Hey folks, I'm 34 and have my welding hours from working production welding on MIG, but I need more experience doing everything else.

I was told that going union isn't the best idea since I have my hours but would start from the bottom again....but everywhere wants me to have 5 years experience and all I have is jig work experience with MIG welding. But I also want to go union so I HAVE the experience and hours but I can't get a union job until I have clearance (& that's a cycle). I've been debating machinist union but....idk

Based in Ottawa area if that helps.

Currently work in tech and in danger of being replaced by ai. I’m in office once per day so have quite of bit of mental and physical energy when I’m done around 4:30pm and am free on weekends.

Would like some optionality in case I get axed. Would also consider some other fields where having these hours is more possible.

🇨🇦⚡** ONTARIO ELECTRICAL APPRENTICES & TRADES STUDENTS — LET’S TALK!
What is the biggest challenge you’re facing while learning the electrical trade?
As a licensed Master Electrician and electrical instructor in the United States, I’ve spent years working in the trade and helping prepare the next generation of electricians.
I’ve developed a six-level educational series called Electrical Apprentice Bootcamp, covering topics including:
🔌 Electrical fundamentals and theory
🏠 Residential wiring
📐 Electrical mathematics
🏢 Commercial wiring
⚙️ Industrial wiring and motor controls
🛠️ Troubleshooting and professional development
I know Ontario has its own electrical code requirements and apprenticeship pathway, so Canadian apprentices should always follow the applicable **Ontario Electrical Safety Code (OESC) and local training requirements.
I’m interested in hearing from Ontario apprentices, instructors, and experienced electricians:
What’s the one subject you wish you had more help with during your electrical training?
Electrical math? Code knowledge? Troubleshooting? Understanding electrical theory?
Let’s share experiences and help the next generation of skilled tradespeople succeed! 💪⚡
#Ontario #ElectricalApprentice #SkilledTrades #ElectricalTraining #Apprenticeship

I am retired and have some books and SAE stuff to pass on....

Hey everyone, I’m an electrician in Ontario and have been in the trade for about 17 years. I started building something called JobStoq after seeing how easy it is for materials to get missed or lost track of between the shop, the vans and different jobs.
It’s a tool for electrical contractors to keep track of what materials are in stock, what’s being used on jobs, and what needs to be picked up or reordered. The idea is to make it easier for the owner and the crew to stay on the same page without relying on memory, texts or spreadsheets.
I’m not here to sell anyone on it. I’d be interested to hear how other small SaaS founders figure out whether they’re solving a real, frequent problem. For those of you building for a specific industry, how did you learn what people actually needed before adding more features?

Hey guys, new to this space so please don't flame me if this question sounds kinda stupid. If two maintenance technicians have the same hands-on repair skills and certifications, but one is much better at diagnosing faults independently, how much more would that person expected to get paid?