6 Lessons I Learned as a Plumbing Apprentice
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- čas přidán 12. 10. 2022
- Here's 6 big lessons Jared (Journeyman Plumber) learned as a plumbing apprentice.
Jared revisits his early experience with the Uniform Plumbing Code, tools, and attitude to explain how to succeed as a plumbing apprentice.
CHAPTERS
0:21 Show a genuine interest in learning
1:19 Ask a lot of questions
2:25 Keep up on your coursework
4:06 Check your ego at the door
5:14 Be neat
6:42 Collect as many tools as you can
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any apprentice or pre-trade watching this video in their own time are sure to become great plumbers, so don't doubt yourselves!
Watching this at 9:30pm instead of sleeping, as a second year apprentice, thanks brother I appreciate it
I'm not sure why I'm watching this, I'm a bit hesitant to jump in. I've been an electrical apprentice, and refrigeration mechanic apprentice. I'm now in a free training program and getting paid for it too. I feel I'd be more excited to get the training in electrical, but again I'm still here, and enjoy the learning so far, just want to get better.
@@alix-mb1xm to make you feel better, I want to become an apprentice...
Watching this during my shift at a pizza joint. I appreciate you.
Thanks for the encouragement ❤😊
My sons been working with me for 7 years every summer and any days off school.
he’ll graduate high school next year and go full time. I remember 35 years ago when I was learning guys where hard on apprentices. I try to teach my son without as much yelling and fighting as when I learned.
It’s a good trade and you can make a great living
That’s awesome man. I’m 22 here and have a similar story with my own father. I started riding around with him as a carpool buddy in Southern California at around 11. After a year or two of watching I started doing the little things I could, and once I was in highschool i worked every weekend with him and then graduated and worked for him full time for about a year before I went and did more commercial plumbing for almost 2 years. I passed one of my exams to get my state license here in Florida just a few weeks ago and lord willing I’ll take the second exam here in December. From someone in your sons shoes that training and teaching impacts us more then we realize in the moment. To this day there’s few things I can think have been more of a blessing and gift from my father then the time I spent learning through those moments, and that effort to teach your son without yelling will shape him more then he probably realizes.
20 years in the trade and the greatest advice I ever got as a apprentice was the "the day you stop giving a sh*t about your mistakes is the day you need to find a new job"
Do not trust anyone. You will get burned so someone else can get ahead . Keep your personal life to your self . Stick to learning and doing the job and you'll be fine
Great advice and applies to many fields of work not just plumbing or trades
I'm 19 years old and I've doing plumbing since I was 18. I've been with the company I'm at since August of 22' till now so 5 months. I've been doing plumbing as a whole for a total of 5 months. I really enjoy knowing there is a lot of room to grow in the plumbing world, because for me personally I know I have the drive and work ethic to go out and get shit done and very eager to learn even if I learn at a much slow pace than everyone around me. I strongly feel I will stay in plumbing for my career. Everyday is different even if its the same type of work here and there but ultimately I love what I do. I work in residential.
That’s great to hear. Keep it up!
I am in a very similar boat as you, same age and what i also love about plumbing is how different every day is.
Same here bro started plumbing at 18 and now I’m 19 and I love what I do there’s days where I sure doubt myself but I stick with it and continue to believe that maybe one day I can have my own company
@@brianrivera6117I’m just starting at 19 how is the pluming work do you get payed immediately? How does that start up
How much they pay you?
I'm 28 and looking into a trade. Plumbing seems interesting to me. I want to pass on my knowledge to my sons, give them something they'll be able to use for when they're older. I Want change. I want stability. I want a life for my kids so they don't have to struggle. I brought them in this world. Thank you for this video.
The only thing I think I'll have issues with. Is math. IT'S NEVER been my strong suit. That and I barely touched tools in my life. I'll have to learn every tool from the ground up. I pray that I can find an apprenticeship, and they're patient with me.
One thing I can say about me with confidence, is that I'm humble and can accept humility like no other. No ego, and I'm a sponge.
Please pray for me brothers and sisters.
You can do this! I'm in the same boat as you, never touched a tool in my life, and hoping for a patient place to work. Although I will have to suppress my ego, that is something I can admit to lol
@thetoot9615 soooooooo I actually went for something different! I'm currently in school for water treatment. It's considered a trade, and it's being paid for by my state! I'm very interested in this! By next year I should be in the field in January! Best of luck on your journey!
(BTW they need people bad, this is a trade that's very unknown.
congrats brother man !
