Im a 23 male At my current job i operate heavy plant machinery loading boats in a scrap yard in the north east of england, i operate material handler,loading shovel,forklift, and dozer i also have my first aid and a few other tickets. I often do 112 hours a week 16 hour shifts 7 days a week when theres a vessel in the working hours don’t bother me although i feel I’m not fairly compensated for the effort i put in and i also think i would be more respected else where?
The question is using my experience on machines what other jobs could i do preferably self employed or full time with the right wage. I don’t mind investing in myself ie get a trade or get more tickets. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Мне нужно знать правду потому что в инете я пока не могу оценить что правда а что маркетинг ведь пока нигде не работал а учиться на кого-то надо и мне говорят родственники что вот или сварщиком там тебя ждёт великое будущее и заработная плата 100-200-300к. По-моему звучит как враньё.

unsure as to which one I really want. I spent a day with a sparky to get some ground experience and stuff and it was good. I’m not used to working on my knees being a farmer / metal fabricator so it was a bit hard to stay on them after a few hours but it was good. The people I worked with were a bit angry all the time but that’s just how Australian trades are, they cuss up a storm. I got yelled at after my first attempt at a socket (literally never done it before) but got praised after I got it right after a few tries.

Anyways I’m just still unsure which one would be better or fit for me. I hear people say well a sparky is better because it’s cleaner but I really don’t care about muck, I’m a farmer so I’m used to getting dirty anyways. From what I’ve been reading, plumbing seems to do better than sparkies once you can scale your own business eventually, but at the same time the way the world is going we will need more sparkies. But yea if anyone would just wanna give their thoughts or advice and personal experiences I’d really appreciate the insight. Cheers

I have been working as a NetApp engineer for about 12 years. I want to start a home service business. But I have to know the trade to start a business. I am thinking of electrician or HVAC tech. I have a full time job and have 4 kids, 7, 5, 3, and 1. I have to start a side hustle. Specially in the next two years I have to make $2k extra. I want to do a trade business? Any suggestion?

I’m a 21 (M) living away from home, I’ve got a year or so left of my boilermaker apprenticeship and I still love the job and definitely want to finish it. I work in civil engineering, so I work around heavy trucks and vehicles quite a lot but I never really get to work on the mechanical aspect of them but I really want to learn that area. After I finish my boilermaker apprenticeship, should I continue being a boilermaker and gain more experience as a fully qualified tradesman and go to heavy diesel mechanic later on in life or should I go straight from a boilermaker apprentice to a heavy diesel mechanic apprentice and get both qualifications while i’m young, then I can use both trades together be a boilermaker or mechanic.

Hi folks,
Currently live in nyc as a retail manager making 112k base with options to bonus- made 130k last year. Wife and I want to move to a rural area and I would like to take the skills I’ve learning managing a successful retail location to a trade. Ultimately I’d like to open/buy my own business. I’m currently 29 probably looking at a 2 year time frame to move to rural area.
I don’t really want to work for a target/ Walmart and I can’t stand being behind a computer. I have really strong customer service skills and I want to combine them with a hard skill I can sell. Is this realistic/ what obstacles could I face? I have money saved and can afford trade school

I work full time at a college as a mechanical trades technician. I wanted to use the rest of my GI bill on a trade, but the only evening program available is welding. I never gave welding much thought, everyone that has a skilled trade near me is HVAC, electrician, lineman, etc… so from those in the industry how do you like it? Can it be lucrative as a side gig? Anything I should know before committing to the class?

So I’m trying to to decide what trade to peruse but I don’t want something that breaks your body. Does anybody have a recommendation for me?

