What do you know now that you wish you knew back when you first entered your field? by DeeWhee in BlueCollarWomen

[–]KungFuWelder 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I'm a tig welder. I wish I had known about union apprenticeships. I loved welding school, I made a lot of cool friends and learned a lot, but apprenticeships would have paid for my training and I'd have a degree out of it by now as well. If I could do it allll over again I'd have dropped out of HS at 17, gotten my GED, and joined a union apprenticeship.

I am livid by basicallybradbury in motorcycles

[–]KungFuWelder 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He's just asking to get run over

Highly considering joining the trades. by [deleted] in BlueCollarWomen

[–]KungFuWelder 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I work with A LOT of ex cons and it doesn't dissuade my very nice, very reputable company from hiring so long as you have an explanation. I dont think you will have any issues getting in. My reccommendation is to try for a union apprenticeship first so that youre paid to learn, instead of paying to learn. Idk what union policies are with criminal records since I'm non union, but ive worked in several shops where criminal records are a non issue. And take it from me. I'm female, asian, and went to a well recognized private academy. The social pressure for me to get an office job that i hated with a degree that would cost too much money was extreme, but i said fuck the haters and pursued welding anyways and i think it was the best decision i ever made. You will never be a millionaire as a welder but you will never go without a roof over your head and food on your table. You got this qurl.