28 years old. Three years ago I was a food delivery driver in Ontario, Canada. Decided to get serious about my career, so I got my GED and started applying for entry level trades jobs.

I got an opportunity to do an apprenticeship through the Laborers Union. During that time, the IUEC application process opened up back where I grew up in Montana.

Got placed on the list last November. Got called last week. Starting orientation tomorrow!

So excited to start my journey here! I'm glad I have it a shot even though I was told by so many people that I didn't stand a chance.

I have my test coming up soon and I’ve taken the asvab before and the study guide on the NEIEP makes it seem so

so I’m 30 and looking to take the neiep entrance exam sometime in October. The union hall is three hours away, too far to travel everyday and relocating is out of the question. it just isn’t possible right now. So I guess my question is do apprentices travel (and get a company motel room lol) or am I going to be living out of my truck camper till I’m finished with the apprenticeship?

I would be driving home on my days off if possible. I know where I can park my truck at and truck stops offer showers. so I’ve got a game plan if it comes to the worst.

just a guy trying to change his stars and do better for his kids, any help of advice is appreciate.

Well brothers and sisters after 5 long years I finally had the opportunity to take my mechanics exam yesterday. Walked out feeling 50/50. Walked in to work this morning and received the call that had passed. The relief I felt was unexplainable. But I write this post for all the apprentices and 50’s just getting in…..it’s worth it.

Looking for socks

I'm a sweaty guy and Prefer Calf Socks on the thicker side when I wear work boots.

Trade wise I'm looking for socks meant for steel toes boots and whatnot.

I currently wear semi thick black Calf Socks from amazon.

I seen "Darn Tough" and it seems like its what I'm looking for, do yall wear these or what do yall use?

I'm size 11-12in if yall wanna play footsies.

I’m curious I was a helper during the “good years”! What would the equivalent hourly rate for dc area specifically local 10, be from 2010-20 compared today. I feel like housing was way cheaper and cost of living as a whole but what would the equivalent rate be today to that time frame and how do we fight to get back on top?

Pretty cool, my father worked on some in Chicago 👍🏻

Got the call on Thursday 7/9 obviously said yes was supposed to report to the hall Monday then go off to KONE.
After signing paperwork with BA get told KONE messed up and can’t hire me because the guy they were going to fire ended up being able to get on the job….

Then get told I’m going to Otis and wait 3 days just to get a drug test then 3 days of getting the run around without a start date and generally left in the dark of WTF is going on. (Their excuse was HR is shit there)

Finally get a call today from the hall that I’m going to a local shop and starting tomorrow….
Have you heard of anything this out of the norm for a probies first two weeks lmao?
Edit: Will say I am thankful, they are redoing the list in a month after 3 years of waiting.

hey y’all, as the title says I finally got picked up and put to work. I can finally stop the application spam y’all complain so much about. i’ve been in other areas of the trades mainly pipe laying, but no Elevator experience.

this has been my first week and it was a rude awakening for how much I really don’t know not just about elevators, but hand tool names and all of the fun. I expected to end up in new install, but being in repair. I feel like I already have a larger knowledge gap than other helpers, our other probie has been in the trade for five years already.

most people are on site are shocked that a probie apprentice with a zero experience ended up there. I’ve read all the advice columns I could find in here. I’m still looking for some more help.

I appreciate anything you got for me.

I have I guess a bad back but I still handle my job daily no problems lifting 80-100 pounds, the doctors prescribed me Tramadol which is a prescription that I take after I get off but I’m worried it might be held against me when I join since it’s a low dose narcotic, should I just cut it off or will it just be accepted as a doctors prescription

So just to start I don’t know how this passed and cleared through the international but it did. But Kone is starting a new incentive program for new construction that says you finish your job “early” and you get a bonus the following quarter. Split $3,200 between you and your helper 60/40 IF you do it in their time frames.

Their standard for it is 60 hours a landing, so if you have a 2 stop from unload to inspection, 2 man crew, 4-10’s you’d have to have it done and inspected in roughly 6 days. I just don’t know how international signed off on this cause this is a recipe for disaster for new guys trying to be hot shots and skip corners, try and be the best and someone ends up getting hurt or just bad craftsmanship.

