How do you get plumbing experience with no prior experience?
Employers routinely demand years of prior experience for entry-level openings, leaving beginners trapped with no obvious way to break into the trade. This catch-22 makes it nearly impossible to land a start without already having time on the tools.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
How do you get plumbing experience with no prior experience?
- 1Applying to mom and pop shops in person or by cold callingDid this help you?
- 2Applying online via job boards and company career pagesDid this help you?
- 3Visiting local union halls in personDid this help you?
- 4Following up in person after submitting applicationsDid this help you?
- 5Soldering the lines manually when lacking the proper press jawsDid this help you?
- 6Using split rings and threaded rod to keep pipes off concreteDid this help you?
- 7Keeping applications open for 1st year apprentice jobsDid this help you?
- 8Walking into workplaces with a resumeDid this help you?
- 9Getting experience outside of a union firstDid this help you?
- 10Bringing a pocket notebook, a pen, a sharpie, a tape measure, channel locks, adjustable wrenches, and a torpedo level.Did this help you?
- 11Relying on union or employer-provided tools and power tools.Did this help you?
- 12Searching job boards for plumbing helper positionsDid this help you?
- 13Contacting local unions to join an apprenticeship programDid this help you?
- 14Checking state labor pages for trainee licensing requirementsDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Everywhere seems to require years of experience how do I get that experience? There has to be a way or something I’m missing people aren’t born with years of experience so what do I do?”source ↗
“I’m looking to get into the plumbing industry I have no experience.”source ↗
“I’m just needing to know how can I get into it and what I need to do to start.”source ↗
“im not going to lie it was a bit intimidating but passed the inspection without a hitch.”source ↗
“How do you get a job with no experience”source ↗
“Did you go to school first or get the job first?”source ↗
“Hey guys. I’m starting my apprenticeship on Monday with a new job. Does anyone have any advice for tool necessities and just first day do’s and don’t? All advice and feedback is very helpful and appreciated 🙏🏾”source ↗
“I appreciate the feedback and other things I need to start off with”source ↗
“Also am I needing to apply for an apprentice license or something? Or is that not necessary?”source ↗