I want to enter a trade - but which one?

[JonG123]

Hi everyone,

I'm currently sat in a contact centre on break, and have been thinking a while now on where I want my career to go. Certainly not here!

One option I've discussed briefly with friends and taken a look at more recently is whether or not to join a trade. I'm hard working and hungry for money, but on my own terms - what can trades can you suggest?

Please bear in mind that I'm 24 years old and have bills to pay, hence my struggle to find any worthwhile advice online just yet as to whether I'm viable to start something like this now I'm not a school leaver who can take on an apprenticeship and live at my parents! Also, I have no experience in any trade. Plumbing and electrician work seem to be the ones that come up most with various pros and cons attached.

All advice is welcome, and thanks in advance!

 

[Matt1959]

I'm not a plumber or a sparky but am in a trade. I picked the wrong trade all those yrs ago!. If I had my time again I'd be a central heating boiler engineer or anything that comes under the control of Gas Safe. These guys have householders totally over a barrel when it comes to charging. I'm not criticising them for the way they they operate their business, I'd do the same. Have a think - theres about 300 properties on out little estate and each one has a gas boiler. Nobody is allowed to touch the boiler if they are not gas safe so if it goes wrong or you need a service, its gas safe only. Rental properties by law need a gas safety check each year if they have a gas boiler. A huge captive market therefore. Anyone who is not making a very good living in this game must be doing something wrong. A final point - working on most boilers does not involve crawling in lofts and on your hands and knees!

 

[profitxchange]

Plumbing or heating engineer is an option - work indoors (usually) free tea and biscuits and a good income - you will need to invest in training and regular refreshers. remember gas , lpg and oil systems

 

[Karllacey]

To be fair fella and I do not want to sound harsh here but it is a real dog eat dog industry to get in and looking at the phrase you used:

"I'm hard working and hungry for money, but on my own terms"

Not really sure that is the correct outlook to have.

You also need to look at what you are good at, what you enjoy more as well. If you enjoy what you are doing you are generally better at it.

Then you have the option of employed, self employed, own business. From the looks of it, you are not looking to work outside of your comfort zone - so employed is the way to go. Although as a rule of thumb, you do not get the rewards being employed...but you do not take the risk either.

So my advice is decide what you want to work for and be prepared to knuckle down and build up a network of potential employers. It is going to be hard work but ultimately rewarding (if you want it to be).

Guy said above if your Plumber go Gas Safe, this is good advice. If you are sparky go NICEIC - its the widest used one

 

[TheGaffer]

I would definitely suggest becoming a Gas Safe Registered Central Heating Engineer.

With right networking and building contacts, the opportunities to make substantial amounts of money are endless.

If I knew this back in the day, I would of certainly chose this trade.

 

[RBS]

Yes, definitely a plumber. Not heavy work, 90% indoors, working as self employed. Will be using your brains more than muscles, so you won`t be looked at retarded/ass scratching/nose picking builder. They make killing.

 

[Gecko001]

Get a job as a helper or labourer in some sort of building related firm. That way you will have a better idea of what you want to do and you will get a taste of what it is like.

PS despite what you think about your present job, you are on the internet during a break. So get used to that changing if you want to work in a trade.

 

[Frimley111R]

I'm not in a trade but I do remember a carpenter remarking that in his trade he needs a ton of equipment but in other trades a tool box is enough. Worth considering...

 

[paulears]

Hang on! Wanting something and having an aptitude for it are quite different. If you wish to be a tradesman, then where are your existing strengths? Mechanical, electrical, electronic, or physical? Some trades need manual dexterity, others don't while others have science requirements. Some have heavy exams, others none or very few. Some need evidence to get accreditation. Others have stranger requirements. An electrician with a fear of heights is going to be stuck working up a ladder, and somebody with less than ideal eyesight will struggle if their trade needs good eyesight. Some need advanced IT skills, but some just need writing.

Are you good at certain things? To get good at a trade, it's essential you like it, or you won't last.

 

[MBE2017]

I would suggest electrician if you have the aptitude for it, will take you to retirement. Gas boilers are on the way out, will be a requirement for the next 10-20 years but dropping demand all the time.

Electrical work is protected as well if not better than gas.

 

[Scalingspace]

i would advice you to think about the future as well. In upcoming 10 years, millions of people will be replaced by robots. And all these people will start competing for every job oportunity that will be around.
If you will not prepare for automation now, you will be in a really difficult position. Probably the worst thing that young person could do right now would be becoming truck driver or lawyer or anything else that will not be there after 10-15 years.

