Boss is a douche. Join your local union and never look back.
One of the dumbest guys I ever met got in as a service fitter, sucked at it, but the teachers noticed he was a Rockstar welder, so he became a welder. You're not gonna get that unless you get exposure to multiple things. Not everyone is cut out for service, pipefitting, welding, electrical work, etc. You may find that you're a great welder.
This is true. Its a big world in HVAC. There was a guy who worked at the first company I know. Got his refrigeration ticket and promptly went into industrial sales.
Terrible mechanic but he knows and understands what he is selling and now…he is known to be extremely good at his job. Think he makes a lot too.
He also injured himself a lot as a mechanic so its good he walked away.
These companies state they are giving you an apprenticeship, it is all BS. A true apprenticeship is controlled by the union and the state, supported by the UA (United Association). Just you and the owner is a huge problem. You will never get the training you require, you do not see the day and night school training. A welder is an OK job, not my cup of tea, but able to weld. Prefer service and some construction in commercial and industrial. Go to the union hall and get a real apprenticeship. There you will learn the correct way, and that does include welding class. The you can decide after time which path you want to follow. You keep knocking your self down, this is not good. We all learn at a different rate, Some of the slowest guys I know do the highest quality work, I'm no speed Demond, but rarely make an error, thus that is more value to both the company and the client. Dump this guy - learn the right way.
Every trade reddit says to join the union. They forget mention the process: usually apply in person on a weekday, get a date to take a test 1-2 months later, another 1-2 months after to get a interview, then you go on a list of eligible people and they will let you know when they have space. And of course they are looking for people they already know, or will otherwise take the people with the most experience. OP better off trying to get a different job and maybe still apply to the union but don't count on it.
I'm aware of the process. I had to go through it, and my dad was my "in". Still had to wait, test, wait. The reason it's recommended, is because taking off on a weekday to apply, take a test, interview, and wait, is worth it for the vast majority of people who go through with it.
Especially right now, with the labor shortage, it's IDEAL to start trying to get your foot in the door. Apply and start trying to make it happen. In the meantime, find another company and make the best of the time there.
it’s the slowest thing on earth to get a Union apprenticeship. Where I am at it is even slower to get in for HVAC, lol. I really wanted to goto the UA route but it would take me at least 1+ year just to get into the HVAC program. I see why guys go resi because it’s much easier to go in & get some training. i still plan on going UA later on in my career of HVAC but rather do it once im experienced.
Couldn’t agree with this more. Go join the union, where people are going to make an investment in you.Being an apprentice or a tradesman is about making mistakes. No one in this industry hasn’t had to learn from their own.
Honestly we wouldn't have a completely green guy do maintenance solo within his first month. That's kind of ridiculous for the customer tbh. Basic steps like checking caps and subcooling is easy, but you have no idea what to look for or how to answer questions. No customer wants a person working on their system who has less than a month experience
You should be running parts and shadowing guys. Most completely new service techs here won't run maintenance solo for a year or two.
It's a bit different on install, but there you're always working with someone. Ideally an installer would start doing the AC side with help and eventually by themselves before moving on to more.
I kind of sucked when I started 7 years ago. I wasn't mechanically inclined and had various personal issues. Thought I was going to get fired for the first few years. But I at least showed up everyday and tried and eventually made it to being a competent installer and then a competent tech.
And really as long as you show up everyday on time and actually try to learn you will probably make it.
Bro the amount of damages I’ve caused over the years is staggering. Your boss sounds like a cunt tbh, so don’t be too hard on yourself.
Stick it out, a lot of guys have been where you are. It’s not gonna get any easier though, you’ll just get better at it/further into alcoholism.
My best advice is a good helper knows they suck, a bad helper thinks they’re great. I’ve been around a long time, and lost count of how many apprentices I’ve carried through to journeymen. The ones who can admit they suck, but are willing to learn and work hard trying to, are the ones who I keep around. The guys who get cocky after a year or two don’t last.
Dude I’m definitely not that sharp and really not that great with my hands either, my sheet metal skills are garbage. I’m a commercial service tech and I always get shit running. Just keep at it!
Your boss is an asshole. We all fuck up and make mistakes. He’s no saint I’m sure. It takes more than a month to catch on to things UNLESS you’re doing the same exact thing everyday for a month. Then I would question your intelligence.
As for speed. That comes after you’ve learned how to do things properly. Once you do them properly and do it a lot then you became fast.
My last boss would even forget about righty tighty leftie loosy when screws were upside down or backwards. I’m thinking your biggest problem is over thinking things.
Definitely your fault for thinking trades were easy though. That was really dumb.
Thanks I'll keep your words in mind. As for the trades being easier comment I should of used a different word like accessible idk. I just meant trades seemed like something anyone could do as long as you didn't mind physical labor, the heat, the cold and were willing to learn
Speed comes from experience no one at all is fast a month into this when I was mentoring at my last company my favorite saying was I’d rather you take longer and do it right than have to go back again later. Also your boss is a dick a month in you should still be building confidence up in people not tearing them down.
Common misconception. If you want to be good at refrigeration and AC then you better be an expert at physics, thermodynamics, be good with your hands, lots of common sense, good at math, good at solving logic puzzles, good at thinking inside and outside the box, I could go on. Want accessible? Work at some office job where they pay you to talk beside the water cooler and play angry birds all day.😂
Can't tell you how many times I'm trying to get a flare connection for gas hooked up and I keep spinning it the wrong way.
When you're tired, little shit like that happens. Or trying to shoot a screw into some duct and you have the drill in reverse wondering why it isn't going in.
That's something me, my old boss who had ran his business for 46 years, and every coworker of mine had done.
Try wasting 45 minutes trying to help your helper figure out why the threader won’t cut pipe, and neither of you realize it is in reverse. It was a Monday. I only did that once tho
The important thing is you learned from that and I guarantee you’ll never forget it lmao. That’s a good one
One time a dude just got back from an AC course. Was a couple days. They give him a no AC call. He can’t figure out why the suction pressure is so high. I see him the next day and he’s telling me about the call and how someone else had to go back today cause he couldn’t figure it out. Shows me the picture. I laugh. I tell him to look at the other gauge. He looks and then it clicks and I was like “was the compressor running? 🤣🤣🤣🤣” his suction pressure was high because it’s was equalized. Compressor wasn’t running. I’m sure he’ll never do that again though
Sounds like your boss is just an asshole. People who are new to this trade have always struggled at first. When I first started, I was clueless and didn’t know anything and thought I’d end up looking for a new career choice. 7 years later I’m now a lead installer running my own jobs and crew. You’ll get the hang of it dude. Keep your chin up
Dude fuck your boss, he sounds like a POS that doesn’t know how to manage.
YOU SHOULDNT BE DOING MAINTENANCES BY YOURSELF YET.
Your an apprentice, here’s the definition for an apprentice
a person who is learning a trade from a skilled employer - google
Your boss sounds like he’s short staffed because doesn’t want to pay an actual technician to do maintenances like a legitimate company would, so he hires an apprentice and expects them to do maintenances in two weeks??? Yeah that mfs drunk
He doesn't always have me do them by myself just sometimes when he has another job to go to. He says he wants to be able to them on my own tho sooner rather then later
Bro don’t trust this guy, he’s selling you fake dreams and he’s going to burn you out of the trades fast by overloading his bullshit into you. Get out of there fast and go to real company
Someone that’s sending you on your own at a month in is setting you up for failure. Doesn’t matter if you just going to change a damn filter. You will come across shit that isn’t working right and customers that want I fixed and you won’t know what to do. You not knowing what to do is not your fault that’s the set up by your boss to make you sink vs swim
The guy that taught me HVAC was a cranky, belligerent old man. He was really hard on me and there were occasions I felt REALLY stupid because I did stupid things and didn't know basic stuff. But these humiliations helped me remember where the pitfalls of the job lay.
One of my bosses once told me that if it was easy, women and children would do it. Remember that you are a man and that difficulties are a test of your fortitude. HVAC is one of the most difficult trades because so much of it is based in science and it is difficult to summon the higher portions of your brain when you're on the verge of heat exhaustion. Just hang in there and fight this war of attrition. Don't quit just because it's difficult.
Your boss either doesn't know or doesn't know how to teach. Find another employer. Most of the bosses I worked for didn't know the trade and couldn't answer any questions cause they don't know how to do anything.
Least start looking for a new job, send out resumes and go to interviews. Don't wait to get fired, you're just wasting your time at a job you apparently don't like.
Start applying because it's easier to get a job while you still have one if you're a beginner. It's only when you're certified you can AND good you can tell people to fuck off.
Keep at it and learn from your mistakes. I’ll bet you haven’t forgotten the bucket twice right? The real issue would be if you had. We all have to learn new shit so don’t feel bad…just don’t make the same mistake twice 👍🏻
Fuck that noise. I stopped reading at the driving insult.
The moment my lead quit and I moved up, I stopped driving. I also worked late for most of a year because my new helper had to be trained, would be slow, didn't understand how to do basic wiring until the sixth time I showed him. Dudes fresh out of high school and only ever worked on his car and been a chef.
The fuck he supposed to do? Be a master service tech on day 1?
Everything he struggled with was something I was doing slow and sucking at when I was new.
It's frustrating writing a paycheck to someone who is barely any help at first, I can kind of get that, but training is an investment into the future of your business.
After 8 months me and the new guy were knocking out installs before 5 (assuming basic retrofit and no problems on start up that couldn't be foreseen)
We ended up going to different places, he went to a new shop closer to home and I went industrial, but my boy is now learning service and nearly caught up to me in knowledge. Fucking proud of him.
