Hi folks. I'm taking the apprenticeship aptitude test tomorrow and considering entering the elevator trade. I've read a lot about all the great things about this career; I'm wondering what the downsides are.

So, what DON'T you like about it?

Thanks!

There are always negatives in any trade. And many might very from company to company, individual to individual, and especially department to department (construction, mod, service). But personally I'd say it's the middle of the night callbacks.

Service dept.
The 2 am callbacks and watching the sun come up. I hate it when I see that fireball crest the horizon from a rooftop working on some damn elevator. (9 years)

Construction dept.
The freezing ass winters and the broiling hoist ways in the summer. (5 years)

Repair and mod. Dept.
only did that for six months got pushed to a route. So didn't stay long enough to find anything wrong.

Oh yeah and company bs but everybody has to put up with that.
Besides that I love this stuff. You learn something everyday. And just when you think you know something. A elevator tears up and whips your ass. So you have to learn even more.

The first 30 proved to be the "BEST JOB I EVER HAD".
Check back with me in 2043 and I'll let you know how the second 30 were...



If I still have teeth!

What's not to love!!! every challenge mother nature man and machine can throw at you.

construction first 3 years and maintenance for 5 now. Love the job. but the 2 things that get to me is when the company takes over a job site unseen and throws us to the wolves to deal wit the customer and usually an elevator that has been "drive by" maintained. and the way construction leaves jobs. we take over after they are done and have to clean the pits and cartops and machine rooms. usually have to readjust a lot of stuff. just gets on my nerves sometimes. and I love the late night wake up calls.

Bosses who have been out of the field for many years but still think they know everything about modern lifts or foriegn equipment!!!and get the shits when you cant fix it!!

Construction, 15 years.... Hate customers that expect me to fix their piss poor scheduling. Get me in to start working, and expect an inspection 4 days later because "it's the grand opening"....

Dislike ALL the companies that send out brand new equipment with 0 to little literature on it. They all do it, they all suffer for it, we all hate it, and then they all do it again... It's like the big 4 all use the same test monkeys before releasing new stuff...

I agree with the no literature. Then you get it on service and your supposed to know how to fix it but you can't even find out what the fault is.

Construction, the first two years. Maintenance till 2015.
I pretty much agree with all of above. This business is not what it used to be any more, back when I was younger, we tried to fix everything, make our customers happy. But now , there are consultants, inspections, local fire dept, even some EMT personnel, everybody truly believe he/she knows this business inside out. not to mention some building manager/Super..... I do not have problem deal with anybody, just don't ask me those rather moronic questions. Such as "why don't you carry a generator in your car all the time, so you don't have to leave this unit down". made me want to stick my long nose plier right in his/her behind.
If I was able to live my life once again. other than try to be a millionaire, I'll take this job in a heart beat. As for now. I'm enjoying my retirement with my dog.
Good Luck and work safely.