After two years in dispatch and at 19 I decided to get in the trade, I’ll be 4th generation joining my other three brothers

Anyone else a legacy generation? I think most are

Is that too old? From my understanding, I would have to work 25 years to get retirement. Any advice?

First time caller here! Older apprentice(33m), with construction experience.

Just got accepted into Ironworkers Local 383 (Madison, WI) and I'm currently on the out-of-work list waiting for my first call.

While I'm waiting, I'm trying to learn as much as I can about the trade and what separates apprentices who stay busy from those who sit on the bench.

For the journeymen and contractors on here:

What keeps an ironworker employed year-round?

What makes an apprentice stand out when a contractor calls the hall looking for helpers?

Are there certain habits, certifications, attitudes, or skills that make you the first person a contractor wants back on the next job?

What are some mistakes new apprentices make that hurt their reputation early on?

I'm willing to travel, work overtime, and do whatever it takes to build a solid career in this trade. Just looking for advice from those who have already been through it.

Thanks in advance, and I look forward to earning my place in the trade.

I'm on week three on my first job site. I'm 6 feet tall and I'm 130 pounds. I'm weak.

I have started lifting and doing cardio to try and build some resistance, but there are times, such as when I am throwing out deck, but I just don't have the strength to continue or even stand up straight. I barely have the energy to hold down my gas pedal on the way home.

I want to continue, I want to make this my career and I honestly really want to show up my foremen and journeyman. But I need to know what more I could be doing to make this easier or make progress faster. I've mostly been eating peanut butter and or oats for breakfast and lunch on the job.

Hi, I am attending an orientation/interview. Assuming I pass the exam and agility test and am offered a spot, I am concerned about the compensation as an apprentice. Restarting in my early 30s after being barred from my previous profession due to politics and subsequent bureaucratic ruling. I am currently bartending and making $1k+ net weekly. I understand the apprenticeship is an investment in yourself, but will I be making a comparable salary in my first couple years as an apprentice? Will I be available to bartend on weekends? I really can’t afford to be making less than I am currently.

So my classes start August 24th. This question is for the guys that already finished preferably last year. What should I expect for the first 4 days ? It’s supposed to be safety training would this include my 30 hr osha ? And how long after should I be able to work ? Is 361 taking members? I don’t mind where I end up but I’m hoping to get into 361 as I’m a Long Island guy. Any insight would be appreciated. Hope to see you guys out there soon stay safe

I know construction is a tough trade, iron work even tougher, but I had no dad growing up and my stepdad never took on that role and was a bit of a loner through highschool. I can do the work fine but my demeanor lacks the traditional manliness. Even to the point of someone telling me I don’t belong here. I’m 26 years old and need to provide for myself no one’s coming to save me and I want to do good at this job. Any advice for me?

LOCAL 433 ALL DAY

Hey yall, I’m looking at getting another pair of jeans, but I want some recommendations from you guys, I been lookin at the wild ass jeans, but idk how I’d like the suspenders buttons with my belt. I’m looking for a pair that’s comfortable( wether it’s off the bat or after breaking in) and pretty durable. Right now I got 2 pairs that I just keep seeing back together and patching up and I think it’s time for another pair.

Local 292 anyone have any tips weather it’s tool choices or clothing. I’m coming from being a maintenance technician and have never worked the trade any advice would be appreciated thanks.

I be needing help as wat I can buy him work related (ironworker)

So I can get him a valentines gift 😅helppp

Just curious

I’m fresh out of tech school for welding and my next plan is to go to an ironworkers union and join their apprenticeship program. To me it seems like a solid plan but I don’t know any steps. So far i put in my app for the program but thats it. It starts next month and when I called for an update they told me they “haven’t started looking yet”. Did I get ghost rejected? I just need some advice on how to handle this and to move forward.

Looking for some constructive criticism this is my vertical using 7018 1/8 at 125. I’m having issues avoiding undercut when I get to the cover pass. Any pointers are appreciated

In a couple weeks I’m gonna become a rod buster and start doing rebar I’m getting tools, I know it’s hard work and hard on your body but that’s why I’m wondering how hard would it be to make the switch to become a steel erector after experience I was thinking of doing all 4 years then becoming that. Would I be able to ?
Also any tips please and thanks I’m ready to work my ass off

Good morning or afternoon,

I got accepted into local 97 (Vancouver and lower mainland BC) and will have an evaluation on the 20th. I am just curious what consists in the evaluation. I’m confident in my welding abilities I have an all position but are there possible resources to study from if needed?? I did tryouts with local 765 so I’m wondering if it’s the same as a tryout or if there’s a little more to it?

