Adult Apprenticeships: What I Wish I Knew Before Starting in the Trades.

Hang on. What is an Adult Apprentice?

An adult apprentice is someone who chooses to partake in a formal on-the-job training program at an older age, usually around their mid-20’s and older. Quite often this means leaving their careers. Many receive higher compensation during their time training when compared to their junior counterpart.

Here’s five things you should know before starting an adult apprenticeship.

1. Agesim

Agesim exists. It’s as damaging as sexism in the trades, yet it is rarely talked about.

Ageism is the “prejudice or discrimination on the grounds of a person’s age.” You’ll definitely come across employers who are unwilling to take on older guys, in the same way some companies refuse to look at a women’s resume.

How I overcame it: Know your worth.

• Employers have a harder time bullsh*ting you when you know how employment works: Trust me. The industry is full of employers who bank on people not knowing basic employment law, like holiday pay etc.
• Your critical thinking skills are valued: You’re not seen as just another apprentice to babysit. The ability to foresee consequences comes from life experience.
• You won’t be hired as just cheap labour: You’ll be able to figure out better and smarter ways to do jobs pretty fast.
• You know how to job hunt and negotiate your pay: Job hunting is a skill that a lot of people don’t have.
• You’re less easy to manipulate: Being older and more experienced means that you know how to call out people’s bull*shit onsite. People trying to get you do do dangerous things? Not a problem – you know how to find another other job.

Why you shouldn’t worry? Don’t get FOMO. Yes, it may be harder to find a job in some circumstances, but it actually helps you in weeding out the companies with 🚩. You’re not missing out on anything, don’t settle on red flags. Consider the following:

• Good workplaces see that life experiences are essential in developing transferrable skills (e.g people skills, co-ordinating jobs, handling paper trails).
• Companies that accept adult apprentices are usually prepared to offer at least minimum wage when starting out.
• Good workplaces value the maturity that comes along with adult apprentices. You’re less likely to be doing reckless things.

Simply put:

In the same way that some companies avoid hiring women, why would you want to work for a company that doesn’t hire above a certain age?

2. The pay cut is a real shock

Rent and bills are harder once you have a family. On top of that, a social life and stress levels. Even just seeing the weekly pay cheques halved can bring you down. It all adds up.

How I overcame it: Set a budget and be realistic with your financial goals.

• Go through a budget: Be honest with yourself, and your partner if you live together. Be realistic about how a pay cut will affect your mortgage, kids etc.
• Be prepared to negotiate your wage.
• Have an emergency fund: I can’t stress how important this is. The years 2024 & 2025 saw unpresidenteded cuts in construction jobs, and many apprentices were made redundant. You’ll need a back up plan if construction isn’t for you.
• Be prepared to put any financial goals you have on hold for the next four years: Your salary will tank in the short term, and you won’t be able to afford an expensive holiday for a couple of years.
• Be prepared to take a second job early during your apprenticeship: Not all companies do overtime, and not everyone can do cash jobs during training. Painting your neighbours house is okay, but touching your neighbours switchboard unsupervised is illegal on a Trainee Licence. You’ll have to find an experienced/qualified person to work with. A lot of people don’t admit to having second jobs.

During the first two years, I was contracting out bookkeeping/accounting services to other businesses, and my partner took shifts working in a warehouse to meet the mortgage. Some of my friends were also bartenders and restaurant workers, well into their 4th year as apprentices.

Other things that you have to know:

Finishing an apprenticeship won’t guarantee that you will reach your financial goals.

A lot of apprentices aren’t trained properly by the time they finish, and many drop out. A lot of Tradesmen are terrible teachers, and quite often will have no interest in taking apprentices under their wing. Set yourself learning goals to ensure that you actually learn as much as you can.

3. You’re not “behind” in life — you’re actually ahead in a lot of ways.

It’s easy to lose yourself, especially when comparing your life to the success of the younger guys who are training you. However, you’re actually doing better than you think.

How I Overcame it: Put the Ego aside and be realistic.

• Put the ego aside: You’re training yourself in a new skill.
• Stop comparing yourself to your mate’s Insta highlight reels.
• Stop comparing yourself to your co-workers: They may have a house at 24, but that shouldn’t disregard the experience you’ve gained from working in multiple industries. or the university degree you have.
• Don’t equate money with self-worth: Easiest trap to fall into. Your ability to earn does not determine if you are a worthy human being.

4. Transitioning from the Office to the Construction Site is a real culture shock.

For those of us who have prior work experience, construction is a real culture shock. People are more casual, but a lot more chaotic.

How I overcame it: Treat the experience as a cultural lesson, and just go with it. Here’s some things you will come across.

• People are blunt: Being politically correct just isn’t a thing. That doesn’t mean that people are a*holes; just a lot more used to speaking their mind rather bluntly. Working in the trades feels like you’ve stepped back to a workplace in the 2000s.
• People are rough: Empathy is rare, and humour is *very* rough. You’ll have to get accustomed to getting a thick skin.
• Very Hierarchal: You’ll quickly learn when ton speak, when your input actually matters, and who’s the ‘top-dog’ of the project. Life will be hard if you don’t respect the hierarchy.

Extra one if you’re a woman:

• Socially, working with a woman is just much as a culture shock for them: The last time many of these guys worked along side a girl was probably back in year 12 English class (if they even went to a co-ed school). For many of them, working in construction is the only job they know, and many have never had a female coworker. The only women they know are their wives, sisters and daughters. It is just as much as a culture adjustment to them, as it is to you.

Joining construction was a massive culture shock. I’ve written a full article on Construction Culture Shock here.

5. The importance of having a strong support group.

Being surrounded by people who actually care about your wellbeing is a must to survive in this industry. Supervisors who take time to teach you, or workmates who have you back, support means that you can get home safely. Having good friends outside of work can put the hard days in perspective for you, and prevent you from burning out.

How I overcame it: Have good friends and make genuine connections in the industry.

• Surround yourself with good coworkers: You can’t trust people if they are gossiping about you all the time.
• Hobbies and life outside of work: Keeps you accountable for setting good boundaries and work-life balance.
• Genuine networking is underrated: As an office worker, I used to cringe at the word ‘networking’. Now, I’ve managed to find a fantastic support system through talking to people who have the same goals as me. A good way to network is by finding your local men’s shed or women’s support group.

My women’s tradie group is everything. I talk to these Tradeswomen daily, and can ask anything without feeling judged. We’ve even incorporated a support group together.

You made it to the end…

Becoming an Adult Apprentice doesn’t mean that you’re ‘behind’ in life. it takes courage to master a new skill when you have bills, children, and a mortgage.

There’s a famous proverb I always refer back to, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.”