How did you learn your trade?

[jives]

Hi all:
My son has decided college is not for him, and I've got no problem with that. He wants to do things with his hands. . . carpentry, furniture making, welding, and so forth. My question is, how did you folks get started in the skilled trades and how did you hone your craft? High school shop class? Laborer job and worked your way up? Local apprenticeship training through the union? Family business? Trade school?

Thanks in advance for your story.

 

[Scott r c]

I went to trade school my junior and senior year in high school for a half day every day. It was free for high school kids.

 

[wagzilla]

B.M.X. when I was a kid, I learned to fix and maintain bikes, later worked on motor bikes then cars and trucks and then I got paid!! so lots of hard knock school! I started at the bottom and worked my way up.

 

[packofqtips]

i feel like i was always mechanically inclined, Went to a tech high school for automotive, got a job at a dealership and worked there for a few years

 

[sberry]

Got in the wrong line at the unemployment office.

 

[Will McRay]

United States Marine Corps. Went in as "mechanical option" since I scored higher in mechanical stuff. Was told I was going to be a mechanic on Amphibious Assault Vehicles. Was taught AC and DC electrical, hydraulic, Suspension (tracked), Hull Repair, weapons systems and power plant. Did engine and transmission overhauls and dynaometer testing and all maintenance associated with the vehicle. Went to engine schools for Cummins, Detroit, Cat and Evenrude and Johnson outboards. Eventually became an Instructor teaching the advanced course for our MOS for three years.

Going into the Corps was the best decision I have ever made in my life. Hope he finds his passion!

 

[Zeke]

Really, you've got to hang with the people who get their hands dirty. I worked all kinds of **** jobs when I was young and watched everything around me. If I was interested, I'd ask. Most everyone likes to teach but you have to sort out what you're learning.

 

[PureLeaf]

I've a number of friends that did not go to college and learned their trade (construction, electrician, heavy equipment operator) through the Navy and have done well enough by it.

Went the college route myself, and unfortunately for those who don't, all those diplomas let me go places and do things those without cannot. I'm not any smarter than anyone I know who didn't go to college, but unfortunately those little pieces of paper open a lot doors.

 

[dgjaxun]

wanted to be a diesel mechanic so i found a shop and started on the broom

 

[Dataguy]

Started in electronics in the Navy. Did some college at night while I was on shore duty. Got my first job after the Navy as a cell site technician for Cellular One. Continued with night school and eventually got my bachelor's degree.

There are some excellent programs in the military. Can't speak for other services, but the Navy has first-class training in just about any skilled trade imaginable. Diesel? Become an Engineman. Electrical? Electrician's Mate. Heavy equipment? Join the Seabees.

Plus, fewer unpleasant people shooting at you. You might get killed, but you're not likely to get crippled, and at least you'll have had a hot meal recently.

 

[Neighbor]

Had a desire to be a pattern maker. Searched for a trade school and started with that background. Served a 5 -6 year apprenticeship.

 

[Hpozzuoli]

My dad taught auto repair at the local high school. My dad and grandfather also owned a gas station so that's where I picked up the cars.

As far as my trade goes, I always worked summers for my uncle who builds homes. Today I do kitchens/bathrooms/floors/basements etc, I will probably start doing additions and new construction soon. This means I need to hire someone which I didn't want to do. This was always a hobby and something fun to do. Same still holds true today. I love the work.

 

[slip knot]

I never dreamed I'd be where I'm at now. Certainly never planned for this vocation. I'm in a good place now but feel that I'm 10 yrs behind where I should be at this age.

If I was to offer advice to anyone starting out, it would be to go into the military if you have no clear career path ahead of you. I flopped around too long before settling into a career path and it cost me time and $$$.

 

[pi_guy]

Went the college route, met somebody in my junior year who asked me to work on race cars. Week after that was in Quebec city at a pro race. Quit college my senior year went to work in machine shops took & welding classes. Worked in machine shops during cold weather and ran race cars in warm weather. Took numerous college classes in mechanical engineering and programming. Currently a race engineer --data acquisition specialist.

 

[AndrewV]

Look through the link in my sig. To much to write.

 

[36truck]

I started in my dad's garage helping him with anything that I could. I tore apart bikes & put them back together. Started in a body shop right out of school. Then School of hard knocks after that.
Any way that you can learn a trade is a good thing.