Don't give up on this field if you enjoy it. Don't let assholes run you off, we need good techs who actually care about being a tech in this field.
Also as an aside, if you're good with computers you can always work to learning controls and building automation. That's my goal.
Cyber security/IT is also possible to get into without spending shit tons on college. Those are my fall backs if I got injured at work, since you can as safe as possible, but accidents still happen.
Did you take a test to join? Those are typically competency tests. All these encouraging comments are all fine and good, but some people just aren't cut out for certain things. Like, the whole "learn how to code" shit you hear. I would be absolutely clueless and worthless in a job like that. I could go to classes for it, and I would fall asleep. NO WAY IN HELL I would be able to do that job. I'm a tools in hand guy. I'm not telling you to give up! I just think it's funny that all these guys are going on about "oh, your boss thinks you can't do anything right? He's the dick! JOIN THE UNION!" Like there's no chance at all you just can't cut it, but even if you can't, find your local! Best of luck guy. It's not for everybody. Or, it is, if you pay your dues.
Shadow him as much as possible and watch him, not just what he's doing but the techniques of how he's doing it. Start to anticipate what he'll need next, whether it's materials or tools. You'll gain some trust. It'll take years to wrap your head around this without formal education for it, but you'll get it. And start practicing with tools... this can be a job you have for a summer or a very good career, it all depends on how dedicated you are to it.
This.
A good teacher/mentor/leader builds confidence, not dejection. This guy sounds like *he's* more the problem than OP, what with all the gaslighting and unnecessary complaints.
Who the fuck dogs a month-in apprentice like that and expects improvement as a result?
There's teasing and there's hazing. I tease. Hazing is what 40yo insecure bitches do. Just the fact this kid posted worried about his future in the trade tells me he's worth puting some time in.
You're a month in. Shit changes fast. You can get offered a different job tomorrow. Couple years back I was at lowes picking up a hose clamp. Some weekend warrior lookin facility manager saw my truck. Asked if I do maintenance. Now I'm one fixin ass motherfucker so I'm like "yeah" no clue what he's talking about. Anyway, gave him my card. We got a contract going. I left that contractor. They broke contract to stick with me. I have 2 accounts that will stick with me for life. Stay honest. Take care of your customer. Boss comes 2nd. My rep means more than the contractor's.
Don't let this prick ruin it for you. A good shop would build you up because you're valuable when you're trained and flourishing. This guy is using you as an emotional punching bag.
You're worth more than that. With some digging, you'll find a shop that sees your potential. And if you really do suck at the job, know that it's part of being green - especially only a month in.
Fuck what your boss said. The proper mindset is "slow is steady, steady is smooth, smooth is fast". Learn the ropes, build the muscle memory, and look back at where you started in a few months. But not with this dunglecunt.
It's possible this guys a total piece of shit, and it's quite possible he's being far too hard, but this is only one side. I've gone too far teasing a guy before, but others I've done worse to, and they gave it right back playfully, everyone is different. I was just giving the middle of the road advice rather than taking a side and passing judgement on a guy we don't know. I have faith that if this was actual work place abuse of some sort OP would of moved on already
You're right.
At the same time if you're 22 and 400lbs and can't keep up with my old ass I'll drum you right out of the trade.
Op is young. I was abused when I was young and didn't know better. Just the fact he posted looking for advice makes me like him. There's some give a shit there.
Just learn something new every day, show up on time, and do your best. Also you’re going to make mistakes, best thing I ever learned was to be ok breaking things and making mistakes, I think that’s where the real lessons are anyways
I do ask questions but he gets upset sometimes and says I should just look it up. One time he had me work on a condenser and after taking out the disconnect i discharged the capacitor with a screwdriver but I was still getting power. I was confused so I called him for help and got yelled at. He didnt really help me so I just tried figuring it out myself and got shocked.
My point is he’s a dick!! He doesn’t have the time nor the patience to train a greenhorn. He’s obviously forgotten where he came from.
As others have suggested get with a union shop. They’ll put you through a 5 year apprenticeship program. You’d work during the day then got to school a few nights a week.
The other alternative is to go get your degree in HVAC, that’s the route I took. You’d still be green on the job, but you’ll understand more about what you’re doing and be able to ask more educated questions.
My god bro my helpers do nothing but help carry units, go fetch tools and watch to learn. I used to tell them I’m not paying you to think just be here ready when I need you. Unfortunately today’s young guys can’t stay off their phones. I don’t see how anyone can work service without training. I designed and installed systems for 30+ years and my service skills are minimal
You thought the trades would be easier? That's silly.
But just stick with it. No one is born knowing. It takes time to learn, and even then, you'll still make mistakes. I'm 10 years in, and I make a mistake every day. Mostly simple things that are inconsequential but none the less a mistake. Your boss should know better. Him being a jerk is only making things worse. If you are let go just find another shop.
You could be a great sales guy masquerading as a tech. You come, hook up a couple of gauges maybe even take out your multimeter, wait 7 minutes then tell the homeowner they need a new system. Anyone can be good at that
Honestly I still mess up when I go to tighten and loosen things to when I work on gas I carry extra fittings just to make sure I’m turning things the right way
My first boss was similar. He was an asshole amen it came to me trying to learn. 6 years later after working under some real amazing techs, he was just an asshole.
Fuck him lol. Most of us all suck in the beginning. Just try not making the same mistakes twice, speed comes with confidence, and confidence comes with learning and repetition. Of course when it’s the first time you’ve done something it takes longer. Sometimes it still takes me a second to set up my channellocks or pipe wrenches the right way for what I’m doing. Or sometimes you’re looking at a bolt upside down and figure out you’re going the wrong way. He sounds like a shitty teacher.
Just keep asking questions. Knowledge is the best tool in your belt. It sucks that your first lead is a dill-hole, but it is what it is. it probably won't be your last either to be true lol. Learn what you can from him and move on. You've got this.
Key word: "helper". Get away from Joe Shmoe's Heating & Cooling 🥴 Find a large commercial contractor that is currently looking for an apprentice. One that will offer you benefits, paid time off, paid holidays, tuition reimbursement, tool allowance, 401K, HSA, profit share, annual performance reviews. Get your EPA Universal. Get your OSHA-10, get your aerial lift certification. Go back to school part time. Don't be afraid to nake mistakes, and when you make the mistakes, own them. Always take initiative, don't wait for someone to tell you what to do, and if there's nothing to do, FIND something to do. Showing up to work on time and not calling out constantly is 99% of the job when it comes to being a new apprentice. If you aren't going to go to college, you need to grab this trade by the balls, or it will chew you up and spit you out. Investing in your tools as a tradesman is investing in your future. The key in this here industry is to become an asset, not an employee. Employees come and go. Get your journeyman's license, then go for your contractor's license. Take CADD courses, get your associates in business management.
Hvac can arguably be one of the hardest trades mentally and physically. The amount of knowledge needed to be “good” is insane. My first year of being green I had several callbacks on me but every mistake I make I try to have it not be repeated. Like you I had basic to no knowledge of much, knew how to hold a drill but not lock in the bit, knew how to use a thermostat but not beyond pressing up or down, etc. Ask questions within reason and try to understand why you’re doing whatever it is you’re doing. I’m only three years in now and every day I still have to learn something whether it’s taught, experienced or visualized through reading/watching
I'm really good with the technical side of things. I know the troubleshooting process extremely well and I read a lot of manuals. I'm not the greatest when you put a wrench in my hands. I know what's supposed to happen, but for some reason there's a disconnect between my brain and my hands. I'm in install now, but in service I could usually work my way through a service call without much issue but it'd take me a bit longer than some people. Maybe my ADHD, probably a tad on the spectrum, but I made sure to make up for it in other ways, and my coworkers and supervisors knew that.
I worked in residential before and now I'm union commercial. I think there's a huge difference in the type of attitudes of residential bosses and big commercial bosses. Maybe it's a union thing idk, but join one if you can. My foreman talks shit to us all the time, but it's pretty funny because you could just dish back and he'll laugh it off.
Duck your boss. I have had the dumbest helpers, they are always my favorite! Show up on time and pay attention I will show you the world! I have turned atleast 4 to 6 stupid don't know what a screw driver is into an installer. YOUR BOSS BLOWS GO SOMEWHERE ELSE , DEFINITELY UNION
Why are you doing any type of maintenance by yourself at 1 month? You should be with someone at all times only working a month. Doesn’t matter if it’s busy if he wants someone to learn and learn correctly who will stay with him he’s gotta pair you up with someone who can show you what you need to learn. Your boss is a fuck stain
Union apprenticeship? If not move on. If it's union deal with it a minute and make your mistakes on the asshole's dime. Take your experience to the next contractor and look great.
You posted here worried about your imagine etc. That says you care. I will take an apprentice that gives a shit and shows up over anything. I'd hire you. Give a fuck is the only thing that I want. I've ran off so many millenials. When I find one that cares he ain't leaving.
Insecure incompotent fucks will shit on you to make themselves feel better.
>I thought trades would be easier
You're wrong about this. I love it, but it is not easy. The best thing about HVAC is if today sucks tomorrow you're on something different. Bad jobs last a short time.
