Considering a Plumbing Apprenticeship in my late 20s, am I mad?

JamesBean

I'm going to be incredibly blunt and arguably a little hard on myself here.

I'm 27, went to college for Business because I didn't know what else to go at. Dropped out part way through 2nd year. Went doing an Electrician Apprenticeship with a large firm. Hated that. Decided it'd be handier to struggle through college than a trade.
Got my Business degree because I still didn't know what to do and knew that'd be 3 years vs 4.

Now I'm nearly 3 years out of college, worked in a variety of office based jobs and I'm still not happy.
I've a ball of holidays worked up in my current role - a desk based role with a Construction firm (which I've been in exactly a year) and I'm thinking of taking a week to go and trial run an a Plumbing Apprenticeship.
I think I'd be happier working with my hands than at a desk, but I'm also not sure if this is just a 'grass is always greener' situation.

I was diagnosed with ADHD a few months back.
Meds haven't made desk based work any more tolerable let alone enjoyable. But I'm also very much aware that job-hopping is a trait of ADHD, I've perpetuated it, saying that I'm also desperately aware that I'm in the wrong line of work entirely.

I also don't know if the lifestyle change would be enough to make me hate myself for changing. I'd go from living in a city, going out for drinks with my friends and having the craic to living in the country with my parents barely being able to run my car.
But I'm also acutely aware that I'm fortunate enough that my parents are willing to support me/let me live rent free until I get a year or two under my belt as a Plumber.

I see no future for me in what I'm doing, I'm stressed to the 9s doing busy work and totally unfulfilled.

Thought maybe Sales, at least it's results orientated and good money but I'm not sure if that's actually for me, or if I'm just drawn by the potential to earn and the fact that I wouldn't have to go back to pennies to get started.
I've no clue what other sort of job I'd want to do.

Way back in school English and Geography were my best subjects, I'm a decent essay writer and an even better bluffer. I wasn't even thinking of going into the trades.
But I also can't see myself in Marketing, HR, Accounting or any other desk job.

I know I'd ultimately like to start my own Business, always have, always will. If I was to train and qualify I'd immediately want to go out on my own, but that's putting the cart before the horse, am I mad for considering going back to do an apprenticeship?

carrollsno1

Started pipefitting at 25, rate was under €8/hr when i started think its over €9/hr now im on the qualified rate now and should be qualified by April. No regrets at all, it was very tough going the first year and some of the second year as i was doing a lot of commuting but the lockdowns meant i wasnt spendingmuch outaide of fuel and groceries back then. What line of construction work is the company you work with doing? Plumbing is a fairly broad trade these days too what side do you wanna get in on, housebashing, commercial or industrial? If its industrial pipefitting or mamf might be worth a shout either.

Princess Calla

Why plumbing? What is it about plumbing that appeals to you?

It kinda feels like your jumping aimlessly around professions …the equivalent of spinning a globe and sticking a pin in it, to see where you want to live.

Your age wouldn't bother me, lots of people restart their careers for numerous reasons. I'd be more curious as to why you think plumbing is a good fit. (Obviously you don't need to answer on thread but something to think about).

Have you even talked to someone who has trained and set up their own business?

Your post just feels very fanciful without acknowledging how hard and long the road is going to be.

mulbot

No you're not mad. I was less than a year qualified in my trade when I went out working for myself. If you can manage financially, get stuck in and learn your trade for the 4 years or so, there'll be no problem at all setting up for yourself- BTW, I've a few friends who work for themselves as plumbers, who started out for industrial companies, but they moved back to learn domestic as that's where they found better opportunities to be self employed.!

SuperBowserWorld

You are young and plumbing is not going to be automated any time soon, and it will be more and more in demand, especially as everyone seems to want comfortable office jobs, that will definitely be automated where possible.

So, your age and the career is not a problem. You can try it and if it doesn't work out you have your existing experience to fall back on.

Maybe see a career coach and a psychologist to see what exactly you want.

JamesBean

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122723631#Comment_122723631

Thank you, that’s great to hear.

Company I currently work for is an M&E contractor, large scale pharma, data centres and what not.

I think I’d prefer housbashing and commercial rather than Residential. During my Elec apprenticeship I was doing Industrial and spent a few day sweeping a roof, few more just cutting unistrut.

Think I’d rather learn more even if it’s a little harder going

Gusser09

A great job whem times are good. A terrible job when times are bad. Like most trades.

Stay away from it mate at your age. Easier ways to make a living.

JamesBean

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122723703#Comment_122723703

I don’t really know.

I don’t know how people make career decisions and I’m second guessing myself each step of the way.

I went into a Business degree with feck all understanding other than I was interested in getting a job and fascinated with how businesses were ran (McDonalds being more of a Real Estate company, Starbucks a bank etc). Struggled through that degree in the end.

Supply Chain Analyst then, in the weeds, faffing about with Excel and presenting to C Suite executives week on week, in a meeting with the CCO, COO and all the Sales directors to inform them on stock levels.

