Possible profession: Tradesman

[OysterBoy]

Anyone here a tradesman? I've been considering it as a career choice, as I hear the jobs pay fairly well. Any possible classes I shoudl take, and maybe an idea as to which take more time to master (Not saying I want the quick route, but some idea would help).

Thanks.

[Tunaman]

Well I can give you an idea of what a union carpenter(journeyman) makes around here.
52.50 + benefits
foreman add 6.00 an hour .
But remember...at these prices you could be sheetrocking elevator shafts on the 142nd floor, everyday for a year. And you have to get there...wherever it is in the state. And don't be a minute late or you go home.

[frischtr]

Whatever trade you might prefer, it would probably be in your best interests to join a union... I am a union journeyman electrician, and the union shops have much more in the way of wages and benefits to provide than what the typical open shop can offer...

Electicians, pipefitters, elevator constructors, and operating engineers generally have the highest wages and best benefits... Ironworkers do well, but the work is extremely dangerous...

Unions provide their own apprenticeship programs, so it is unlikely that you would need any sort of experience or classes ahead of time...

[OysterBoy]

I'm hyped to become an Electrician :). Honestly, school (While good, and educational) is kidna lagging me out; I wanna live already!

[Tunaman]

Electrician is a great job. Always side work to be done to. I learned that trade too. Its easy. All you have to remember is the famous TunaQuote...(touch this and you die!" So don't touch that..

[frischtr]

I'm hyped to become an Electrician :). Honestly, school (While good, and educational) is kidna lagging me out; I wanna live already!

Just how I felt... Got into it right after high school...

IBEW Local Union Directory

This will show you the local unions in your area... I see that Brantford has a Railroad Electrical Union, but you proably want an Inside Wireman classification... Give them a call, and they can direct your inquiry better than I...

P.S. HEY TUNA... how's that Emag coming?!?!

[OysterBoy]

Just how I felt... Got into it right after high school...

IBEW Local Union Directory

This will show you the local unions in your area... I see that Brantford has a Railroad Electrical Union, but you proably want an Inside Wireman classification... Give them a call, and they can direct your inquiry better than I...

Wow you guys rule. Nice to see when I actually need help, AO is here to lend a hand .

[PyRo]

Electrician is a great job. Always side work to be done to. I learned that trade too. Its easy. All you have to remember is the famous TunaQuote...(touch this and you die!" So don't touch that..

Reminds me of a guy who worked for my father (owns a construction buisness). Anyway my father is working with the guy and they are waiting for an electrition to move a circuit breaker (cannot continue work untill it's done and the guy is late). So my father leaves the room, comes back and the other guy is screwing around with a screwdriver in the box, so my father tells him to stop, and the guy goes "don't worry i'm a licensed electrition" (he was nowhere close to one) anyway a secont later he flys back a couple feet. He got shocked pretty good but was alright, melted the screwdriver a bit though.

And a friend of mine is an electrition, i'm not sure what he makes now but he said he starts at $40 if he joins the union. I believe you have to be an aprenace for five years before you can get your license. And unions are hard to get into, the electition unions around here are especially hard, you have to go to school first then their is a big application process. And they drug test so you have to stop smoking :)

I forget the death rate for electritions but for construction workers it is 11 per 100,000, 4 more than the police so the next time someone tells you a cops job is dangerous you can shove the statistics in their face. And you are going to have to work off or ladders, on high roofs, etc.

[frischtr]

And a friend of mine is an electrition, i'm not sure what he makes now but he said he starts at $40 if he joins the union. I believe you have to be an aprenace for five years before you can get your license. And unions are hard to get into, the electition unions around here are especially hard, you have to go to school first then their is a big application process. And they drug test so you have to stop smoking :)

This depends on the area... NYC is a tough union to get into, but I'm not sure about Canada... The apprenticeship is a five year program, but the pay is good throughout...

[Caffiend]

And they drug test so you have to stop smoking :)

LOL! I got a good laugh outta that one:)
Whatever trade you choice, I'd definately recommend joining the union and getting certified, it may be a pain in the arse at the beginning, but it'll definately be worth it in the long run. My friend in PA joined a union, got a 1.50/hour raise and benefits. I think one of the best jobs you could get is working for one of the housing builders. Here in Tucson new houses are springing up like weeds so there's plenty of work. Plus if you see a housing development you like you could get first dibs :) Only downside is it'd be alot of repetitive work because the houses are pretty much the same. And they work from 4:30am to 1-2ish during the summer.

[PyRo]

Those are some strange hours, I guess it gets too hot later in the day down there?

[Destructo6]

You might also consider becoming a machinist, either conventional or CNC. The pay is good and the ability to work metal is pretty cool.

[Caffiend]

Those are some strange hours, I guess it gets too hot later in the day down there?

During the summer you wanna just die in the afternoon. But it's a dry heat

[Hasty8]

Of course, getting into the unions is the trick.

Not sure where you all are situated but here in the "Big Apple" a lot of us pretty much hate the unions.

I tried for almost 4 years to get into the IBEW and even with the contacts I had I just never made the cut. NVM the fact that I can already wire a house from the ground up. In the end I decided to stay in the corporate world and went back into sales.

All in all though, "trade skills" are just as good as those jobs that require a degree and should be turned on just becuase they have the "blue collar" image associated with them.

Anyway, my $.02.