Curious about what being a carpenter is really like? Want to hear the perspective of someone who’s been through NWCI? Here’s a set of questions and answers to help you decide whether an apprenticeship in carpentry is your best path to a fulfilling career and a stable, rewarding future.
What’s the most important thing you remember learning as an apprentice?
Showing up with a positive attitude and ready to work.
What is your full name, and trade?
What piece of advice would you share with someone who’s considering apprenticeship in Carpentry?
It's the best decision you could make. I know it was mine.
How did you come to focus on your specific craft? What do you like most about your craft?
I went to commercial dive school in Seattle and knew that I wanted to stay local. I wanted to have more of a wide range of knowledge.
Is there one project, in particular, that you’re most proud of?
Working at a lake in Sulton where I put in the wharf to keep out logs from the over flow.
Describe a great day on the job.
Good weather, getting into a groove and when everyone is working together.
Describe a typical day on the job.
Early mornings and hard days. Everything is always going.
What do you do outside of work? For fun? In your community? With family?
Snowboard, spend time with my son and work on cars.
How would you describe your fellow tradespeople?
How do you use your skills and experience outside of work?
I like to use my skills to help remodel my house or help friends.
What surprised you most about carpentry when you entered the field?
How much I have been able to use my previous knowledge that I used in the army.
A great day on the job is when you are having fun doing what you are doing.
Becoming part of a great carpenter family.
I don't have one project in particular I am proud of. I'm proud overall of all my projects as I have become an experienced journeymen framer.
A typical day is all about working hard and making sure you have safety in mind at all times.
I enjoy spending time with my family and helping others.
Great people who are willing to share their skills.
By helping friends and family.
I enjoy volunteering with youth programs, community projects, gardening, hunting and time with friends and family.
I am still learning as an apprentice, but I have learned already not to take things too personally and I am physically capable of more than I thought I was.
Be prepared and on time to work and school. It is not only for men! There are many women, ask questions and always listen to your intuition! Don't be over sensitive!
I have not finalized a focus, however, I enjoy quality control, safety and finish carpentry work.
The LUMA Project on Seneca. I also am very proud of a women's volunteer day for #Shebuilds. I had so much fun working/ volunteering with all women!
A great day on the job is when you get to work with people with a great attitude.
Arrive 30mins early, stretch, drink coffee and do whatever your foremen or journeymen tells you to do.
Most have treated me fine, many are sometimes surprised at what I have been capable of doing and how tough I am.
I use my skills and experience outside of work to help friends and family on projects. I also use them on projects in my own home.
The limited number of women in the trade. It would be great to see this number grow!
If you want a challenge in life and want to become a team player this is the trade for you.
How to work through your problems.
I broke down my likes/ dislikes incorporated by my strengths and interests. I like learning everyday.
Yes, when I framed my first unit all by myself.
A challenging day where you feel accomplished at the end of it.
Get to work, grab all that you need to build, work vigorously for 8 hours.
Outside of work I manage a small vending machine business, work out and am involved in political issues (mass incarceration) and spend time with my family.
Helpful. Kinder than I ever imagined.
I use my skills and experience to build things around the house and help friends and family.
Make sure you are practicing safety at all times.
I focus on my craft by making sure I keep a good pace. What I like most is feeling good when it is complete.
My work on the Amazon building. It was fascinating to see the cool ceiling in the main lobby and kitchen completed.
Great day is when you complete a project.
Typical day is dropping ceiling in grids. I'm hearing impaired so my co-workers and I have to make an extra effort to communicate and help each other.
I like to do a lot of things on my time outside of work, nothing specific.
Outside of work, I share my skills and experience with others.
I've learned a lot more than I thought I would ever learn.
Typical day is working hard, being safe and looking out for your fellow brother or sister.
As an apprentice, I like to show up 1hr early just to have all my tools out that I need for the day and meet the foreman.
Being a carpenter is a great opportunity. You are building history and can always look back at your work and smile.
By focusing on what I am good at and working on being better at it everyday. What I like most is I get to build history.
The high school in Maple Valley I worked on because that's a place for our future children.
A great day is when I get to do everything that is needed before being told to do it. I call that being on top of your game.
Fish, football, ride bikes and work on music.
I use them in everything I do. Being a carpenter is something I am very proud of.
The sky's the limit as a carpenter. Only limits are what you set.
It's a great trade. The program lets you take full advantage on hands on learning.
I fell upon the opportunity without knowing anything about the trades. As I learned about it, I couldn't say no to learning new skills that I knew could provide me with life long opportunities.
Insignia. I was able to do the layout, surveying, concrete and then crossed over to finish work in all the same building. It was nice to see different sides of the trade.
Learning a new skill and feeling efficient w/ my work as I strive to complete my project.
Working with my partner, apprentices helping each other to complete a floor's worth of work.
I love farmers markets, trail walking/ running with family and helping out others.
I help my parents around their house with what I can fix. I also use my skills and experience to fix things around my house.
How much you are able to use your skill sets to figure out creative ways to fix or make things. Also how much hard work goes into making the amazing buildings that surround us.
Everything is dependent on what type of person you are with them. You receive what you get.
Nothing is impossible, it's just the lack of experience. The longer you do something, the easier it becomes to get your job done.
It's a great career that will give you a satisfying outcome. Going to a four year university is not the only option to be successful.
I chose this craft because it is the craft I grew up learning about from my family. What I like about it is that I am always moving and the hours go by in a blink of an eye.
I am proud of seeing the podium at Lincoln Square Expansion coming to an end because I look forward to getting that feeling of accomplishment once the project is complete.
A great day on the job consists of lots of laughing, being energized and getting along with your partner.
On a typical day, you get assigned a project, gather your materials to get the job done and give it your best to produce quality and quantity products.
I go out to get to know new places with my wife. Enjoy time with family and friends.
You're always learning new things and people are greater than TV makes them to appear.
What I like most about my specific craft is cutting, rigging and welding.
Making sure I was early to every job.
I'm proud of the 520 Bridge.
When you're able to use tools to solve problems. Once, we had a BBQ on the job and used a torch to start the BBQ.
Moving metal, cutting metal, welding metal, cleaning the job site and taking things back to shore.
I like to go running.
Pile Driving and Diving is dangerous. You can get hurt if you aren't careful.
The pay is very good!
What you put in, you get out.
Only sign up if you plan to make a career out of it.
I had family in the trade. I saw no-one stood alone and wanted to be a part of that.
A few towers we build at BP.
A day with no injuries and working down on the docks on a nice day.
Work out, play basketball and spend time with my son.
Willing to invest time into helping everyone in need.
Learning something new and meeting new people.
Good place to learn and get certified.
I focus on concentrating on the finished product. What I like most is the sense of accomplishment when a big project is complete.
Yes, the Seattle Waterfront Project.
A great day is when I don't have to redo any of my work.
Work hard for 8 hours and go home with a big smile on my face.
Some are friendly and others are not so much.
I use my skills and experience outside of work when needed.
All of the different jobs out there.