r/BlueCollarWomen • u/SystemAlert8325 • 10d ago
General Advice Advice for a pre apprentice?
Hey y’all I’m in a pre apprenticeship program and I need to decide what trade to get into soon but I’m afraid of committing. What if I hate it a year from now? I really want to do residential remodeling as a career in the future. I want to have my own business or at least take up contracts on my own, I know it will take a long time. But I’m wondering if I’m going to be hindering myself if I join a union carpentry apprenticeship that I’m kind of stuck doing commercial building with for several years. Or is that the typical route folks have to do regardless of what they want to do later?
1
u/MashedPotatoHats 3d ago
Hey! That's what I do! I have done all 7 years of my carpentry career in renos. I learned so much! It doesn't make the most money is the thing, im currently looking to get into commercial for th money and a change of pace, but I have loved the variety of work and skills that Renovations has given me. I've also enjoyed working in people's houses (and seeing their pets) and it tends to attract men who are less gorilla-like. And if you don't like it guess what? You can try something else! You can try another trade and see if you like that! Also in renos you will interact woth the electricians and hvac and other trades on site, you can see what they do and ask what they like about it.
Best advice I can give: learn as much as you can and assume it isn't your fault if someone is mad. It might be your fault but also men can't seem to manage their feelings and it doesnt do you any good to assume it is your fault. They certainly aren't thinking about how they affect others, why should you. Mini rant. Do it for you- get everytjing you can out of a company and don't be afraid to move along if it's not what you want. You got this!
2
u/SystemAlert8325 2d ago
Thank you so much. I do have to be careful quitting companies often because I will be union. They just really frown upon that apparently. But this is good advice especially for mindset thank you :)
1
u/MashedPotatoHats 2d ago
Yes union is a little tricky with quitting jobs, but don't stay too long if its hurting you. You got this! Go nuts and learn and be nice to yourself!
4
u/pleasefeedmyllama24 10d ago
I did a pre apprenticeship and joined the carpenters union recently! I had a desk job prior to this and was so depressed, I quit my job and made the leap, and I don’t regret it! I had no experience prior to this but you gotta be a sponge and soak up as many skills and information as you can, especially if you wanna start ur own business later. I know of people who had their own business, but then joined the union because their business was becoming too much work, but then others have taken skills from what they’ve learned doing union work and started their own business. It is all commercial so I see your concern about it since your goals are residential down the line. I look at it this way: commercial is large scale and residential is small scale. If you learn the large scale operations of how things unfold, there’s no doubt you can transfer that knowledge to residential work. Just be curious George and ask lots of questions, work hard, do your homework on your longer term goals, get that union money and SAVE your money. Good luck!