Why aren't more young guys learning trades?

[ClaudeGiroux]

I wish apprenticeships were more common in the USA.

All my grandpa ever talks about is how he was well off he was at age 18 straight out of high school because he got an apprenticeship in Europe.

What the **** brahs, why doesn't this chit happen in the states?

[mfitty9000]

mirin some of these 22-23 year old journeymen and 4th year apprentices who get to train new guys on the job, some as old as 40 year old 1st years and starters lol. I work with some 22 year olds that make more money then you can imagine

[ClaudeGiroux]

http://www.ides.illinois.gov/page.aspx?item=38

I guess I could apply for a handful of these but I really have nothing to put on a resume.

[dylanrpxxx]

Welding student checking in.
Quit a 60k year job to go into trade school.
Paid upfront.
No regrets, welding is awesome.

[Bongos]

it's society.

read a thread the other day about a kid who graduated from college and got a job offer from Costco and was asking if he should take it or not.

everyone shat all over him and told him what a waste of a life he'd be if he accepted the job and to wait for something better.

[dylanrpxxx]

In San Antonio the demand for welders is 3x more than certified welders in the area

[mrgreen94]

My cousin dropped out of high school at 15 to become a diesel mechanic apprentice and now he earns $180k a year working in mines. Im stuck on $18 an hour working part time and studying, fuarking bullchit.

[LeakyQuesadilla]

i was talking to an electrician. he makes $47/hour.

college is a f*cking scam.

[Highinthegym]

it's society.

read a thread the other day about a kid who graduated from college and got a job offer from Costco and was asking if he should take it or not.

everyone shat all over him and told him what a waste of a life he'd be if he accepted the job and to wait for something better.

cringed irl. srs

[-JR]

He's exaggerating when he says 9/10, but yeah there are a lot of construction workers out there with drug/alcohol problems. I've worked with a few myself over the years who were train wrecks, but of course there are also construction workers who don't abuse drugs or alcohol.

Friend of mine had six figure construction job handed to him-five years, two DUIs, and no savings later....yeah, youth and easy money do not mix.

Pretty sure if you can budget, you'll manage a somewhat decent life and be fine.

[WSG1]

A friend and i are the same age. He went the trade route, I went the college route. We both started around the same time in 2009.

Him(electrician):
Promoted 3 times(on his way to being a manager)
Makes over $30 an hour(started at $15)
Owns his own house
Owns 2 paid off cars along with a race car he is currently building
Goes on trips all the time(He is in Vegas right now as we speak)
He only works 4 days a week now.

Me:
Still in school
In debt
My field is over saturated so i wouldnt get a job for a long ass time.
I live with my mom.
I have a broke down car and a $800 beater i drive around with
Cant afford to travel
Cant afford to have nice things

This is the different 3 years makes. 6 months ago, I got a trade job (Automotive detailing) at a dealership, Got the job SUPER easily since i have experience. Currently make $16/hr. so i have completely abandoned college and im going to go full time for the next semester and see how its goes. I have a TON of room for growth.

Im planning on going to my community college for welding next semester because i've always wanted to do that. Might as well go to school for something i can use.


Also, Im 100% self taught in everything i do. I was a depressed ******* for 5-6 years and my only escape was going outside and screwing around on cars, practicing with electrical wiring and messing around with motors. Turned out alot better than i expected.

[Shutuponions]

Just curious does working at jobs you get from attending trade schools strenuous on your body? I mean there has to be a reason there are paid so high right?

[-JR]

What do you all think of bricklaying? Its construction related, so hard times can hit, but it's one field that looks interesting as hell to me.

[John L]

A friend and i are the same age. He went the trade route, I went the college route. We both started around the same time in 2009.

Him(electrician):
Promoted 3 times(on his way to being a manager)
Makes over $30 an hour(started at $15)
Owns his own house
Owns 2 paid off cars along with a race car he is currently building
Goes on trips all the time(He is in Vegas right now as we speak)
He only works 4 days a week now.

Me:
Still in school
In debt
My field is over saturated so i wouldnt get a job for a long ass time.
I live with my mom.
I have a broke down car and a $800 beater i drive around with
Cant afford to travel
Cant afford to have nice things

This is the different 3 years makes. 6 months ago, I got a trade job (Automotive detailing) at a dealership, Got the job SUPER easily since i have experience. Currently make $16/hr. so i have completely abandoned college and im going to go full time for the next semester and see how its goes. I have a TON of room for growth.

Im planning on going to my community college for welding next semester because i've always wanted to do that. Might as well go to school for something i can use.

