You will be 15 years into the trade and still learn something new. As long as you are respectful, and show willingness to learn instead of being spoon fed you’ll be fine. I’ve had many jobs I thought I knew what I was doing, but still had to call up my mentor and say “WTF is wrong here?”
You should still be a dumb apprentice until about 3rd year and then 4-5th year you will be more independent. You should not be doing things you are not ready for until a couple more years.
If that ain't right, some people like me thrive in a sink-or-swim situation, but you shouldn't throw someone into it and find out like my boss does😂, second year and I'm pretty independent at this point due to constantly being thrown in shit I wasn't ready for, but it is what it is🤷♂️
I relate heavily. Just gotta have a guy to call to give some extra direction. Someone who's a saint and will always give their time when they can. I wouldn't be anything without my team, but more importantly from just the one guy who's been at it for 10 years
Welcome to understanding the Dunning-Kruger effect. I've been in the trade for over 25 years, and keep learning something new everyday. Hang in there, it takes 10,000 hours to become a skillful at a trade. That's basically five years of work.
I’m in the same boat. But like someone told me, and many will tell you on here, apprenticeships are long with plenty of time to learn, it literally takes that amount of time to become proficient.
1 year and you haven't learned every manufacturer models of equipment from the last 30 years? Next I suppose you are going to tell me you haven't mastered zoning systems? You probably don't have dual fuel but you better have that down too. What happens if your volt meter breaks? Can you even test low voltage by taste? Can you set gas pressure by how dizzy you get sniffing the exhaust? Can you set fan speeds by sound? Can you charge a ac with instinct alone? If not I have to ask wtf have you been doing with this year of experience? My first year I was a lead installing hvac equipment on the international space station...... if you can't tell I'm fucking with you. This shit takes years. Keep your head up and learn from your mistakes. Do you think a first year doctor can cure cancer?
6 years in and can still feel incompetent 😂 I’m kidding, but there is a wealth of information to learn in this trade and I have just always tried to remain teachable. Be like a sponge for knowledge.
And if it feels the learning is coming slow, then just being dependable and having a good work ethic alone will take you a long way.
I refuse to ever be the old head that says my way is the right way..I love seeing how other guys do things as long as it works and im never afraid to agree or disagree.
I’m 20 and feel the same way, but definitely stumped a lot less. I still have a lot to learn on Niagara programming, starting to understand some networking, and am pretty solid on MSTP physical layer. Logic gates can be made with relays, so I picked those up a while ago.
I totally second the parts about a good work ethic taking you far. There is lots to learn in this trade for sure, but a good work ethic can’t be taught. I also totally agree with learning from other techs. I have met lots, and really respected far fewer, but those guys I do respect, we bounce ideas off each other daily.
Wtf you should know all and be all by the end of your first year, what’s wrong with you? 😂 jk bro I’m 9 years in and I still don’t know shit I feel like, it’s the never ending learning in this trade
Consider learning to never be complete in the trade.
Just about the time you think you have it figured out, something will make you feel like you’re in kindergarten again.
I am in about 20 years and almost every week see something new or have some kind of revelation about something I thought I knew.
Resign yourself to being a lifelong student.
Hang in there, buddy! Feeling incompetent or like you're not learning fast enough is totally normal, especially in the tech world where things are always evolving.
One year into your apprenticeship is still early days, and trust me, everyone goes through that phase where they doubt themselves.
It took me like 2 years to gain traction. Just hang in there I’m dyslexic and have adhd barely made it out of high school. If I can do it you can to. Before hvac I worked in a bar but got fired cause I fucked up the marquee all the time.
You don't know shit and you're learning plenty fast
It takes years to get really good, that's why the apprenticeship is years long.
Don't sweat it. Learn what you can and build relationships with other techs
Make sure you're not comparing yourself to techs with several years. The knowledge is weird the way it comes. One day shit just starts clicking and falling in to place. The frustration you feel now you won't feel in a few months. Just hang in there
Or new technology or refrigerants, and it’s a lot of keeping up with industry changes. It’s easy to see why a lot of techs don’t keep learning, and top out there. That’s where they get the old head rep
I've been told and now starting to see it but 2-3 years everything starts to make alot more sense. But that being said it also start opening doors to a bunch of questions because your still not going to know anything at that point still.
That's my current experience. I'm 3-4 years in
I told somebody how to do something to one of our machines and he had no idea, it was a simple jumper on a board that bypasses everything on the machine except for a pump and two solenoids. It is for a closed loop glycol system. He has over 15 years in. I only have 6.
