Appliance repair tech job opportunity - Questions

[kirkebea]

Hi all,

I've been offered an apprenticeship to become an appliance tech, but they are asking me to complete a 90 day "ride-along" period to see if I would be a good fit before being hired on as an actual apprentice. I would be paid during this period.

I guess to me this sounds a little strange. Why not hire me outright? I asked them about it, but they explained it to me as a time to see if I would be a good fit, and if I liked the profession. The service manager explained that they have had 3 people sign up as apprentices and leave after a year or less because they ended up hating it, so they are gun-shy to just hire me as an apprentice outright.
Thoughts?

A little about me: this is a huge career change. I really have 0 appliance repair experience. My dad is a very well known tech in our area, and I grew up in the appliance tech world. I am very mechanically inclined, and I am a very quick study.

EDIT: They would also be giving me a truck to use to drive between job sites, and the 90 days would count towards my union hours when I did start the actual apprenticeship

[mz3own]

what company is union doing appliance repair
we do ride alongs all the time. Gives you and the company a chance to see if you are are good fit for them and vice versa.

[kirkebea]

Hey thanks for the reply! I'm not sure, but they claim they're union Here is what it says on their site [company] has the only union factory trained and certified appliance technicians in [state]. Is your ride along period 90 days? Just seems extremely long to me.

[dab147315]

only one i can think of as being union is GE

[dewitt8884]

I did 4 weekends as an internship (no pay) and found it helpful, but of course it wasn't an accurate representation of the level of what is be doing. I've never heard of a union in any appliance repair biz. I'd do it if they're paying for it.

[kirkebea]

  So is the general consensus here that I should be worried about whether or not this union actually exists? You all seem very fixated on it.    They are a fairly large local chain. They have five stores covering over 200 miles north to south of coast and service people inland from them. They're fairly dominant in the area.

They will be paying my union dues and classes. I've thought about it some more and honestly it feels like they may be going the extra mile for me here. I should probably count my lucky stars and just do the 90 days. I won't be profitable AT ALL for them during this training period and I should feel like I'm even getting paid.

[mz3own]

go for it. do they pay relocation fees too?