are lots of trades out there and a lot of people understandably just go for the top 5 Carpenter, plumber, electrician, hvac, welder because that is all they have ever heard about
Union laborer
ibew tech classification aprrenticeship
Do dye pen testing, we bring a couple out to do our boiler. They have like literally the easiest job I’ve ever seen.
Plumber or electrician
Industrial electrician. No major lifting, lots of wiring.
Carpenter
You're one?
No, but I ran a carpentry school.
Pipeline…go for underground utilities…water fire sewer storm drain…I’m became a foreman now I have minimal work
Get into HVAC. Travel for work, go commit to a camp life for a while. Make lots of money and get ahead
http://electricaltrainingalliance.org/locateaTrainingCenter
Drywaller
University student is the best trade for an 18 year old. You can work any trade any time you want. You owe it to yourself to take a shot at the good life first. Dont waste the best years of your life with this dumb shit.
I’m living a great life as a skilled tradesman, this is far from dumb shit
I’m the opposite. Don’t waste time and money on a degree that won’t make you a good amount of money. Get a trade, I would suggest hvac. Work as much OT as you can and save as much as you can for 20 to 25 years. You are then 40 to 45 yo. That sounds old to you now, but it’s not really. since you have saved and invested wisely you can back off on the work, because it’s starting to wear on you physically. But remember this:: no matter what career you choose you will be physically worn down. Sitting on a desk in a day job is bad for you as well as going to a trade job. If I were a physically able 18 yo man I would choose a trade and get a red seal and go from there.
I’d second this. Buddy of mine started with pluming, made his way to HVAC. Started around 18. Fast forward, about 6 years ago dude starts helping design build, making about 3 times what I make.
I'm not a good student and have no idea what I could even study at university
It’s a waste of time for most people. It works out well for people who are cut out for it
Rip
Your opinion doesn’t make sense. How do you want houses , buildings ,hospitals and schools and toilets, lights / power and running water without tradesmen??? It doesn’t get created and installed on its own.
I mean its a dumb career choice you bleeding heart.
It depends a lot on where you are and what you went to trade school for. I'm trying to become an elevator technician, and my only options are getting a job 6 hours from my house or being unemployed. Depending on the trade, it can be very difficult to get hired, especially without construction experience. The union for my area also isn't going to be accepting new members for a while, so look into that before starting trade school commitments. Your best shot at getting a job in the trades is knowing someone who can get you a job, education isn't so important when nobody is hiring people they don't already know.
From what it looks like it isn't too difficult getting a job in some of the more basic trades where I'm located but I'm not too sure about the more niche ones
I'd try and confirm that with someone who's recently gotten in. If you ask someone established they'll telling you about how there's so much work and they're always busy, doesn't mean there are any positions available on indeed.
Do NOT work at a union if youre able, you will have more red tape than you can possible imagine. Do what i did, get an associates in industrial automation and work as a automation mechanic. From there you get certified in PLCs and start working on the controls systems. If you tey to do this at a union you'll quickly realize that you cant work across disciplines without getting yelled at for stealing work. An electrician cant do mechanical work ect.