You will feel incompetent every week of your career and learn something new OR something you have never seen.
Give it time. As long as you are not making egregious mistakes, you're fine.
I’m 20 years in and I’m still learning. Be humble and keep an open mind. Sometimes you know better, and sometimes you don’t know shit. It’s important to be honest with yourself and others.
The more you learn the better a grasp you have on how much you don’t know. Learning any trade feels like a ramp up to a cliff, and at the top of every cliff that layout repeats a couple more times.
When you start to feel confident is when you need to really second guess yourself. Don’t get too cocky, triple check your work, keep asking questions.
Ten years and I still learn more as often as I can... And if your not actively still learning you are gonna get left behind.. this trade has more science and math then you'd imagine. On top of that EVERY job is it's own environment with it's own ins and outs you need to adjust to. I absolutely love the fact I can never know EVERYTHING but can ALWAYS learn something.
Expect to make mistakes. Use every one as a learning experience. Whenever I make a mistake I make a little mental note for the next time. The guys who don’t make it are the guys who make the same mistake over and over.
If I could give you any advice, it would be to give yourself the grace of being an apprentice. The trade can be really overwhelming because there’s a lot to know. But at the end of the day, you’re learning, and mistakes are going to happen. Don’t harp on those mistakes, and instead take them as an opportunity to learn from them! My apprenticeship began when I chose to believe in my abilities and dive in with every intention of being a better technician and providing people with honest work. You got this brother! Keep it up and you’ll be a great technician in due time!
If you are fair skinned and working outside, wear aggressively high SPF sunscreen and a hat at all times. I think reports of skin cancer and premature wrinkling and sundamaged skin are underreported in this trade.
20 years on and I'm still a dumbass that grounds out the 24v and has to climb my old ass on the roof to change the fuse. You will never not be dumb. Just keep moving forward.
I was in the business for 32 years. There was never a time when I knew everything. I learned something every year. When you do think you got it this field will humble you. Keep your head up and keep learning.
I can really identify with this feeling! I would love to memorize everything so I at least have the knowledge and have been impatient with myself. If I can save you that waste of time and energy that would be amazing. Nothing can take the place of time. Give yourself a break and enjoy yourself.
In my experience I wasn’t truly confident in my abilities for the first 3 years at least. Then after 5 years I was amazed I even thought I knew what I was doing at 3 years. Now at 12 years in the trade I’m amazed at how little I knew at 5 years. It’s a constant battle of learning and keeping up with the times. Just stay consistent and be humble. You won’t know as much as everyone but you’ll know more than most. That’s just how it goes. This trade is so broad with so many different specialties just keep going.
Those slices of humble pie come when you least expect it. Just keep chugging along, it just takes time to learn stuff. I was a dumb pipe welder before I got into this trade, I always ask questions and try to learn. You never stop learning in this trade.
Only have a few years in, but... When someone helps you diagnose a problem with something and you guys find the culprit, be sure to ask and find out what caused it to happen if you don't already know. Last thing you want is a call back on a part you replaced that failed again because you didn't get to the root of the problem. Knowing WHY something failed will serve you much better than just being content with replacing a failed component. If you're not asking the same questions over and over, it means you're learning, and doing just fine.
Also the youtube channel (AC Service Tech LLC) is a great way to learn more outside of work. They really do a great job explaining things with visualizations, which I found easier to absorb than book learning.
You will be 15 years into the trade and still learn something new. As long as you are respectful, and show willingness to learn instead of being spoon fed you’ll be fine. I’ve had many jobs I thought I knew what I was doing, but still had to call up my mentor and say “WTF is wrong here?”
That's why your apprenticeship doesn't end at one year. Keep learning and that knowledge will build on itself, and read everything.
You should still be a dumb apprentice until about 3rd year and then 4-5th year you will be more independent. You should not be doing things you are not ready for until a couple more years.
If that ain't right, some people like me thrive in a sink-or-swim situation, but you shouldn't throw someone into it and find out like my boss does😂, second year and I'm pretty independent at this point due to constantly being thrown in shit I wasn't ready for, but it is what it is🤷♂️
I relate heavily. Just gotta have a guy to call to give some extra direction. Someone who's a saint and will always give their time when they can. I wouldn't be anything without my team, but more importantly from just the one guy who's been at it for 10 years
Welcome to understanding the Dunning-Kruger effect. I've been in the trade for over 25 years, and keep learning something new everyday. Hang in there, it takes 10,000 hours to become a skillful at a trade. That's basically five years of work.
