Originally Posted by Infinite-T
I feel your pain brother. I am an IBEW Wireman (commercial electrician). When I was an apprentice from 2006-2010 things weren't too bad. Even after the 2008 crash, I stayed pretty busy. I turned out december of 2010. Then got laid off May 2011. Then had work from Feb '11 thru Sept '11. then off again til feb '12, then on, then off again, etc etc. It is a huge drag sometimes. I spent nearly 5 years of school and work to learn a trade. I work HARD, I am no slacker and I do good work. Not to blow my own horn at all, but I have always been much liked and praised by my coworkers and supervisors. But being much liked doesnt help much when the project is over and there is nothing left to do. I enjoy the trade a lot, and love what I do. But the feeling of "will I have a job after Friday" constantly looming over your head is a very difficult thing to get used to. I HATE not working, it is boring, depressing, degrading, etc. So despite the obvious house/yard work, I help family and friends with things, tinker with my hobbies, games, and very important, try to get out of the house even for just a half hour a day so you dont get cabin fever. It is harder during the winter because of the weather.
To all who have gone through this, are going through it, and will go through it, keep your chin up, believe in yourself, do what you do and dont let the world get you down. You will be OK. Be smart with your money when you are busy so that if an when you are out, you arent over stretched financially. Especially for us tradesmen (and woman) who just go project to project, or sit at home when there are no projects to go to.. The skilled trades are one of the hardest hit by this crash and is still lagging very behind in the recovery, especially area to area.
Keep the faith, keep your chin up, and if you are lucky enough to have one of these bada$$ Camaros in your garage, make sure you enjoy it!
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