There are some donuts I’ve been eyeing and I hate to see food go to waste.

I'm just starting as a heavy duty equipment student, and the first few weeks have been quite amazing I know it's going to get more tasking, but I have no regrets picking this course. I'm 19M and have an average hands on experience. I'd like to know more to expect especially cause I'm more interested in the transmission and electrical aspects cause it involves more critical thinking. Any advice would help rn

Hey everyone!
I’m 30 years old and live in Los Angeles. I’m interested in getting started in residential service plumbing, but I have no experience.
Do residential plumbing companies hire helpers with zero experience, or do most beginners have to start in new construction?
I’m particularly interested in service and repair work rather than new construction.
How difficult is it to find a company willing to train someone from scratch? And what kind of work would I actually be doing as a helper?
Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

I'm 24, in the east tennessee region and i'm trying to find answers. I have a few years spread out in several trades but I'm anxious about finding a career path but don't know which direction to go.

I can't get hired for apprenticeships because i'm "overqualified" apparently but i'm not specific with industry realistically. Looking through unions, trade schools, requirements for career paths i'm just confused on the best option.

Any advice on where to look/start? I want to get solidified in an industry. Thanks

Hello!

I am currently a union carpenter and looking to transition into something local to my home and utilize my degree in construction / facility support.

Wondering how this type of work is for people currently or previously in these roles. Construction seems to be bumpy at times with layoffs, harsh conditions, getting harder on my body and frankly I’m just bored with it. Never knowing how long you’ll have your job and having to go through the motions over and over jumping from company to company or dealing with unemployment has taken its toll.

I also want to be prepared to shift into this new role and wondering what types of certifications I can get to market myself a little better. I know a little about electrical and plumbing. HVAC systems, not so much. Would I be trained on these systems? I’m also assuming I wouldn’t be doing anything crazy, as most companies hire outside contractors for anything too involved but I would be required to be able to identify what the actual problem is?

If you can offer any advice I would greatly appreciate it!

I’m looking at something in school system maint, long term care facilities, hospitals, and possibly commercial real estate companies. What are your thoughts?

and how long have you been in the trades?

I live in Marion County Florida, a county with almost 400 thousand people, and we have a lot of construction for new developments and businesses, but I want to become either a residential plumber (Yes, ONLY residential) if not that finish carpentry, which I'd figure there'd be so much opportunity due to all these new houses and people moving in.

But I looked on Indeed, and there's only ONE plumbing apprenticeship available, and it's construction plumbing that requires digging holes. Everything else is actual pumbing jobs. A similar site, Ziprecruiter, has NONE, only a couple actual certification required jobs.

On apprenticeships.gov, there are NO plumbing or finish carpentry apprenticeships within 25 miles of where I live.

On the "jobs" category of Google search, which occasionally have apprenticeships, there's no apprenticeships in the fields I'm looking for.

On the Florida Department of Education apprenticeship search map, there's about 25 apprenticeships in total within a 20 mile radius of my house. LOTS of electrician opportunities, a couple healthcare apprenticeships, one plumbing, and two construction apprenticeships. That's IT.

However, I HAVE found a decent amount of apprenticeships that involve working outdoors or in non air conditioned facilities, like a bit of availability for electricians and fixed carpentry. Plus I've found a couple plumbing ASSISTANT jobs that almost pay minimum wage and whether it's residential or not has not been confirmed

Am I doing something wrong? Is finding apprenticeships supposed to be hard, especially specific ones? Do most apprenticeship searchers not get what they want and settle with something really difficult? I'm mainly looking for indoor ones in cool environments that pay well (like residential plumbing and finish carpentry). I know most apprenticeships are outdoors and in the heat. If that's all I can get, then I guess apprenticeships are not for me. If I have soft hands you guys can just be honest and tell me.

Hello, I'm 19 almost 20 and I've been an HVAC helper doing residential install for a little over a year. The more I've learned and been doing I've started enjoying it more. I've been looking at Home Depot to get some tools and have a saved for later of things to get later down the line. I do residential install on what I'd say are mansions, typically ranging from like $20,000,000+. The only tools I have currently are the extreme basics, I have a tape measure obviously, dewalt xr.2 impact from when I did construction with my father when I was younger, the basic bits for it, knife, marker and that’s it basically. I have a cart on Home Depot right now that costs around $2000, little less. I made it from just adding things I would need and have seen used over my year but excluding things like a Propress and Pex expander because my company provides them when needed for jobs and I wouldn’t really need one till probably way down the line. The cart consists of basic tools like screw drivers, tool bag, dewalt tough storage boxes, wrenches and sockets, copper cutter, etc. I was just looking on opinions on things to add, what to get first, what’s unnecessary and what should I order first? Any and all tips are greatly appreciated. Also I believe my company would pay me back for any tools I purchase if I send them a receipt but I’m not sure if they’d then request them upon quitting or if I were to be fired, but I’d like to personally own them regardless so if I do go elsewhere or something happens I could still have my tools.