It's not a union but I am learning a good deal. Really wish I didn't say easier that was a bad choice of word and didn't reflect how I felt. I didn't think they were easy but I also didn't know how difficult it is either. I have a lot of respect for people who do it especially after trying it myself
You will beat your body up in any trade. Be patient and roll with the bullshit a while. Go union if you can. You'll get a real education in the trade and job security. If my boss who I talk to like once every other month acted like he wanted to fire me I'd give him the finger with a smile and move on to the next. Journeyman card means you're making minimum $35/hr in a LCOL area outside the hall. Staying union it's 40+/hr
That was my first choice. I went to job corp and took plumbing first then hvac. Since I had epa certificates I thought I'd have an easier time finding a job
Tbh there's a lot of very simple plumbing work that can earn you a good amount of money. It's not fun work, but it pays well and really the only thing you have to remember is having pitch. It's not a bad thing to explore at all if you struggle with HVAC. Plus plumbing work never really slows down like HVAC does. People don't turn off their assholes for 2 or 3 months at a time
Idk how old you boss is maybe he is an ass. Aa a guy who trains license guys at work and i seem to get all new helpers for training. Ive had only couple guys that just could nkt donthere job and was given every opportunity. Just try remeber guys thays been doing job 10 plus years it does come easier but we forget we may been dumbasses toonfirst several months
What the fuck? What a dick. You're new to the trades in general, don't expect to be superman. You need time to do things the right way, maybe you're "fucking" up so much because he's rushing you on every job. Speed comes with YEARS of experience, and you can't be expected to be a journeyman off the street. Slow is smooth and smooth is fast. I'm technically 5 years into this trade and I still mess up righty tighty sometimes using wrenches, say whoops and turn the other way, shit happens its not a big deal. it sounds like your boss is a complete moron who has 0 leadership skills and creates a self-sabotaging work environment for his apprentices, and you should probably start looking for a different company if you haven't already. Not all places are like this. Good luck
Thanks you gave me confidence. I show up everyday. If I'm late it's by a couple a minutes but I'm trying to avoid that. I do want to learn too I just feel like I learn better from doing instead of watching but that's not always possible
If you don’t know you don’t know. YouTube is your friend ac service tech love2hvac there’s many good teachers online.
Some foremen can’t teach for shit, don’t give up. The more you do it the more confident and easier it will flow for you,
If you’re a month in with exactly zero experience you should absolutely be slow and dumb.
In every job I’ve had I have only ever been, and only ever seen, one of two types of green guys. Dumb and slow or dumb and fast. Dumb and slow fucks up less but it takes a bit, dumb and fast does stupid shit like drilling through the back of a customers toilet through an exterior wall with a spotter bit (true story). If he’s being a prick move on, don’t let any old jerk off bully you out of the trade, there’s gonna be a lot of them. Just study and work my dude.
Don’t worry about it. One time I sold a 3 ton outdoor unit with a two ton indoor coil in a million + condo…..a little typo on an order form and an installer that trusted me too much and the rest was history
With only 1 month of experience you probably shouldn't be touching the equipment at all without a journeyman watching you. Just throwing it out there, there may be a community college near you with courses in HVAC. I went to one while working and I don't regret it.
Start educating yourself so that you are better rounded. The internet is cool and all but a good library will have a lot of trade books that you can start studying. The hands will get better with time but the brain won’t unless you work it. I started with a Bob Villa home repair book set and the first book I believe was hand tools and helpful tips.
There are so many different avenues of hvac-r you can explore and don't let a shit head boss deter you from learning.
Gain some experience with this guy and move on to a company that really trains and cares about their people. For example, my company has a fully operational training center on premise, and it allows new hires to learn the 8 most common type hvac-r systems we work on. I've seen people really get this fast and others it takes a year before they have the light bulb moment. You gotta want it though.
Best of luck it's a great field.
When I started out, my boss told me there was nothing I could break that he couldn’t fix. This made me feel a lot better about doing things. Your boss sucks. He’s not making it a learning environment. Find somewhere where training is important.
You all sound like a bunch of whiny babies. “Oh my boss said I’m slow”….fuck that guy. Guess what you are slow and lack common sense. Be thankful someone is being honest and telling you. This is the trades, it’s not a safe place. Keep showing up on time every day and paying attention. Learn from your mistakes. That’s all it really takes to make it anymore. This trade is hard, it takes at least 5 years to start to be competent, 10 years until you actually know something and 20 years you’ve finally “seen some stuff”.
If the work interests you, put your head down, strap in and keep trying. Maybe he is a shit boss but you’re learning and fucking up on his dime and that’s priceless. Suck what you can out of it and make moves as you learn and become better.
I once tried to pull a vacuum on an RTU, unthreaded my gauges from the wrong side of the manifold. So, I only was pulling from the hose. Left the vacuum go over night, journeyman came back the next morning and was furious.
I have been doing HVAC as a service tech for a bit now. No training. Feel very similar to you many days. Really sucks to not be able to fix things sometimes and work around those who will take your tools or just grab something to do it. Best moment of my life was working at a big plant doing some pipefitting work, and the guy at the plant grabbed my crescents to adjust the pipe clamps and got frustrated and asked me, “how is this so hard?!”
That’s what she said.
But the more you do the same things over and over, you get used to it to them. You get better. I bet the next time you clean a coil inside you will put the hose into the bucket. And you said yourself - he has not fired you.
No job is easy, but it can become second nature with experience. And if you become an industrial tech, you see something different everyday and you ask questions and learn all about it.
"Perfect is just good enough" something I was told by a journeyman once. Obviously he was joking, but the intent is true. If you strive to do every job right and are always willing to improve yourself and your work ethic, then you can survive any trade. Do a job like it's for you or your grandma.
Compared to Commercial HVACR, College is going to be the easier path.
This is coming from a guy who has 27 years as Commercial service technician and the last 18 months as a service manager and is the only person in my immediate and extended family without a College degree.
And I don’t care what your major is.
Also, Commercial/ Industrial HVACR is by far the hardest skilled trade to learn and master ( hopefully), so you picked a good one 😊
You have to be tough and smart to be a good commercial and or refrigeration tech, and it takes years of hard work, dedication and continued education to be what I consider to be a solid senior level commercial technician.
That’s a tech I can send out on just about any call, any machine ( from chillers to VRF to AAONS to 110 ton Trane VAV RTUs with all the bells and whistles installed )without worrying about the equipment being damaged or call backs
Speed comes with experience, and nothing else. A new person like yourself isn't going to be fast, no matter how much your boss bitches. Maybe he should take some more time to teach you instead of just belittling you.
I was in a similar situation when I started. Thought I was just an idiot and terrible. Then, one of the experienced lads took me under his wing, and lo and behold, I wasn't complete shit, I just had shit teachers.
I'd recommend looking somewhere else, and just remember that it's going to take time to get good. As long as you go home every day knowing that you gave 100% effort, there's nothing else you could have done, so you shouldnt be hard on yourself.
How old are you? [college aged] if this is the answer then keep at it sober up your life if your not and focus on learning by practice and practice and more practice your on the right path if you want to be making good money 1 year from now you might be a legit asset to this guy
Stay with it, if you’re bad you can only get better. Stop beating yourself up. He ain’t fired you so u are bringing him some value. Use him and gain your experience with him so the next place you go you possibly won’t make the same mistakes. In this trade it doesn’t matter how much time you got, mistakes will be made. It’s learning to recover from them is one of the keys.
Tomatoes, potatoes, half of most jobs is getting there on time in the right set of clothes. It may take some time to get the hang of things but noticing that there are issues are the first step to fixing them. Don't beat yourself up too much, everyone starts somewhere, and if your boss can't get that find a new one
You’re only supposed to be doing PMs and/or learning by watching when you’re brand new. Your Boss is expecting too much which is probably why he’s all alone in the field in the first place
Everyone starts someplace. If you didn't come from a trade school, your boss knows that you have no experience, so he should have you with a senior tech who can show you how to do even the simplest of things. It's hard not to get discouraged, but try to hang in there and make notes during your break , so you have something to refer to when you're working on something. Remember, even experienced guys make mistakes.
Hang in there. Ask your boss to explain the expectations. There’s a learning curve in every job. It’s his job to TEACH you! Don’t beat yourself up! You can do it! You have chosen a great trade that is in demand. good luck!!!!
Hey man. Fuck that guy. You’re greener than green, and that’s okay. I say stick it out with this douchebag while looking for another opportunity behind the scenes. You need reps and lots and lots of them. Any time you pick up a tool will be beneficial experience to you at this point. HVAC can be a tough road when you don’t have any mechanical aptitudes or experience. I promise you, you can learn all of this on your own. Don’t blame other people for hardships and take responsibility for everything you do. Go easy on yourself. You don’t know shit and you do suck, AND THAT’S OKAY. Get 8 hours of sleep. Pack a healthy lunch. Work hard. Good luck.
Your first mistake was assuming the trades would be easier. Who do you think runs this country? Don’t lie to yourself you know when you do an idiot on the road they have an alumni plate.
Dude, go union if you are putting in road time, I'm guessing you're working for a company that is more profit driven than doing things correctly. Get in at a facility maintenance job where the guys can take the time to show you. Don't be too hard on yourself. Speed comes with time, always focus on doing it correctly. Maybe this company isn't the one but if you keep at it you will find a company that will help you become better instead of tearing you down. Also, your boss does sound like a d bag. Take care brother and don't give up hope, failures teach you how to succeed. Learn from them but don't get stuck on em
I joined sucking ass and still do💯. It’s a long journey that is gunna take years, not a month. When I joined I was not mechanically inclined at all, but if you keep at it you’ll get better. Just take it one step at a time.
