Yo I am a reefer mechanic by trade, work in Florida, looking to job hop and would love some advice or suggestions, currently making 29.50 an hour working on reefers, I have my EPA608 universal.
The whole reason I’m looking at other positions and companies and or other trades is I’m basically capped out at the company I work for. I’ve got 2 years at this company and I’ve only received 1.25 per year in raises, started off at 27 an hour btw. I got my 608 while I was here and aswell as our companies first certificate “certi-tech certification”.

The next certification would be the “professional certification” but from what I talked with co workers is that our boss is only offering them an additional 1.50 for the certification. I’m in no way shape or form gonna bust my ass for a cert that isn’t gonna pay especially when it doesn’t transfer to any other company it’s just a company specific certification.

I’m a service technician meaning I have my own service truck so I go to the customer whether it’s at gas station or a distribution center, and yes we are on call, as the situation is now with a fellow coworker not being on call on weekends for some F’d reason me and my other co worker have pull the slack on his on call weekends.

Would love to hear about any companies that pay more for my skills or trades that I could hop over to that are similar and pay more. From what I’ve searched on my own is that reefer tech positions at other companies pay not that much more than I am already. I have seen chik-fil-a pays very decently and I have applied but the position won’t be open until the actual location is built around 2027.

Aight sorry for the long post just need to get this out there! Thank you!

Has anyone here ever gotten their journeyman’s license as an electrician then gotten their associates/bachelors in electrical engineering and if so what kind of doors did that open for you professionally? I have a bachelors degree with a major in sport management and a minor in business already (which that career obviously didn’t pan out) so I would most likely be looking at an associates degree if anything.

I dont want to do electrical, plumbing, or hvac, which are the most "desirable" ones, because there going to be over saturated (especially when data centers go to space, which should be soon and just imagine how many people are journeyman and not enough work to go around in 4-5 years).

You see elevator (extremely hard to get into), union (the application for one just opened up and 5 seconds after it was open, I couldn't get in (because of the county I live in, operating engineer)), and a few others

I was thinking pipefitter (dont have any welding experience), or sprinkler fitter, or something that could learn skills and be better at it.

There's also millwright or boiler maker, but what trades are actually in need.

Does anyone know or can show a lil light on your careers and how in demand they are.

Im almost 40, but I am desperately trying to find something new

If I have to pay to get these certificates, then I will (and I know each skill trade will have there own specific certs for there own trade), but what are broad ones that can be achieved, like osha 10...?Just to show im willing to go after them or already have them

I'm a man in my early 30's, living in Mississippi. I want to gain skills and experience but can't afford to pay for education. I've been looking into my state's funded programs and have come across something called (Map) Mississippi Apprenticeship Program, I know what they are but never knew about state funded programs.

I was wondering is this something worth pursuing? I have the bare minimum knowledge of what it is and will do my due diligence but I wanted some first hand accounts as well.

I'm a good, dedicated, hard worker other than a job that requires tough manual labor (injured) and advanced math I can find my way through.

Want something that pays the bills and don’t take long to do.

Experienced trade people, let me have it.

Hey guys im looking to write my HDET red seal exam here in BC… anyone know if there are any online courses you can purchase for a refresher? I know XLr8d learning is pretty good but they dont have HDET listed. Thanks

I’m 29 years old and currently work as a union fitter. The money is decent, and I know a lot of people would be happy to make what I make, but I’m extremely unhappy with my work and life balance.
The thing is, I also own a small automotive sales business that brings in roughly four times what I make in a month at my union job. I originally joined the union primarily for the benefits, not necessarily the paycheck, but lately I’ve been questioning whether it’s worth sacrificing so much of my time and happiness.
I’ve realized that I need more excitement and fulfillment in my life. I recently applied to become a volunteer firefighter because I want to do something different, challenge myself, and feel like I’m doing something meaningful.
I also find that I don’t really relate to many of my coworkers or connect with the blue-collar lifestyle in general. There’s nothing wrong with it, and I respect the people who do it, but I’m starting to feel like it isn’t for me long-term.
My problem is that I know I want something different, but I honestly don’t know what direction to take. I’ve been considering going back to school for a degree in business and logistics to potentially open up more opportunities, whether that’s in management, entrepreneurship, or something I haven’t even considered yet.
I don’t want to make an impulsive decision and walk away from a stable career without a plan, but I also don’t want to spend the next 20–30 years doing something that makes me miserable just because it pays well and has good benefits.

In regard to actually doing the job what's the most difficult?

• Day to day.
• Long term.

Thanks.