 

[rick carpenter]

I worked two summers age 15 and 16 in my grandfather's print shop. Took printing vocational ed in high school. Went to college for a BS in printing mgt. Last 27 years of a 31 year printing career were spent on a computer in pre-press, a constant OTJ learning process.

 

[Cyberbear]

I, too, was always a hands on kind of guy, but parents pushed me towards college and so studied architecture for two years. Couldn't hack wearing a shirt and tie while hunched over a drawing board all day, too boring. Was offered a higher paying job as electrician and did that for over 12 years before becoming self employed by going full time with my part time backyard custom woodworking business, which I did for a total of 27 years before retiring at age 54. Never made a lot of money, but always paid the bills and lived free from punching a time clock. Find what you like and do it well, you'll be doing it a long time.

 

[CJM8515]

I was always mechanically inclined and good with my hands, my grandfather on my mothers side was a very handy person and I learned alot from him. My father is not the handy type but trys and often fails. In middle school they offered woodshop, I took it as much as possible and even stayed afterschool since the shop teacher offered. In high school I lived in shop classes, often cutting other classes to go to shop class. By senior year I took every woodshop and autoshop class they offered and even did a stint at the tech HS for autoshop. You know the teacher thinks your good if they let you work on their own vehicles lol. I tried to get a job doing shop work but no one will hire kids around here. For the time being I worked on my own stuff and tried my best at that.

I held a few stupid part time jobs, but met a woman who would later be my former boss's wife when i worked for a supermarket deli. They took a chance on me and I learned the towing industry as well as auto repair through them. I worked both in the shop being a helper as well as driving a tow truck. During all of this I went to school part time for a BA, you dont want to be in the automotive trades till you die (ruins the body). Now Im just working a towing job and waiting to find a job in my field.

 

[marinusdees]

I spent 9 years in college and spent my whole working life working with my hands. I was an orthodontist. Quitting college is OK for some people but the excuse about working with your hands is BS. I am retired for 17 years and can pass as an auto mechanic, welder, machinist, and jeweler, to name a few. No bragging, just fact. I f he wants to quit, he will. Not necessarily bad, but tell him to keep his zipper up for awhile. Else, life will get tough.

 

[larry_g]

Mostly dumb luck and good fortune. Started as a child with slot cars and model railroads. A lot of technical in highschool and a year of college before making the top ten in thedraft lottery, 1971. Joined the AirForce and the recruiter said that even though I aced the mechanical he wanted me to go electronics as that was also a high score. I did and it was the best place for me. The military allowed me to grow up and learn. Came out of the military knowing what I did NOT know and where to concentrate my studies. After school I landed a job at a hitech company and spent 25 years playing with multi-million dollar erector sets.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[NUTTSGT]

After getting hired for the city, I went to the Ohio Fire Academy, Basic EMT school, OJT and othe continuing ed.

As far as my mechanical skills and basic construction skills, mostly hands on and learning by myself. My first real automotive project (other than swapping out some interior pieces and tune ups) was swapping a 302 in a 4WD Ranger. I learned alot there and then progressed to the Mustang that sits in the garage.

Building skill, took Industrial Arts and Mechanical Drawing in HS, watched Bob Villa and Hometime on TV, did some reading, picked a few things from my late Uncle, helped a few friends with projects, did a kitchen for the in laws and then we bought our home. I figured I couldn't really screw it up worse than what it was.

Generally, what I have learned mostly came from doing it hands on and experience. Why ? I was (am) too cheap to pay somebody to do something that I can do myself.

 

[crewchief888]

i spent my younger years watching my dad do everything from roofing repairs, carpentry, electrical to fixing whatever POS car they had at the time.
he was a welder/heat treat dept supervisor, and taught me the basics of arc and gas welding.
in HS i took mechanical drafting, general metals, and vocational machine shop. i started my machinist apprenticship in '76 and worked in that trade until about '83.
the local economy was starting down the toilet, so we moved 1200 miles to central fl.
virtually no work for a machinist, and the pay sucked.
i went to work in a paper recycling plant loading baled paper on trucks, as well as trying to keep a couple ragged clark forklifts, and an old bobcat running.
i heard through the grapevine, the bobcat dealer was hiring, so i went and talked to the service manager.
we kinda hit it off, and had a few interests in common, 2 weeks later, i started there doing PM's and tires, and within 6 months was the field service mechanic
i've worked at several dealers since then.
all my training has been "hands on", supplimented by technical training from the dealer's OEM, at their expense.