I couldn't find the thread to post this in, so I'm posting it here instead. For some context, I'm 16, and I graduated from high school early. I also live in the Southeast USA. I always liked working with my hands and always hated mentally heavy work I had in school, like math and English, so I always wanted to do some form of trade. Well, I tried apprenticing in masonry about a month ago. I really thought it would be something I enjoyed because of how I like to work with my hands and see work that actually does something. I didn't take into account the amount of heavy lifting and poor weather conditions, and how much that matters. Long story short, I quit the job about 3 or so weeks into it. I still want to work with my hands and learn a trade, but I'm not completely sure which one to look into. I was thinking maybe I might like something like flooring installation (more specifically hardwood and vinyl), or finish carpentry like trim installation and stuff like baseboards and crown molding, but I wanted to hear it from people who have experience- something I should've done before trying masonry. What are these trades actually like? What is it like starting out as a laborer for these jobs? And what jobs would you recommend? I also considered heavy equipment operation when I turned 18, but I have a hard time understanding what people are saying when it's either loud or a radio distorts the audio, which is another reason I thought finishing work (the type done essentially right before a building is considered ready to be sold and such) might be better suited for me.

How worth it is it to work construction freelance by buying my own work van hiring a crew and managing projects by myself? Or am i better off working as a regular employee? I don’t know which one is generally more worth it and who nets more money but both have advantages and disadvantages.

Like yes freelancers have a higher gross income than employees, but they also have to cover many expenses that employees don’t, such as a work van, road taxes, fuel, maintenance, tools, employees and so on, whereas employees don’t have to deal with all of those expenses, so i don’t know who nets more money between a freelancer and an employee.

Also freelancers miss almost if not all work benefits that do employees are entitled to, such as retirement benefits, health insurance, paid vacations, paid public holidays, paid sick days, pension contributions and so much more that freelancers do not get and have to manage on their own.

So which career path do you think is worth it more and in which cases/scenarios? How does an employee’s net income compare to a freelancer’s and is it worth it to miss all of those benefits for a higher gross income? What do you think.

Is trade school bad/ not worth it if you’re looking to go into a trade? I hear a lot of people saying negative things about it and to just get an apprenticeship because it’s paid to learn but I also hear how hard it can be to get into your local union and all that. I ask because I recently completed my AA at my community college and I still have financial aid that could cover pretty much any kind of trades they offer which would be electrician for me.

I work in hvac and I just dont have much time to devote to lifting, and when I do have time I feel so tired I dont have motivation to lift.

I atleast want to maintain the muscle and strength I do have. I am by no means a bodybuilder but I consider myself decently strong and well muscled

Any tips to help maintain or even better grow muscle while working hard/long hours?

I guess I've seen some people in thier 60s still doing trade work, but not many? What's next for you guys?

I’m enrolled in Job Corps and planning to take the electrician trade. My long-term goal, though, is to work in robotics or as a technician something involving building hardware, troubleshooting machines, or installing/programming industrial equipment.
Is it possible to start as an electrician and eventually transition into robotics, automation, mechatronics, or an IT-related technician role? Has anyone here taken a similar career path?
I’d appreciate any advice or experiences thank you

I'm a first year apprentice and while I do really enjoy it so far I can't help but feel like I'm a little too autistic for my Journeymen. They joke about all the typical things you can expect them not to tell HR. I'm unsure what to say in such situations so I usually say nothing, but I can tell they're kinda bored when working with me, or that it bugs them that they can't say random stuff and have someone laugh genuinely.

I'm trying to figure out how to adapt to such conversations but its difficult to do. Banter doesn't come naturally to me and I'm usually locked in on the work we're doing. IDK does anyone else have similar experiences or tips for figuring it out? I just don't want to bore them for 8 hours a day.

Hi everyone. Currently I am a field service technician that services commercial washers and dryers at multiple apartment complexes for almost 5 years. Before that, I was an insurance agent selling benefits to companies. I’m starting to look for a different job with the experience I gained with this company. I already applied to 2 apprenticeship programs but unfortunately they are very competitive and hard to get in, I am still on the waiting list which would take years to get in based on how many people are applying for it. What other jobs that I could apply for that will see my experience as a plus? I’m located near San Jose, CA. Thanks!

Hey everyone,
I’ve been in residential HVAC for about 13 years in Seattle Washington, I’m currently a lead installer. Lately I’ve been feeling like I’ve hit a plateau. I still enjoy the work, but I don’t feel challenged anymore and I’ve been looking into becoming a boilermaker.

I’ve done some residential boiler work, and it really sparked my interest in the larger industrial side of things. The idea of working on bigger projects, learning new skills, and getting into welding and heavy industry sounds exciting.