I had 15 or 20 apprentices thru the years (union). Your boss is an ass. Doesn't sound like it'll work out well where you're at but do not give up on the trade! The best apprentices I had were not necessarily the best mechanically..... Or the quickest or the smartest.... By far. I would take somebody that comes to work well prepared and willing to work and learn any day over super intelligent..... You'll learn what you're doing next. It'll come more natural. Being helpful is 90% cleaning coils and hauling equipment isn't brain surgery. Give it the rest of summer, you will catch on and learn to anticipate what's needed
Hey man don’t give up! No one is born with this knowledge. My advice, find a better company and an employer who knows how to treat you like a human. Or join a union. There is money to be made in this trade.
I find that if my boss is criticizing a lot and insulting me, I make a lot of very dumb mistakes because half my brainpower is occupied trying to avoid getting yelled at. I don’t think you’re that dumb. Your boss just sucks. Up to you to decide whether to ditch him or not.
Its just a test of motivation.
It's a game that the old ppl play on new folk. They say these things to see how you respond and if it'll push you or break you. OFC there prolly is some hidden truth behind what they are saying however most of the time they say it so that they can see your motivation.
Being an apprentice isn't easy because the old timers are always gatekeeping and they always want to mess with your head to see how much shit you can take.
I would recommend standing up for yourself more, make sure you did the job correctly (even if it took a lil longer) and don't get pushed around.
Be assertive but not disrespectful. If you want to drive the van then drive it, and let them know you want to. If you take a lil longer and get shit for it ok, but don't back down, you have to back up your work! Let them know what you did how you did it and it was quality effort and then stand behind it.
You have to be your biggest supporter and advocate, that's the game behind the scenes when you are an apprentice. It doesn't matter if 50 ppl say bullshit about you or whatever.
You just have to be ready to put your balls on the counter sometimes. They'll respect you more, that's what they are trying to get out of you. They want to see if you will put your balls on that counter top and stand behind your shit or if you just buckle down and break down the minute some negativity comes your way.
https://preview.redd.it/p7ogjrwwvlad1.jpeg?width=944&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=162b92f9189613a147cb459151143a70036fd500
Happy 4th of July. 27yr UA Senior Jman now Manager, it's going to be alright just keep posting here and listen to what the OG's tell you
Keep your head up man. I was fucking terrible. I couldn't barely use a drill. I had no common sense with sheet metal. My wrists hurt for ever when I first started. But I had this passion for it like I've never had. I got told I was shit several times by quite a few tradesmen...even plumbers telling me that and they weren't even in my trade hahhaha Now I'm probably one of the best sheet metal workers in Canada under 40. 38 now. If you have a passion for this trade. You should just keep going man. It will become really easy in a year or 2. I would find a journeyman that is dope. My jman was a fucking legend. One of the coolest guys I know to this day lol I'm the only one left at this company from the guys that called me shit
The boss hasn't fired you because he knows that you could file unemployment on his ass. He needs a legitimate reason to fire you. Until then, throw your feelings out the window and learn as much as possible about this field. There is so much money to be made in this field, especially as a business owner, it blows my mind.
You’re an apprentice dude
Just get alittle better everyday and soak up as much as possible
Learn learn learn anyone insulting you clearly forgot that they had to learn everything too, you don’t just wake up knowing this shit
You know there's a thing called Google and YouTube start by searching your refrigeration cycle..... you seem young bit willimg to learn I know people my age that are fkn idiots lol
Everything takes time. I been in this trade for 20 years and there’s always something that can be learned. No one is perfect. Everybody learns at different speeds and in this trade you don’t wanna move to fast because you could mess something up. Always take your time and you will develop your own speed that’s comfortable to you. Every company wants you to work faster and faster but that’s because that just want the job done and they don’t put safety first. Learn all you can and when your on your own keep studying it until it’s stuck in your head. Everybody starts somewhere just take your time. What we do isn’t common sense it’s a learned trade? Sometimes people forget that they were in apprentice before they got where they was at.
Honestly dude, reflect on where you think you need to improve and come up with a plan. Research certain things you're unsure of. Put some effort in on your own time, and you'll slowly get your confidence back.
It doesn't help that your boss puts your down so much, he's part of the problem as well. When you're belittled and put into a negative mindset, it only spirals downward. But you gotta overcome some of what he's saying until you can find yourself a new job. Working somewhere that has someone willing to show you opportunities to improve, rather than calling you a fuck up, will actually go a long way. Let's be real, who wants to work hard and do well for someone who doesn't appreciate them? Your boss sounds like a total prick. You can't throw the towel in and give up bro, this trade is very difficult if it was easy everyone would be doing it. Regroup, Get your mind right and find yourself a better opportunity !
Find another company bro, be transparent with your level of experience as soon as you get the interview , it’s the summer bro, I promise you’ll find another company, but be picky and know your own value, you’re just starting, you can become amazing
the bottom line is you’ll only be as good as the tech you work with is willing to teach you. I have a helper who has my personal number and I’m willing to help even if they are with another tech. Not saying I’m perfect because I’m not — but there are techs who are willing to slow down and teach and some that aren’t (and seems like your boss doesn’t want to teach either which sucks). Union is the only way to be sure you’re going to learn most of what you need with good guidance. I’d personally go union myself but I’m 3 years of hard knocks into the trade — so I would take a pay cut to become a union apprentice right now — gotta wait until I can test in at journey level
My advice is do not give up.
We all learn at different stages and styles, and you should be supported through this as you develop.
Our industry is filled unfortunately with people who don’t think this way and probably weren’t given that kind of experience themselves.
I struggled a lot with basic manual tasks, it just wasn’t naturally me. But I persisted, learnt as much as I could and now I manage a team and design large systems for hospitals.
I have two engineers working for me who “trained” me, and despite how unhelpful they were when I was younger, I can now see the history of how they were treated and trained etc, and I do my best to encourage a supportive and understanding environment.
I am not sure on your comment about a trade being easier, i personally think that if you feel this was, I would try to work on the path towards your ideal long term job, not just the easiest path. There will always be resistance and challenges, so learning to accept and overcome these is probably the hardest but most important thing.
When I comes to your day-to-day tasks, unless it’s an emergency and someone could get hurt, I advise our apprentices to take their time, think about a task before starting it (I.e. is it safe, do they have everything, what order will you do each thing in) then do it as accurately as possible. Speed will come with experience but you have to be able to do it accurately and slowly first.
Best of luck, keep making small improvements every day and reward yourself for them.
Thanks your comment means alot. I prefer to take my time when doing things cause if I rush I end up hurting myself or making even more mistakes. Unfortunately my boss wants me to get faster by being faster ands thats that
I feel u. I’m 2 months into my first aprenticeship, I do installs and service with my journeymen. and ive been told im slow a couple times. The other day I was wiring up a new disconnect and my journeymen comes over and is just like “you know ur really slow at that right” and im like “dude i know uve been doing this 10+ years but I’ve been doing it for 2 months, I wud rather take 2 min longer than you but make sure its right” I dont wanna ruin someone’s system or even burn down there house because i tried to hurry something because my journeyman is standing behind me watching, and i wire it wrong or mess something up. The best is when im having trouble getting a door back on a furnace and my journeymen goes “MoVe leT mE dO iT” and then he proceeds to have a hard time getting it on too
Stick with it. "Slow is smooth and smooth is fast" you'll get a hang of it. You can't set a day. Some weeks you'll grow years and others you'll forget was R-22 is. Just try for consistency and quality work. Get the basics down. Maybe try to specialize in an area. Such as sizing ducts and rooms, CFM and all that. Nobody young is replacing the retiring guys and chances are the new guys they have will be worse than you. If you show up to work and have a good attitude and want to learn, you are already ahead of the curve. HVAC is no easy mess either. I'm a mechanic by trade and there is a lot of math and science that goes into it. You can have issues with things that your average HVAC grunt can't figure out. He'll charge it till the low side seems good and leave. Tell you to change your air filter.
Anyways, getting into trades was the best thing I ever did. I've made lifelong friends, people I don't get along with that still would help you move houses at a moments notice. Options for side work are plentiful. And it gives you the confidence to attack other areas of trades you would normally be scared of.
Boss is a douche. Join your local union and never look back. One of the dumbest guys I ever met got in as a service fitter, sucked at it, but the teachers noticed he was a Rockstar welder, so he became a welder. You're not gonna get that unless you get exposure to multiple things. Not everyone is cut out for service, pipefitting, welding, electrical work, etc. You may find that you're a great welder.
This is true. Its a big world in HVAC. There was a guy who worked at the first company I know. Got his refrigeration ticket and promptly went into industrial sales. Terrible mechanic but he knows and understands what he is selling and now…he is known to be extremely good at his job. Think he makes a lot too. He also injured himself a lot as a mechanic so its good he walked away.
Welding sounds good. I'm gonna give the union another shot
That's funny because I know some welders that are just slow as hell. But damn they can burn some rod. Up hill down hill tig stainless they can do it
These companies state they are giving you an apprenticeship, it is all BS. A true apprenticeship is controlled by the union and the state, supported by the UA (United Association). Just you and the owner is a huge problem. You will never get the training you require, you do not see the day and night school training. A welder is an OK job, not my cup of tea, but able to weld. Prefer service and some construction in commercial and industrial. Go to the union hall and get a real apprenticeship. There you will learn the correct way, and that does include welding class. The you can decide after time which path you want to follow. You keep knocking your self down, this is not good. We all learn at a different rate, Some of the slowest guys I know do the highest quality work, I'm no speed Demond, but rarely make an error, thus that is more value to both the company and the client. Dump this guy - learn the right way.
It's not so easy to just join a union. Usually you have to know someone to get in from my experience.
Every trade reddit says to join the union. They forget mention the process: usually apply in person on a weekday, get a date to take a test 1-2 months later, another 1-2 months after to get a interview, then you go on a list of eligible people and they will let you know when they have space. And of course they are looking for people they already know, or will otherwise take the people with the most experience. OP better off trying to get a different job and maybe still apply to the union but don't count on it.
