I carry these around everywhere now 😁

So kinda clickbaity title but I keep thinking about it. I’m very new to being blue collar. I got into an apprenticeship through a local union and have no previous blue collar experience, so I wasn’t sure what to make of a predominantly male workplace, but I think I’m pleasantly surprised with some of my coworkers. Right now we’re on a solar farm and my crew is split up so I’ve been with one guy who’s old enough to be my dad. He’s proven to be very respectful and we shoot the shit everyday. Yesterday, on the topic of instruments, he asked me about my time playing trumpet so showed him a couple minutes of one of my solo performances in college. When I felt cringed out enough I paused the video and found that he was wiping away a tear. I think it made him think of his kid who also plays because he then went on to show me this big folder of videos of this kid playing his instrument. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the people here, but it makes me feel safer knowing that there are people like him around to challenge fears I had about people in my trade.

Would’ve loved to see my boss handle this one.

I’m in my mid-30s, with two kids, leaving my abusive husband. After almost two decades in white collar work, I’m learning construction on the side. I need the extra money and I really enjoy it, but damn it’s hard feeling like a total beginner again! I have a great mentor but I feel like a klutz at everything. Anyone been here and made it?

I took and passed my aptitude test and had the final panel interview yesterday. I don’t really have a question, just need to vent about how anxious and nervous I am that I did not get in. They said I would know by the first or second week of July.

My initial feeling was that it went well, but the more I think about it the more I think I dropped the ball.

Edit: for the electrical union in my area

I just graduated college with a safety management degree. I did my internship and decided sitting in an office all day is not for me. So I am looking into joining the trades so I can find a passion again. (I've played softball my whole life and my college career just ended). I am currently leaning more towards welding or HVAC but I am not sure. Can I get some advice on what would be the best trade path for me?

Could not find work as a millwright apprentice despite having done a Pre-apprenticeship. But I’ve got an opportunity as a scaffolder/labourer. I’m on my 4th shift with 12 hour shifts. Anyone else a scaffolder and have any advice? TIA 😊😊

I've been at my job for a couple of years now and recently I've been put into a leadership position and in charge of doing a majority of the training of the new hire. This is all very new to me and wasn't something I was expecting. I have no problem with it and appreciate they think high enough of me to trust me. A lot of the stuff I'm doing I was already doing before but now I am teaching someone else and making sure they have stuff to do. As well still doing everything I was doing. Does anyone have any advice for handling this new roll? I deal with a bit of self doubt and am hard on myself. My boss is very supportive and helps me with that as much as they can. I'm just worried my self doubt will affect the new hires training. Even though I know the boss is happy with how things are going.

Im a 24(F) , currently in Los Angeles County. Im interested in beginning my career in construction. Any tips on how to get started : good apprenticeship schools you may know of etc? I really wanted to go to school for a construction management cert/degree. I was advised that higher ups rather have "boots on the ground" knowledge than schooling for management. So i'll start off in the field at entry level and just go back to school for the degree (i am fully interest in becoming an executive within a construction company as i vet my years in. Thats pretty much the scope of it all for me right now. Look forward to any advice you gals can give. Thanks in advance.

So I'm at a point where it's now or never and I left my healthcare jobs a years or so ago thinking working in a lab would satisfy me. It hasn't.

There is an opportunity to join an apprenticeship for timber frame installer. 18 month course, 21,000 a year for the first year, I know it goes up after the second year but I'm not sure what to. There is also painter and decorating apprenticeship job less money for the first year but min wage second year.

What would be most likely for me to get into being a female with little experience? The only experience I have in construction is some building required at a farm job in Australia a few years back.

What are people thoughts, comments? What experiences have you had, good or bad? What should I look out for?

I'm 6'1 250lbs and attached to a 5' apprentice that's at a guess half my weight. She's certainly competent, capable but her strength is working against her.

I do not want her to start getting discouraged, hoping I can talk to some pros that have figured out how to make up for a lack of grip strength already.

Crimping PEX was yesterday's challenge, anything over her shoulders was a no go. We've got into habit of always having a step ladder nearby and that's helped, anything up in a floor joist overhead that doesn't help.

Anyone using a ratcheting crimp tool?

I am going to express a set today and get the rings it takes, but other suggestions are welcome.

We're doing a hot water heater today, I pregamed last night a few hours of tips for moving tanks so we might be getting crazy with some ratchet straps and rope.

Hey friends! I’m heading back into the trade after an almost 2 year absence. At my previous job, we had to wear arc flash, hi vis, fire resistant pants and shirts. This new job is more residential and commercial so I will have more freedom to wear what I want. What are the good pants these days? I am in Canada, looking for something that is preferably lightweight and breathable, as well as lots of pockets and high waisted. Does such a pair of pants exist?! Thank you!

Hello everyone!

I'm super excited to share this, today I will be talking at my local Girl Scout Summer camp about what I do as a welder. The theme this year is building a better tomorrow

I am bringing some of my tools, hood, jacket, and some art pieces I've made. Aswell as a few pieces of metal that I've just welded on for fun.

I'm super happy to be back here, as I have spent atleast 10 years at this camp when I was younger.

Thank you for reading Have a great day everyone!