Thought my current role would be a better fit - analytical but in my head, not desk based, out on site solving problems and understanding sequence of Construction.

It’s not that - it’s even more fiddly work working on links and float, trying to get graphs to look right rather than be accurate.
Stressing over weekly reports and knowing I’m in the wrong job.

Why Plumbing? I don’t think I want a desk job.
I like seeing a finished job, not just a never ending backlog of tasks.
I like being able to take pride in my work - can’t do that with a fartsy Report.

Detail orientated but physical work, not wording in a word doc.
I’d also want to eventually work for myself and be able to grow a Business.
Feel plumbing is hands on, detail orientated but task based and rewarding whilst also allowing for self employment which is essentially a must for me.

I’ve friends who became software devs because they ‘liked video games’, I feel I’m putting in a lot more thought and not getting any further.

My uncle is self employed, I know what it takes.

I know I’m being fanciful, and that’s part of the worry. Am I going to hate it when I get into it and regret leaving a desk job for slogging away on a site? But also, am I just a bit soft and it’s more so I’ll enjoy that work more then I get over the initial hurdle and hardship?

I do know I’ve always wanted to be self employed, I won’t waiver on that, it’s not like I’ll turn around in 2 months time and want a cushy factory job.. in my head plumbing is the best way to get to where I want to be even if it is a hard slog

How will you feel at 50 or 60 with dodgy knees from all the kneeling on hard floors. And a sore back from the bending.

John_Rambo

Business degree and a trade can make excellent partners.

Ash.J.Williams

See a professional guidance councillor and try and use your degree better

JamesBean

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122724349#Comment_122724349

My logic for going towards Elec originally and now towards Plumbing is when **** hits the fan (and I doubt it’ll be as bad on Construction in Ireland as it was in 08), I’ll at least have a trade that’s in demand for repair work and that’s got a qualification behind it, far less likes to be undercut by someone who’s not qualified.

Long term ambition is/would be to to one day start my own Business and move away from the tools

JamesBean

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122724391#Comment_122724391

The ambition would be to start my own Business and scale it, eventually move away from the tools and run the business.

JamesBean

I feel my business degree is largely wasted on me. I scrapped through it, and the jobs I can get out of it aren’t really of interest to me, other than maybe Sales.
Beyond that jobs that would interest me, and where a degree is a requirement seem to be few and far between.

But I know in reality education is never lost.
So it’d be good in the long run for moving upwards as a Plumber

horse7

How do you pay for your rent food etc?

JamesBean

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122724621#Comment_122724621

I currently rent a room in Galway and am entirely self sufficient, but if I was to go back and do an apprenticeship I’d be moving back in with my parents and paying a much smaller amount towards rent.

That’s it though, it’d be a huge lifestyle change.

893bet

if you didn’t like electrical work what makes you think plumbing will be any better?

JamesBean

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122724862#Comment_122724862

Good question.

I guess I was doing industrial work first time round. Lots of cable pulling, sweeping and cable tying. Which is to be expected as a first year apprentice.

Think I’d prefer residential and Commercial to Industrial, more variety, more problem solving rather than just installation - I think..

But I’m picking it for much the same reason, stability, job security, start up costs (compared to a Chippy), toll on the body and potential for self employment. Also somewhat tempted by MAMF - I like fixing things.
don’t know which of the two I’d prefer..

893bet

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122725402#Comment_122725402

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058363317/i-m-terrible-at-my-job-and-need-a-change

two months ago on the above thread you reached a conclusion that you wouldn’t like plumbing…..

You are young but at the same time need to try get on the career ladder. The biggest point I notice in your posts is summarised “Decided it'd be handier to struggle through college than a trade”. Things in work; especially if well paid are rarely easy or handy.

I would err on side of caution on abandoning your job entirely. Any way of getting a two week stent with a plumber to assesss what he is doing all day?

Wanderer78

contact adhd support groups for guidance and supports, some can give really good carrier advice, our educational and training systems are diabolical for those of us that are neurodivergent, constantly sending us off on wild goose chases, come from a family of sparks, all adhd ta fcuk, all undiagnosed though, all good sparks though…

https://adhdireland.ie/

best of luck

JamesBean

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122725450#Comment_122725450

would the take away from that not be, months later you still hate your job you should obviously change careers?

I think a big part of why I’ve reservations about plumbing is - it’s quite similar to what I was at and the change to my lifestyle is going to be a kick in the teeth, at least for the first 2 years

But I’m not going to take the ‘easy way out’ anymore, it’s gotten me nowhere.

The plan is to use a week of my holidays to go out on a trial run with a plumber

Wanderer78

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122725953#Comment_122725953

could very well be the job for you, you probably need to be very physically active, in order to burn off that adhd energy, focus issues are a pain in the hole though, have add myself

Hooked

27? Will ya stop, you're only a PUP!

I'm 47 and would LOVE to be in your shoes! Do it - nothing to lose!!! Parents have offered you the safety net…

I'm considering a total career change. AT 47! The way I see it… I've 20 more years of working on front of me!

You've TWICE THAT!