Hey guys I am 20 years old and a fully licensed gas fitter working for a year. Sounds all good except I have one problem.
All the companies in my area use you when they’re busy and lay off constantly. I worked from Sept 2014-Feb 2015 and got laid off, then March til June and got laid off. Then August til today and got laid off.
So I basically worked constantly during the furnace/heating season and when that died off I was laid off. Then constant again until the AC installs were done and then laid off again. And then constant again while everyone was getting their AC’s fixed and mid summer installs until that died off.
I’m sick of being laid off and always getting the same excuses. I don’t hold a grudge and I lke to use these things as a learning curve so I ask everyone that lays me off if I did anything wrong or anything I should change. And I get the same answers from 3-4 different companies. Basically, “No, we’re just not busy enough to train a less experienced guy and keep full staff”.
I’m always given the “not enough work” or “not enough experience but thats not your fault” speech. But I can’t really find work without getting experience.
Speaking with other guys I went to school with a lot of them are in the same boat and have bounced around more or about the same as me (4 companies in one year). I’m about ready to give up on this trade because it seems like they work you to the bone 24/7 for a couple months then run out of jobs and lay you off. they need you like crazy until the works done and then that’s it, you’re useless to them.
At first I thought it was me but when I think about it I can hold down a job alright and I’ve always like what I do it just frusterates me when you start slowing down knowing that in 2 or 3 days it could be the last day.
Does anyone have any advice they can give me or anything to give me a better idea? I’m really considering going back to school even though I know thats not the answer but I don’t know what else to do.
If you can move into electrical there is much less of a layoff issue. It does still exist but if you can get into the right company and bust your ass you will survive.
Yes it seems like there are more and more trades where the work is steady but dies off seasonally. I was told this wasn’t the case with HVAC because you need heat and AC here so it keeps you going…however that’s obviously not the case.
I could learn plumbing but I REALLY hate it. I have done a bit in the past and wasn’t a fan. Plus thats more school and an apprenticeship for another trade that may or may not lay me off constantly.
Appreciate the replys and any help!!!
^^That is true, I have electrician friends and they work steady. 40 hours a week 50 weeks a year.
Around Buffalo a very large percentage of the electricians are working huge amounts of overtime this summer as well. That is where the real $$ can be made.
I have actually considered going to be a linesmen and work for hydro one which would be a set for life gig. I’m not really sure how to go about it, in Buffalo there is an apprenticeship for electrician?
Our HVAC sub is buried and seems so year round. I don’t think all outfits lay off, but I understand the reasoning. They’re hiring, if you’re interested. Just sayin.
Its because youre not a service technician
They dont get layed off and are in high demand.
Im an HVAC service technician, have about 3 and a half years of experience, never layed off once, constantly asked to work saturdays which is always overtime.
The company i work for trains people with not much experience. Are you EPA universal?
I don’t know the intricacies of your current career path, but let me say this. At your age, you have so much potential and time left in your field, or others if you so choose.
If you like what you do, keep grinding away in the trenches. Be the go-to guy. The cream always rises to the top, and if you are consistently the best, people will begin to take notice. Put yourself in a position to be the best, take on extra, take certs, classes, figure out what you need to do to not be the guy laid off when seasons lighten up. Some of it comes with time, but just know that consistency and a desire to be that top guy will allow you to be successful.
Stay the course, and if you don’t like the course you are on… CHANGE IT ASAP. 20 is so young. I felt the same way at your age. Keep it up.
Even plumbers get laid off. My cousin went through the apprenticeship years ago. Think he’s been doing it now for 6 years maybe. Just over the winer he was either laid off. Or offered a job in Syracuse.
When you’re a service technician you dont get layed off, you fix things year round, outside on roofs mostly, whether its 90 degrees or negative 10, all commercial equipment needs maintenance, and filters need to be changed and belts replaced, theres always work. It can get slow but only for a week and then its time to change filters and fufill maintenance contracts.
As far as service goes, I’m not bad at it by any means but I usually don’t do a ton. I’ve never not figured out a call within 2 hours but I’ve also only done maybe 20-30 calls my whole life. I also hear that the money is in service as well, but I’m having trouble finding someone to take me for service. Theres only so much training I can do for service work on my own. I have both an oil 2 and gas 2 ticket, ODP card and a handful of other certificates like different flexible gas lines, fall arrest, trenching etc.
I believe EPA universal is the same as ODP(ozone depletion) in Canada, in which case yes I am. I am signed up as an apprentice but have yet to work under anyone with a 313A or 313D (residential or commercial refrigeration mechanic)
Look for a big company and youll probably be happy and be layed off less, construction usually get layed offf when it gets slow. Service they try to keep you busy by even having you do construction if need be, its hard to find experienced service technicians.
This might be kind of out there considering this started as an hvac/gas-related thread, but then again here you are using an internet forum asking what else you could do and saying you’re considering going back to school:
There’s enough free UNIX and Linux training materials out there that a sufficiently motivated person could learn enough to earn an RHCT cert and not embarrass themselves in an interview for a datacenter tech or junior systems administrator. Starting salary might not be $texas, but layoffs aren’t generally a problem in that niche and if you’re willing to work hard and learn constantly there’s no limit to where you can go or what you can earn.
Could also learn Ruby, Python, or PHP and get into programming and/or web development.
If you’re already off work, you can get started immediately. Download Virtualbox and get Ubuntu or CentOS installed. Learn the basics of editing text with vi and then find and follow a how-to on setting up a web or mail server.
I imagine you could do similar stuff with Microsoft products, but that’s not my scene- I know that there’s steady demand in the Linux and UNIX world.
My father was Steamfitter laborer for 43 years. He was a skilled tradesman, worked many jobs, laid off many times. When he was working he typically had cheap living arrangements; lived at home and took care his mother, rented a small apartment, or even camped in the woods. This allowed him to move around from job to job without a mortgage, utility bills, etc…granted this was in the 60s and 70s and life for the blue collar worker was much different and you could make a very decent wage in his particular trade. But, it set him up to have a family, house, nice pension etc…as a means to supplement his income he typically would do work for hire; classified work, part time jobs, damn near anything. His favorite off all his side jobs was working for Enterprise. Believe it or not. There are a lot of folks that travel one way for business. My father would be the guy transferring cars from location to location. Not sure if it still works this way now having AVIS, Hertz, National, Dollar, Alamo, Budget…there is just so many. But it didn’t pay out well.
My point is, your trade is saturated if got laid off three times in one year. Use your trade to build a different profession. Unless you can find a decent way to earn a second income to support your career then I think you need a new career. But, if you find a second income that is better than your career…would you stay?
I’m a bit biased because I’ve worked at the same company for 14 years…but been promoted 5 times. I’m always an advocate that if you don’t like the situation; change the factors. You have to be in control. Otherwise you will always be the “Bitch” and no one wants to be that.
Seriously, good luck to you. I hope you don’t loose your trade. Just find a different company or use your skills to excel yourself in a different and positive way.