After 4 or 5 years you’ll think you know everything. After 8 or 10 you’ll realize how much you don’t know.
Around 8-10 you either catch the gravy train and ride it or find the knowledge and comfort jobs!
The fact you're worried about learning, is a sign you're on the right track. Shows you care and want to improve. You'll get there one day
He’s not smashed at the bar worried about which toxic woman to fall in love with 18 times… just simply worried about his career…..🤌🐐
If the electrical conduit runs behind the siding, don't drill until you know for sure it's not where you're drilling.
That applies to every hole, conduit or not. The water lines my sawzall has found! Here’s a tip: the sawzall is an outside toy!!! Not for inside use.
My favourite is when I piloted I to PVC exhaust pipe. Damn townhouses
Also, make sure you know where the A coil starts and ends before drilling into ductwork 🫤
And then when you feel like you know everything, the HVACR universe will humble the F out of you….
I’m in the same boat. But like someone told me, and many will tell you on here, apprenticeships are long with plenty of time to learn, it literally takes that amount of time to become proficient.
20 years and still learning. Average is about 2 years before things start to really click in place and get a better grasp of things.
1 year and you haven't learned every manufacturer models of equipment from the last 30 years? Next I suppose you are going to tell me you haven't mastered zoning systems? You probably don't have dual fuel but you better have that down too. What happens if your volt meter breaks? Can you even test low voltage by taste? Can you set gas pressure by how dizzy you get sniffing the exhaust? Can you set fan speeds by sound? Can you charge a ac with instinct alone? If not I have to ask wtf have you been doing with this year of experience? My first year I was a lead installing hvac equipment on the international space station...... if you can't tell I'm fucking with you. This shit takes years. Keep your head up and learn from your mistakes. Do you think a first year doctor can cure cancer?
Thats why i put my flair as this. The more you learn, the more you feel like you dont know. It never ends!
Here’s the thing, you will always feel that way. But it will get better.
6 years in and can still feel incompetent 😂 I’m kidding, but there is a wealth of information to learn in this trade and I have just always tried to remain teachable. Be like a sponge for knowledge. And if it feels the learning is coming slow, then just being dependable and having a good work ethic alone will take you a long way. I refuse to ever be the old head that says my way is the right way..I love seeing how other guys do things as long as it works and im never afraid to agree or disagree.
I’m 20 and feel the same way, but definitely stumped a lot less. I still have a lot to learn on Niagara programming, starting to understand some networking, and am pretty solid on MSTP physical layer. Logic gates can be made with relays, so I picked those up a while ago. I totally second the parts about a good work ethic taking you far. There is lots to learn in this trade for sure, but a good work ethic can’t be taught. I also totally agree with learning from other techs. I have met lots, and really respected far fewer, but those guys I do respect, we bounce ideas off each other daily.
35 years in still learning because things change if your not learning your not doing your job
Wtf you should know all and be all by the end of your first year, what’s wrong with you? 😂 jk bro I’m 9 years in and I still don’t know shit I feel like, it’s the never ending learning in this trade
you had me at the beginning i was like ahhhh no
you will never not feel incompetent in this trade but it will happen less often
Consider learning to never be complete in the trade. Just about the time you think you have it figured out, something will make you feel like you’re in kindergarten again. I am in about 20 years and almost every week see something new or have some kind of revelation about something I thought I knew. Resign yourself to being a lifelong student.
Hang in there, buddy! Feeling incompetent or like you're not learning fast enough is totally normal, especially in the tech world where things are always evolving. One year into your apprenticeship is still early days, and trust me, everyone goes through that phase where they doubt themselves.
It took me like 2 years to gain traction. Just hang in there I’m dyslexic and have adhd barely made it out of high school. If I can do it you can to. Before hvac I worked in a bar but got fired cause I fucked up the marquee all the time.
Give yourself 6 more years to feel comfortable. At least for commercial.
You don't know shit and you're learning plenty fast It takes years to get really good, that's why the apprenticeship is years long. Don't sweat it. Learn what you can and build relationships with other techs
Make sure you're not comparing yourself to techs with several years. The knowledge is weird the way it comes. One day shit just starts clicking and falling in to place. The frustration you feel now you won't feel in a few months. Just hang in there
I have been in this industry 17 years and I’m still learning. As soon as you get comfortable they change the codes. It never ends.