@@MidnightXxMelodii hey sir I'm an 18 year that is interested in anything right now but Idk what to do and i don't to sit on my ass everyday since I'm just getting out of HS also can you please tell me more about the trade and how much you though i am going to my own personal research about it please and thank you
27 years old and tried college multiple times. Got all my documents and will be turning my application in tomorrow. Hopefully I can start this trade and get a career
Same. I'm on my second interview soon
I just came across this video, and wow, I gotta alot of confidence from it, im putting in an application as a plumbing apprentice, hopefully as a woman, I can become a plumber one day.
What I love about this video is that the advice applies to both work AND life! Solid presentation 👍🏽
Hell yeah dude, I’ve been a plumber for 3 years now, but I’m a 2nd year apprentice. Wanted to make sure I liked it, man it grew on me im starting to have a passion for it as I learn more and more. Im gonna be that plumber that knows his shit ! My foreman is my journeymen teaching me everything he knows, real good guy. And he’s about to retire so I’m his last apprentice! Everything we do looks good and we always take a second to acknowledge. Cool video you defineitly learn a lot about yourself throughout the process. Better then sitting looking at 4 walls!!
Thank you for your great honesty and enthusiasm!
I’m 31.
Been in the mental health, hospital, healthcare field.
And just been more hands on and interested in this field.
Watching this makes me want to learn this field even more
You’ll fit right in lol I’m diagnosed bipolar. Just try and manage your health and you’ll do fine. BE AWARE you’ll come across some assholes
I'm also Bipolar 1... This trade takes a lot of negative energy and gives it an outlet.
I'm 34, and I'm about to start as a first year plumbing apprenticeship. I have a good job as an auto worker, but I see the writing on the wall in the auto industry, and I want to learn a skilled trade before it's too late for me.
how is it going so far
You got this!
Hey I am doing the same.
How did you get your apprenticeship? I’m from the uk can you please explain some details. I’m 35 currently working on railway but want a change in career
@@yabbadabbadoo199 I'm not sure how things work in the UK, but I'd start by asking some plumbers in your area. They should know the best ways to learn the trade and which types of jobs you should pursue.
Excellent advice for a new apprentice or a Journeyman working with another Joruneyman. I will play ground guy all the time with my Apprentices or Journeyman just to show them how the ground guy is extremely important to always be supporting the install. Like you said always be thinking of what is next and getting it ready. Great Video
I'm training an apprentice i try to explain what we're doing and why we're doing it. We don't need to go to school to get our license. I learned from my dad and learned everything on the job. It was definitely harder and took me longer. I've been having my apprentice read the code book and ask me questions about it. I'll be sending this video to my apprentice for him to watch.
This touched my heart! Thank you for all that you do man 🎉❤
Keep inspiring man, I'm glad I stumbled upon your motivational video. Full of wisdom, honesty and humbleness. Wish we had a journeyman like you.
It's not often companies can nail a post on their social media, but you guys nailed it with this upload. Great job, and a gem of an employee you guys got there! Haha.
Great Motivational Video. I own a mid sized Plumbing Company and everything you touched on hit a chord with me. I look for the same quality's in new candidates. Plumbing is in the blood!
It's a Great Trade! It brought me back to where i began the journey!
I am 27 and just now getting into the field and its been such a great experience so far, I work 2 jobs and any free time i get, I am constantly trying to learn more and more about plumbing. I never thought I would be so interested in a field like this and I am so happy I gave it a shot. It feels good to learn something new and become apart of community of people who also love this line of work and what I can learn from them. I really hope one day I can become a great plumber. Thanks for the video man its really appreciated
Hey man, do you need to be handy or have experience with hand tools in order to enter the plumbing field at a late age? Also, people have been telling me to go Union for apprenticeships
@@AJ-jp7fz I just got into the field 9 months ago when I was 29 (30 now) no real handy or tool experience and as long as youre willing to learn its doable. If you can accept being taught by and being bossed around by people younger than you it should work out well.
great video for the new young guys like myself getting into the plumbing trade, thumbs up for sure!
You hit every note with this one. A lot of us in the trade can relate to everything you said in this video.
Thank you, exactly what I did for fifty three years and counting. Pride in workmanship.
Congrats on a long and successful career. That’s an inspiration!
