How To Easily Get Into Skilled Trades?

Based on my research, networking and unions are the best ways to get in, although cold contacting and/or non-union roles are also viable depending on the job and/or industry. I've already emailed several companies inquiring about apprenticeship, but I'm not sure if they'll even respond back, let alone be interested in hiring me. Sadly many job postings for skilled trades show that the employer wants someone with experience, but there's supposed to be a skilled trade shortage (depends obviously).

I will be contacting various trade unions, and networking with people I know as well as the college I went to. I'm getting contradicting information online, where some claim skilled trades are hard to get into while others say it's easy. They also make contradicting claims, some stating that unions are the way to go, but then others swear by non-union jobs as they view unions as evil. I don't really wanna reveal where I live, but all you guys need to know is that I'm from Canada, specifically within Ontario.

As for trades like plumber, electrician, welder, HVAC, and carpenter, some claim it's very easy, but then others claim it's hard due to competition via massive popularity. I have considered mainly non-compulsory trades where apprenticeship isn't mandatory, although I'm down for compulsory too. The specific trades I'm interested in getting into and have applied for are painter, floor installer, kitchen cabinet installer, automotive technician, cook/chef, and roofer. If anyone can clear the paradoxes, let me know.

Top | Newest First | Oldest First

Adrift · 61-69, F

Do you know anything about these trades that your looking into?
Usually you go into them kind of knowing what is involved.
You mentioned in another post that they should not be too labor intensive.
Most of the ones that involve contracting usually are.
HVAC, plumbing and electrical and roofing, carpentry, plumbing..are all tough jobs that can involve heavy lifting, hot roofs and nasty crawl spaces.
My suggestion is get a job as a helper and see if that type of work appeals to you.

uikakarotuevegeta · 26-30

@Adrift well a lot of the essential trades which are labour intensive are also heavily competitive, so i probably can't get into them anyways.

Shadyglow · F

@uikakarotuevegeta study Library Science

Its mentally intensive and in general you will love the lack of physical activity. Very important calling as well. More people can learn who they are and what they want by following your informed managerial decisions there.

Not kidding! After work you can engage in any physical activity or sport that completes your productive fulfilling life!

come2gether · 46-50, M

Or you could just go to trade school. Unless you're not in the usa. If you are, you're making this way too complicated. There are trade schools that you go to school part time to learn the skills in the classroom, and then you are on the job part time to learn the skills applied real time. And you get paid well.

uikakarotuevegeta · 26-30

@come2gether trade schools aren't really a thing in Canada (they used to be). I can go back to the community college I went to for coding, but they only offer apprenticeship programs for people that have only worked under a sponsor for a year. There are pre-apprenticeship programs offered, but since it's government funded, it'll probably take forever for me to be enrolled.

Add a comment...