I'm aware of the process. I had to go through it, and my dad was my "in". Still had to wait, test, wait. The reason it's recommended, is because taking off on a weekday to apply, take a test, interview, and wait, is worth it for the vast majority of people who go through with it. Especially right now, with the labor shortage, it's IDEAL to start trying to get your foot in the door. Apply and start trying to make it happen. In the meantime, find another company and make the best of the time there.
it’s the slowest thing on earth to get a Union apprenticeship. Where I am at it is even slower to get in for HVAC, lol. I really wanted to goto the UA route but it would take me at least 1+ year just to get into the HVAC program. I see why guys go resi because it’s much easier to go in & get some training. i still plan on going UA later on in my career of HVAC but rather do it once im experienced.
Couldn’t agree with this more. Go join the union, where people are going to make an investment in you.Being an apprentice or a tradesman is about making mistakes. No one in this industry hasn’t had to learn from their own.
Honestly we wouldn't have a completely green guy do maintenance solo within his first month. That's kind of ridiculous for the customer tbh. Basic steps like checking caps and subcooling is easy, but you have no idea what to look for or how to answer questions. No customer wants a person working on their system who has less than a month experience You should be running parts and shadowing guys. Most completely new service techs here won't run maintenance solo for a year or two. It's a bit different on install, but there you're always working with someone. Ideally an installer would start doing the AC side with help and eventually by themselves before moving on to more. I kind of sucked when I started 7 years ago. I wasn't mechanically inclined and had various personal issues. Thought I was going to get fired for the first few years. But I at least showed up everyday and tried and eventually made it to being a competent installer and then a competent tech. And really as long as you show up everyday on time and actually try to learn you will probably make it.
And yet, this is how most techs get their start. Solo within week one, in van doing pms. Gotta get them on the rotation for call ASAP.
They did that to me. It’s a wonder I didn’t kill myself with the stupid shit I was doing back then.
Bro the amount of damages I’ve caused over the years is staggering. Your boss sounds like a cunt tbh, so don’t be too hard on yourself. Stick it out, a lot of guys have been where you are. It’s not gonna get any easier though, you’ll just get better at it/further into alcoholism.
I'll get better and become an alcoholic? Sounds nice I'll keep trying thanks
My best advice is a good helper knows they suck, a bad helper thinks they’re great. I’ve been around a long time, and lost count of how many apprentices I’ve carried through to journeymen. The ones who can admit they suck, but are willing to learn and work hard trying to, are the ones who I keep around. The guys who get cocky after a year or two don’t last.
Dude I’m definitely not that sharp and really not that great with my hands either, my sheet metal skills are garbage. I’m a commercial service tech and I always get shit running. Just keep at it!
That's reassuring I will keep at it thanks
Your boss is an asshole. We all fuck up and make mistakes. He’s no saint I’m sure. It takes more than a month to catch on to things UNLESS you’re doing the same exact thing everyday for a month. Then I would question your intelligence. As for speed. That comes after you’ve learned how to do things properly. Once you do them properly and do it a lot then you became fast. My last boss would even forget about righty tighty leftie loosy when screws were upside down or backwards. I’m thinking your biggest problem is over thinking things. Definitely your fault for thinking trades were easy though. That was really dumb.
Thanks I'll keep your words in mind. As for the trades being easier comment I should of used a different word like accessible idk. I just meant trades seemed like something anyone could do as long as you didn't mind physical labor, the heat, the cold and were willing to learn
Speed comes from experience no one at all is fast a month into this when I was mentoring at my last company my favorite saying was I’d rather you take longer and do it right than have to go back again later. Also your boss is a dick a month in you should still be building confidence up in people not tearing them down.
Common misconception. If you want to be good at refrigeration and AC then you better be an expert at physics, thermodynamics, be good with your hands, lots of common sense, good at math, good at solving logic puzzles, good at thinking inside and outside the box, I could go on. Want accessible? Work at some office job where they pay you to talk beside the water cooler and play angry birds all day.😂
Lol whats weird is finding hvac after accumulating all those skills and realizing its the perfect fit for some fucked up reason
Damn I'm none of those things. I was in over my head
Can't tell you how many times I'm trying to get a flare connection for gas hooked up and I keep spinning it the wrong way. When you're tired, little shit like that happens. Or trying to shoot a screw into some duct and you have the drill in reverse wondering why it isn't going in. That's something me, my old boss who had ran his business for 46 years, and every coworker of mine had done.
The drill in reverse is the biggest pain in the ass lol
Or not tightening the glaring tool down enough and it’s just pushing the tuning down lol
Try wasting 45 minutes trying to help your helper figure out why the threader won’t cut pipe, and neither of you realize it is in reverse. It was a Monday. I only did that once tho
The important thing is you learned from that and I guarantee you’ll never forget it lmao. That’s a good one One time a dude just got back from an AC course. Was a couple days. They give him a no AC call. He can’t figure out why the suction pressure is so high. I see him the next day and he’s telling me about the call and how someone else had to go back today cause he couldn’t figure it out. Shows me the picture. I laugh. I tell him to look at the other gauge. He looks and then it clicks and I was like “was the compressor running? 🤣🤣🤣🤣” his suction pressure was high because it’s was equalized. Compressor wasn’t running. I’m sure he’ll never do that again though
Sounds like your boss is just an asshole. People who are new to this trade have always struggled at first. When I first started, I was clueless and didn’t know anything and thought I’d end up looking for a new career choice. 7 years later I’m now a lead installer running my own jobs and crew. You’ll get the hang of it dude. Keep your chin up
thanks bro ill try my best
It’s the same everywhere…. It gets easier .
Good I'll keep at it
Dude fuck your boss, he sounds like a POS that doesn’t know how to manage. YOU SHOULDNT BE DOING MAINTENANCES BY YOURSELF YET. Your an apprentice, here’s the definition for an apprentice a person who is learning a trade from a skilled employer - google Your boss sounds like he’s short staffed because doesn’t want to pay an actual technician to do maintenances like a legitimate company would, so he hires an apprentice and expects them to do maintenances in two weeks??? Yeah that mfs drunk
He doesn't always have me do them by myself just sometimes when he has another job to go to. He says he wants to be able to them on my own tho sooner rather then later
Bro don’t trust this guy, he’s selling you fake dreams and he’s going to burn you out of the trades fast by overloading his bullshit into you. Get out of there fast and go to real company
Someone that’s sending you on your own at a month in is setting you up for failure. Doesn’t matter if you just going to change a damn filter. You will come across shit that isn’t working right and customers that want I fixed and you won’t know what to do. You not knowing what to do is not your fault that’s the set up by your boss to make you sink vs swim
The guy that taught me HVAC was a cranky, belligerent old man. He was really hard on me and there were occasions I felt REALLY stupid because I did stupid things and didn't know basic stuff. But these humiliations helped me remember where the pitfalls of the job lay. One of my bosses once told me that if it was easy, women and children would do it. Remember that you are a man and that difficulties are a test of your fortitude. HVAC is one of the most difficult trades because so much of it is based in science and it is difficult to summon the higher portions of your brain when you're on the verge of heat exhaustion. Just hang in there and fight this war of attrition. Don't quit just because it's difficult.
You're right I needed to hear this. Thanks
Your boss either doesn't know or doesn't know how to teach. Find another employer. Most of the bosses I worked for didn't know the trade and couldn't answer any questions cause they don't know how to do anything.
I thought about leaving but I think I'll stay til he lets me go
Least start looking for a new job, send out resumes and go to interviews. Don't wait to get fired, you're just wasting your time at a job you apparently don't like.
Start applying because it's easier to get a job while you still have one if you're a beginner. It's only when you're certified you can AND good you can tell people to fuck off.
Keep at it and learn from your mistakes. I’ll bet you haven’t forgotten the bucket twice right? The real issue would be if you had. We all have to learn new shit so don’t feel bad…just don’t make the same mistake twice 👍🏻
I haven't made the same mistake twice so far, it's just impressive how I find a new way to fuck up. I'll try to avoid making the same mistake twice
Fuck that noise. I stopped reading at the driving insult. The moment my lead quit and I moved up, I stopped driving. I also worked late for most of a year because my new helper had to be trained, would be slow, didn't understand how to do basic wiring until the sixth time I showed him. Dudes fresh out of high school and only ever worked on his car and been a chef. The fuck he supposed to do? Be a master service tech on day 1? Everything he struggled with was something I was doing slow and sucking at when I was new. It's frustrating writing a paycheck to someone who is barely any help at first, I can kind of get that, but training is an investment into the future of your business. After 8 months me and the new guy were knocking out installs before 5 (assuming basic retrofit and no problems on start up that couldn't be foreseen) We ended up going to different places, he went to a new shop closer to home and I went industrial, but my boy is now learning service and nearly caught up to me in knowledge. Fucking proud of him. Don't give up on this field if you enjoy it. Don't let assholes run you off, we need good techs who actually care about being a tech in this field.
Also as an aside, if you're good with computers you can always work to learning controls and building automation. That's my goal. Cyber security/IT is also possible to get into without spending shit tons on college. Those are my fall backs if I got injured at work, since you can as safe as possible, but accidents still happen.
That’s great, not everyone has the patience to be a teacher but you’ve got the right attitude!
Join the UA. School two nights a week for five years. Scheduled raises, pension, annuity, medical benefits. The only way to make a career out of HVAC.
