EQUIPPING YOURSELF WHEN STARTING A CAREER IN THE TRADES

So, you’ve learned everything you need to know and are ready to start your career in the trades. That’s exciting news! We’re equally as excited to toss a few nuggets of wisdom your way so that you can get started off. Choosing to go into the trades is a great career move, but just like with any other job it helps to be prepared on day one so you can get moving up that ladder quickly. Well, Megapro has your back! Between scouring the web and chatting with professionals, we’ve found some great tips and advice on what to do when beginning your life in the trades.

BRING THE RIGHT ATTITUDE

A lot of your success is going to be based on how you act on the job. You’ve got the know-how from school and training but what you don’t usually learn is how to best represent yourself and become as valuable as you can to the people you’re working with and for. To help with this we’re going to give you two words to live your trade life by: LISTEN and COMMUNICATE.

Listen, hear, and effectively process what the more experienced people on the job are saying, and learn the proper way of doing things (they’ve made the mistakes you might make in the future so pay attention and you’ll be able to avoid some potential screw-ups) Listening will also show you’re passionate and eager to learn more about the job, something everyone on the site can respect.

Don’t allow yourself to plateau and think you know everything. There’s always new information and training available to absorb. Seek out ways to grow and improve, and the best way to get there is to be interested and fully committed to getting as good at the job as you can.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. If there’s something you’re unsure of just ask. Don’t worry about getting things done fast as that leads to mistakes. Speed will come with experience, and it’s far more important in any trade to get the job done correctly. A quick question is far cheaper than a costly mistake.

BRING THE RIGHT TOOLS

Most of this will have been covered during your schooling or training, but just in case you were asleep at your desk, here’s a refresher. When beginning as an apprentice it’s important to do your research, get the tools you’ll need to do what’s expected of you and start off by getting familiar with the equipment you’ll be using. This can vary from job to job but there are still some fundamentals you’ll want to have that are used across most trades, including:

• Power drill or impact driver
• Tape measurer
• Pliers
• Screwdriver (You were probably expecting that one, huh?)

But not just any old screwdriver. Since you’re going to need a variety of tips for different jobs within any trade, we recommend a multi-bit screwdriver to give you the selection you’ll need to succeed (we even have a few handy suggestions below)

Original – Our Original screwdriver combines innovative design and function with 14 of the most commonly used bit tips in North America. And if you’re looking for something more job specific, we carry original handle drivers that not only feature the same benefits of the Megapro Advantage, but also come with bit loads tailored to specific trades:

• If you’re entering a trade that deals with maintenance and security fasteners our Tamperproof driver is your new best friend.
• We carry an HVAC industry specific driver that includes a valve stem bit, square awl reamer and a smaller sized flat bit for temperature gauge adjustments.
• Looking to become a mechanic? Our Automotive driver features a ¼” socket adaptor to help lighten your tool belt.
• If you’re interested in becoming an elevator technician, our Elevator driver with its mix of standard and security bits (spanner, torx-pin) will help you level up your screwdriving game, right out of the gates.

Ratcheting – Our Ratcheting screwdriver features mostly the same innovative design and function as our Original, but with added comfort and ease of use thanks to a cushion grip handle and ultra smooth 28- tooth ratchet mechanism. This screwdriver is the perfect choice if you find yourself in a job that has you doing repetitive fastening, providing relief from hand strain, which can mean some long-term health benefits. We also offer a ratcheting driver loaded with security bits, for those high-intensity maintenance jobs with repetitive fastening of tamperproof screws.

Our versatile screwdriver selection with bit loads tailored to different trades means no matter what job you do, a Megapro screwdriver is always your best bet to get the job done.

GET INTO THE RIGHT HABBITS

These are the best tips we found on forming the best work habits when starting in the trades. Sure, some are cliché, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t true, and everyone can benefit from keeping them top of mind all the time:

• Work hard. We start with the most obvious one but it’s true. There is never nothing to do. Especially on a job site where people are pouring their blood, sweat and tears to get the job done. If you do the same, you’ll be guaranteed success.
• Don’t get discouraged. If something seems hard keep telling yourself “Just wait until I’m good at this!”
• Keep your work tidy and work-area clean. That will go very far in earning your co-workers, and site supervisor’s respect.
• Don’t touch anyone’s work without talking to them or the site super first. You would want your work to be respected the same way.
• Don’t take anything personally. There will be some direct language coming your way at times. Absorb it, learn and grow.
• Use your tools properly and learn how to quickly read a tape measure.

That just about covers it. If you stick to the above tips, you’re guaranteed to have an amazing start to your new career in the trades. Now go have fun building the world we live in… actually, I almost forgot one last tip: Don’t leave your Megapro alone on the site or else you WILL be coming back to this site to buy a new one :)

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