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Originally Posted by syndicated

Theapprentice10:
It depends where you wanna go, and what kind of work you want to do. If you're coming to Calgary, my company is looking to hire a few green guys in August to do maintenances.There's like 100 companies in Calgary doing various types of work.

Moon runner: 4 years is way too long for a gas b/2
I think Alberta has struck a good balance here with 2 years for gas B and one more for A.
Or you can get your gas B with your plumbing ticket.

Ths is a necro post now,

But what company is that AK or Service Experts?

Day 2 looked a bit better after 250km of Toronto driving...
-2 went to "HR" (at least one was put in an envelope, so chances are it won't make it into the "blue HR")
-2 went to the managers (even got a manager's card for f/u)
-1 union-only
-0 powertripping put-downs

Fresh out of leads for the scope of work I wanna get hired in, so tomorrow it'll be sleeping in, research/planning, yardwork and a couple of extra hours at work.

Yeah, that's unlikely.
No one's going to hire you unseen, the crazy oil boom days of '06-07 are gone.
Fly out, set up some interviews and see what happens.
The point you need to take home is that *you* control the apprenticeship. You sign up yourself, you go to school when you want and you decide when you get your ticket. The employer only signs off on your hours.

After today's taste of the job market in the trade, I'm more open to moving lol The best was "I'd take you on as a helper but won't have any apprenticeships for 1.5-2 years" (very nice guy; the honesty was refreshing as many shops like to string helpers along, offering them the world) and the worst was a tie between "Are you union? We only hire through the union" and "The experience that you have means NOTHING to me. Do you know how many guys like you come here?".. Or maybe "I'll pass it on to HR" [the place is 1hr away in light traffic and they do post an e-mail address for those who wanna e-mail the HR directly]

Note: I'm currently being a bit picky and only hitting shops that do ICI work, haven't gone to any resis just yet

hey syndicated, I am not picky about where in Alberta or BC. The hard part is that I would like to have an apprenticeship lined up before selling my house and heading out there. So any leads from anyone would be great

Theapprentice10:
It depends where you wanna go, and what kind of work you want to do. If you're coming to Calgary, my company is looking to hire a few green guys in August to do maintenances.
There's like 100 companies in Calgary doing various types of work.

Moon runner: 4 years is way too long for a gas b/2
I think Alberta has struck a good balance here with 2 years for gas B and one more for A.
Or you can get your gas B with your plumbing ticket.

Originally Posted by syndicated

In the newsletter I got from the tssa recently, they stated the G2 ticket is a 2 year apprenticeship like in most other provinces now. I don't know how the G3 factors into

The way I understood it was that over the next 3 years they will be testing various programs, but that the plan was to turn G2 into a 4-year deal and an extra 2 years for G1. Not a bad thing, all in all. Current way of doing things allows all sorts of shoemakers to slip through the cracks.

I amlooking into out west right now. You say it is easier to get a job out there. Do you happen to have any names and/or numbers of any companies out that way

Originally Posted by TheApprentice10

Thank you all for your replies. I have been looking into getting my G2 the problem is for night school it takes a year and a half and with a mortgage to pay I can not go full time. I am more than willing to spend the time getting it but am also hoping to get a helper job or anything to get my foot in the door. I have also been looking across the country cus if that's what it takes then that's what it takes

The Himark program takes WAY less time, but forget about working while you're doing it. I was barely getting enough hours to cover just the most basic bills and driving up the credit card bill a bit. Half of that program will be hands-on in a shop that might just decide to keep you after you're done.

If you're dead-set on doing meters and regs with a G3, you can make a pretty good living out of it if you get your foot in the door. Check in with Lakeside in the GTA. They subcontract for Enbridge in these parts. I'm sure they get tons of applicants, though.

I would totally agree with people and say stick with George Brown college for getting your G2 ticket. any where else is a rip off. all my tickets i gotten were through george Brown college and thats the only way i would ever consider..... i worked with people that got their tickets at Hi mark and others and they were not knowledgable about the code book at all.

Well "the apprentice" if you are interested in gaining good knowledge and experience in the hvac trade. i would only consider trying to get in a company that cares about their employees and customers. try companies that have Climate care in their names.
ie atlas air, woodbridge and asbuilt Just type in climate care and find a company that is closest to your location. you wont regret the experience. and dont forget to research "climatecare when you get called in for an interview.

Originally Posted by TheApprentice10

Thank you all for your replies. I have been looking into getting my G2 the problem is for night school it takes a year and a half and with a mortgage to pay I can not go full time. I am more than willing to spend the time getting it but am also hoping to get a helper job or anything to get my foot in the door. I have also been looking across the country cus if that's what it takes then that's what it takes

Then go get a truck open your own company and go and be a gas Meter Bandit and change gas meters all day long cause thats about all you can do with a G3 Lic to make any Real $. The company in Durham Region is called Double G. They sub from Embridge. You must have a real Good understanding of the TSSA code book and know how to use pipe wrenches and you should be ok.Good Luck

Thank you all for your replies. I have been looking into getting my G2 the problem is for night school it takes a year and a half and with a mortgage to pay I can not go full time. I am more than willing to spend the time getting it but am also hoping to get a helper job or anything to get my foot in the door. I have also been looking across the country cus if that's what it takes then that's what it takes

Sorry, wrong button...
As I was saying, I don't know how the g3 factors into the apprenticeship now, and it may just give you first year.
It sounds like you're in the same boat I was 5 years ago.
I got my G2 at himark in Cambridge in 06 and couldn't find a job for a year in the trade. So I moved to Calgary, and got a job the next day.
You won't get any credit for your g3 or odp card if you leave Ontario, which I encourage, as it may be your only chance to get work. Getting an apprenticeship in Alberta is almost as easy as walking onto the job, since the employer doesn't decide who to sign up as is the case in Ontario.
I've heard from friends that there's work in the Kitchener-Waterloo area as well.

In the newsletter I got from the tssa recently, they stated the G2 ticket is a 2 year apprenticeship like in most other provinces now. I don't know how the G3 factors into

Good point on G2 while it's still reasonably easy to get. It's gonna turn into a 4-year apprenticeship. As for HiMark, I saw quite the opposite. Half the guys in my class were taken on by their coops. One guy even started getting paid while he was still a coop student. You get a level of exposure to the actual workplace that the colleges just can't offer you.

He is in the GTA Greater Toronto Area.
What is the HVAC program? I would get my G2 Lic ASAP it is very hard to get your foot in the door with a G3 Lic. I had a hard time 6 years ago before the economy took a dive to get my foot in the door in the exsact same location. What ever you do stay away from Highmark school for any of your HVAC Lic. Alot of employers crumple up resumes from people that went to that school. I would go to George Brown or Mowhawk to contiune my Lic.

I feel your pain man I tryed everything of just short of offering "Happy Endings" and Noone would Hire me. Just Keep at it take anything for the first gig just to gain some in the field training and if not happy never stop looking. The more Lic you have the better get em all ODP,G2,CFQ,First aid,fall protection etc.....

what area are you in?

Just keep pounding the doors. The weather's cooperating so lots of shops will be looking for people to wash coils, change belts and change filters. Getting G2 might help, too. Have you tried just walking into a shop with your resume on you?

need a helper?

After calling, mailing, emailing and faxing every HVAC company I could find in the GTA I thought I would ask around on here. I am looking for a HVAC apprenticeship or helper job. Anything to get my foot in the door. I recently finished the HVAC program at mohawk college. I also have my G3 and am taking the ODP course June 23. My expirience is minimum but I have been out shadowing a journeyman for a couple weeks. Anyone with any info of companies hiring would be greatly appreciated. Thanks all