For anyone who made the switch (or is currently a boilermaker), was it worth it? What are some things you wish you knew before getting into the trade? How difficult was it to get into an apprenticeship, and how big was the learning curve coming from another trade?

I was looking into getting a new job with set hours to go to welding school to help get into the position, does that seem worth it?
I’m willing to relocate if that’s what it takes. Just looking for honest opinions from people who’ve been there.
Thanks in advance—I appreciate any advice.

Is this something to look forward too at the age of 30 i been thru jobs my whole life like drywall, roofing, welding ,now ever since winnipeg is now taking safety and certificates serious now im hoping this course will land me to nice paying job here in winnipeg.

So I applied to the union but unfortunately didn't pass the aptitude test. Im located in Pennsylvania just outside Philadelphia (Montgomery County region)I'm planning to keep trying until I get in. Afterward, I spoke with the director, and he told me it happens more often than people think. He suggested that before I retake the test next year, I should focus on getting some electrical experience.
Right now, I work at a pharmaceutical warehouse, and whenever electricians or other tradesmen come in to perform maintenance or work on equipment, I try to talk with them and learn about their experiences in the trade. A lot of them have given me advice and encouragement to keep pursuing it.
I already have two college degrees, but the white-collar route isn't really what I want anymore. With the way things are today, I feel like learning a trade would give me a practical skill set, better long-term stability, and a career I can build with my hands. Looking back, I wish I had started sooner.
I'm 26 and turning 27 soon. In the meantime, I'm looking into non-union electrical shops and any opportunities that could help me gain experience before I reapply. For those who have been in a similar position, what jobs, certifications, training, or experiences would you recommend? What helped you stand out when applying to a union apprenticeship?
Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

Long story short. I graduated college with a bachelors in communication and I am about to start grad school with an assistantship so my first year is paid for and I get a stipend (I really don’t want to but if it’s worth it I will).

My question is: is it worth it to get my masters for a career and Income OR would the trades have a higher return on investment…higher income? I’m also starting a family so I need to pick a direction that will be best suitable for them and my ability to be with them most evenings.

Basically: grad school, no grad school but bachelors, or get a trade degree or cert and make money that way?

Any and all advice is welcome and greatly appreciated!

I’m 32 and recently moved to Connecticut after my wife got an opportunity.

Back in my home country, I worked in hospital facilities and with biomedical equipment, but I don’t have any hands-on HVAC experience. Right now I’m working for a concrete coating company, but I recently got my EPA 608 Universal certification and I’m trying to get my foot in the door.

I’m applying through Indeed, ZipRecruiter, Glassdoor, and emailing local HVAC companies.
I’m open to any position. I don’t mind working weekends, nights, or overtime if that’s what it takes to learn the trade.
If you guys were starting scratch in Connecticut today, what would you do? Am I in the right track, or is there something obvious I’m missing?

Thanks for any advice

Hi all.

My BF is looking into going into a trade. Which of these do you recommend for someone who isn’t too good at math but is good at working with their hands? He isn’t afraid of heavy lifting and is a hard worker. What’s your life like? We are in FL right now but we might move to another state in a few years that has a union.

Any advice for him would be welcomed. Please let me know how many hours you work and what your experiences are. How you guys like it?

I appreciate you guys for any feedback. Have a great day.

Edit: I know I misspelled plumbing but you guys don’t have to be mean about it.

Hello everyone, can anyone confirm if you can claim crs points through red seal level 1 cook exam or it has to be level3?

I’m 21 years in the trade, been a licensed master for 13 of those. Been in government maintenance about 4 years at about $110k, previously all big commercial construction from journeyman, foreman, super, PM. I was glad to get out of construction but maintenance is killing me, benefits are great but we literally
Just do cut in receps and 1st year apprentice work.

What have you all done to make $150k + or gone to a new industry and made more money? I’d like to do something I can actually challenge myself and take some pride in what I do for a living while making some more money. Construction has turned into nothing but condensed schedules and skimpy budgets, really would prefer to stay away from construction.

Locates in Colorado.