 

[Bruce57]

I worked for an electrical controls contractor and when we finished a large installation I was offered a job at that facility in their maintenance department. I had mechanical experience from maintaining my motocross bikes and took welding at a trade school during my junior year of high school. It was a good fit and things progressed from that point. I worked my way up to Chief Engineer with a large food manufacturer. I got tired of the stress and b.s. that goes with management so I took a job as a Service Tech for a machinery manufacturer and enjoy going to work again.

 

[allenb12]

Worked as a construction labor for two summers while in high school. Joined the local uion carpenter apprentice ship. soaked in everything on a construction project. Learned welding, plumbing, electrical and of course carpentry. when not at work I was working on cars with my father in-law who was an excellent mechanic.

Had an opportunity to estimate and manage construction projects and learned all I could about that profession. Been sitting behind a desk estimating and constructing multi million dollar projects all across the United States for the last 30 years.

I was at the right place at the right time. Will not happen for everyone but if you apply yourself at what your doing you can be successful.

 

[rockwithjason]

I had a dog meat job fixing commercial laundry equipment. Then i applied for the ibew apprenticeship and was accepted. I served five years and attended the related schooling. I also read a lot and attended additional college and specialty training classes. I worked in the trade for 20 years then the economy tanked. An opening at the city for an industrial electrician came up. I took the test and passed. Then got hired. I continued to read and take classes. I took a class in power circuit breaker testing and the convinced the city to bring all of our testing in house. I designed the program and got it rolling. Then a job as a control systems tech opened up. I had accumulated enough knowledge and skill to get hired. Now i calibrate instruments and program plcs in addition to relay logic and regular wireman work.

 

[saabman]

As a counter point let me suggest that not all college course of study don't let you build things. Computer Engineering (hardware) and Software Engineering (Software) let you build things. Sure it is not a physical trade but you get many of the same rewards as there is a work product at the end.

 

[toolslut6.0]

Started out helpings friends do stuff on their trucks. Then decided the diesel ag world was for me so I worked at green ag shop in high school. Found out that it takes a long time to work up with out a little piece a paper, so I went to tech school. Now I work for CAT and love it. When I applied at cat the manager said that it was a good thing that I had my degree because they wouldn't have looked at my resume twice if It wasn't on there.

 

[Gasgt1]

Grew up in the family business.
The only job I have ever had.

 

[familytruckster]

I went to a regional skill center part time my last two years of high for drafting and CAD. I started as a CAD operator, with hard work I became an Engineer and then a Project Manger without a college education.

 

[mobilus]

...but unfortunately those little pieces of paper open a lot doors.

Another unfortunate occurrence is getting out of college with an $80K debt and a degree no one is interested in. I had a student recently who was in that exact position, and like many before him, had enlisted in the Air Force in an attempt to get some experience, any experience, to pair up with the degree. College recruiters gloss over that fact.

That said, after a year and a half at s community college, where even though I was a good student in high school, I wasn't committed to study and my grades reflected. Tired of washing UPS trucks at night, then school all day, I joined the Air Force back in 1984. After twenty years in the aircraft maintenance career field, my Master's degree was what opened the door to a teaching job in aircraft maintenance. I saw plenty of my peers not take advantage of the educational opportunities presented, and suffered from that lack of diploma when it came to job hunting.

Life presents many learning opportunities, but they are seldom taken advantage of, and I see that all the time with friends as well. Shingles peeled back in s windstorm? Have someone show you how to fix it. Friends are a valuable learning resource. When you hire a professional (plumber, etc), watch and learn. Don't ever let an opportunity to increase your skills go by. Forums such as this are awesome, but you have to "do", not just sit and read.

Finally, develop an attitude of safety consciousness,,,you have to live to learn.

 

[Will S.]

Even as a pre-teen kid, I found it easy to understand things electrical and electronic. Read everything I could get my hands on, and watched my father fix the neighborhood TV's, vacuum cleaners, furnaces... just about anything. Got my Advanced Class Ham radio license at 13, and built (called homebrew back then), all of my 2-way radio equipment and antennas.