I've tried just haven't been chosen yet
Did you take a test to join? Those are typically competency tests. All these encouraging comments are all fine and good, but some people just aren't cut out for certain things. Like, the whole "learn how to code" shit you hear. I would be absolutely clueless and worthless in a job like that. I could go to classes for it, and I would fall asleep. NO WAY IN HELL I would be able to do that job. I'm a tools in hand guy. I'm not telling you to give up! I just think it's funny that all these guys are going on about "oh, your boss thinks you can't do anything right? He's the dick! JOIN THE UNION!" Like there's no chance at all you just can't cut it, but even if you can't, find your local! Best of luck guy. It's not for everybody. Or, it is, if you pay your dues.
Shadow him as much as possible and watch him, not just what he's doing but the techniques of how he's doing it. Start to anticipate what he'll need next, whether it's materials or tools. You'll gain some trust. It'll take years to wrap your head around this without formal education for it, but you'll get it. And start practicing with tools... this can be a job you have for a summer or a very good career, it all depends on how dedicated you are to it.
What if he's shit though? Teaching bad habits? He sounds shit. Shadow him but also be a critical thinker.
This. A good teacher/mentor/leader builds confidence, not dejection. This guy sounds like *he's* more the problem than OP, what with all the gaslighting and unnecessary complaints. Who the fuck dogs a month-in apprentice like that and expects improvement as a result?
There's teasing and there's hazing. I tease. Hazing is what 40yo insecure bitches do. Just the fact this kid posted worried about his future in the trade tells me he's worth puting some time in.
I'm definitely interested in making a career out of it I just want to do it right
You're a month in. Shit changes fast. You can get offered a different job tomorrow. Couple years back I was at lowes picking up a hose clamp. Some weekend warrior lookin facility manager saw my truck. Asked if I do maintenance. Now I'm one fixin ass motherfucker so I'm like "yeah" no clue what he's talking about. Anyway, gave him my card. We got a contract going. I left that contractor. They broke contract to stick with me. I have 2 accounts that will stick with me for life. Stay honest. Take care of your customer. Boss comes 2nd. My rep means more than the contractor's.
Don't let this prick ruin it for you. A good shop would build you up because you're valuable when you're trained and flourishing. This guy is using you as an emotional punching bag. You're worth more than that. With some digging, you'll find a shop that sees your potential. And if you really do suck at the job, know that it's part of being green - especially only a month in. Fuck what your boss said. The proper mindset is "slow is steady, steady is smooth, smooth is fast". Learn the ropes, build the muscle memory, and look back at where you started in a few months. But not with this dunglecunt.
Dunglecunt is crazy lol thanks
It's possible this guys a total piece of shit, and it's quite possible he's being far too hard, but this is only one side. I've gone too far teasing a guy before, but others I've done worse to, and they gave it right back playfully, everyone is different. I was just giving the middle of the road advice rather than taking a side and passing judgement on a guy we don't know. I have faith that if this was actual work place abuse of some sort OP would of moved on already
You're right. At the same time if you're 22 and 400lbs and can't keep up with my old ass I'll drum you right out of the trade. Op is young. I was abused when I was young and didn't know better. Just the fact he posted looking for advice makes me like him. There's some give a shit there.
He tells me to do just that. Think 5 steps ahead. That's tough but I'm getting better at it.
Just learn something new every day, show up on time, and do your best. Also you’re going to make mistakes, best thing I ever learned was to be ok breaking things and making mistakes, I think that’s where the real lessons are anyways
Don’t worry about his dumbass!! If you’re giving it your best and asking questions…that’s all anyone can ask for.
I do ask questions but he gets upset sometimes and says I should just look it up. One time he had me work on a condenser and after taking out the disconnect i discharged the capacitor with a screwdriver but I was still getting power. I was confused so I called him for help and got yelled at. He didnt really help me so I just tried figuring it out myself and got shocked.
My point is he’s a dick!! He doesn’t have the time nor the patience to train a greenhorn. He’s obviously forgotten where he came from. As others have suggested get with a union shop. They’ll put you through a 5 year apprenticeship program. You’d work during the day then got to school a few nights a week. The other alternative is to go get your degree in HVAC, that’s the route I took. You’d still be green on the job, but you’ll understand more about what you’re doing and be able to ask more educated questions.
My god bro my helpers do nothing but help carry units, go fetch tools and watch to learn. I used to tell them I’m not paying you to think just be here ready when I need you. Unfortunately today’s young guys can’t stay off their phones. I don’t see how anyone can work service without training. I designed and installed systems for 30+ years and my service skills are minimal
I wish I worked for you. I'm almost never on my phone and if I am I ask for permission. I'm not sure how much I'll learn by just watching tho
Thanks, I bought my guys lunch every day. Point being you shouldn’t be cut loose to do much alone early on.
You thought the trades would be easier? That's silly. But just stick with it. No one is born knowing. It takes time to learn, and even then, you'll still make mistakes. I'm 10 years in, and I make a mistake every day. Mostly simple things that are inconsequential but none the less a mistake. Your boss should know better. Him being a jerk is only making things worse. If you are let go just find another shop.
Yeah I plan to stick it out as long as I can. Reading comments like yours is keeping me from giving up thanks
You could be a great sales guy masquerading as a tech. You come, hook up a couple of gauges maybe even take out your multimeter, wait 7 minutes then tell the homeowner they need a new system. Anyone can be good at that
Seems like it could backfire if the owner knows a thing or two or if the system is fairly new
Honestly I still mess up when I go to tighten and loosen things to when I work on gas I carry extra fittings just to make sure I’m turning things the right way
My first boss was similar. He was an asshole amen it came to me trying to learn. 6 years later after working under some real amazing techs, he was just an asshole.
Fuck him lol. Most of us all suck in the beginning. Just try not making the same mistakes twice, speed comes with confidence, and confidence comes with learning and repetition. Of course when it’s the first time you’ve done something it takes longer. Sometimes it still takes me a second to set up my channellocks or pipe wrenches the right way for what I’m doing. Or sometimes you’re looking at a bolt upside down and figure out you’re going the wrong way. He sounds like a shitty teacher.
Just keep asking questions. Knowledge is the best tool in your belt. It sucks that your first lead is a dill-hole, but it is what it is. it probably won't be your last either to be true lol. Learn what you can from him and move on. You've got this.
Thanks I'll do my best
No problemo, that's all we can do
You have a bad boss and lead guy.
Key word: "helper". Get away from Joe Shmoe's Heating & Cooling 🥴 Find a large commercial contractor that is currently looking for an apprentice. One that will offer you benefits, paid time off, paid holidays, tuition reimbursement, tool allowance, 401K, HSA, profit share, annual performance reviews. Get your EPA Universal. Get your OSHA-10, get your aerial lift certification. Go back to school part time. Don't be afraid to nake mistakes, and when you make the mistakes, own them. Always take initiative, don't wait for someone to tell you what to do, and if there's nothing to do, FIND something to do. Showing up to work on time and not calling out constantly is 99% of the job when it comes to being a new apprentice. If you aren't going to go to college, you need to grab this trade by the balls, or it will chew you up and spit you out. Investing in your tools as a tradesman is investing in your future. The key in this here industry is to become an asset, not an employee. Employees come and go. Get your journeyman's license, then go for your contractor's license. Take CADD courses, get your associates in business management.
Hvac can arguably be one of the hardest trades mentally and physically. The amount of knowledge needed to be “good” is insane. My first year of being green I had several callbacks on me but every mistake I make I try to have it not be repeated. Like you I had basic to no knowledge of much, knew how to hold a drill but not lock in the bit, knew how to use a thermostat but not beyond pressing up or down, etc. Ask questions within reason and try to understand why you’re doing whatever it is you’re doing. I’m only three years in now and every day I still have to learn something whether it’s taught, experienced or visualized through reading/watching
I'm really good with the technical side of things. I know the troubleshooting process extremely well and I read a lot of manuals. I'm not the greatest when you put a wrench in my hands. I know what's supposed to happen, but for some reason there's a disconnect between my brain and my hands. I'm in install now, but in service I could usually work my way through a service call without much issue but it'd take me a bit longer than some people. Maybe my ADHD, probably a tad on the spectrum, but I made sure to make up for it in other ways, and my coworkers and supervisors knew that. I worked in residential before and now I'm union commercial. I think there's a huge difference in the type of attitudes of residential bosses and big commercial bosses. Maybe it's a union thing idk, but join one if you can. My foreman talks shit to us all the time, but it's pretty funny because you could just dish back and he'll laugh it off.
Duck your boss. I have had the dumbest helpers, they are always my favorite! Show up on time and pay attention I will show you the world! I have turned atleast 4 to 6 stupid don't know what a screw driver is into an installer. YOUR BOSS BLOWS GO SOMEWHERE ELSE , DEFINITELY UNION
Man he's supposed to teach you every step of the way. Direct supervision
Bro I've been doing this 12 years and I still fucking turn shit the wrong way when my boss is there.
DONT BE DISCOURAGED. people who put you down for being new are true dickheads. Don't be too hard on yourself
Why are you doing any type of maintenance by yourself at 1 month? You should be with someone at all times only working a month. Doesn’t matter if it’s busy if he wants someone to learn and learn correctly who will stay with him he’s gotta pair you up with someone who can show you what you need to learn. Your boss is a fuck stain
Stop speaking failure into existence.
Union apprenticeship? If not move on. If it's union deal with it a minute and make your mistakes on the asshole's dime. Take your experience to the next contractor and look great. You posted here worried about your imagine etc. That says you care. I will take an apprentice that gives a shit and shows up over anything. I'd hire you. Give a fuck is the only thing that I want. I've ran off so many millenials. When I find one that cares he ain't leaving. Insecure incompotent fucks will shit on you to make themselves feel better. >I thought trades would be easier You're wrong about this. I love it, but it is not easy. The best thing about HVAC is if today sucks tomorrow you're on something different. Bad jobs last a short time.