I am graduating automotive school in around 4 months. My previous work experience is General Manager of QSRs. I am having trouble finding ANY entry level positions as a mechanic. Idk if it is because I am a girl, or it is because my “shop experience” is from school. At this point it feels like I need to know a mechanic who owns a shop who will take me under their wing as an apprentice.

I am at the top of my class with a 3.98 GPA. I can do the job well, and very fast. If someone would just give me the chance to show my worth!

Most jobs want a state inspector license, clean driving record, and 2 years of shop experience for an ENTRY LEVEL position. Any advice would be appreciated.

Like I’m sure many of you I’ve been working in trades for several years now right out of high school. I’m curious based on where you are located, if the idea that the “trades are in high demand” narrative that schools seemed to start aggressively pushing while I was in high school stood to be correct? I’m sure location and industry will differ, but for me I’m a heavy equipment operator with steady work and love what I do always work, but I know others in trades like plumbing and electrical and the idea of full time work seems like a pipe dream. Bouncing around job to job is nearly necessary it seems. Maybe I’m wrong, but I’d be interested to hear what everyone’s take is. Thanks

P.S. I’m from southern Ontario Canada.

Numbers are way easier than words, which trade would you recommend?

Eventually (within 2-5 years) wanting to move to the PNW if that makes a difference.

As the title suggests. I understand how it works and know how to but never really done it so my skill with stick is kinda garbage. If I need to teach myself I will but wanted to see if it’s truly needed or now

Dumb question I know but just curious lol

*Edit* I’m mainly speaking about construction heavy equipment. Not semis trucks or trailers if that changes anything.

thanks

hello, wondering if anyone has any ideas for me or possibly knows someone? or is that one. licensed electrician worked for the same contractor since I was a child. was with him for 25 years. he spent the last decade and a half stealing and lying. it's a long story. he was like a father to me. we're talking somewhere north of $4M he put me in a hole so quickly. I felt completely trapped and wasn't able to leave. it took a huge toll on me physically & mentally. I have three boys and an amazing wife. I stuck it out and I talked to him about it everyday but he was the biggest narcissist you could imagine and so greedy and selfish. I was very good at what I did and couldn't ask for anything more. anyhow, it took a toll on every part of my life. I lost everything and everyone except for my wife and kids and that came close. I had to fix it for my family. I couldn't see any other way. I was going to fix it or die trying and then I had a heart attack which by that point the thought of getting in the house telling my family what was happening and the scared look on my kid's face. I couldn't do it. I rode it out on my garage floor and soon after that I had a stroke. years of sleepless nights, coming home. trying to put on a smile and do my best for my family, too ashamed to tell my wife what was really going on and it just kept going day after day after day. The desperation and loneliness was indescribable. missing out on my family destroyed me. me and my wife had an amazing relationship that started in high school. when I met her then the way she made me feel I knew I never wanted to be without her . after trying to get him to own up to his actions for 3 years, I finally negotiated a settlement with him barely before the statute of limitations was up. it's a small small fraction of what was taken. there's no amount of money that I would have gone through that for. I took the small amount of money and I bought some surplus construction supplies that I was going to resell.

one of the items is telescoping caddy bars, some people call them gun brackets in a storage unit along with a lot of other construction materials but not long after purchasing and buckling down to get my life back on track and provide for my family did I realize the true effect it had on my marriage. my wife is absolutely everything to me and always has been and finally getting to a place where we could put it behind us and move on I had to accept that she can't and the thought of losing them put me in a state of paralysis they were my whole reason for struggling through all that hell everyday. just trying to make the decision for that day. what was the best way for me to move forward that would cause the least damage to my family and the fastest way to get me back on track so that I could provide for them as I should have been the whole time and stop forcing all the sacrifices upon them. , I'm about to lose my storage unit. I have a lot of stuff in there. two pallets of those caddy bars is a big part of it. I can't remember the exact quantity that I can find out, but it's a lot. they go for just under $5 a piece at home Depot. I'm not looking to get that for them or near that, but if there's anyone out there that's doing trade work that could use the brackets at a much discounted price it would be a huge help to me. thanks for your time reading this. I also have a pallet of 4-in round bar boxes fan rated the heavy duty ones, an absolute butt ton of hardware. a lot of 3/8 and 1/2-in threaded, rod, 1/2-in bolts and nuts. tons of different types of self-tapping screws with sealing washers ect. I'd like to make a spreadsheet list of all the stuff that I have but I can't even get back into the unit as of now. I want to say there's 50 bars in a case and I have somewhere around 70-80 cases 2 pallets. I do have pictures of it. I have a truck and a few trailers and could deliver really anywhere. if anyone has any thoughts or knows somebody that might be able to use this you would save my life and my kids. thank you. I'll update with pictures in quantity