See, these are the type of stories I see on the misc all the time in these type of threads and have a hard time believing. I'm not saying you're lying, but I just find it farfetched that a 22 year old electrician is living like a baller while i've known plumbing mechanics in their early-mid twenties who are your typical working class guys living paycheck to paycheck, renting an apartment/house and owning a decent car (no racecars). They have to work 6 days a week too, not 4.

[mfitty9000]

Just curious does working at jobs you get from attending trade schools strenuous on your body? I mean there has to be a reason there are paid so high right?

my jobs pretty tough but I wouldn't say strenuous. lots of work off step ladders and a bunch of crouching so long term maybe hard on the knees (worse if you are 40 and overweight).

[r4j4h]

because they think it's dated and it's also hard work, a lot of parents also push their kids to go to school.

[Shutuponions]

my jobs pretty tough but I wouldn't say strenuous. lots of work off step ladders and a bunch of crouching so long term maybe hard on the knees (worse if you are 40 and overweight).

Ah I see thanks for the input bro, have my measlies

[mfitty9000]

What do you all think of bricklaying? Its construction related, so hard times can hit, but it's one field that looks interesting as hell to me.

just get with a legit crew some of those guys work off scaffolds with 1 plank and don't even worry about falls lol. a legit company uses proper scaffolds but some of those masons are old school as **** and hate safety

[WSG1]

See, these are the type of stories I see on the misc all the time in these type of threads and have a hard time believing. I'm not saying you're lying, but I just find it farfetched that a 22 year old electrician is living like a baller while i've known plumbing mechanics in their early-mid twenties who are your typical working class guys living paycheck to paycheck, renting and owning a decent car (no racecars). They have to work 6 days a week too, not 4.

I felt the same way. I thought he was BSing so i made him show me his paycheck stub. Now he isn't balling so to speak, He is really good at saving his money. He pays for his cars in cash, everything in cash. The house he just bought isn't a big fancy house, Its a 3 bed, 2 bath in an average neighborhood. Still though, The guy is just starting, Only been at it for 4 years this November, Most people are still in school waiting to get hired at a job to make decent money at this point and this guy already is a home owner before the 4 year mark. In 5-10 years, He is going to be rolling around in money. This is why i completely changed my direction.

[mfitty9000]

See, these are the type of stories I see on the misc all the time in these type of threads and have a hard time believing. I'm not saying you're lying, but I just find it farfetched that a 22 year old electrician is living like a baller while i've known plumbing mechanics in their early-mid twenties who are your typical working class guys living paycheck to paycheck, renting an apartment/house and owning a decent car (no racecars). They have to work 6 days a week too, not 4.

depends on local economy but I work first hand with some very well off 22-25 year olds in all the building trades. money management is huge. here in Alberta journeymen wages are damn near 40/hr (like 38 and most give 10% vacation pay, rsp contributions and bennies).

some piss it away but when you have to work 5-6 days a week at 6am it's hard to piss too much on partying. trucks and accessories are the norm, or sports cars and bikes, but some drive 15 year old civics and out down payments on a house at a young age

other provinces and states pay wayyyyy less for the same work.

I know NYC union trades make a ton but they are back logged for years with applicants. it's probably overcrowded state with a poor economy so supply and demand basically

[ClaudeGiroux]

trades are okay but you just need to hustle. you can make $100K a year if you get yourself enough work

friends dad does nothing but odd jobs. Remodeling bathrooms and sh*t. It is insane. Work a ton of hours every day. Drive a F150, spend a ton on gas. but you make bank.

[John L]

I felt the same way. I thought he was BSing so i made him show me his paycheck stub. Now he isn't balling so to speak, He is really good at saving his money. He pays for his cars in cash, everything in cash. The house he just bought isn't a big fancy house, Its a 3 bed, 2 bath in an average neighborhood. Still though, The guy is just starting, Only been at it for 4 years this November, Most people are still in school waiting to get hired at a job to make decent money at this point and this guy already is a home owner before the 4 year mark. In 5-10 years, He is going to be rolling around in money. This is why i completely changed my direction.

Is he a single guy? Even if the house isn't a mansion he's still got a mortgage, and he is able to pay it off while at the same time paying off 2 cars, going on lots of vacations and working 4 days a week? I don't see how it's possible making $30 an hour.

[0rbit]

My dad has worked in the trades for about 30 years now. He knows from experience what bull****, soulcrushing work it is, and what a dead end job it is. Most of the people in trades are alcoholics, drug users, narcissistic, insecure and hot-headed, always looking to fight, and there's also lots of butthurt manlets as well, and finally you're mostly going to be hanging out with mouth breathers on the left side of the IQ bell-curve (i.e. a description of most of the misc), so if that's the kind of co-workers and friends you want to have, then by all means enter the trades.

