How can I start a career in the trades? Plumbing, Electrician, Carpenter?

Question

I'm tired of the corporate world and I've heard the trades are hurting for people. My salary must be at least the same as I'm making now. I have two grad degrees but I'm tired of working in the cubicle farm. I've searched high and low online so if you could provide a link instead of just "insight" that would be great

Answer 1

Sorry I don't know any links, but I do know the Construction Industry.

You can't just take a class or a test to become a tradesman like you want. You have to get an apprenticeship and work for the company or individual contractor for over five years before you can make it beyond apprentice. Then you may need another four years to finish your journeyman and be qualified to be a master in the trade. The bad news is that you will have to start at the entry level. The even badder news is that you need to find someone who is willing to put you on the apprentice path. The times are approximate and will vary with the employers and your location.

In the Northeast where the Unions rule the trade laws will be more specific. In the South and Right to Work states the laws will be more flexible.

No matter which course you take you are going to have to face a huge cut in salary. Another piece of bad news is this industry is for the young. Do to length of an apprenticeship most employers will want someone that is young, hungry, and able to do the heavy lifting.

I think that a better path for you to pursue would be self-employment. Maybe part of your problem isn’t that you are tired of the corporate world, but you are tired of doing the hard work for your boss. If you have two degrees and as much experience as you have then you should stick with what you know. Yes the building trades are in need of workers and I have heard of some construction companies refusing work because they don’t have enough workers. However, they are looking for the grunt labor, they have plenty of management. To get into management at a construction company takes a four-year degree in the construction trade (I know that’s what I did in college). A business degree is helpful, but unless you know how to calculate the stress and strain in a structure, as well as the load it takes and manpower and cost to create the structure along with the estimate of how much the job cost then you can’t do that kind of work. I am not talking about the designing the building, architects and engineers do that; I am talking about creating the concrete formwork and the scaffolding required to start on the building. It is a lot more difficult then you think and a 4-year degree just gets you into the front door. An architect without a masters is only an interior decorator.

The final piece of bad news is that if you do go into business for yourself then most small business fail in the first year, and of those that don’t they work for a loss. I am not mentioning the longer hours you have to put in; as unpaid overtime. Then since you can’t afford to hire any one to do the other work you have to do your own taxes, your own accounting, your own billing etc.

I strongly recommend that you start a small side company in your line of work and slowly transition to your own business. This way you aren’t going to lose your high salary.

Frankly, you don’t have a chance in the construction trades unless you have worked in it from the ground up. The first mark of a profession is to know the language of the profession and then to understand what is done and then how it is done. Even companies like Disney want their employees to start at the entry level. My sister wanted to get a job with Disney after graduating college, but they turned her down because the only experience she had in the field was with their rival Six Flags. The construction industry is very clannish like this and often a construction firm is composed of family members who started working in the field before they entered high school. The Silvia brothers a main contractor for This Old House works like this. The famous Loizeaux family from Controlled Demolitions started that way, and their youngest office in the company was literally raised in the field. All of her knowledge is from experience and the training from her family. This is how most construction firms work.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Trade unions in your area are a good place to start. Also two year colleges usually have started programs where you work and then move into an apprenticship. Just figure out what you want to do. Carpenter your looking at about two year apprenticship and then it goes up to like 4 and 5 years for for plumer and electrician respectively. You can even go in and approach a shop and see if they can help you.

Answer 4

First you have to work out what field you want to work in. I am 32 years old and want to become an apprentice Carpenter. Go to your local job centre and find out about apprenticeships for mature workers. Good luck! It will change your life!

Answer 5

Is there a community college in your area? They can head you in the right direction. You may just need career counseling right now to ease your career disappointments. It is awfully hard to change from a professional job to manual labor, but if you are dedicated you will make it. Good luck to you.

Answer 6

Call the trade union local in your area. They have apprentice programs to learn the trades.

Answer 7

Go to the site that I link below, and you'll find all the info you need for the electrical trade.
Good luck.

Answer 8

I don't remember the very first video game I've ever played. Maybe it was an arcade game or something. I don't even remember how old I was. However, I do remember Spyro being the first video game franchise I've everreally got into when I was a kid. Spyro is my favorite video game franchise.

Answer 9

A.C.C.A. air conditioner contractors of America-great trade school for the HVAC career

Answer 10

Look up technical schools and find apprenticeships from local companies. They will be able to get you started in their educational programs and get you on your way to the career you desire