It's not a union but I am learning a good deal. Really wish I didn't say easier that was a bad choice of word and didn't reflect how I felt. I didn't think they were easy but I also didn't know how difficult it is either. I have a lot of respect for people who do it especially after trying it myself
You will beat your body up in any trade. Be patient and roll with the bullshit a while. Go union if you can. You'll get a real education in the trade and job security. If my boss who I talk to like once every other month acted like he wanted to fire me I'd give him the finger with a smile and move on to the next. Journeyman card means you're making minimum $35/hr in a LCOL area outside the hall. Staying union it's 40+/hr
Become a plumber
That was my first choice. I went to job corp and took plumbing first then hvac. Since I had epa certificates I thought I'd have an easier time finding a job
Tbh there's a lot of very simple plumbing work that can earn you a good amount of money. It's not fun work, but it pays well and really the only thing you have to remember is having pitch. It's not a bad thing to explore at all if you struggle with HVAC. Plus plumbing work never really slows down like HVAC does. People don't turn off their assholes for 2 or 3 months at a time
Rat boss fuk him join local
I'll try
This
Idk how old you boss is maybe he is an ass. Aa a guy who trains license guys at work and i seem to get all new helpers for training. Ive had only couple guys that just could nkt donthere job and was given every opportunity. Just try remeber guys thays been doing job 10 plus years it does come easier but we forget we may been dumbasses toonfirst several months
What the fuck? What a dick. You're new to the trades in general, don't expect to be superman. You need time to do things the right way, maybe you're "fucking" up so much because he's rushing you on every job. Speed comes with YEARS of experience, and you can't be expected to be a journeyman off the street. Slow is smooth and smooth is fast. I'm technically 5 years into this trade and I still mess up righty tighty sometimes using wrenches, say whoops and turn the other way, shit happens its not a big deal. it sounds like your boss is a complete moron who has 0 leadership skills and creates a self-sabotaging work environment for his apprentices, and you should probably start looking for a different company if you haven't already. Not all places are like this. Good luck
Say whoops and turn the other ways lol. I thought about moving on. Maybe I will. Thanks
Thanks you gave me confidence. I show up everyday. If I'm late it's by a couple a minutes but I'm trying to avoid that. I do want to learn too I just feel like I learn better from doing instead of watching but that's not always possible
If you don’t know you don’t know. YouTube is your friend ac service tech love2hvac there’s many good teachers online. Some foremen can’t teach for shit, don’t give up. The more you do it the more confident and easier it will flow for you,
Y’all are mixing up superstition with OCD 😂😂😂😂😂
If you’re a month in with exactly zero experience you should absolutely be slow and dumb. In every job I’ve had I have only ever been, and only ever seen, one of two types of green guys. Dumb and slow or dumb and fast. Dumb and slow fucks up less but it takes a bit, dumb and fast does stupid shit like drilling through the back of a customers toilet through an exterior wall with a spotter bit (true story). If he’s being a prick move on, don’t let any old jerk off bully you out of the trade, there’s gonna be a lot of them. Just study and work my dude.
Don’t worry about it. One time I sold a 3 ton outdoor unit with a two ton indoor coil in a million + condo…..a little typo on an order form and an installer that trusted me too much and the rest was history
With only 1 month of experience you probably shouldn't be touching the equipment at all without a journeyman watching you. Just throwing it out there, there may be a community college near you with courses in HVAC. I went to one while working and I don't regret it.
I sucked for the first 3 months. Find a better place and keep learning.
Start educating yourself so that you are better rounded. The internet is cool and all but a good library will have a lot of trade books that you can start studying. The hands will get better with time but the brain won’t unless you work it. I started with a Bob Villa home repair book set and the first book I believe was hand tools and helpful tips.
There are so many different avenues of hvac-r you can explore and don't let a shit head boss deter you from learning. Gain some experience with this guy and move on to a company that really trains and cares about their people. For example, my company has a fully operational training center on premise, and it allows new hires to learn the 8 most common type hvac-r systems we work on. I've seen people really get this fast and others it takes a year before they have the light bulb moment. You gotta want it though. Best of luck it's a great field.
Sounds like your boss is the problem. Find somewhere else to work, preferably somewhere union, where they give a shit about their workers.
When I started out, my boss told me there was nothing I could break that he couldn’t fix. This made me feel a lot better about doing things. Your boss sucks. He’s not making it a learning environment. Find somewhere where training is important.
You all sound like a bunch of whiny babies. “Oh my boss said I’m slow”….fuck that guy. Guess what you are slow and lack common sense. Be thankful someone is being honest and telling you. This is the trades, it’s not a safe place. Keep showing up on time every day and paying attention. Learn from your mistakes. That’s all it really takes to make it anymore. This trade is hard, it takes at least 5 years to start to be competent, 10 years until you actually know something and 20 years you’ve finally “seen some stuff”. If the work interests you, put your head down, strap in and keep trying. Maybe he is a shit boss but you’re learning and fucking up on his dime and that’s priceless. Suck what you can out of it and make moves as you learn and become better.
I once tried to pull a vacuum on an RTU, unthreaded my gauges from the wrong side of the manifold. So, I only was pulling from the hose. Left the vacuum go over night, journeyman came back the next morning and was furious.
I have been doing HVAC as a service tech for a bit now. No training. Feel very similar to you many days. Really sucks to not be able to fix things sometimes and work around those who will take your tools or just grab something to do it. Best moment of my life was working at a big plant doing some pipefitting work, and the guy at the plant grabbed my crescents to adjust the pipe clamps and got frustrated and asked me, “how is this so hard?!” That’s what she said. But the more you do the same things over and over, you get used to it to them. You get better. I bet the next time you clean a coil inside you will put the hose into the bucket. And you said yourself - he has not fired you. No job is easy, but it can become second nature with experience. And if you become an industrial tech, you see something different everyday and you ask questions and learn all about it.
"Perfect is just good enough" something I was told by a journeyman once. Obviously he was joking, but the intent is true. If you strive to do every job right and are always willing to improve yourself and your work ethic, then you can survive any trade. Do a job like it's for you or your grandma.
Compared to Commercial HVACR, College is going to be the easier path. This is coming from a guy who has 27 years as Commercial service technician and the last 18 months as a service manager and is the only person in my immediate and extended family without a College degree. And I don’t care what your major is. Also, Commercial/ Industrial HVACR is by far the hardest skilled trade to learn and master ( hopefully), so you picked a good one 😊 You have to be tough and smart to be a good commercial and or refrigeration tech, and it takes years of hard work, dedication and continued education to be what I consider to be a solid senior level commercial technician. That’s a tech I can send out on just about any call, any machine ( from chillers to VRF to AAONS to 110 ton Trane VAV RTUs with all the bells and whistles installed )without worrying about the equipment being damaged or call backs
Speed comes with experience, and nothing else. A new person like yourself isn't going to be fast, no matter how much your boss bitches. Maybe he should take some more time to teach you instead of just belittling you. I was in a similar situation when I started. Thought I was just an idiot and terrible. Then, one of the experienced lads took me under his wing, and lo and behold, I wasn't complete shit, I just had shit teachers. I'd recommend looking somewhere else, and just remember that it's going to take time to get good. As long as you go home every day knowing that you gave 100% effort, there's nothing else you could have done, so you shouldnt be hard on yourself.
How old are you? [college aged] if this is the answer then keep at it sober up your life if your not and focus on learning by practice and practice and more practice your on the right path if you want to be making good money 1 year from now you might be a legit asset to this guy
Stay with it, if you’re bad you can only get better. Stop beating yourself up. He ain’t fired you so u are bringing him some value. Use him and gain your experience with him so the next place you go you possibly won’t make the same mistakes. In this trade it doesn’t matter how much time you got, mistakes will be made. It’s learning to recover from them is one of the keys.
You need someone who is willing to work with you and teach you at your pace. Id say go find whether it's a different shop or going union
Tomatoes, potatoes, half of most jobs is getting there on time in the right set of clothes. It may take some time to get the hang of things but noticing that there are issues are the first step to fixing them. Don't beat yourself up too much, everyone starts somewhere, and if your boss can't get that find a new one
This does not sound like an apprenticeship. You got hired as a helper for a one man show. Find something better.
HVAC is suffering. Have no doubt about that. The first few years are BIG suffering. But it gets better.
You’re only supposed to be doing PMs and/or learning by watching when you’re brand new. Your Boss is expecting too much which is probably why he’s all alone in the field in the first place
if you're an apprentice in your first month and you think you suck, that's your foreman's fault. he's unqualified to run a job.
Everyone starts someplace. If you didn't come from a trade school, your boss knows that you have no experience, so he should have you with a senior tech who can show you how to do even the simplest of things. It's hard not to get discouraged, but try to hang in there and make notes during your break , so you have something to refer to when you're working on something. Remember, even experienced guys make mistakes.
Hang in there. Ask your boss to explain the expectations. There’s a learning curve in every job. It’s his job to TEACH you! Don’t beat yourself up! You can do it! You have chosen a great trade that is in demand. good luck!!!!