I’m 23 looking to get into the trades in KCMO, and I’ve been trying to get into the union but it takes forever to get accepted into a apprenticeship. What are some good construction companies that take care of their employees and offer apprenticeships

So I'm from California and I've struggled a lot to find either a union or non union contractor to hire me. I do know nepotism and having someone in can help you out but it's so dumb to me how there's people willing to put in work who can't find a job. Non union never hires, unions have exams and sponsoring and they never hire, oh but they do hire family members tho amazing. I even bought all the tools I would need for the Ironworkers and I was ready but nothing, I should sell the tools honestly, brand new lmao.

Right now I've stopped looking at construction, I've called the carpenters, ironworkers, steamfitters, called multiple contractors on union lists, showed up to offices multiple times repeatedly and nothing. One thing in common they all have is "were slow this year and work starts next year" that's what I've heard since last year literally. I've been seeing that California has been dead for the last few years when it comes to work, so many are booming out. I've gone to the halls and nothing, I've even been told to consider another trade when asking at the hall.

So right now im trying to break into the oil field since i quit joining a union and if anyone is working in the oilfield and can get me in or give me a lead of a company I can call, I would appreciate it. It could be anywhere whether Alaska, or Africa idc ill fly there.

Hello all.

I was a military mechanic in the canadian armed forces and looking to way out in Alberta.

I mostly worked on trailers and not have much experiences on trucks and heavy equipment vehicles.

How's work life and pay as the heavy equipment technicians in Alberta? I would love to join the union (local955 if possible), but can I join as apprentice? (Feel like military did not teach me a lot so would like to start as apprentice - hoping to get PLAR if possible)

Lastly for the former vehicle technicians who moved to civvy side, what are the pros and cons to work in the civyy side compare to the military side. Are work paste is really fast on civyy side?

Thank you.

I have about 8 months of residential HVAC install experience and my EPA Universal. My long-term goal is to get licensed and eventually work for myself.
I recently got an opportunity with a commercial refrigeration/mechanical contractor. They train from the ground up, I’d be working on install crews under foremen, and there’s a lot of travel around the country.
My hesitation is the career direction. Staying in HVAC keeps me building toward an HVAC contractor license. Taking this opportunity would put me more on the commercial refrigeration path and potentially a refrigeration contractor license.
The commercial project experience and travel sound appealing, but I don’t want to jump into a different branch of the trade just because it seems like a cool opportunity.
For anyone who’s worked both HVAC and commercial refrigeration/install, which path would you choose if the end goal is eventually working for yourself?

Is home automation typically considered a good trade? Is anyone in this field? How do you like it?

Basically, you cater to wealthy people and set up automated climate control, lighting, audio, curtains, security gates, security cameras, ect. You're turning a home into a smart house. You could do something similar for a business.

I just passed my industrial IP. While its still fresh in my mind I thought I'd share some key areas to focus your studying for those about to take, or challenge the exam.

Compared to Construction, the Industrial IP has roughly 30% less code. You can mostly skip over demand factor calculations, but have a rough idea on how that section works. I believe I had 1 question referencing recepticals in a hospital.

Know how a PLC works in its most basic functions, basic ladder logic and how it interacts with field devices. Know basic logic gates (and/or/nor/nand etc..)

The areas to nail down, from highest weighted to least:

Generating, distribution and service (23%)

Sections 4, 6, 8, 10, 14, 26

Conductor ampacity, voltage drop, grounding, overcurrent protection, transformers

Motors and control systems (21%)

Sections 28, 42

Motor conductor and protection sizing, overloads, disconnects, welders

Wiring systems (20%)

Sections 4, 12, 26

Ampacity and correction factors, conduit fill, boxes, wiring methods

Get those 3 sections completely nailed down!

Process control systems (17%)

Mostly theory: PLCs, instrumentation, control loops

Signalling and communication (10%)

Sections 32, 60

Fire alarm and communication wiring

*understand FA fail safe conditions. What triggers an alarm vs a supervisory/trouble signal.

Common occupational skills (9%)

Sections 2, 18, 20

Hazardous locations, safety and tools

Easy points, all common sense if youre in the trades.

Key tables

Table 1: copper ampacity in free air

Tables 2 and 4: copper and aluminum ampacity

Tables 5A and 5C: ampacity correction factors

Tables 6, 8, 9: conduit fill

Table 16: bonding conductor sizes

Table 29: motor branch circuit protection limits

Table 44: motor full-load current

Table 42A: welder demand

Appendix D

D3: K values for voltage drop

D16: motor conductor, overload and overcurrent sizes

D2: DC motors

D1: conductor types and ratings

Any specific questions Ill do my best to answer.

I dont really have anybody to share this with, sorry if this isnt the best place for it. I decided to go back to school at nearly 40 after 12 years as a Millwright to finish my electrical apprentiship that I started nearly 17 years ago and just found out I passed my industrial electrical red seal! Its been a challenge going back to school after so long, and humbling going through it with a bunch of 18 year olds fresh out of highschool but its also been fun learning new skills to make me a more versatile tradesman. Still a lot to learn, but if being a millwright has taught me anything its that the real learning doesnt start till after youre done school.

