#TradesJobs #SkilledTrades #Apprenticeship #TradeUnions #NYCJobs
🛠️ Where are all these trades jobs that everyone is telling me about? 🚧
You’re not alone in wondering where all the trades jobs are and why it seems so difficult to find one. The demand for skilled tradespeople is high, but it can be challenging to know where to look for opportunities, especially in a competitive market like NYC. In this article, we’ll explore the trades that are actually hiring, how to get started without experience or connections, and what steps you can take to build tangible skills for a rewarding career in the trades.
## The Reality of Trades Hiring
It’s true that the trades are in high demand and hiring everywhere, but the reality is often more nuanced than the buzz suggests. Many trades jobs require experience or connections to get a foot in the door, and some positions may be hyper-competitive. However, there are still opportunities to be found if you know where to look and how to position yourself as a strong candidate.
### Trades in High Demand
While some trades may be more competitive or require experience, there are several in-demand trades that are actively hiring and open to entry-level candidates. Some of the trades with high job availability include:
1. Electricians
2. Plumbers
3. HVAC Technicians
4. Welders
5. Construction Workers
These trades are essential for maintaining infrastructure, building new structures, and providing crucial services to communities, making them prime candidates for hiring and apprenticeship programs.
### Finding Opportunities in NYC
In a city as bustling as New York, it can be overwhelming to find trades jobs that don’t require experience or connections. However, there are resources available to help you navigate the job market and locate opportunities in the trades. Some ways to uncover trades job openings in NYC include:
– Connecting with local trade unions and apprenticeship programs
– Researching construction companies and maintenance services
– Utilizing online job boards and networking with industry professionals
## Getting Started in the Trades
So, how can you break into the trades without experience or a family “in”? While it may seem daunting, there are steps you can take to position yourself for success in the trades, even without a background in the industry.
### Pursue Apprenticeship Programs
Many trades offer apprenticeship programs that provide on-the-job training and education for individuals looking to start a career in the field. These programs often accept candidates with little to no experience and provide a structured pathway for learning and skill development. Research apprenticeship opportunities in your desired trade and reach out to programs for application details.
### Build Tangible Skills
While a degree may not directly apply to many trades jobs, there are still tangible skills you can develop to make yourself a more competitive candidate. Consider pursuing certifications or training in areas like:
– Basic construction skills
– Electrical or plumbing fundamentals
– Occupational safety and health regulations
By building these skills, you demonstrate a proactive approach to learning and show potential employers that you are serious about pursuing a career in the trades.
## Navigating the Transition
Transitioning from a traditional office job to a trades career can be a significant change, but it can also be incredibly rewarding. As you explore opportunities in the trades and prepare to make the shift, consider the following strategies for a smooth transition:
– Network with professionals in your desired trade to gain insights and advice
– Seek informational interviews with tradespeople to learn about their experiences and career paths
– Emphasize your transferable skills from your office job, such as problem-solving, communication, and time management, as valuable assets in the trades
In conclusion, while finding trades jobs without experience or connections can be challenging, it is not an impossible feat. By focusing on in-demand trades, pursuing apprenticeship programs, and building tangible skills, you can position yourself for success in the trades even without a traditional background in the industry. The opportunities are out there, and with determination and proactive effort, you can secure a fulfilling career in the trades.
I applied to my local plumbers union in October to be an apprentice. The woman in charge of the office told me they would have a class in February and that I would hear from them a couple weeks before the class. I’m still waiting for that call…Even if I get the call, I still have to take a drug and aptitude test plus pass an interview.
My local electrician union only take 25 people, there’s over 1,000 applicants a year. Buddy of mine had to go to Wyoming to get in on a union (lineman) out there cause he was tired of being waitlisted.
https://www.jobcorps.gov/
Forget unions. Look up local companies in your trade and introduce yourself.
You have to start at minimum wage as you are being trained too while you work, and without a union, eventually it will work out if you keep at it. But most people want everything NOW, so they complain
Become a trucker bro
https://dol.ny.gov/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-announcements
Check that site every week and call some union halls that your interested in.
Laborers,roofers,insulators are easier to get into.
