A Day in the Life of an Apprentice at Wickstrom

No two days in the trades are ever quite the same, especially as an apprentice. Each day brings new homes, new problems to solve, and new opportunities to learn from your mentor. That variety is one of the best parts of starting a career in plumbing or HVAC — but it also means you need to be prepared, adaptable, and committed to doing things the right way.

Here is what a typical day might look like for an apprentice at Wickstrom.

Morning start at the shop

Most days begin around 8:00 AM at the shop, where you will meet up with your Journeyman or lead technician. Before heading out, you will help load the work vehicle with the tools, parts, and equipment needed for the day’s calls. This is also when you will organize and double-check inventory, so nothing essential is left behind.

As an apprentice, your first responsibility is to make sure your mentor has what they need to run a smooth, efficient job. That could mean prepping tool bags, loading heavy equipment, or staging materials so they are easily accessible when you get to the site.

Riding out with your mentor

Apprentices at Wickstrom ride along with their mentor until they reach the level of Maintenance Tech. This gives you daily, hands-on exposure to real work in the field, while still having the safety net of your experienced Journeyman guiding each decision.

On the way to the first job, you might review the work orders together or discuss the customer’s concerns logged in ServiceTitan. It is also a chance for your mentor to quiz you on system components, common troubleshooting steps, or what you learned on previous calls.

On the jobsite

Once you arrive at the customer’s home, your day really begins. Depending on the job, you might:

• Carry tools and stage equipment for your Journeyman so they can start right away.
• Shadow inspections, listening closely to how your mentor explains findings to homeowners.
• Take photos of existing equipment, problems found, or completed work, and upload these to ServiceTitan as directed
• Help install parts or prep the workspace, such as laying drop cloths or ensuring tools are clean and organized
• Ask questions and absorb as much as you can. The mentor's job is to teach you the skills needed to eventually run your own calls, and it is your job to pay attention and soak it all in. 

How many calls in a day?

Experienced solo techs at Wickstrom typically handle around four calls per day, but apprentice and Journeyman teams generally complete two to three calls. This slower pace is intentional. It gives your mentor time to teach, answer your questions, and show you not just what to do, but why it matters. 

Seasonality in the trades

Working in the trades means your day-to-day work will shift with the seasons:

• Summer:

  • HVAC calls dominate

  • Air conditioners failing on hot days

  • Refrigerant issues or condensate drain problems

• Winter:

  • Furnace tune-ups

  • No-heat emergencies

  • Frozen plumbing lines

• Year-Round Plumbing Issues:

  • Leaks

  • Clogged drains

  • Water heater problems

  • Often appear as unexpected emergencies

What This Means for You

• Be ready for different types of work as the seasons change.

• Some days you may be crawling under a house, others up in an attic or working in freezing weather.

• The variety keeps the work interesting, but also requires physical toughness and a steady attitude.

Representing the Wickstrom brand

Even as an apprentice, you are not just there to carry tools. You are representing Wickstrom every time you step out of the truck. That means living our core values on the job, being professional in your appearance and how you interact with customers, and always doing your best to set your mentor up for success. 

A clean uniform, respectful language, and a willingness to do quality work all reflect directly on our brand. Customers notice how organized your work area is, how you treat their home, and how you communicate. Your attitude helps build trust, which is the foundation of everything we do. 

End of the day: 

After finishing the last call, you will return to the shop with your Journeyman. This is the time to clean out the work vehicle, organize tools, and prepare for the next day. By taking pride in this routine, you make sure every morning starts off on the right foot. It is also common to spend a few minutes reviewing what went well that day, where you can improve, and what new skills you picked up. 

Why it matters

Being an apprentice is not just about doing the menial work. It is your chance to build the habits, knowledge, and customer service skills that will eventually earn you a van of your own. It is also where you prove you can be trusted to uphold the Wickstrom standard, protect our customers' homes, and deliver service that goes far beyond just fixing equipment. 

It is a demanding job. The days can be long, the  weather does not always cooperate, and you will be expected to keep learning now matter how tired you might be. But for those who put in the work, the personal and financial rewards are huge. You will learn a trade that keeps families safe and comfortable, become self-reliant, and open doors to a lifelong career.

Recap

A day in the life of an apprentice at Wickstrom is built around teamwork, learning, and growing into the kind of professional who can be trusted with our customers and our brand. From loading the truck in the morning to preparing for tomorrow at the end of the day, every moment is a chance to sharpen your skills and build for a future you can be proud of.