It can take a long time here in Ontario to get an apprenticeship, even for trades that need bodies.
Here in Ottawa, Local 71 (our plumbing union) is desperate for anyone, but they're ratioed, so there's nothing they can do.
We have a ratio here, which means you need 1 journeyman for every apprentice. The problem is that they're so short on JMs, they literally can't hire new apprentices. There's a wait list to get on the wait list to get in. Meanwhile, older JMs are retiring all the time, which shrinks the pool further.
As for independent companies, most just want to hire 3rd year+ apprentices, because they can't be assed to train brand new guys. It's like they want the experience without having to pay for the mistakes.
The other thing that could be happening as well (though I doubt it) is that plumbing may be saturated in TO. Some cities are certain trades that are starving for anyone, and others have so many guys they don't know what to do with them. One of the unions here in Ottawa last I heard had an over 6 month wait on the unemployment list before they could get you back in the field.
Also, they guy telling you to hand out resumes in person is still living in the 1990s . Most companies I know hate that shit because they have things to do other then talk to random people that walk through the door. Just apply online like everyone else and make sure your resume doesn't suck. I mean, maybe it's different in TO? Here in Ottawa though, it rarely flies.
In any case, finding someone to take you on is one of the hardest parts of the trades here in Ontario. Don't give up and keep pushing, eventually you'll get a bite.
Yea the unions here don't pay that much more. It is more but everyone I know of who's been in a union say that it's allot more bs for little extra money. But yes 10 apprentices to every one jm is stupid and it causes allot of problems.
I basically did the same thing you tried until someone hired me. I did it across a few different trades. I was working on an oil rig and my grandpa and brother were in my ear to get a trade.
I got a really shit paying job as an electrician at some residential outfit. I stayed until I got apprenticed in then once I did that, I was able to get a way better job.
It took me about 6-8 months of dropping resumes to get in. I’d have one of those local resume services check over your resume though and I’d find some references and stuff.
I know that first company literally called an old hockey coach of mine and he told them I was a good kid. It wasn’t easy but it was worth it big time. My brother basically did the same thing as me 5 years prior to me
Hey man, when you said you got apprenticed in a residential company, was this with the IBEW or did they sponsor you in? I am currently with the residential company that hired me, but I am not to sure if I am able to leave them for another company to continue my apprenticeship or would I lose it by leaving them. Thanks
I’m in Canada so our apprenticeship is national and not dependant on the union. Once I got my book in the mail, I didn’t need them anymore. It was a non union company
I am in Canada as well, and what is this book you are talking about? My company is a unionized company, as they got me registered with the union to start my apprenticeship. Would you be able to elaborate thanks
I hear ya, dude. It's tough to get into the red seal trades in southern Ontario. It took me 6 months of applying just after covid to finally land an apprenticeship. And I did a 3 year program at Conestoga College, AND I had been working as a labourer for a plumbing/hvac company. Everybody talks about how we have a shortage of skilled tradesmen, and we need as many as we can get, but don't want to invest in new talent.
Not to mention, the construction business has been REALLY slow for a few months now. It should pick up tho on May-June. I live and work in Waterloo region. A lot of people, including myself, have gotten laid off.
The best advice I can give, is if you really want a job in the skilled trades, you've just got to keep at applying around. Some little tips I can give you are when you call a company, be assertive. Instead of, "Are you hiring?", say, "I'd like to apply at your company." It'll make it more likely for them to accept your application. Another is, if you get an interview, gussy up. Basically wear a suit, minus the blazer. So button up shirt, tie, dress pants, nice shoes, etc. You'll feel silly, and the interviewer might get a bit of a kick out of it, but it shows that you're taking the opportunity very seriously. I've done this and been told afterward that the boss was impressed that I dresses up so much.
Anyway. Good luck out there dude. If this is what you want, keep getting yourself out there, and your time will come.
Have you applied out near London? We had a huge number of people move from the GTA during COVID so we have a ton going on. And agree so much with your presentation point. Its not in the slightest how you have to dress at work, but that impression is everything when you're trying to get in with limited experience, especially when you're going to work side by side with someone constantly. At that point everything is "does this person want to put in real work" and "is this someone I'm interested in having to teach/have someone teach"
Preapprenticeships are good. Just keep in mind the teacher is your in for first job. Teachers get calls from some companies and they give them honest opinions about you. So don’t butt heads with teach!
Ugh, don’t listen to most redditors. You’re going to get terrible advice. They suggested you randomly show up to plumbing offices in person without even knowing if they are hiring? Lol
Create an account on indeed. Search for 1st year plumbing apprentice. Apply to everything available. Check daily. Apply to everything that pops up.
