u/mashallaaaahhhh

Carhartt is comically long on me, even for S and XS for women. Dickies fit short women a bit better. Any brands or pieces you'd recommend for someone under 5'5"?

More or less the title. I heard that unions are the best way to get work in the Chicago area and Local 134 is the cream of the crop.

I know it's competitive but I want to work for it, but I'm worried about work prospects after I finish my apprenticeship.

I'm still at the pre-apprenticeship stage, so I'm ngl I am looking for trades that can help me hit the ground running with good paying work, that doesn't always take to unions - especially if my only commercial or industrial work comes from a single union. I might be misunderstanding something though.

People who went from white to blue collar, what were you least expecting from the switch? More or less the title. If you jumped from white collar to blue, what were you least expecting? What took a little time to get used to? Do you regret your change? Should mention I'm considering carpentry or electrical routes.

More or less the title. If you jumped from white collar to blue, what were you least expecting? What took a little time to get used to? Do you regret your change?

Should mention I'm considering carpentry and electrian routes.

Changing careers to be an electrician or ironworker. It's physically taxing on the body but I want to push myself. Anyone here in the trades with VS?

Artists like assensia or akiaura or anyone similar come to mind.

Based out of Chicago and debating between ornamental ironwork, electrician and architectural millwork.

I have a pre-apprenticeship coming up next spring, and my heart is more in place with carpentry and ironwork but I'm ngl, electrician is more practical for me in terms of pay and how it'll affect my physical health.

I feel like I would really enjoy architectural millwork and trim carpentry, but a couple of older union folks in plumbing and ironwork are warning me against carpentry to consider something that at least pays more and is less over-saturated.

- Realistically, how long would it take to get into trim or architectural millwork? Does the pay get substantially better?

- Can you reliably have work throughout the year?

- Anything adjacent to carpentry? Best I could find was ornamental ironwork at Local 65 that I'm seriously thinking about applying to and for going my pre-apprenticeship altogether.

My lower body feels sluggish, sometimes I feel like I'm flinging my feet onto holds with no control, stability or strength.

If you had this issue, what did you do to overcome it? What exercises did you do?

I'm thinking about a body recomp to lose a little weight (8-10lbs) while I build some muscle but I know my core and leg strength isn't the best.

Waiting on joining CWIT here in Chicago. While I'm waiting I'm trying to figure out what I want to do.

My gut says carpentry (id ideally like to eventually get into trim carpentry or millwork) but I'm also considering joining the IBEW since it pays more. I heard it's really competitive though, and that has me worried.

So I figured I ask this sub...

1. What do you do?

2. How did you get into it?

3. How do you like it / Do you see yourself sticking with this trade or moving away from it?

4. What's your salary progression been like over time?

5. What do people seriously not consider when they enter your trade? What are warnings or tips you would give to someone considering it?

6. Is it reliably in demand in Chicago?