Really amazing video, especially the last portion on commitment. What i needed to hear thank you
Good! Glad we can motivate and inspire plumber nation. 💪
I would love to learn a new trade, but sadly, being 44yrs old, I can't take the pay cut to start as an apprentice. I make just as much as a journeyman, sometimes more, as an IT engineer, but it is no longer satisfactory work for me... and that's a red flag. If you love your job and work with an inner passion, you'll never work a day in your life. Though, I'd rather be an electrician before a plumber. While I did re-plumb my house, ripped out all the old Pex-b fittings, replaced with pex-a tubing and A-fittings, I can't solder for nothing. :( Now, electrical, I rewired my first house, put in a new meter socket, replaced the main breaker panel, and re-did a friends old knob and tubing electrical on his second story, helped my friends' parents wire up their basement, and on and on.... and I love doing both types of work (plumbing and electrical). Much more satisfying than scouting new locations, running low voltage wiring, designing new projects, and figuring out why the blue prints the GC has are different than the ones I received and different than the ones the electricians have...... :/
you aren't doing software architecture? that's completely on you my guy 😅
@@ethanwasme4307 Very constructive. Get lost, troll
Nov 11, 2022: Good job! A great video for anyone, whether studying a trade or working toward a traditional degree. Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Thank you! Hope this encouraged you along your plumbing career if you’re pursuing it.
been in and out of the trade since 2003, it is true to never think you know everything because theres always something we dont know. greatest tips ive used and heard that i can pass on is we used the lines on the waste/water pipes to line up our 45s that we stub down through the floor and other places that you need to go stick an end of pipe in from the other side when u know u need it to land perfectly, and when it comes to buying your first couple sets of tools, buy mid/low tier tools and whichever ones you burnout/break first, those are the ones u wanna buy premium replacements for because youre using them the most
These lessons can apply to any profession or career. Thank you
I love your videos, you were a huge inspiration to me starting my channel
I'm leaving the oilfield after ten years of off and on work. Rig hand, BOP tech, and such. I was discouraged thinking I'd have to transition into a trade where what I had learned about threads, pipe, valves and the like would not translate. I think now, perhaps being a plumber would be an excellent way to provide for my wife and family.
EGO.! I was super plumber, did not need any help or advice. Just stand back and let me show you how it's done. Now in hindsight I've realized all the learning opportunities I missed from not listening, caring or interested in the way YOU did things. Just step back and watch the show. You are so right about ego. I was too smart to learn from and work with you. BIG MISTAKE. Thanks for the videos
Good stuff brother. Im an commercial plumbing apprentice out in a Washington state union. I've done both sides res and commercial. I love being a plumber. I love my work. It saves lives. It makes great money. I love keeping nest and organized and being able to see things neatly on my cart or lay down area! People notice
Good info. Like you said at the beginning there is too much info about everything, so naturally you don't ask too many questions, because you are already overwhelmed.
I would love to work for this company! I’m currently in trade school learning the plumbing trade and it’s going great!
That’s great to hear, Max. Good luck on your path! It’s a rewarding one.
How many in your class if you don't mind me asking? There are only 7 in mine, but only half the class seems to care about good grades
What school is that? How old is your oldest student?@@redsquarejay
it nice to hear, a positive from a guy who's going places
I'm an apprentice about 3½ months in now.
I like the company, and I like most of the guys I work with.
But man, lack of explanation is the one thing that bothers me about working with some of these journeymen. I've been in management positions in previous jobs where I had to train people, and I would explain what and why we did what we did.
Couldn’t agree more!
I’m in my apprenticeship
I struggle with lack of explanation sometimes due to just a sporadic busy schedule.
The only way to change that is ask questions that make them stop and take the time.
The question shows you care and gives you a chance to have them teach.
Dude , you can speak for anybody terms : keep going man : your words are motivation 💪
Thank you for sharing this great advice
Really proud of you Jared ❤
Thank you so much for this awesome video
Amazing video. Thanks!
I'm 17 years old about to be put into plumbing, and this video helps a lot and helps keep important things in mind, and I can go on the job site a lot more confident now. Ill be starting next week hopefully, I was gonna be an electrician but there is too many cool trades to choose from, and plumbing is just one of them.
Are you doing union or non union because I’m tryna get into plumbing rn and I’m 18
Thank you brother.
Well im 14 i feel almost fully committed i have changed my grades and this company is like one i would work for better to start now than later
Chamfering your pipes is underrated in my opinion... Great vid
How can I thank this man ? I will give back to the next generation when myself become a foreman, I do have a question just started as an apprentice what should I first start studying ? What books should I invest in ? The math ? Etc. I appreciate all perspective and answer , may god bless you and protect all you loved ones
Im 15 and really interested in becoming a plumbing engineer, i want to learn new construction and then possibly go into service, this video has helped me alot in terms of feeling more prepared to go into an apprenticeship once i finish secondary school :), thankyou lots.
You just described a craftsman.
im so much greatful to learn more about plumbing job with sir🙏
I did 4 years in the Marines and went and did the traditional Bachelors Degree thing. I’ve had 3 jobs since graduating and only one of those jobs was related to my degree and only one of those (not in my education field) paid more than a journeyman plumber. I’m going to find employment as a helper essentially and hopefully get into an apprenticeship program. I’m ready to break free of the “office/whitecollar/professional” fields and change things up.