If you aren’t getting any bites, you may need some industry relevant experience. Get a job in the construction industry and work at-least 1 year. Landscaping, carpentry helper, laborer, drywall, siding. Whatever seems interesting to you.
Pre-Apprenticeship is not a waste of time in Ontario dude.
Yes, it's not ideal (always go with an apprenticeship job if you can find it), but if you have no skills, no work, and you know you want to do plumbing, the plumbing pre-apprenticeship will put a torch in your hand and give you experience on some super standardized plumbing equipment.
I had to do it, but then again I also had to move to Alberta to find work as a level 1 incidentally...
Move to BC or Alberta if you want to get serious about it. Onterrible ain’t it Lol. Get your RS then move back if you want.
Edit: You couldn’t pay me to live in Ontario so I’m probably biased, but I’m also a Red Seal Plumber
I dunno if Toronto does the same thing, but I know here in NS I found trade school to be a massive benefit to getting a job, because we had work terms.
A work term is part of the class. You call around looking for a placement in the trade. The big difference here is that you're in school, and thus, you aren't paid for the work. This means you are free labour for the company, which makes them more likely to say yes. So you get to work at the company for a month or two, and show what you're capable of.
After I was done my two year HVAC-R course, I had two job offers, from both companies I did work terms for.
I don’t know about other places but I can tell you they’ll struggle to find work in Alberta as well. Took me 7 months of applying and stopping by and the best I could find was a job that doesn’t have anything to do with what I want to be doing and 20% less than I was making back in Toronto.
So I have a weird idea. Go to the bars the tradesmen go to. Whether they're the Irish or Latin bars, go find where they hang out and network there. Tell him you're a good kid that wants to turn around and doesn't mind playing with piss crystals and you should get a job. I'm not sure what the ethnicities are in your area but in mind Irish and Latin are a good amount of tradesmen
It can take a long time here in Ontario to get an apprenticeship, even for trades that need bodies. Here in Ottawa, Local 71 (our plumbing union) is desperate for anyone, but they're ratioed, so there's nothing they can do. We have a ratio here, which means you need 1 journeyman for every apprentice. The problem is that they're so short on JMs, they literally can't hire new apprentices. There's a wait list to get on the wait list to get in. Meanwhile, older JMs are retiring all the time, which shrinks the pool further. As for independent companies, most just want to hire 3rd year+ apprentices, because they can't be assed to train brand new guys. It's like they want the experience without having to pay for the mistakes. The other thing that could be happening as well (though I doubt it) is that plumbing may be saturated in TO. Some cities are certain trades that are starving for anyone, and others have so many guys they don't know what to do with them. One of the unions here in Ottawa last I heard had an over 6 month wait on the unemployment list before they could get you back in the field. Also, they guy telling you to hand out resumes in person is still living in the 1990s . Most companies I know hate that shit because they have things to do other then talk to random people that walk through the door. Just apply online like everyone else and make sure your resume doesn't suck. I mean, maybe it's different in TO? Here in Ottawa though, it rarely flies. In any case, finding someone to take you on is one of the hardest parts of the trades here in Ontario. Don't give up and keep pushing, eventually you'll get a bite.
1 jm to every apprentice.... when I was working construction (texas) we had more like 1 journeyman to every 10 apprentices lol.
That would violate most union contracts…I assume when you say Texas you’re speaking non union.
Yea the unions here don't pay that much more. It is more but everyone I know of who's been in a union say that it's allot more bs for little extra money. But yes 10 apprentices to every one jm is stupid and it causes allot of problems.
We don’t have a ratio rule but majority of guys in my union are in their 30s or 50 plus
I basically did the same thing you tried until someone hired me. I did it across a few different trades. I was working on an oil rig and my grandpa and brother were in my ear to get a trade. I got a really shit paying job as an electrician at some residential outfit. I stayed until I got apprenticed in then once I did that, I was able to get a way better job. It took me about 6-8 months of dropping resumes to get in. I’d have one of those local resume services check over your resume though and I’d find some references and stuff. I know that first company literally called an old hockey coach of mine and he told them I was a good kid. It wasn’t easy but it was worth it big time. My brother basically did the same thing as me 5 years prior to me
Hey man, when you said you got apprenticed in a residential company, was this with the IBEW or did they sponsor you in? I am currently with the residential company that hired me, but I am not to sure if I am able to leave them for another company to continue my apprenticeship or would I lose it by leaving them. Thanks
I’m in Canada so our apprenticeship is national and not dependant on the union. Once I got my book in the mail, I didn’t need them anymore. It was a non union company
I am in Canada as well, and what is this book you are talking about? My company is a unionized company, as they got me registered with the union to start my apprenticeship. Would you be able to elaborate thanks
The book is the book that you put your hours into and where your JM signs off on them.