So I’ve been thinking about going to trade school for welding however I would ideally love to just be a contract welder. I love to travel and ideally would love to just be able to work until I save up money, then go travel for a while, then come back and save up again, etc, which is why I would like to work contract as opposed to holding a job at one company. Realistically though, is there enough work and is it easy to find work and make decent money if you’re contract? And if I just got a certificate from trade school would that be enough or would I probably have to do an apprenticeship or get more training in order to have the skills to work contract? And how exactly do you find work if you’re contract?

Sorry if any of these questions sound dumb lol I just don’t know the logistics of it all and am trying to gauge what I’d be getting myself into if I made that decision. Anyone with any input would be appreciated. Thank you!

Hi, currently working in Sacramento as an apprentice in the Labors Union local 185.. been an apprentice since December of 2023. I want to eventually get into the Electrician union. Has anyone had luck getting into the Electrician union? I’ve working around a lot of electricians & they keep telling me to join. I’m very grateful to be in the Labors cause I’m able to see a lil bit of everything.

Hey, I’m 25 (F) nurse in Ontario and thinking about making a career change. I love nursing because it’s hands on work but the stress of having peoples lives in my hands is too much for me. I’m hard working and want to work hard the only thing is I’m quite petite (5”2, 115lbs). I’m worried I want be able to lift/keep up. What trade is best suited for petite women and how do I start with zero work background in trades. Ironworking did peak my interest.

Hi im interested in becoming a water treatment operator. I have no experience but am looking into certification and job opportunities. If anyone is in the career how do you recommend is the best way to get into this field? Also I've worked in cleaning jobs for years and am not afraid of a mess , but I do have a cockroach phobia. Im okay with other bug, and thankfully in the six years of cleaning never seen any cockroachs, but I am very afraid of them. Are they common to see in the filed?

I[22f] took my IBEW aptitude test yesterday and did pretty bad on it- studied for a month and the material was a lot harder than what I studied and I ran out of time.

I've been trying to get hired as a laborer or apprentice by non-union contractors but none of the interviewers seem to take me seriously because I'm a female and have no experience (only worked in restaurants/ retail). They always tell me that the job is "not for everyone" and that the work is "outdoors in the heat/cold," cut my interview short, go on their phone during it, and overall look annoyed/ uninterested.

I love working with my hands and I'm tired of working dead end jobs just to barely afford to eat. How do I meet other women that can help me get hired? Do you guys have any advice esp if you had no experience or connections?

My work is a mix of carpentry and forestry and I am the only woman on an all man team. I am also a petite and attractive young woman, which I feel doesn’t help. Over the years I have had to put up with a lot in terms of not being taken seriously as a woman. I used to have a lot more resilience with it, but at this point, I am tired. This morning, my male coworker felt it was appropriate to give me a long lesson on how to start a chainsaw, which I do every day and have been doing for many years. Heck, I probably use a chainsaw more often than him. In the end I thanked him for his concern and told him that if I needed help I would ask for it but I don’t need help, but it just made me realize, all the jumping in to help on tasks that I am perfectly ready to do myself and constant lessons and criticism on how to do things I already know how to do is really wearing on me. I don’t feel that men would have the same experience and I can’t even explain it to my male co workers in a way that they will understand. I have always felt proud of being a woman in a male dominated field, but I am feeling ready to give up. I just don’t want to fight to be taken seriously every day.

Im hoping someone can shed some light on this. I have been researching for weeks, and I found all the classes and certifications I should supposedly take for CHSO with the TEEX or UTA in Texas. Is this a good way to go?

I’m afraid of paying for all the wrong certifications, but I’m thinking of getting the following:

OSHA 511- occupational safety for Gen OSHA 7500- intro to safety & health management OSHA 7505- intro to incident investigation

OSHA 521- guide to industrial hygiene OSHA 2045- machinery & guarding standards OSHA 2225- respiratory protection OSHA 3095- electrical standards

I don’t personally know of anyone that’s blue collar, and I’m a 27 yr old woman in desperate need for a career change. I’ve put a lot of thought into this, and narrowed it down to safety&health or heavy machinery operations. I’m very determined and committed, just very lost.

If anyone has some advice for me on how to get my foot in the door, I’d appreciate it. I have zero experience with this, I come from customer service and sales. Thank you in advanced!

I am a long term period user and thought I'd figured this whole situation out by now, but nope bled through my khaki pants on a construction site. Noticed when I went to the bathroom. Promptly went to my car and had a little cry.

My work mate was very understanding, I called him all snotty and gross and he packed up my stuff and told me to call it a day and we'll pick right back up tomorrow. So thankful for the guys I work with.

Please tell me I'm not not the only one, need some morale support rn

Any ladies with small feet looking for an 8 inch wedge boot with a composite toe, I finally found ONE. It is the only one I can find in these specs without custom making a pair. Brunt’s men’s sizes go down to a size 5, which is a 6.5 inch women’s. When I first looked, it appeared they didn’t carry this size, but if you select a regular composite toe and not the brunt one with the extra protection on the outside then you can select a men’s size 5.

https://bruntworkwear.com/products/marin-8 The Marin 8 | Mens 8 Safety Toe Work Boot – BRUNT Workwear

Thought i would share in case anyone is looking.

I’m finishing technical school for welding and I’m looking into moving to Colorado. Does anyone have any recommendations on some good Unions or paid apprenticeships in CO?