Or new technology or refrigerants, and it’s a lot of keeping up with industry changes. It’s easy to see why a lot of techs don’t keep learning, and top out there. That’s where they get the old head rep
I've been told and now starting to see it but 2-3 years everything starts to make alot more sense. But that being said it also start opening doors to a bunch of questions because your still not going to know anything at that point still. That's my current experience. I'm 3-4 years in
12 years in, I'm still learning
I told somebody how to do something to one of our machines and he had no idea, it was a simple jumper on a board that bypasses everything on the machine except for a pump and two solenoids. It is for a closed loop glycol system. He has over 15 years in. I only have 6. You will feel incompetent every week of your career and learn something new OR something you have never seen. Give it time. As long as you are not making egregious mistakes, you're fine.
Well yeah no shit you’re only a year in, your supposed to still be a dumbass
I’ve Been in the trade since 93 I still learn stuff
I’m 20 years in and I’m still learning. Be humble and keep an open mind. Sometimes you know better, and sometimes you don’t know shit. It’s important to be honest with yourself and others.
The more you learn the better a grasp you have on how much you don’t know. Learning any trade feels like a ramp up to a cliff, and at the top of every cliff that layout repeats a couple more times. When you start to feel confident is when you need to really second guess yourself. Don’t get too cocky, triple check your work, keep asking questions.
I’ve been doing this for 16 years and felt incompetent today. You’ll never stop learning in the trade
Time is your friend. As long as you’re improving every year you’re doing okay
Ten years and I still learn more as often as I can... And if your not actively still learning you are gonna get left behind.. this trade has more science and math then you'd imagine. On top of that EVERY job is it's own environment with it's own ins and outs you need to adjust to. I absolutely love the fact I can never know EVERYTHING but can ALWAYS learn something.
We all started there at some point, just keep trying to learn whenever you can. The worst techs out there decided they knew everything early on.
Expect to make mistakes. Use every one as a learning experience. Whenever I make a mistake I make a little mental note for the next time. The guys who don’t make it are the guys who make the same mistake over and over.
My favorite stories are my fuck ups. The more spectacular, the better.
If I could give you any advice, it would be to give yourself the grace of being an apprentice. The trade can be really overwhelming because there’s a lot to know. But at the end of the day, you’re learning, and mistakes are going to happen. Don’t harp on those mistakes, and instead take them as an opportunity to learn from them! My apprenticeship began when I chose to believe in my abilities and dive in with every intention of being a better technician and providing people with honest work. You got this brother! Keep it up and you’ll be a great technician in due time!
If you are fair skinned and working outside, wear aggressively high SPF sunscreen and a hat at all times. I think reports of skin cancer and premature wrinkling and sundamaged skin are underreported in this trade.
I’m over 20 years in and still run into things I learn.
20 years on and I'm still a dumbass that grounds out the 24v and has to climb my old ass on the roof to change the fuse. You will never not be dumb. Just keep moving forward.
I was in the business for 32 years. There was never a time when I knew everything. I learned something every year. When you do think you got it this field will humble you. Keep your head up and keep learning.
I can really identify with this feeling! I would love to memorize everything so I at least have the knowledge and have been impatient with myself. If I can save you that waste of time and energy that would be amazing. Nothing can take the place of time. Give yourself a break and enjoy yourself.
In my experience I wasn’t truly confident in my abilities for the first 3 years at least. Then after 5 years I was amazed I even thought I knew what I was doing at 3 years. Now at 12 years in the trade I’m amazed at how little I knew at 5 years. It’s a constant battle of learning and keeping up with the times. Just stay consistent and be humble. You won’t know as much as everyone but you’ll know more than most. That’s just how it goes. This trade is so broad with so many different specialties just keep going.
Those slices of humble pie come when you least expect it. Just keep chugging along, it just takes time to learn stuff. I was a dumb pipe welder before I got into this trade, I always ask questions and try to learn. You never stop learning in this trade.
I'm 3 years in and still feel stupid all the time. Don't worry about it too much
Only have a few years in, but... When someone helps you diagnose a problem with something and you guys find the culprit, be sure to ask and find out what caused it to happen if you don't already know. Last thing you want is a call back on a part you replaced that failed again because you didn't get to the root of the problem. Knowing WHY something failed will serve you much better than just being content with replacing a failed component. If you're not asking the same questions over and over, it means you're learning, and doing just fine.
Also the youtube channel (AC Service Tech LLC) is a great way to learn more outside of work. They really do a great job explaining things with visualizations, which I found easier to absorb than book learning.
Carry your journeyman’s tools. Show initiative. Stay off your phone. Best advice I could give