There is such a need for plumbers you'll get 9 call backs. I put my apprentice resume on indeed, I still have people cold call me out of the blue just in case I want to come work for them.
I just applied to my local Plumming union. Gonna wait a few months for an interview, but I really appreciate some tips before I get into this trade. I’m a white collar worker trying to switch into blue collar and I really want to learn and become someone they can depend on someday. Thank you for this!! It will be in the back of my mind hopefully I get in
Which local?
@@trevorrobbins110 local 421!!!
You made some great points.
Thanks - glad you found this helpful.
I wish I could have leaned more 18 years ago. But the people that I trained with would not explain anything every time I asked a question. They would cut me off rapidly & never explain
yep, there are lots of @sshole journeymen out there, it truly is a godsend when you work with one that has the patience and fortitude to mentor you properly.
I used to be an apprentice back in Canada (and to this day still do all my own plumbing a sprinkler-fitting work). although I've switched careers a few times since then I'm thinking I'd like to find a place that works weekends so I can pick up where I left off, get some new skills, hone some old ones, get my license while continue working my main job. never stop working, never stop learning, never stop earning...now I just need to find that company that works weekends
im a 21 years old plumber apprentice from italy, been doing this job since 18 and from all the things that you said the "EGO" sentance is the one that hit me the harder hahhaha, cuz even if i know that you are 100% right some time is hard to acept it
man the dont bite your nails thing really just slapped me in the face as someone who is now looking into the trade thats hilarious
Not matter what's how many years someone expending in a trade is something is never ending learning bcz every single job is different
Motivation 💯💯
Fantastic video bro.... Love it
Thanks, happy to help!
How can I get my Red seal ?
I am going to have my apprentices all watch this video tomorrow morning
So Wholesome love that guy
Very appreciate！
Happy to help!
Nice guy. Now that you have mastered your trade, have served the company over 18 years, give them a big thanks and start your own business: make triple of what you are making!!!!
I retired early at 56 and after a year of honeymoon phase I’ve been thinking about getting into the plumbing trade that I’ve always wanted.
Hello sir I have a big problem and can’t seem to figure it out. Toilet doesn’t flush, called a plumber he pulled and augured the toilet, he went 75 feet in the main drain. That did not work so he augured the kitchen sink, and washer drain tube because they all run on the same line “kitchen to washer to toilet to bathroom sink to shower then out to the city”. Still did not work and he basically gave up. Now the next day “yesterday” I had another plumber come out he pulled and augured the toilet and ran 150 feet down the main to the city network. “Nothing” he just kinda left said he will do some research after doing another call somewhere else. Never heard from him. I heard maybe it might be a vent problem so after youtube I went to the roof and put a garden hose down the vent and with a jet nozzle flushed it for a few minutes. Then I had about 10 perfect power flushes in the toilet. I thought I fixed it and went to sleep and woke up and it flushed about 2 more times and then it stopped flushing again. I forgot to mention yesterday after the 2nd plumber left I installed a brand new toilet myself with a perfect insulation everything went perfectly installing it. So now I am $600 down with no results. When I ran the washer and dishwasher water started backing up in the kitchen. Any thoughts you might have with be much appreciated. Thanks for your time
Got off of work Doing plumbing at Achivers
1:25 . I love the fact that you spoke about this, because there are a lot of journeymen out there who would not know even if you asked them, or at least be unable to articulate this information into something that's understandable to a green guy. However, you don't seem to be one of those.
I would love to be this guy’s apprentice
26 year old with some lower back problems., am I able to do this trade?
I’m a cleaner and an aspiring plumber….
I love plumber so much due to the fact that cleaning is my hubby since childhood and you have to be neat to also be a plumber.
I’m so good with chemicals as a cleaner, I make most of the cleaning consumable myself e.g soap, bleach , starch ,rust removal , mucor removal , blood stain removal etc
My company is now more that 10 years in existence.
I really want to start my apprenticeship very very soon in a well organized company.
I don’t mind if I can get a chance to learn from you.
