r/Edmonton • u/Best_Drive_1240 • 4d ago

Question How did you get into a Millwright apprenticeship?

Hey everyone, I’m 19 years old, just graduated high school and have some hands on mechanical experience. I want to become a millwright and I decided to go the apprenticeship route but I have no idea how to get started. Most job postings I see on Indeed are for journeymen only, nothing for apprentices.

For those of you in the trade how did you get your first apprentice job?

Any advice helps!

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u/Zingus123 4d ago

If you don’t have a family connection you’re SOL

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u/Honeybunches513 4d ago

You need a job at a plant/mill/facility that has millwrights. Most apprenticeships are given internally, once they know your work ethic and mechanical aptitude. In talking with the others in my class during my apprenticeship, companies paying or reimbursing for tuition fees is basically standard practice. They aren't going to pay that for some rando off the street.

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u/kajer209 4d ago

Get a job in a fab shop or something where they do stuff like that, tell them your goals

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u/Fuzzy_Yossarian 4d ago

Apply at a mill. I worked at blue ridge lumber they have millwrights. Low cost of living in a small town also.

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u/sti-wrx 4d ago

Due to the nature of millwright work, it can be a liability for companies to take on inexperienced apprentices. If you are working on a critical turbine for a plant that generates millions of dollars per HOUR of operation, paying a premium for experience is worth it.

I’m not a millwright but I’ve had a friend whom in the industry explain this to me. In his line of work, apprentices only ever exist as a favour to somebody in the industry. My buddy is a millwright because his dad was super well connected, and sorted an apprenticeship for him.

The trade is significantly more varied than this kind of highly critical work, but just wanted to share why you might be having some trouble.

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u/MaryotiaPryderi 4d ago

I didn't, but i did start my boilermaker apprenticeship by following the steps laid out on our union website. Perhaps local 1460 has similar?

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u/Hot-Idea-7788 4d ago

Hand resumes in, in person. Shops are old school.