This is actually a legit and almost spot on description of many people in the construction trades.

Many of the 30+ plumbers/electricians/welders/etc. enjoy talking a lot of crap to the younger guys and will make you their btch if you let them just a warning to miscers, make sure you aren't a btch. (srs)

[WSG1]

Is he a single guy? Even if the house isn't a mansion he's still got a mortgage, and he is able to pay it off while at the same time paying off 2 cars, going on lots of vacations and working 4 days a week? I don't see how it's possible making $30 an hour.

Yeah, He is single. The 2 cars are already paid off, He paid them off before he bought the house. He goes on maybe 3-4 vacations a year. Which could be alot, IDK. His work days are long as **** though. He works on average 12-13 hours a day so it kind of makes up for the days off. He does spend most of his day driving around in a van though.

[Lloyd Braun]

People aren't learning more trades because most of these professions you get dirty as f*k, have to work in hot weather and or otherwise use your body and not your head.

Make $60K in a nice air-conditioned office and wear business casual or make $60K working twice as hard in 90F heat having to scrub the dirt out from underneath your fingernails.

Hmmmm tough decision.

<---glad I didn't go into the trades and went to college.

I'll leave the guys who fix my toilet to the guy who doesn't have a degree lol.

[WSG1]

This is actually a legit and almost spot on description of many people in the construction trades.

Many of the 30+ plumbers/electricians/welders/etc. enjoy talking a lot of crap to the younger guys and will make you their btch if you let them just a warning to miscers, make sure you aren't a btch. (srs)

Construction is the worst trade job out there. Everyone i know who is in construction HATE their life and the people they work with.

The best way to use your trade knowledge is working through companies. The same way the degree guys work. My company does strict drug testing in our building. There is no ex cons or crazy as people working with me( I work at a massive dealership). Hell, During my background check, They didnt want to hire me because MY FATHER(we have the same name) got arrested at a CASINO for public intoxication, After clearing it up, I was good to go.

So yeah, Working through legit companies is the way to go.

[sodiumbro]

both my parents went to trade school (chef and hairdresser) both worked their way up to 6 figure cus they weren't beta *******s

[Freek314]

Gonna be graduating with an associates in Electrical/Instrumentation Tech this May. Learning everything from PLC programming and motor controls to the NEC and wiring up a house/business.

[WSG1]

People aren't learning more trades because most of these professions you get dirty as f*k, have to work in hot weather and or otherwise use your body and not your head.

Make $60K in a nice air-conditioned office and wear business casual or make $60K working twice as hard in 90F heat having to scrub the dirt out from underneath your fingernails.

Hmmmm tough decision.

<---glad I didn't go into the trades and went to college.

I'll leave the guys who fix my toilet to the guy who doesn't have a degree lol.

Funny you say that, I spend 90% of my time in an AC/heated building polishing cars, Making good money. You have a very stereotypical view on trade work, But hey, If typing words into a computer 10 hours a day while listening to a bunch of gossip from your co workers in the cube next to you for the next 40 years makes you happy, then go right ahead. You might enjoy those Sunday night pedicures on your nails aswell with all that key pushing youll be doing.

[Parkerscott]

A few questions regarding welding:

-Do you enjoy the classes so far, and do you see yourself enjoying it once you actually start doing it?
-How old are you, and where are you located/trying to find work?

To answer your questions.

I enjoy the classes so far. The only real downside to them is that they are not really pushing us in a direction to find a job or anything. Im sure in a different school this would be different. I went through a period where I wanted to give up because I took a class where I didnt have the pre requisites, and thought I was going to fail. Its alright though. The first week the teacher actually had to tell me to go home because I was in my booth all day. Its slowing down a little bit though but that is probably because I dont have a big motivating factor such as money. To answer the main question though, im pretty sure I will enjoy it once im actually doing it. I have heard welding gives you plenty of opportunities. You can work in a ditch, ontop of the ocean on a cruise ship or even under the ocean. The pay can be great, and lots of opportunities for overtime. You can travel alot or even work 6 months out of the year if you feel like it.

Tig welding is great, its supposed to be the hardest welding, but If you have it you have it, and it offers the best pay other than submersed welding.

I also just turned 20, and live in Texas.

There are supposed to be alot of places welding can take you, and you dont have to strictly just weld. Some welders are also machinists or pipefitters. Some are fabricators etc etc etc.