I went to and graduated a 1 year nights and weekends trade school (Radio Electronic Television School) when I was still in 10th grade H.S. Worked for Boeing Aircraft Avionics right out of H.S., then enlisted in the Air Force 2 years later. They sent me to a 1 year school for Special Weapons (mostly electronics stuff), and after military, went back to Boeing, then later to another aviation electronics company, and finally went into the security system business on my own. 40 years of that, and doing the maintenance on our trucks, building electrical and HVAC, and learned how to weld. Now retired and playing in my own home-shop.

 

[HubbaBubba]

Life is short. Save time climbing a ladder by going to college for four years.

 

[Spinaker01]

Life is short. Save time climbing a ladder by going to college for four years.

Agreed, but make sure you take something relative to what employers are looking and willing to pay for. Trade college or technical vocational 2 year programs are a better route to a good career than many of the 4 year degree programs like political science or humanities or arts, etc,etc.

 

[Capt Chrysler]

I was a gear head as a child. I was always taking things apart. Bikes, house door locks anything I could get my hands on. Started in my uncles gas station in 1977 at age 16, at 17 also started working in a body shop. After high school I went to the local Trade college for autos. Then spent from 1983 to 2000 in a Chrysler dealership.

As for my job now. One hell of a learn curve.

Stay in school! Get the piece of paper. It will open more doors then you will ever think and also make you a **** ton more money.


Capt. Chrysler

 

[jeffmoss26]

My dad went to work for a telecommunications company when I was 12...went to work with him one day and I was hooked. Learned the whole industry from tip & ring all the way on up...led me to an interest in computers which I studied in school and now I work in the IT field.

 

[RAYJAY]

United States Marine Corps. Went in as "mechanical option" since I scored higher in mechanical stuff. Was told I was going to be a mechanic on Amphibious Assault Vehicles. Was taught AC and DC electrical, hydraulic, Suspension (tracked), Hull Repair, weapons systems and power plant. Did engine and transmission overhauls and dynaometer testing and all maintenance associated with the vehicle. Went to engine schools for Cummins, Detroit, Cat and Evenrude and Johnson outboards. Eventually became an Instructor teaching the advanced course for our MOS for three years.

Going into the Corps was the best decision I have ever made in my life. Hope he finds his passion!

Will first off thank you for your service

are you going to pull your 20 for the Corps ?

 

[RAYJAY]

Life is short. Save time climbing a ladder by going to college for four years.

not really......

know a ton of grads that are so under employed and have $$$$$ school loans,
that are kill them

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Started working in gas stations over the summer as a kid, became a tech, got ASE certified, moved into managing the stations. Left that to become a tech at a small engine/yard equipment store with the idea of taking over for the boss. It never happened, so I got a job in the parts department at a large commercial HVAC company and the went into the HVAC apprenticeship with local 475. Became a Journeyman. Injured my leg in 92, took a job as an instructor for Lincoln Tech while I healed. Learned a lot there just from repetition of the info. Went into Facilities Maintenance at a small pharmaceutical company & been in that field at various commercial companies and public schools ever since.

Tommy

 

[AnthonyJ124]

B.M.X. when I was a kid, I learned to fix and maintain bikes, later worked on motor bikes then cars and trucks and then I got paid!! so lots of hard knock school! I started at the bottom and worked my way up.

^Like this. I ended up working in bike shops for a few years during college then I started working as a warehouse/delivery driver for a construction materials company- proved my technical worth and they moved me inside doing job take-offs and estimating and doing field work doing pipe fusion. That led me into a great job bidding specialty refinery work that I'd have never been qualified for on paper (read: I didn't finish college). I've left that field, and now I'm doing field service on lab equipment, but without that first break into estimating and field work, I'd have never had the later opportunities.

My advice would be to try a vocational program if it's available or try a two year program at the community college in a field he really likes. At the same time try to find a part time gig locally in an applicable supply house or as a grunt for a construction company. Learn all you can and build a skill set.

If I had to do it all over, I'd have gotten a two year degree in an electrical engineering related discipline. Those degrees are super versatile (even just a tech or community college degree) and allow for some creativity if you work into an R&D role, or you could find any number of jobs servicing technical equipment. Great pay, plenty of freedom, and it is rewarding on many fronts.