imported_Promoking

I'm so frustrated. I've been trying to get into either plumbing or electrical for months now. I just keep getting passed around, given the the wrong info, or stonewalled.

I can't even get in becuase they're intake dates just passed, which I can't even get info for so how am I supposed to meet them.

Sorry if it sounds like I'm bitching, but I've been trying for months, and all I hear are these ads saying they need apprentices badly, but yet I can't get anything to start one.

My buddy who's in this 2 years now told me to hit the unions, but they are the worst of all to try and make it in.

Any advice or links?

imported_GoldBadge

Have you taken any courses or trainig, etc? I'm assuming you have experience, but sometimes that isn't enough to gain peoples trust.

I would have to agree that union work is pretty safe when it comes to the trades. Unless you want to freelance, the unions are your best bet.

spracingsports

"its not about WHAT you know, but WHO you know!"

most trades, you gotta know someone to get you in the door

Mr. Vapor

ill try to offer my opinion:


I work in the construction industry....im 3rd generation if my family of large commercial scale business (general contracting, metal stud framing, drywall, accoustical ceiling, EIFS exterior finish etc etc)


We are merit-based so i dont know much about the Unions in Canada.....but pretty much EVERYBODY has started from the ground up. that means a summer of laboring at a low wage. im not sure what your status in life is (age, current income etc) however if you're young and you can afford to suck it up for a summer best bet is to get with a good company and just labor for cheap for a summer. after you've proven yourself tell them you want to get involved in a trade. this way you already have your foot in the door, you've shown them your work ethic and will be taken in more likely then some dude on the street (which you currently are) remember, 90% of openings are hired from within and never posted.

hope that helps

jdmcrx000

dude i know how u feel i got bumped around in the automotive trade. i went from honda to gm to ford and finally i blew up at my boss one day and quit!!!! so just hang in there and im sure you will do o.k!!!!!(or u can take the road i did and get a job in another feild. like right now i work on slot machines!!!!)
pritty cool eh?

imported_Bruce Fee

IBEW

imported_Promoking

This is my attempt at the other feild haha. My training has been in film/tv/video. I've been doing it since I was 16 (21 now), but it's not steady enough and everyone wants your soul for free.

I like working with my hands, am good with it, and have some experience in both areas (general stuff).

My buddy was a 2nd or 3rd year auto apprentice, and just up and decidied to quit the trade because of the bs and low pay, even after he were to get his liscence.

I don't mind doing some hard work this summer, but I haven't even been able to find that. I just don't want to be spinning my wheels for nothing I guess. Even though I'm only 21, I feel like i've been wasting enough time already.

imported_Bruce Fee

except bs pay for a few years...

SiR_88crx

**** i have been having the same problem as well

imported_loudsubz

well its diff with electrical

you have to find a company willing to take you on as an apprentice first then once your in you set up the schooling and such and count your hours to become a certified electrician.

Trades arn't all they are cracked up to be. Lots of BS and miscommunication from general contractors and such. Bad working enviroments and cranky people.

imported_Promoking

Spoken to IBEW, nothing but run around from them so far. They keep playing with the intake dates for waiting lists, and I keep getting screwed.

Yeah the crappy thing is there's nothing I can do to get ahead, other than find a company, which I haven't been able to, and I've called them all.

I can't even get in to do pre-apprenticeship program because they hide the mysterious dates for intake.

imported_Bruce Fee

what can i say, you suck.

haha

man, unions are like governments.. a big bureaucratic mess that is about the status quo. never improve. never excel.

go find someone with a company with the industry you want to be in, and offer to work for free a few months and make yourself useful.

Brett

When you sked my for advice about this before... i told you to open up the phone book right? now i was thinking if you did this which phone book did you use? Toronto, Mississuage, Oakville, Hamilton? All of these will have hundreds of electricians and plumbers in them. Keep looking and eventually... IMO don't go with the union though i think unions are for the unintelligent!

imported_QUICKONTHEGAS

I have the same problem...I was all ready for the signing up for this years intake when I found out I needed grade 12 math just to apply....so now im doing night school and waiting for next years intake All my buddies that are in the trades got in from conections too
If anyone out there can lend a hand with a trade job, let me know. I'd get into any trade as I'm not overly sure what one I would like to do.

imported_QUICKONTHEGAS

I've heard the only ppl who say being union isn't good are non-union workers

Brett

Well, this is my personal opinion (im non-union electrician) from meeting with union guys in school and such. It seems that if you are not overly talented then the union will just make you do one paticular task for the rest of your life. At the same time if you are good you can get name recognition... Anyways my personal beef is more with the union buracracy then anything else. Why should i give up some of my wages so a bunch of guys can make 6 figure incomes? I believe that unions served a very important function in the past and in some cases still do but, much of the time they seem to set the worker against the employer for the benefit of the union only. I could go on ranting about unions for ever but ill stop now.

imported_QUICKONTHEGAS

I understand all of that but what about the benifits and pension? (I'm not sure) would it not make a smarter life choice to be union?

Brett

Companies outside of the union also offer pension and benifits.. as for a life choice i guess that depends on what type of person you are. Personally the union would be bad for me. If all you are looking for in life is a solid job at a good wage without great hope of advancement then the union would be perfect. I need more then that out of life...

imported_Bruce Fee

union is good if you are ****

see, if instead of being ****, if you are THE ****... every company will want you pay you way more than the maximum raise a union member can get before a certain number of years of seniority blah blah blah.

unions are good for the average person. if you're motivated, good at what you do, and don't want to put up with BS.. you will not be in a union.. or if you're also smart, you'll get out of it....

you're job isn't as protected.. but if you're good.. you don't need to rely on anything other than yourself... and the fact that the guy who sucks will get laid off before you cause you're better.

imported_QUICKONTHEGAS

Thanks for the insight boys