haddad_mech

I'd add: decide early whether you want public work. Prevailing-wage jobs mean certified payroll and a lot of paperwork, at least on every one we've done. Good money, different business.

One more, since you'll top out soon: this is part of the job now. Teaching the first-year is what makes a good journeyman. Foremen notice who the first-years want to work with.

Here's what I look for when I hire, from the other side of the table: someone two years in who can explain what they did on a job, start to finish. That's worth more than a certificate. Union or not, keep a record of your work with dates and who supervised you. Whoever you talk to next will ask.

Here's what I look for when I give a raise, and you did most of it: you came in with what you can do on your own, not what you think you deserve. Landing in the middle is normal; most owners expect to. The part I'd lock down is "talk again in the spring." Ask him what specifically he wants to see by then, and write it down while you're still in the room.

On who actually does the tank work: mostly a separate company. On our commercial jobs it's always a sub with its own insurance for that work. Here's what I look for in that sub: their permits and paperwork, every time.