How to learn a trade when you aren't a teenager?

[Estragon]

I hope I don't sound entirely stupid by asking this question, but I've gotten sick of working in my current field. However, I was one of those liberal-arts guys who got an English degree and all I know is the world of education, libraries, and paper-pushing. Blech.

I've been thinking about maybe taking a complete left-turn in my career and learning a trade, possibly electrician but I'm open to other things. I like the idea of working with tools and doing something productive. Joining a union. Reconnecting with my family's blue-collar roots, etc. And yet, I have absolutely no idea how this might work. I'm 32 and I wonder if I'm too old, and of course the possibility that I'll hate it when I start doing it.

Have any of you folks done this? Any tradespeople with any insight into the situation? I'd appreciate any info I could get.

Thanks!

[blake 3:17]

Electrician should be fine. I know people who've gone back to become carpenters, and that's pretty killer on the body, but folks do fine as electricians. Look into the regulations and the union covering it and see how to start. Usually there's an apprenticeship, but I have no idea how long or what that means where you are.

Don't usually point to wikihow but this one seems like it might be useful: http://www.wikihow.com/Become-an-Electrician-in-Kentucky

[REV3R]

you could find an apprenticeship, but before that you should read up on being an electrician. Maybe even take an online class for it if your able to.

[Igor]

you're 32, that's like one quarter of your working life behind you; it's in no way too late to learn a new trade and i heartily recommend it if you're feeling your old career path sucks

i'm 20 and getting into metal industry after graduating from high school and spending a bit in university and it was really just a question of enrolling myself into trade school. go to trade school, there must be some around you somewhere. you'll get the theoretical and practical experience you need there and you'll get sweet summerr jobs relevant to your career path and possibly a chance to finish your education with an employer as an apprenticeship. (thats how it basically works here anyways)

going back to school after spending so long working must feel weird but learning a trade is v different from the kind of learning you've been doing until now - you actually mostly work with your hands. electrician needs a lot of theoretical knowledge, too, naturally, but the practical aspects are equally important. and getting a trade isn't same kind of eternal weird time drain as higher education is: two years is completely realistic and it's also the timeframe i plan to be a certified cnc machine operator in

good luck anyways, mate

[Os Cangaceiros]

The person I live with is part of the local pipefitters union here. He's 20 and was the youngest person in his class when he was in training, so I don't think you need to worry too much about age. He makes a good salary and will be able to retire when he's relatively young, too. The downside is that the work is quite physically demanding, so I don't know if that's something you want to do or not.

Welding is another pretty good job.

[Crixus]

The person I live with is part of the local pipefitters union here. He's 20 and was the youngest person in his class when he was in training, so I don't think you need to worry too much about age. He makes a good salary and will be able to retire when he's relatively young, too. The downside is that the work is quite physically demanding, so I don't know if that's something you want to do or not.

Welding is another pretty good job.

Pipe fitters= trigonometry. I was going to do that but was intimidated by complex trigonometry and ended up being a welding inspector where i had to learn complex trigonometry. To the OP, in California capitalists (major builders) have been using non union undocumented labor or sub contractors who hire our undocumented comrades and pay them peanuts in the construction trades - carpentry, masons, roofers, drywall, tile, HVAC, electricians etc. This in turn has made it impossible for unions to compete in residential and commercial construction so the waiting list to get on jobs, if you join the union, is long. They put people with little to no experience on the bottom of the list BUT you can file for unemployment so long as you are taking the proper classes they assign to you. Most of your first year, if you join the union, will be spent taking classes and sitting on your butt at home. If you need a lot of money this wouldn't be the route I'd suggest.

The 'prime' jobs are the ones that get city, county and state contracts. Road work, water district work, inspectors, gas companies, electric companies and or contractors who get (somehow) a steady flow of city/state/county contracts. If the union is what you want to do I'd be an electrician as it pays the most but as I said be prepared to sit on your butt at home and to take classes. The classes are good but on site experience will come slow because others have 'seniority' when it comes to getting paying work. I circumvented the whole union process and became a welding inspector. It's non union but it pays very well. It pays well because of the insane amount of hours and travel and but there's also periods of unemployment. Sometimes two months at a time. It all depends on your current budget. How much $ you need to survive. If you can get by on a couple hundred a week join the union and go through their training process. If not I'd suggest to try your luck at a city/county/state job or contractor who gets those jobs but with no experience and without knowing someone at the company your chances of doing that are slim. I think your best bet is the union. If you go into the trades non union be prepared to bust your ass non stop for little pay but there's more work in non union jobs, still, I wouldn't recommend it. If you go that route you still ussually have to 'know someone' but sometimes contractors will advertize in newspaper ads looking for a laborer type with no experience to help with remodeling and such. You can learn that way as well but I'd only suggest that if you're desperate.

[Bardo]

If nothing turns up you could always try out a vocational education program. This will get you acquainted with the job and provide some basic training for you.

[Estragon]

I very much appreciate the advice friends!