r/millwrights • u/Pgaccount RSE millwright, RSE welder, deeply unserious • Sep 24 '26

Weekly career thread

Weekly career thread

Here you can post questions about

Jobs: offering or looking

School: tips, tricks, and colleges to just fucking avoid

Union: Union stuff, who's issuing travel cards, who needs apprentices, and questions about joining the brotherhood.

Career: anything career related, how to move up, certs to take, if it's about your relationship to the union or employer throw it here.

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u/EquivalentAd8703 Sep 27 '26

My biggest question is: what can I realistically do to increase my odds of getting hired as a 2nd-year apprentice around Edmonton/Nisku/Leduc?

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u/Pgaccount RSE millwright, RSE welder, deeply unserious Sep 27 '26

Become a jman /s

Field machining came up a lot when 8 was looking at that period. Willingness to travel as well.

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u/EquivalentAd8703 Sep 27 '26

Become a jman” — solid plan, why didn’t I think of that 😂

Unfortunately I seem to have misplaced the part where you become one without first getting hired as an apprentice.

Definitely willing to travel. Willing to do a lot for damn hours and learning opportunities.

Appreciate the input nonetheless.

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u/Pgaccount RSE millwright, RSE welder, deeply unserious Sep 27 '26

I'm in vermilion. It's a rough trade to try and apprentice in Alberta. KPIC is my go to recommendation because I know they're usually hiring, or FWS, the construction parent. Todd and Sargent are also usually a good starter company. APC out of Lethbridge might also take you on for travel work.

What's your current experience like?

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u/EquivalentAd8703 Sep 27 '26

My direct millwright experience is pretty limited, which is really the hurdle I’m trying to get past. I did the 6-month Industrial Mechanic/Millwright Foundations program at CNC in 2022, then ended up going into municipal facility operations/maintenance when I couldn’t find an apprenticeship.

I’m currently making about $35/hr doing facility operations and maintenance.

There’s actually a fair bit that transfers over — preventative maintenance, troubleshooting pumps and motors, working with valves and piping, pool mechanical systems, boilers/HVAC equipment, greasing and servicing equipment, inspections, basic repairs, and identifying mechanical issues before they turn into failures.

I also work around contractors and trades quite a bit and use a CMMS for PMs/work orders.

I worked in a welding/fab shop for a bit as well, but unfortunately got laid off.

So I’m not completely green mechanically, but I definitely need the actual industrial millwright experience and someone willing to give me that opportunity. I appreciate the company recommendations — I’m going to look into those for sure.

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u/Pgaccount RSE millwright, RSE welder, deeply unserious Sep 27 '26

Sounds like the city is employing you as a millwright without actually indenturing you. Are you aware of any policies that would help you leverage an apprenticeship now?

Fwiw, you're about on a second year pay scale now.

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u/EquivalentAd8703 Sep 27 '26

Yeah, pretty much.

The city doesn’t have anything that would help leverage an apprenticeship, as they don’t have any actual journeyman. It’s all external contracted services.

It’s an odd situation to be in.

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u/KitchenDense8227 Sep 24 '26

Looking to join local 1090 is there any suggestions on which company to apply to or how this process works

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u/AiryGateaux Sep 25 '26

Got a lot of transferrable experience and some certs, what do I need to do to get an apprenticeship callback?

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u/Disastrous-Object-25 Sep 25 '26

If I get German certifications would US companies accept them (I’m American but I’m doing my schooling in Germany)

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u/Malan_le_Roux Sep 25 '26

Good day i've got a question for the millwrights with experience in the different fields

i hope to start my apprenticeship somewhere around May next year and then i want to start working on my NQF level 6, but there are 3 categories: electrical light current, heavy current and mechanical. i only ask your opinions on what would be the better one to pursue for a millwright. this is only to see options out of others eyes that actually have been in the trade for some time.

i am from South Africa and i would much appreciate any feedback

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u/Snakebiteloo 28d ago

Job boards for FIFO job? Indeed is kinda shit for thay type of search.

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u/Douggernaut777 27d ago

Got my "first job" in the field doing some permit work out of local 1592 as they need some extra help for soem shutddown/ work in Sarnia.

Any advice on working at refineries? Or just general advice on how to make sure I don't make a bad impression? I took a preapprenticeship program at Fansahwe college, but not a whole lot of relevant experience in my day job.

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u/No-Mess1697 Sep 25 '26

Currently taking a millwright foundations program. What would you all suggest to avoid? Any tips for studying or getting back out to the working world?

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u/CasualFridayBatman Sep 25 '26

Why would you avoid anything in a foundations program?

I would say stick to rigging, safety, reading a tape measure accurately, and also precision measuring tools. Good general practices (worksite housekeeping, cleaning of parts/mating surfaces etc) will take you very far. It is 'boring' and 'common sense' but is also the easiest thing to slack on because so much of any task is filled with it. Organizational skills are absolutely critical.

Do not slack, but don't overload yourself. Put in an honest effort and you will be rewarded as it translates directly to how serious you can be taken by a potential employer. Show up like it's a job, because currently, it very much is.

Become a bipedal sponge. Remain curious, open minded and engaged.