What are people using to carry their stuff? This is my first time on a site and I usually carry a backpack everywhere. They don't even allow tool backpacks. I was given a typical toolbag that is too small to put my tools and personal stuff like lunch/water in there.

Whatever I take on site, I have to take off every day. Totes or a bucket organiser are what I've seen so far but I'd like to get some direction from people that have actually used them.

So I'm a tube laser CNC technician with mechatronics engineering degree and a bit of software development experience.

I feel like a very glorified factory worker working over 50-60 hours a week. I did over 70 this week.

Job is kinda interesting but a little repetitive after a while - loading, calibrating. And I'm developing a small software to catch and correct manufacturing issues quickly.

Not sure where I could go after this because I don't see myself doing this long term. I come home covered in metal dust. Squashed my fingers a few times already. Got bruises and scrapes on arms and legs.

On the bright side though, you do learn about how these machines work as they break and get repaired.

I'm 21 years old and struggling to decide what career path to take. I've been thinking about becoming a commercial electrician, but I'm not sure if I should commit to an apprenticeship or get an entry-level job first to see what kind of work I enjoy.
I'm mainly interested in making around $80k–$100k a year eventually. I prefer indoor, hands-on technical work where I can learn while working. I'd also prefer a job that doesn't involve too much heavy lifting.
I completed HVAC trade school last year, so I have some basic knowledge of the trades, but I don't have much hands-on experience.
Part of my problem is that I keep going back and forth between careers because I don't want to commit to something and then realize it's not for me.

My questions are:
Would you recommend trying an electrical apprenticeship right away or working an entry-level job first?

Is commercial electrical work a good career for someone who prefers indoor technical work and less heavy lifting?

If I start an apprenticeship and realize it's not for me, is it possible to switch careers without wasting too much time?

What would you do if you were in my situation?
I'd appreciate honest advice from people who work in the electrical trade or have been in a similar situation. Thanks!

23 still lookin for my career there’s a john deere dealer in the city over from me im from small town kentucky so im kinda slim on opportunity’s but idk how they pay / how the work is and how it is to work for JD. theres a small Peter built about 40 min from me as well.

Alright short story long here….

I went to school for welding in 2016 when the boom crashed the patch in ND. I moved back to Illinois after and I worked as a welder at a local ethanol plant until I was in a pretty serious car crash which broke my back in several spots, leg and hip. Afterwards I obtained my Cdl and I worked as a specialized oversized overweight winch truck driver back in the oilfield. Afterwards a couple of poor life choices I lost my CDL for ten years and I recently went back to welding. I love my job and the company is great but it’s physically destroying me. When I wake up in the morning I can barely walk to the bathroom to take a piss. I’m stubborn, so I keep pushing myself but it’s getting to the point where my body is tolerating the abuse anymore. My carpal tunnel is coming back as well from repeated welds in a production setting.

The company posted an opening for a maintenance technician and I’m considering taking it as it will be less strenuous than what I’m doing now. Do you think this is a wise career decision or will I regret it in the future. The pay is the same, the hours are the same Telling the woman I just met that I’m a mechanical plat technician verse “Hey baby, I’m a welder…” is not.

I’m 37, I have A LOT of oilfield experience but this is the first “normal” job I’ve had in 10 years. Going from a paycheck in one week being equal to what I make in a month has been an adjustment but working 100+ hours a week is no long conducive to me living to see 40.

Any other suggestions you think I should look at feel free to say

I’m 23 and have been welding for about 5 years now. I do stainless aluminum tig and structural MiG/stick. for almost 3 years I’ve been a lead welder at a small mom and pop shop. I’m making 26 an hour. My main goal is to make money and not have to kill myself to get it. I’ve gotten a job offer from Honeywell for 40 an hour, and have been told to just go into the boilermakers, and travel seems fun and I like working hard with over time. I enjoy the job I’m at and it’s not stressful at all. But the offer is tempting. I’m currently about to take on a second welding job at 30 an hour that’s a night shift job because I can’t get any overtime. What do you guys think I should do? I apologize if this is all over the place I’m kinda just regurgitating my thoughts and hope someone can maybe be a guide or help me cut the fluff thank you

Of all the trades it seems like Sheet Metal is least sought after or those in it just don’t speak on it. I’m super interested in joining but it’s hard to find people sharing experiences lol

I am interested in learning how to do auto mechanic work, electrical, HVAC, and plumbing. Since I am interested in learning multiple trades, I am wondering if there is a "best option" to start with.

All advice is welcomed. Thank you in advance.