Hi I have been lurking here for a while. I’m in my late 20s and I have been working retail/food service manager jobs for years making ok money. I realized that any career advancement in these jobs always means less hands on work and more bullshit corporate stuff to deal with which always results in me burning out cause I’m am interested in more money but not what those jobs entail. I have always been more interested in hands on skills than the type of work that is involved in office/middle management jobs.

I have been looking into applying to union apprenticeships as they open up and I have my sheet metal test tomorrow!!! I’m so excited and nervous but it’s been really great staying tuned into this community. I’m kinda scared to take a pay cut if I do get in though - I wish I had done this in my early 20s or right out of highschool for that matter.

Anyway kinda just ranting- does anyone have tips for getting started in trades? The plumbers union opens for applications in spring if I don’t get into sheet metal. I hope one of these two works out for me. :)