Some journeyman I dealt with treated their helpers like shit, they could not ask a single question. It sucks to be a helper in NYC
Hmmm interesting hearing about the man who would line up the words on the pipe, like an electrician who lines up all finished screws vertically. That plumber is on a different level, and or grade. 🤷♂️
Im 28. Currently in a pre employment plumbing class.. There were 9 guys to begin with. Now 7. And seems like a couple more will drop out. Why is nobody interested in this trade? I love this career. The toughest challenges are worth it! The worst stories havent scared me
It’s all trades. Nobody wants to work anymore. It’s pathetic
Is it possible for someone in 35 to start plumbing ,andd thank you for the motivation bro
Is the math in plumbing difficult? I barely passed 9th grade algebra and really want to join this trade but don’t want to be doing math all day for my job
Not too difficult, you need to understand things like trigonometry and Archimedes' principle for school. However, on the job you'll mostly be using arithmetic.
I am a plumber's apprentice. I have been working for 8 months and have learned a lot. When should I start studying and going to school for the license?
My old boss paid for all 4 years of my schooling.
@@LukeRoxALot4 years? Dude wtf If you’re going to school for 4 years why go into plumbing? Lol
I'm 47 years, i don't know if I get into this? I really want to acquire a trade in plumbing.
I'm 33 and turning 34 this October. Iv never had any experience in Plumbing or any other construction jobs. Iv worked at a Supermarket for 10 years and after that I worked as a delivery guy, and now currently I'm a Tour bus driver. I drive people around my country and while I enjoy it, its low paying and making my back age 20 years a year. But over the year from talking to people and understanding that this is a proper career and the demand for this job is very high with good salaries. Am I too old to get into this business' as an apprentice?
No Im going to be 36 this month and starting my plumbing career in a couple weeks. f you strive to do great I believe its never to late.
@@briangal87hey how is it going? I am around the same age and starting this Monday. Gotta grow up ya know
I’m an apprentice and I would like to go far in plumbing service
I really want to learn it
How do I register in your company
Go to willplumb.com/careers to learn more 👍
OCD going wild. Why rock the joint while hot?
Ive seen 26 year olds making $35 an hour because they started at 17 LOL currently finishing my Year 1 as Apprentice.
How much do apprentices make ? I’m taking to a couple company’s at the moment I’m currently making 60k a year am I gonna be taking a pay cut??
Yes
Depends on your skill level and where you're located and whether you go union or not. Typically if you're brand new in the trades and don't have much experience if any, you'll be lucky to see anything more than $17-$18/hour, unions will pay a bit more but those are tough to get in. $5/hour increase every year you stay on and expand your skillset and continue up the ranks to journeyman and master plumber. But yeah, if you're making $60k/year now, starting as a new apprentice will be a hefty pay cut. I only made like $30k my first year so you're looking at your pay getting cut in half at least in the beginning but you'll be making double what you're making now if you continue on with it. That's the sacrifice.
A saying I hate is “looks good from my house”. It’s just embodies laziness and crappy work ethic. Great video btw!
I really want to learn how to start plumbing career but I don't know where to start as a 19 hear old.
Contact a trade union.
go to any growing subdivision or neighborhood and see what company is plumbing new houses and apply
Start contacting local plumbing companies and see if they're hiring new apprentices. Or do what I did and stake out a new construction site until the plumber shows up and then ask if he's hiring. You might just get lucky like I did and get hired on the spot.
I want to learn plumbing work plz tech me step by step
how much math is involved and is it difficult math? im sure i could learn it but i just hate it XD
Knowing how to read a tape measure is about all the math you need to know. The x1.41 offset calculation is the most difficult formula you might use from time to time for offsets but that's why you have calculators. It does all the work for you as long as you put the right numbers in the right spot in the formula.
I love Plumbing*
interested sir
one of my bosses just tells me to google it, or tells me the answer like it was common sense and uses a bunch of mechanical jargon
hi
I will wate you answer
Hello brother how are u .i hope u will be fine . i want to know about plumbing . can u help me in that matter .
Am I crazy for wanting to start this at the age of 44
Pro tip...stay off facebook plumbing fails. Most of it is people shitting on anyone asking a question and the other guys always know more than you and have 13" d*cks lol. This is a good video.
I’m 24 is it too late to start ?
Of course not. The best time to start is now.
Not at all. A lot of guys who start are much older than that. I've seen 40+ year old apprentices, younger guys are quite rare and companies will want you more because you're still young.
Master apprentice lol… here in Texas we shoot for the stars so they’re called responsible master apprentice!
helllo
GET YO GRIND ON!!UA UNION PLUMBERS 🤘🏼🤘🏼it’s art to me plus making over $100,000 a year LOVE IT 👏🏼LOCAL 78 LOS ANGELES all day!!!
Don't ever buy tools for a company. They are paying for your skills and time. Have them buy that for you.
I had to buy tools, but it's not a bad thing. I now have tools for side jobs.
7:04 😑 just dont leave your battery and charger in a mens bathroom charging $150 mistake.