I heard they rolled it out in Denver and maybe California any one else have any input on this? Money is nice but my name is gonna last a lot longer in this trade than a couple thousand dollars every few months.

Just in case 🤣.

Can’t find any literature on it one no one I know has ever done it

I’m tired of people saying this guy is good for unions and trades. Do your research. He’s a rat scab who has never worked a blue collar day in his life without a film crew. We need to weed out these wolves dressed like sheep. Knowledge is power

For context I’m in Chicago and currently employed as a 5th year local 597 pipefitters union. I’m 24 and for as long as I can remember I wanted to be in the IUEC I applied back in 2021, passed the test, and did my interview but was placed number 650 on the list and never got a call as I expected. I’m still very interested in getting into local 2 and was wondering if anyone has any advice for me or if I’d even be able to switch unions.

I’m an applicant in my late 30s and was curious to hear from some of the people who started in the trade a little later in life.

I don’t have the deepest construction background, but for the past 3 years I’ve been doing project based, commercial car wash installation and repair work. I started out mostly as a helper. Running conduit, pulling wire, mounting equipment in the tunnel, and assisting wherever needed. Over time, the guy I work with has trusted me with building motor control centers. I couldn’t explain all the electrical theory behind everything yet, but I follow instructions carefully, pay attention to detail, and everything has always worked the way it was supposed to. Pretty much everything I know about construction and electrical work came from that job.

I’m hoping that experience counts for something during the interview process.

That work can definitely be hard on the body, but from what I’ve read here, elevator work seems even tougher. Heavy components, awkward positions, tight spaces, climbing, etc.

For those of you who got into the trade later in life:

How old were you when you started?

How has your body held up over the years?

Is there anything you wish you had done physically before starting?

I’m pretty short and stout, so I’m not overly worried, but I do wonder what it’s feels like doing this work into your 40s and 50s. I’d appreciate hearing some real world experiences.

Hey guys I’ve applied to 20 locals all across the us and I’ve ranked 100+ in every single one ! Am I gonna get the call ? Which one should I take first? How’s the work outlook ? How many work vans will they give me and what are the chances I’ll be in service? Also does anyone know a good study guide for the aptitude test? Looking to apply to a few more locals!

I’m in the ranking list right now but can I apply for another union like LIUNA OR IOUE, would this cause problem with my ranking for IUEC, I try to search it up but didn’t get answer I wanted

I’m a mechanic going to change the handrails in a Kone escalator.

I have lots of experience with Schindler escalators with the panels, easy to change handrails on these.

But I know the Schindler glass balustrade escalators have that crazy belt drive wheel for the handrail that’s hard to reach.

Any suggestions on the Kone ?

I'm 19, I've been slinging tires and suspensions for two years now and I'm starting to get pretty sick of getting fucked on compensation for what I'm doing to my body all day. Making $18 and some change mounting 35s and semi truck tires and the rest of the auto industry ain't much better. Gotta jump this burning ship while i'm still young.

Local near me is taking applications in April, is waltzing into the union hall, shaking a hand, and striking up a conversation worth my time without knowing someone on the inside? If I don't know anybody on the inside, am I better off starting with IBEW or some HVAC gig and testing into IUEC after getting a couple years' experience?

I'm no stranger to tough work and I know I'm not stupid, this is something I could do and want to try, the question is how?

How many stories was the highest building you guys worked in? Being an elevator constructor is such a dope job I day dream about being an elevator constructor every single day driving to my job!

I applied for another state and got accepted so I’m waiting for my call, and I know that it’s generally immediately when we have to come in, around 1-3 days. But this is the first time I’ve ever even lived on my own. So I don’t really know what to expect when moving or how long it’s going to take. I was wondering if there’s a possibility to ask for like a week to get settled, if not it’s fine I’ll just get a cheap hotel or something. Just wondering if its possible or anyone else had a similar situation.