If any of you are interested in starting a career in a trade (HVAC, welding, plumbing, or pipefitting), let me know and I will get you the info.

Ok let me just give you some more details and disclose as much as I can to make sure it's something you are really interested in and are willing to basically commit the rest of your working life to because it's an actual career to retire with and they aren't interested in people who aren't committed, it's not like a part time thing.


-They accept applications through the end of June and start interviews in July.


-To apply you go down to the local union and fill out the application, you need a drivers license, high school transcripts, and a 7 year driving record (as I recall I just googled how to get that and it was $10-$15, and they mailed and emailed me a copy), I believe they also do a background check. I don't remember if the union does drug testing or if the company they placed me in did it, but I did have to do a drug test at some point.


-They will also ask you what trade you are applying for and if you are applying for "Disney" or "building trades", I am not familiar with the Disney side of things or how that works, I think you already have to work for Disney to do that but don't quote me on that, I work in building trades which is all the non Disney companies that do what we do. Please please please google and research the trades that are offered before you go there so you know what you want to do or they will roll their eyes at you. HVAC, welding, plumping, or pipe fitting. I do HVAC and I love it, I have friends that do the others and they love what they do, you can make great money doing all of them. Once you commit to one, it is not very easy to switch to another for at least the first 5 years.


-If you get accepted, the schooling is 2 days a week for 5 years, from 5p to 8p or 6p to 9p depending on certain factors, and follows (almost exactly) the Orange County public school schedule, there are a few weekend days you may have to come for events. All you pay for is the books for the program you go into, and I wanna say I paid $170, I heard the books they are using now are about $150 but don't quote me on that, those books will carry you through the entire program.


-If you get accepted, you have to keep up with union dues even if you aren't placed in a job yet which are $25 a month for as long as you are in the union, I believe there's an initiation fee as well of like $100.


-I was placed in a job about 4 months into the program, some people make it to the beginning of their 2nd year before getting placed in a job, it just depends on what's available at the time. From what I have seen, everyone is working by the 2nd year of the program but I know they can't guarantee that if no one is hiring at the time. You are still just as responsible for schoolwork and everything else even if you aren't working yet so absolutely do not quit whatever job you have until they find you a job and give you a start date, and do not slack at school because you aren't working in your trade yet, learn as much as you can so you are the most prepared when you start.


-The union offers health benefits once you have been working for 3 months wherever you get placed, health is not through the employer so nothing comes off the paycheck for health insurance which is awesome! There is also a local pension and a national pension when you retire.


-I won't sugarcoat things, what to expect from these trades, you will get dirty, you will get worn out, sometimes you'll get soaking wet in the cold, sometimes you will be stuck on a roof in the dead of summer, and it can be dangerous if you aren't careful. You don't have to be the most fit person in the world but you better be able to occasionally lift 70lb compressor or piping. If you've never worked in construction or trades, you'll sometimes deal with racist, homophobic, complete assholes, you need thick skin all though that generation is retiring/dying off so I doubt it's as bad as it used to be. All that being said, it's not always like that, but that stuff happens so be prepared for anything if you get accepted. I hate when people only tell me the good so I try to emphasize the bad so you aren't surprised.


-Depending on your trade and the company you work for, you may get a company vehicle, company phone, paid for gas and tolls, paid for tools, or maybe reimbursed for stuff. None of those are guaranteed but myself and many others have some or all of those things, it just depends on your situation.


-I don't know if I'm allowed to disclose wages or anything like that but I can tell you (with lots of overtime) I made 37k my first year, 48k my second year, and I'll probably do close to 55k my third year and I still have 2 more years of the apprenticeship program, I'm still making several dollars an hour less than someone who has finished the program and guaranteed a minimum much higher than I'm making.


-I don't want to waste your time or theirs, I'm still an apprentice so I can't shoe you into the program, you have to apply and get accepted like everyone else. I know they only accept maybe 1/3 of the people interviewed and I know usually a starting classroom of 20 will only have 5 or so by the end of the program because people either can't cut it or just realize it's not for them. I looked like a dear in headlights in my interview because I literally knew nothing about the trade, but that's why you are there, to learn. They will ask you interview questions like "why did you decided to do this" "why did you pick whatever trade" "have you ever worked with tools", stuff like that, nothing super formal, but if you are even 1 minute late for anything, at least for the first few weeks, they will make an example of you and kick you out so I suggest being early for everything.


-In any case, that's all I can think of, please let me know if you have any questions, I didn't put the contact info for the local in yet because I wanted to make sure you understand a little better what this is all about, so let me know what questions you have and if you are still interested, I will get you the address and phone number to the local and you can go down and apply.

-f_bastiat

/r/orlando Thread Parent