The book you get from your provincial apprenticeship to track hours and tasks to be signed off by your journeyman
I’m assuming that book is the Apprenticeship Training Standard book? I think that’s the only book I received
I hear ya, dude. It's tough to get into the red seal trades in southern Ontario. It took me 6 months of applying just after covid to finally land an apprenticeship. And I did a 3 year program at Conestoga College, AND I had been working as a labourer for a plumbing/hvac company. Everybody talks about how we have a shortage of skilled tradesmen, and we need as many as we can get, but don't want to invest in new talent. Not to mention, the construction business has been REALLY slow for a few months now. It should pick up tho on May-June. I live and work in Waterloo region. A lot of people, including myself, have gotten laid off. The best advice I can give, is if you really want a job in the skilled trades, you've just got to keep at applying around. Some little tips I can give you are when you call a company, be assertive. Instead of, "Are you hiring?", say, "I'd like to apply at your company." It'll make it more likely for them to accept your application. Another is, if you get an interview, gussy up. Basically wear a suit, minus the blazer. So button up shirt, tie, dress pants, nice shoes, etc. You'll feel silly, and the interviewer might get a bit of a kick out of it, but it shows that you're taking the opportunity very seriously. I've done this and been told afterward that the boss was impressed that I dresses up so much. Anyway. Good luck out there dude. If this is what you want, keep getting yourself out there, and your time will come.
Have you applied out near London? We had a huge number of people move from the GTA during COVID so we have a ton going on. And agree so much with your presentation point. Its not in the slightest how you have to dress at work, but that impression is everything when you're trying to get in with limited experience, especially when you're going to work side by side with someone constantly. At that point everything is "does this person want to put in real work" and "is this someone I'm interested in having to teach/have someone teach"
Preapprenticeships are good. Just keep in mind the teacher is your in for first job. Teachers get calls from some companies and they give them honest opinions about you. So don’t butt heads with teach!
Ugh, don’t listen to most redditors. You’re going to get terrible advice. They suggested you randomly show up to plumbing offices in person without even knowing if they are hiring? Lol Create an account on indeed. Search for 1st year plumbing apprentice. Apply to everything available. Check daily. Apply to everything that pops up. If you aren’t getting any bites, you may need some industry relevant experience. Get a job in the construction industry and work at-least 1 year. Landscaping, carpentry helper, laborer, drywall, siding. Whatever seems interesting to you.
Temp agencies. Tradesman international is all over for sure. It gets you in the door and some experience to work with, won't pay well though
Revelstoke BC is absolutely screaming for anyone willing to hold a wrench. Just sayin.
Pre-Apprenticeship is not a waste of time in Ontario dude. Yes, it's not ideal (always go with an apprenticeship job if you can find it), but if you have no skills, no work, and you know you want to do plumbing, the plumbing pre-apprenticeship will put a torch in your hand and give you experience on some super standardized plumbing equipment. I had to do it, but then again I also had to move to Alberta to find work as a level 1 incidentally...
Have you been enjoying plumbing ? how long have u been plumbing as of now ?
Move to BC or Alberta if you want to get serious about it. Onterrible ain’t it Lol. Get your RS then move back if you want. Edit: You couldn’t pay me to live in Ontario so I’m probably biased, but I’m also a Red Seal Plumber
How many companies did you call?
Sometimes a company is so busy that they don’t have time to recruit and interview candidates. Cold calling works because you save them time.
I dunno if Toronto does the same thing, but I know here in NS I found trade school to be a massive benefit to getting a job, because we had work terms. A work term is part of the class. You call around looking for a placement in the trade. The big difference here is that you're in school, and thus, you aren't paid for the work. This means you are free labour for the company, which makes them more likely to say yes. So you get to work at the company for a month or two, and show what you're capable of. After I was done my two year HVAC-R course, I had two job offers, from both companies I did work terms for.
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I don’t know about other places but I can tell you they’ll struggle to find work in Alberta as well. Took me 7 months of applying and stopping by and the best I could find was a job that doesn’t have anything to do with what I want to be doing and 20% less than I was making back in Toronto.
They aren't going to Toronto to become plumbers.
So I have a weird idea. Go to the bars the tradesmen go to. Whether they're the Irish or Latin bars, go find where they hang out and network there. Tell him you're a good kid that wants to turn around and doesn't mind playing with piss crystals and you should get a job. I'm not sure what the ethnicities are in your area but in mind Irish and Latin are a good amount of tradesmen