Any advice? ( plus some of my work )
I recently got a job at roofing plant in working in the shipping department and honestly the job is really easy and low stress so far. I found out after 6 months we can apply internally to different departments, and I’ve been thinking about trying to move into maintenance eventually.
I talked to one of the maintenance guys today and he told me it was good I already have around 3 years of welding and pipefitting experience, but he also told me to “lie a little to get in the door” and say I know things like hydraulics on lifts and stuff like that.
That kind of threw me off because I don’t want to completely fake experience with something dangerous, but I also don’t want to come off unsure or inexperienced when I ask questions or eventually apply.
For people already in industrial maintenance:
- What should I realistically learn before applying?
- Is it better to just learn on the job?
- Should I go back to school or do certifications?
- What mechanical/electrical skills are most important in plants nowadays?
- How would you approach talking to maintenance supervisors without sounding unconfident?
For context:
- I already know welding, fabrication, and pipefitting pretty well
- I’m comfortable with tools and industrial environments
- I want stable long-term work and something I can grow in
- I also don’t want to get thrown into something way over my head
Any advice?