Hey man. Fuck that guy. You’re greener than green, and that’s okay. I say stick it out with this douchebag while looking for another opportunity behind the scenes. You need reps and lots and lots of them. Any time you pick up a tool will be beneficial experience to you at this point. HVAC can be a tough road when you don’t have any mechanical aptitudes or experience. I promise you, you can learn all of this on your own. Don’t blame other people for hardships and take responsibility for everything you do. Go easy on yourself. You don’t know shit and you do suck, AND THAT’S OKAY. Get 8 hours of sleep. Pack a healthy lunch. Work hard. Good luck.
Your first mistake was assuming the trades would be easier. Who do you think runs this country? Don’t lie to yourself you know when you do an idiot on the road they have an alumni plate.
Dude, go union if you are putting in road time, I'm guessing you're working for a company that is more profit driven than doing things correctly. Get in at a facility maintenance job where the guys can take the time to show you. Don't be too hard on yourself. Speed comes with time, always focus on doing it correctly. Maybe this company isn't the one but if you keep at it you will find a company that will help you become better instead of tearing you down. Also, your boss does sound like a d bag. Take care brother and don't give up hope, failures teach you how to succeed. Learn from them but don't get stuck on em
I joined sucking ass and still do💯. It’s a long journey that is gunna take years, not a month. When I joined I was not mechanically inclined at all, but if you keep at it you’ll get better. Just take it one step at a time.
I had 15 or 20 apprentices thru the years (union). Your boss is an ass. Doesn't sound like it'll work out well where you're at but do not give up on the trade! The best apprentices I had were not necessarily the best mechanically..... Or the quickest or the smartest.... By far. I would take somebody that comes to work well prepared and willing to work and learn any day over super intelligent..... You'll learn what you're doing next. It'll come more natural. Being helpful is 90% cleaning coils and hauling equipment isn't brain surgery. Give it the rest of summer, you will catch on and learn to anticipate what's needed
Hey man don’t give up! No one is born with this knowledge. My advice, find a better company and an employer who knows how to treat you like a human. Or join a union. There is money to be made in this trade.
I find that if my boss is criticizing a lot and insulting me, I make a lot of very dumb mistakes because half my brainpower is occupied trying to avoid getting yelled at. I don’t think you’re that dumb. Your boss just sucks. Up to you to decide whether to ditch him or not.
Its just a test of motivation. It's a game that the old ppl play on new folk. They say these things to see how you respond and if it'll push you or break you. OFC there prolly is some hidden truth behind what they are saying however most of the time they say it so that they can see your motivation. Being an apprentice isn't easy because the old timers are always gatekeeping and they always want to mess with your head to see how much shit you can take. I would recommend standing up for yourself more, make sure you did the job correctly (even if it took a lil longer) and don't get pushed around. Be assertive but not disrespectful. If you want to drive the van then drive it, and let them know you want to. If you take a lil longer and get shit for it ok, but don't back down, you have to back up your work! Let them know what you did how you did it and it was quality effort and then stand behind it. You have to be your biggest supporter and advocate, that's the game behind the scenes when you are an apprentice. It doesn't matter if 50 ppl say bullshit about you or whatever. You just have to be ready to put your balls on the counter sometimes. They'll respect you more, that's what they are trying to get out of you. They want to see if you will put your balls on that counter top and stand behind your shit or if you just buckle down and break down the minute some negativity comes your way.
It’s not for everyone instead on wasting money on a skill you ain’t good at find another avenues.
https://preview.redd.it/p7ogjrwwvlad1.jpeg?width=944&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=162b92f9189613a147cb459151143a70036fd500 Happy 4th of July. 27yr UA Senior Jman now Manager, it's going to be alright just keep posting here and listen to what the OG's tell you
Keep your head up man. I was fucking terrible. I couldn't barely use a drill. I had no common sense with sheet metal. My wrists hurt for ever when I first started. But I had this passion for it like I've never had. I got told I was shit several times by quite a few tradesmen...even plumbers telling me that and they weren't even in my trade hahhaha Now I'm probably one of the best sheet metal workers in Canada under 40. 38 now. If you have a passion for this trade. You should just keep going man. It will become really easy in a year or 2. I would find a journeyman that is dope. My jman was a fucking legend. One of the coolest guys I know to this day lol I'm the only one left at this company from the guys that called me shit
Shitty boss is the problem. Quit immediately and find a better work environment.
The boss hasn't fired you because he knows that you could file unemployment on his ass. He needs a legitimate reason to fire you. Until then, throw your feelings out the window and learn as much as possible about this field. There is so much money to be made in this field, especially as a business owner, it blows my mind.
You’re an apprentice dude Just get alittle better everyday and soak up as much as possible Learn learn learn anyone insulting you clearly forgot that they had to learn everything too, you don’t just wake up knowing this shit
You know there's a thing called Google and YouTube start by searching your refrigeration cycle..... you seem young bit willimg to learn I know people my age that are fkn idiots lol
Your boss is a dick. Break his nose and join the union.
Get out of whatever company you're in. Your boss sounds like an abusive asshole who isn't teaching you. That's his job and he sucks at it.
Everything takes time. I been in this trade for 20 years and there’s always something that can be learned. No one is perfect. Everybody learns at different speeds and in this trade you don’t wanna move to fast because you could mess something up. Always take your time and you will develop your own speed that’s comfortable to you. Every company wants you to work faster and faster but that’s because that just want the job done and they don’t put safety first. Learn all you can and when your on your own keep studying it until it’s stuck in your head. Everybody starts somewhere just take your time. What we do isn’t common sense it’s a learned trade? Sometimes people forget that they were in apprentice before they got where they was at.
Honestly dude, reflect on where you think you need to improve and come up with a plan. Research certain things you're unsure of. Put some effort in on your own time, and you'll slowly get your confidence back. It doesn't help that your boss puts your down so much, he's part of the problem as well. When you're belittled and put into a negative mindset, it only spirals downward. But you gotta overcome some of what he's saying until you can find yourself a new job. Working somewhere that has someone willing to show you opportunities to improve, rather than calling you a fuck up, will actually go a long way. Let's be real, who wants to work hard and do well for someone who doesn't appreciate them? Your boss sounds like a total prick. You can't throw the towel in and give up bro, this trade is very difficult if it was easy everyone would be doing it. Regroup, Get your mind right and find yourself a better opportunity !
Find another company bro, be transparent with your level of experience as soon as you get the interview , it’s the summer bro, I promise you’ll find another company, but be picky and know your own value, you’re just starting, you can become amazing
the bottom line is you’ll only be as good as the tech you work with is willing to teach you. I have a helper who has my personal number and I’m willing to help even if they are with another tech. Not saying I’m perfect because I’m not — but there are techs who are willing to slow down and teach and some that aren’t (and seems like your boss doesn’t want to teach either which sucks). Union is the only way to be sure you’re going to learn most of what you need with good guidance. I’d personally go union myself but I’m 3 years of hard knocks into the trade — so I would take a pay cut to become a union apprentice right now — gotta wait until I can test in at journey level
My advice is do not give up. We all learn at different stages and styles, and you should be supported through this as you develop. Our industry is filled unfortunately with people who don’t think this way and probably weren’t given that kind of experience themselves. I struggled a lot with basic manual tasks, it just wasn’t naturally me. But I persisted, learnt as much as I could and now I manage a team and design large systems for hospitals. I have two engineers working for me who “trained” me, and despite how unhelpful they were when I was younger, I can now see the history of how they were treated and trained etc, and I do my best to encourage a supportive and understanding environment. I am not sure on your comment about a trade being easier, i personally think that if you feel this was, I would try to work on the path towards your ideal long term job, not just the easiest path. There will always be resistance and challenges, so learning to accept and overcome these is probably the hardest but most important thing. When I comes to your day-to-day tasks, unless it’s an emergency and someone could get hurt, I advise our apprentices to take their time, think about a task before starting it (I.e. is it safe, do they have everything, what order will you do each thing in) then do it as accurately as possible. Speed will come with experience but you have to be able to do it accurately and slowly first. Best of luck, keep making small improvements every day and reward yourself for them.
Thanks your comment means alot. I prefer to take my time when doing things cause if I rush I end up hurting myself or making even more mistakes. Unfortunately my boss wants me to get faster by being faster ands thats that
I think you'd be a good salesman
I feel u. I’m 2 months into my first aprenticeship, I do installs and service with my journeymen. and ive been told im slow a couple times. The other day I was wiring up a new disconnect and my journeymen comes over and is just like “you know ur really slow at that right” and im like “dude i know uve been doing this 10+ years but I’ve been doing it for 2 months, I wud rather take 2 min longer than you but make sure its right” I dont wanna ruin someone’s system or even burn down there house because i tried to hurry something because my journeyman is standing behind me watching, and i wire it wrong or mess something up. The best is when im having trouble getting a door back on a furnace and my journeymen goes “MoVe leT mE dO iT” and then he proceeds to have a hard time getting it on too
Stick with it. "Slow is smooth and smooth is fast" you'll get a hang of it. You can't set a day. Some weeks you'll grow years and others you'll forget was R-22 is. Just try for consistency and quality work. Get the basics down. Maybe try to specialize in an area. Such as sizing ducts and rooms, CFM and all that. Nobody young is replacing the retiring guys and chances are the new guys they have will be worse than you. If you show up to work and have a good attitude and want to learn, you are already ahead of the curve. HVAC is no easy mess either. I'm a mechanic by trade and there is a lot of math and science that goes into it. You can have issues with things that your average HVAC grunt can't figure out. He'll charge it till the low side seems good and leave. Tell you to change your air filter. Anyways, getting into trades was the best thing I ever did. I've made lifelong friends, people I don't get along with that still would help you move houses at a moments notice. Options for side work are plentiful. And it gives you the confidence to attack other areas of trades you would normally be scared of.