What I Wish I Knew as an Apprentice: Wisdom from the Trade Hounds Community

At Trade Hounds, we know that no one forgets their first day on the job site. Whether you're just starting your apprenticeship or you’ve been in the trades for decades, you remember the lessons you learned the hard way. 

So, in honor of National Apprenticeship Day, we decided to tap into the wisdom of the Trade Hounds community. We asked two questions: 
👉 What do you wish you knew when you were an apprentice? 
👉 What’s the best advice you’d give to someone just starting out? 

Pros from across the country dropped their best tips and encouragement. Here’s what they had to say:

nfg 
Show up 10 or 15 minutes before your start time and keep your ears open. 

The Mack "Social Media Thug" 
Never say, "I can't do that." Instead, say: I've never done that before, but I'm ready to learn. 

Terry 
Get a code book and start learning to navigate it. Invest in tools as soon as possible... Ask questions until you understand the assignment. You own it when you walk away. 

Josh Mathena 
Never say "that's not my job" or think that you're too high and mighty to not do something. When I was an apprentice, I got handed all the crawlspace work, attic work, trenching. You have to pay your dues to rise up the ladder. 

Mike Narayan 
Always keep your belt on and always stay busy.

Bob Kasch 
Lock out, tag out.

Stephen Marable  
Use knee pads or a kneeling pad pretty much every job!!!! 

Terry 
I always say, "Stupid questions are way better than stupid mistakes." 

Landon Smith 
Master helper here: make sure you listen to what your master or journeyman has to say. Odds are they have learned from experiences, and if you make a mistake, don't be embarrassed, we have all done it, it's only human nature. Also, be open to trying out different techniques, everyone does things slightly different.

Tom 
You're going to make mistakes. Learn those lessons the first time. Also, become the one with the answers by committing to your craft. 

Richard Furqueron 
Invest in yourself... make yourself irreplaceable. The more you learn, the more money you make, the more valuable you become.

Joe McBee 
Treat everyone with professionalism, respect, and kindness. Do not spread gossip. Stay off your phone, and act like you want to be there. 

Wes Dusek
Treat everything as if it's powered up.

Thomas A Curtan 
The only person not making mistakes is the person not doing anything.

If you're just getting started in the trades, download the Trade Hounds app to ask questions, connect with experienced pros, and find tools and advice to make your job easier. 

Happy National Apprenticeship Day from all of us at Trade Hounds. 💪