The better paying locals(harder to get in) like operators,electricians,plumbers,and steamfitters are tougher to get into but you’ll be living good.
I got into the ironworkers union from checking out that list, pays well but it’s tough work. Good luck
Probably depends where you live I live in a major metro and now I’m a journeyman in the main industry here.
With the trades you have to go where the work is. Find a place that has a construction boom. Its much easier to get a non union job.
You kinda missed the boat. During covid they were screaming for bodies. At this point alot of those positions may have been filled
I keep saying this, traveling wind turbine techs are getting hired at 100k a year plus living expenses paid (daily per diem). I have been a wind tech for 10 years and I’m at 240k a year, people just don’t like to travel but it’s worth it for the money if you wanna buy a house in cash or whatever you wanna do, again this is a travel job, you would be in a new state every 3-6 months, you get 2 weeks off every 8 weeks, they buy your flight home and pay you 40 hours while your on vacation.
I hate when people say “the trades” bc it’s way too vague! When ppl say this, they’re usually talking about plumbing and HVAC 🙄
Lol, move to Maine. We’re frickin desperate. The wait for a plumber up here is almost a year.Â
Good luck with housing though, there isn’t any.Â
Walk onto construction sites and ask for work. Be ready to prove what you can do. After a few if your skill is there they will likely hire you. Might even be cash pay.
Trades is a huge category. And at least where I live, ppl aren’t talking about unions
From what I’ve heard getting into a union apprenticeship in bigger cities is a lot more competitive. Are you opposed to working outside of nyc? You could look into locals outside the city. Trades aren’t the end all be all and they definitely aren’t for everybody, but joining the UA at 23 really changed the course of my life.
Local 110 union out of Norfolk va, they pay
You 30 dollar an hr while training the. 35 and hr once your training is done. No experience required
Where are people looking? We are so desperate for apprentices and helpers with above 80iq. We will hire anyone up to 55y/o to be a helper. Every helper has the opportunity to move up to apprenticeship and beyond. This is the same with every other commercial hvac company in my area too.
I’m from the HVACR, it’s the slow season for HVAC right now in the slow. So it’s got going to be harder to get a job.
But, if you try to join a commercial refrigeration company. You’re probably going to get hired quickly. They’re always hurting for bodies. Plus they have work all year long because refrigeration is 24/7 all year long.
Nyc is the most competitive. Everyone in the country wants to work there cause they pay really well.
I’m also in NYC and have been on the hunt for these elusive trade jobs! Seems just as gatekeepy as college internships.
NYC is probably not as short as other areas. And unions can do a lot of great things for workers but one of the ways they can do that is by limiting the number of people in their trade, which keeps wages high. You might want to check out what trades courses CUNY offers.
My local community college works with multiple employers, there is a school that trains you and then has a guaranteed job placement with paid relocation, another company near me regularly advertises training to be a part of their team.
You’re likely going to have to look outside your area and think outside the box. Also trades is an extremely wide term, so narrowing down what you’re looking for would be helpful.
Maybe the problem is ‘my area’. There are trades all over the place. You don’t have to stay where you are. Move to where you can get in. Once you are in, then you can move back. My buddy is a tinner. He got in because his mother worked for the union hall. Last I heard, he is at about 97,000. In St Louis, that is decent money because housing is cheaper.
Try a naval shipyard. I can’t speak for the east coast, but over here in Washington we are looking to hire a bunch in the next year, and they teach you on the clock. I’m a welder, and they teach people with zero experience how to weld. It’s a great deal, good job
My brother in law is a union electrician. The union paid for his training but he has a mandatory contract or has to back the cost of training. Contact a local union.
Switchin yard, drive a locomotive. I make 36/hr, learned on the job. NOT A CLASS ONE
People like to say this but don’t like to mention the fact there’s waiting time, sending in dozens of unanswered apps, paying money (at least where I live the unions charge you to turn in an app), as an apprentice they pay you like shit and it’s a non-livable wage. All these trades and unions are “begging” for people but act like it’s a private club and you gotta know someone to get in on their crew. I can’t say this for everywhere at least in my area it’s a pain in the ass
Airlines are hiring starting in 80k range and top out in 100k plus good benefit.