 

[MBE2017]

i would advice you to think about the future as well. In upcoming 10 years, millions of people will be replaced by robots. And all these people will start competing for every job oportunity that will be around.
If you will not prepare for automation now, you will be in a really difficult position. Probably the worst thing that young person could do right now would be becoming truck driver or lawyer or anything else that will not be there after 10-15 years.

Made this point to my two daughters when they were deciding what area to work in a few years ago, and a couple of nights ago some previous ceo of a large retail operation made the point in the next five years he believes the UK will lose 800,000 to 1 million shop checkout jobs. Scary thought for many people.

 

[Scalingspace]

Made this point to my two daughters when they were deciding what area to work in a few years ago, and a couple of nights ago some previous ceo of a large retail operation made the point in the next five years he believes the UK will lose 800,000 to 1 million shop checkout jobs. Scary thought for many people.

I dont even think that he 'believes' but rather this is actually real plan that everybody are already preparing and aiming for in retail, and it is inevitable.
the same will happen with truck drivers, delivery drivers, etc...

 

[The next Steve Jobs]

End of gas is flocking our way, this will see a slow but steady switch to electricity...and a crowded gas servicing market down the line, 2030 isn't that far away if u r on a 5 to 7 year apprenticeship / learning curve ... If you are not at the top of the gas game things could get tight.

Landscape Gardner is light on brains and tools
An easy way to prep for a more demanding trade

Will be able to pick up a ad hoc work outside of your current day job

thus allowing u to get a taste and spool up organically...scuse the pun


If u are living at home u could become a buy to let landlord, u keep the day job and save hard for deposit and legal fees...a few years down the line you will be glad of your choice ... u will also become a DIY expert, goes with the territory! ... I would seriously consider this option



IMPORTANT ( those still living with parents )

Once u leave home you will have £200 to £300 a week in bills 4 EVA!

Living at home u r probably richer in disposable income than u will ever be !

Deny that difference & cry a river

 

[Awinner2]

From my background I would suggest looking at the commercial refrigeration/air conditioning or catering equipment engineering business sectors. Everyone needs to eat food and both those industries are desperately short of skilled/qualified staff. When qualified earnings over £40K pa are the norm,

 

[Gecko001]

Landscape Gardner is light on brains and tools
Deny that difference & cry a river

Landscape gardening is not a trade.

A trade is something like being a joiner, bricklayer, plumber, plasterer. Most people in those jobs have done a 6 year apprenticeship. It can mean that when they qualify at the age of 22 say, they can be earning quite a bit of money if they are good at their job, either on their own or working for a builder.

BTW I had a summer job working for a landscape gardener. He and his wife both had a degrees in horticulture.

 

[paulears]

I'm not sure that is true any longer. The old trades usually had a guild background, but now a trade is usually described as a physical process that needs training. I can't see why a landscape gardener isn't a trade. After all, you can be an apprentice in businesses that are not trade skills?

 

[Gecko001]

I'm not sure that is true any longer. The old trades usually had a guild background, but now a trade is usually described as a physical process that needs training. I can't see why a landscape gardener isn't a trade. After all, you can be an apprentice in businesses that are not trade skills?

In common parlance "getting a trade" will mean a getting a traditional trade in the building industry. People who are qualified tradesmen are highly regarding in the building industry. They can earn quite a bit of money, much more than many other workers in the building industry such as admin. staff, digger drivers, banksmen, labourers etc.

 

[paulears]

isn't that just the building trade though? In fairness, this is probably what the OP was referring to - but there are so many new ones, plus old ones morphing into totally new ones. Finding somebody from an older background with the 'sparks' tag who understands networking for example - this is a new extra that electricians can offer. Finding a specialism is more important now than ever. In my area of work, an stage electrician often can't stick in a socket in the office, and the stage carpenter won't have very much of the traditional carpenters skills. (and frequently works with metal, plastics and wire rope!)

I doubt we need to worry as Jon never returned anyway.

 

[Chris Ashdown]

The armed Forces give fantastic training as artificers, and all have something to offer

With about 5 ships the Royal navy can send you away for a weekend to say the channel Islands with lots of good gear including Nuclear to maintain

The Army has little overseas jobs so expect long time in UK, but lots of good gear to maintain

The RAF has lots of plains and the chance of long term posting abroad is limited to Scotland so home comforts and great fighters to work on

Or be a plumber working on a broken toilet pipe under the floor of a house or block of flats and look like that add on TV (for Screwfix i think)

 

[The next Steve Jobs]

Forward as one, hehehe

I Think the OP was considering going solo,
but joining a big family also has it's benefits


Wonderfull to live in a civilisation and age with so much choice


My current day job is beyond the comprehension
of those who taught me as a knee high

The OPs children may see the year 2100 come and pass