Trades Career advice

bigpoppa

bigpoppa

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I've always wanted to get into trades, but until recently had no idea how
to do it, and

After doing some research, I've narrowed it down to plumbing or hvac
I cant seem to be able to decide between the 2, perhaps some here in the
trades can clarify for me?


Which is harder to get into?
Which is there less competition/saturation in?



My understanding is both seem to be pay fairly well and are good choices
for a young man to make a career and a good living out of.


I will also be trying to get some sort of entry level helper/laborer role
to get started, so if anyone works in these trades(or knows
someone who does) and they need a hard working
guy willing to learn and doesnt mind getting dirty, let me know.

I have a car and am willing to travel(live in the brampton area)
pay doesnt matter as I am just getting started, I just dont
want to work in warehouses picking up boxes forever, and need
someone to give me a chance

Thanks!
 
I'd go HVAC if I were you, more opportunity to advance your education and thus your dollar value as your experience grows.
The fastest way to get hired if you are unskilled is to go and get your g3 gas technician ticket. It is basically a "learner's permit", and allows you to work alongside of a fully licensed tech to learn. If you get hired as an unskilled laborer it can be hard to advance, especially in a small company.
The other way is to convince a company to hire you as an apprentice sheet metal worker.
Just remember that most entry level positions in the trades don't pay very well but if you learn fast and work hard most will recognize the effort with better pay fairly quickly.
When I was self employed (HVAC for 20 years) I could almost always see how a new guy was gonna work out in the first week. Pro tip: always be useful, always pay attention, have the next tool or material ready when needed before you are asked and above all, stay off your phone on the job site.
If you ever wind up on employment assistance they will pay for you to go to school, one of my employees got his g3 and then g2 gas tech license this way.
One more thought. If you don't have a car license, get one asap. Nothing worse than having a great worker who needs a ride everywhere and can't drive to a suppliers etc.
Edit. The company I am with currently has a full hvac division, from installs to service, oil, propane and natural gas. If you had your g3 I can easily get you a job but we are in Barrie. I don't do that often, but after meeting you last year I believe that I know who you are. You're a young, honest guy who truly seems to want to get ahead in life, willing to take a chance and work hard to get there. I can get behind that.
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Last edited:
Really great advice above. Best of luck to your future.
 
contact Reliance...the guy who fixed my furnace said they take apprentices all the time and train them right from the start...company van, benefits, pension etc...
 
I would go hvac as well. Its quite easy for most people or a handyman to do plumbing. Hvac pretty much requires a ticket so there will always be work.
 
Heavy equipment operator (y) learning how to make machinery do all the work.
 
Iceman said:
I'd go HVAC if I were you, more opportunity to advance your education and thus your dollar value as your experience grows.
The fastest way to get hired if you are unskilled is to go and get your g3 gas technician ticket. It is basically a "learner's permit", and allows you to work alongside of a fully licensed tech to learn. If you get hired as an unskilled laborer it can be hard to advance, especially in a small company.
The other way is to convince a company to hire you as an apprentice sheet metal worker.
Just remember that most entry level positions in the trades don't pay very well but if you learn fast and work hard most will recognize the effort with better pay fairly quickly.
When I was self employed (HVAC for 20 years) I could almost always see how a new guy was gonna work out in the first week. Pro tip: always be useful, always pay attention, have the next tool or material ready when needed before you are asked and above all, stay off your phone on the job site.
If you ever wind up on employment assistance they will pay for you to go to school, one of my employees got his g3 and then g2 gas tech license this way.
One more thought. If you don't have a car license, get one asap. Nothing worse than having a great worker who needs a ride everywhere and can't drive to a suppliers etc.
Edit. The company I am with currently has a full hvac division, from installs to service, oil, propane and natural gas. If you had your g3 I can easily get you a job but we are in Barrie. I don't do that often, but after meeting you last year I believe that I know who you are. You're a young, honest guy who truly seems to want to get ahead in life, willing to take a chance and work hard to get there. I can get behind that.
Sent from my SM-A530W using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Thanks man, I'll be looking to take a course to get my g3, once done, i'll let you know
 
TK4 said:
2 rules for being a plumber - payday's Friday and NEVER lick your fingers !
Click to expand...

How the time have changed...
In the '70s the rules were: "**** don't run up hill, and you get paid Thursday"

... and another thing I learned, WAY BACK WHEN, is there is A LOT of money in toilets.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: TK4
TK4 said:
2 rules for being a plumber - payday's Friday and NEVER lick your fingers !
Click to expand...

It's 3 rules.
- water flows down
- **** stinks
- Friday is a half day
 
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Locomotive engineer (y) they work year round.
 
Train engineer doesn't get to drive em at 70 plus grand a year until they learned to work on it and everything about it.
 
CNC programmer/operator. Tool & die shop. Need to be good at math.
Small shops learn fast and move up quickly, always different work, lower end of the pay scale.
Union (big) shops pay well but same work for maybe 3 months. I know a guy I was at school with was still sweeping floors after his 1st year. About 200 employees so not much chance to work up the ladder.
 
Electrician is a good trade to learn, most people are terrified of electricity. You might bump your head on a sewer pipe but at least you won't need to take the cap off :|

I know a guy who was doing pretty good at just doing on-site oil changes on farm tractors and lawn mowers and pretty much anything, he's not around any more but the work is still out there.
 
Trials said:
Train engineer doesn't get to drive em at 70 plus grand a year until they learned to work on it and everything about it.
Click to expand...

yup
that wasn't a dig on you Trials

HE Op is an occupation that is attractive to lazy people
they end up 300 lbs by age 30 and are basically not good for much else after a few years
never make much money unless they leave home and go mining
 
JavaFan said:
HE Op is an occupation that is attractive to lazy people
they end up 300 lbs by age 30 and are basically not good for much else after a few years
never make much money unless they leave home and go mining
Click to expand...
My friend clears 65k from March to November then goes on E.I.

:unsure:
 
Kid aacross the street went HVAC for 6 yrs, got his refridgeration and gas tickets and just went to a refer company that does grocery chain coolers. He says it silly money because every store with perishables just needs the coolers back up and running.

I miss the trades because I really liked the satifaction of working with my hands, but I dont miss the dirty hands.
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