getting into apprenticeship for a trade

[dunl]

I'm looking for some info on this for a young guy I know.  Unfortunately, I know very little about the ins and outs of this, as I went the university path, took two degrees, and became a teacher.

I figure the best guys to ask are some of you, who could point a younger guy in the right direction with some tips on what to look for and what traps not to fall into.

Thanks in advance,
Darcy

[cLAY]

All of the bigger name brand shops seem to treat apprentices better. However you'll need to work for them for 6months-1year doing crap stuff for minimum wage before they will sign you up. Small independents are dicey and often screw guys around unless you luck out and get a good one.

Best option is to go to SAIT or NAIT and take there AST(automotive) or HET(Heavy Duty) course. You go full time for two years(summer off) and it gets all your schooling done at once plus gives you about 25% or your hours. If you work the summer between you can basically write off your first year.

The schooling is more in depth and covers WAY more things(welding, machining, metal failure analysis, letter writing, business, etc), stuff that looks good if you decide to become a service manager down the road. AST/HETs find jobs VERY easily. Most 1st year apprentices cost a company more money than they are worth, just the way it is, you screw things up till you know better. SAIT/NAIT teaches you these things so you don't have to figure it out on the companies dime.

I REALLY wish Alberta Ed did a better job of educating high school kids about trades. Seems like if you have a 70%+ average its all about what university/collage do you want to go to? And if your under 70% they want to to come back another year for upgrading. If I didn't get the first time what makes you think I'll get it the 2nd time around!  I'm not sure most guidance counselors even know about SAIT.

I wasted 3 years floating around Mount Royal and trying to upgrade thinking I wanted to be an English teacher or computer programmer. When I asked about about being a mechanic my counselor said I had marks better than that! Like being a mechanic was beneath me or something... Hmm might still have some issues there.... Better use some of that dirty oil money I'll be getting in Fort Mac for some therapy. HAHA!  NOT!

Biggest regret is not going into the program while I still lived at my parents. Instead I had to take a student loan to do it after I was married. Totally worth it though, I'll be breaking the $100K mark this year! And yes you CAN take a student loan for it. It is an EDUCATION.

[hps4evr]

X2! if the kid is young enough and lives with his parents. then yes, sait for ast or the other program. i beleive you should go do what you want to do, but if he likes cars and trucks and wants to work with them then the ast is the way to go. i went through the auto apprenticeship program in manitoba, no ast program. did take something similar to ast. but it didnt cover a lot of things the ast has. i recommend it. yes it sucks having to go back but its different when you're paying for it and when its stuff you want to learn about. i work with guys that are only 22 years old making over 30$ an hour. that alone says something. after school take a good look at whats out there. try a general shop and see if he likes to work with everything or just one product. then consider a dealership or specialty shop (trans/engine rebuilder or performance shop).\
at his age if he has the energy to put into scool then he has lots of choices.
good luck

[dunl]

He's actually looking for something in electrical or maybe gasfitting.

[FiEND]

http://www.tradesecrets.gov.ab.ca/

[jkrubi]

Do your homework before going to school. Head out and try and talk to some of the guys that are working in the field that you want to work in. School always tells you the bright and shiny things but not the gross and dirty. Ask them about the pay, hours, shifts, it all comes into play at a latter point, as well as advacement as a journey man. What can be expected!  You'd be surprised at what some will tell you about the job that you never thought about. Hell even ask if they could do it all over again what would they do.  If you get good people they will tell you the truth and make the desion based on the real world and not what is printed on some paper from sait. As well look at the age of people that are working in the field, I getting older there will be lots of demand for you when you get out. What's employment looking like, will you get a job where you want to live or do you have to move? And do you want to go?
Other things that pop to mind is if there are no old timers, why not? Hard on your body? What do you do when you get older then? Working conditions and chemicals that need to be used? Room for advancement, or you always going to be the grunt? What is the prospect for employment now and inthe future.
I went thru the apprentice program, I know what it's like. I'm an aircraft mechanic. This is what I wished I knew before I got I to this. Would I have made the same choice? Maybe who knows.

[pudge79]

Im currently going through sprinklerfitting (fire suppression systems - pipe trade) and love it. It's only 21 weeks of school (3x7 weeks) and journeyman rate in 2 years will be around the $46 per hour range if apart of union company. Our union is fairly strong with very good benefits and pension. Work was slow the last year but is definetly picking up so now would be the time to get into it. As far as tools go I have spent maybe $300 only because of lost or stolen tools. It is a Red-seal trade. The only downfall to it is the only school in Alberta is in Red Deer. Wish I would have found this about 10 years ago. If you have any other questions just let me know, be happy to help.

[TJ Sparky]

  As an electrician I went the route of a Pre-Employment course at SAIT. It is 3 months and satisfies your 1st year requirements. Most employers like it when someone has this training because they have a general knowledge of electrical and circuitry and can hit the ground running. There is a ton of work out there right now and a bunch of bigger companies are hiring for big projects: Western Electrical Management, Trotter & Morton and Canem to name a few. These companies will usually hire guys that are green  and only have a 3 month trail period. Western starts guys at $13/hr for 3 months and then once indentured they bump you t0 $18.25/hr.

  Hope this helps......PM me if you have any more questions.

[AstraX]

I'm with TJ Sparky.  The Pre-employment courses will just speed up the process.  As mentioned it will basically fill the first year requirement for the classroom in advance and will help propel the apprenticeship.

Not sure on this, but because he isn't going through and employer I don't know that he can apply for EI like normal, but he might be able to apply for a student loan of some sort instead.

Note - He could also look for project announcements and try to find out which companies got the contracts, then start applying to them.  There is a lot of job growth anticipated for Alberta in the next decade and if companies learned anything from 2004-2007, they are going to be smarter(we hope) now and probably preparing for what's coming down the pipe.

[TJ Sparky]

  They won't let you go on EI for the Pre-Emp courses like all the other years. They do offer student loans and a program called SIP ( Student Investment Program ). If he can prove that he hasn't been working for 3 months he'll qualify. I was working under the table just before taking the course and I qualitfied for full funding.

[dunl]

All good stuff guys....thanks, and keep the comments coming. 

[Evil-Jeep]

As a professional recruiter, here is my take.

1) I usually have work for welders, and pipefitters, but usually have enough resumes coming in that I don't spend much time advertising on them.
2) I rarely have needs for Millwrights or Mechanics as I see far less turnover for these trades, when I do hire for them I find that they can be harder to find than welders, or pipefitters.
3) Most places I have consulted for have ongoing needs for electricians,  and I can spend literally thousands advertising for them and not see a single resume for months.

Going in I would consider looking at the millwright, or electrician path as they seem to offer the highest demand/greatest stability. If I was going to choose welding I would make sure to do it in Alberta and go the distance to receive my B-pressure ticket. Personally I would stay away from Pipefitting as it has become more specialized, (bench fitters, sprinkler fitters, ect) I do not have a high demand for this and you can be certain there are many other fitters who have experience doing it.


my 2 cents

[Black Betty]

Have him give the company I work for a call, concept electric @ 403-287-8777.  If you wants he can speak with me first, pm me with a name and number.  If he wishes to be a sparky, get the job, get endentured, then go to school.  I just did it for a buddy of mine, he started in dec 2010 and now he is a registered electrical apprentice.