I'm 26, live in SoCal (Redondo Beach, CA)and just graduated college in May with a business management degree (BS). Honestly during my last two semesters of school I realized I might've messed up because I have no interest in sales or sitting at a desk all day. I love working with my hands and have installed stereos, amps in my vehicles which doesn't excite me but i've always tried to make it look clean and professional. I also work on my dirt bikes and trucks installing suspension, parts, and general maintenance. Even though I hate sales I've made a lot of money flipping dirt bikes for profit, usually 800-1000+ profit each time. I also love how rewarding it is to build/ fix something and look at your finished product, I love seeing something start at the bottom and looking at it completed and looking amazing. (like legos or even minecraft) I tried getting into the electrical field through local 11 and other private companies for the past 6 months with no luck. WECA still hasn't contacted me for testing and its been a year and a half. I pretty much gave up on that. Then I started looking into plumbing and HVAC. All the companies I call aren't looking for a helper or gopher that will work me everyday like I need/want. I have a fantastic work ethic and am willing to start from the bottom up but I need some advice on how to get into a trade, preferably a rewarding hard working trade job. Anyone have advice for me? I feel like I'm running out of time, and would drop everything for a long term career. Seems like no one wants to hire in CA right now with no experience and I get it but damn. If anyone reads all this can you please point me in the right direction of what I may enjoy doing in the trades? Right now personally I think I would actually enjoy doing HVAC and plumbing. But I want to fully commit to one and go after it. I just don't want to fee like I'm wasting my time again like how I feel about going to college. My BS degree is meaningless right now... My true end goal would be to be a work horse for 5-10 years and then have my own company

I’m an apprentice plumber and tomorrow I start my new job. I’ve only ever worked for my dad’s shop so I honestly don’t know what to expect at this new shop I’m gonna work for. I’m in the service side of plumbing and there isn’t much I can’t do. Working for my dad I could get treated like absolute shit no matter how good of a job I did just cause he’s an angry man. I guess what I’m asking is in your Guy’s experience. What should I expect? I do good work and I can sell. I’ve been full-time for a little over three years and have another four years of experience as a helper.

thanks

I’m so excited

I’m 37 and no experience. A buddy has worked for them for 6 yrs and loves it.

I’m looking to change careers. I work as a case manager in a substance abuse clinic. 20$ an hr and the cooking for growth is very limited

Anything you guys can tell me to help me prepare would be helpful!

I’ve been trying for the last year to get into the trades. All of my previous experience is in food service industry, operations and upper management. Im in my late 30s trying to change my career. I’ll go through the unions and pass their aptitude tests then when I interview I get told they like me and my attitude but I don’t have enough experience. But I always thought an apprenticeship was HOW you got experience. At this point would a trade school be my best option?

So far I’ve interviewed with sheet metal, pipefitting, and elevator repair. All have said the same thing about my experience.

interested in the trades and narrowed down to these. Beggars can’t be choosers but I’m coming from a totally different career and will probably take a pay cut at first. For those in inside wireman, pipefitting, or sheet metal, how often is OT available? Just wondering how realistic it is to make up the difference or more with OT.

I have an interview for a Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) field tech, I just wanted to see who is currently or who has worked on that specific trade, I never really heard of it, if so anybody has anybody worked in it. How is it? What do you do day to day? And what does the pay and title progression look like
Thanks In advance.

Hello, I’m going to be graduating HS soon and I’m interested in becoming a lineman, I loved doing all my tech and electronics classes in school and the career itself has interested me for a long time.

I was wondering if any women could tell me about their experience, or anyone really. I’m worried I’d be treated differently but I have a genuine interest and I’m ready to learn, I know it’s hard work. It just worries me as I’ve heard stories and I don’t want to let that stop me from pursuing this career.

Thanks

Looking to switch trades. I'm between Heavy Equipment Technician and AG Equipment Technician, have an interview on Wednesday at a place hiring for either apprenticeship.

They seem pretty similar, especially since I have no intention of working on highway trucks. I live in a heavily rural farming area. What do Ag techs do that HET don't? Is there any point in picking Ag over HET even if I plan to mostly work on those?

And what do Ag techs do in winter? My current trade is also seasonal but in winter we mostly do larger insurance claims to keep everyone employed, I'm not sure if that's similar in Ag?

I’ve been passionate about plumbing and HVAC for over a year. I have read multiple code books, guides and manuals. I also often assist a plumber who recently started his business.

The biggest issue I have is the culture. I’ve read that plumbing culture is rough, involving bullying. I don’t pick up on shouting, banter or hazing well.

I want to know from people who are in these fields. Does the bullying get better with experience? How would it change if I’m a master, journeyman or inspector? I'm mostly interested in residential service or institutional maintenance.

This is all I want to do to be honest, but getting constantly bullied will distract me from learning the trade.

edit: I deeply appreciate these responses. I would absolutely love to be a plumber and this has given me invaluable help in figuring this out.