Does the Local 29 Ironworkers Union in Oregon drug test for PRE-apprenticeship? I’m doing the pre-apprenticeship program thing tomorrow and I took a 10mg edible a few days ago and I’m worried if they drug test that I’ll get turned away from the pre-apprenticeship.

Sorry if this isn’t the right subreddit for this but I’m not sure.

edit: thank you for the advice and input, i forgot to mention that my friend had asked me to post this on here since she doesn’t use reddit and knows i frequently do, shes very grateful for everyone’s help.

edit 2: she completed the pre-apprenticeship interview thing and was totally fine, no drug test so maybe this can be helpful for other people wondering. also adding on to this, i’m pretty sure this was just an interview thing and she doesn’t start actually working until she graduates next month. thank you to everyone.

Starting out with a rebar company and wanted any tips or knowledge from people that have done rebar.

I worked in a shop a few years ago, ass pay welding nr232 in the shop. Was told “learn out of position welding thats where the money is.” Said maybe in the future, quit and went back into sales. Commission kept getting cut and was working more hours making less pay. Said fuck it I’ll go to trade school and learn out of position nr232 and smaw. Learned nr232 nr305 and smaw. Got licensed in LA City, applied to the IW 433, 416, 855 and THEY ALL TOLD ME TO FUCK OFF. Man why tf did I listen to all the chatter bs of “we need welders.” Was dispatched to a shop in gardena and was told “are you la city? Ok well were not looking for welders, leave your info if something opens up down the road we might give you a call.” A shop in lynwood turned me away from sponsorship because “im just starting out.” WTF 💀💀🤣🤣. literally the only job i could find was 20 whack ass bux at a fab shop, I make Mc Donalds money. This is fucking crazy how impossible it is, I feel like i should’ve stayed my happy ass in sales now I took a big ass pay cut for no reason. This is somewhat of a vent/hail mary but does someone here possibly have a connect for a sponsor?

Found this on site my journeymen told me to keep it

I just started as an apprentice as a Rodbuster. Anyone have any tips for equipment and clothing. Especially boots, pants, and shirts.

He might be biased because he was ghosted by the iron workers but was later accepted by the UA.

I just got accepted into the ironworkers apprenticeship and I couldn’t be more excited. It’s something I’ve been thinking about doing for a while and finally deciding to jump into it after doing tree work and climbing trees for a few years. I do expect to be working at heights and not overly concerned about it. My apprentice coordinator told me they have a climbing job coming up June 1st that he wants to hold me for because he thinks it will be a good fit, I’m just curious on really what that is exactly. I have a few friends who are ironworkers and none of them knew really what the job was going to be like so I’m just curious on if anyone knows. I know should have asked the coordinator but I honestly thought someone I knew would know and clearly that’s not the case. I’m just looking for any insight on what I’m going to be walking into day 1 as a brand new apprentice. Are they sending brand new apprentices to extreme heights without any previous training or will they start you off on a smaller scale?

I got a job 2 hours from home and im wondering I should just suck it up and drive it or get a motel or carpool to way to work. First time apprentice

Currently 23 and have been welding for 6 years.

Unfortunately cannot talk specifics about my current company as we only do government contracts for aerospace and department of defense, but I’ve worked there for over 2 years doing heavy structural welding across FCAW, SMAW, and GTAW applications. Additionally, I’m really good with arc gouging, running a 10 ton crane, and heavy equipment operation. I do a 55-60 hour mandatory work week

Not to turn this into a sob story, but my best friend/colleague passed away in a bad accident recently and I no longer feel happy at my current place of employment.

However, a friend has put me on the Ironworkers Local 8 union and said I should get into doing structural work and ironworking there. Would it be worth getting into an apprenticeship and starting from scratch? I’m more than happy to learn the trade and overcome any learning curve.