Most small shops hire apprentices through word of mouth, and when that runs dry, an agency. There are better options that cost little or nothing.
Where to find people who want this
- People waiting on a union window. Union apprenticeships open rarely and get far more applicants than spots. IBEW Local 25 drew 884 applications for one class. Many of those people want to start working now.
- Free and low-cost training programs. Graduates of courses like the PCALI Plumbing Institute or BOCES adult trade programs have already shown they’ll show up. See pre-apprenticeship programs on Long Island.
- Career centers. HempsteadWorks, Suffolk County’s One-Stop and The Workforce Partnership match job seekers with employers, and can sometimes pay part of a new hire’s wages while you train them (see getting paid to train).
- Open houses. Invite people to see your shop for a morning. You meet several candidates at once and see who shows up on time, asks good questions and picks up a tool.
Meet them before you hire
An in-person visit answers the questions a resume can’t:
- Did they show up on time, dressed for work?
- Do they listen, and ask questions?
- Can they handle a few hours on their feet, carrying and climbing?
- How do they get along with your crew?
Afterward, tell everyone where they stand, even if it’s a no. Word gets around, and good candidates remember shops that answered.
Set it up right
- Pay. Long Island’s minimum wage is $17.00 an hour in 2026. For reference, the median pay for electrician’s helpers in the New York metro area was about $23 an hour in 2025 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
- Expectations. Start time, tools they need to buy, how raises work, and what they’ll learn first.
- Records. Log their hours from day one. It matters for payroll, any training reimbursement, and their license later.
How FirstHand helps
FirstHand is built for exactly this: post an open house in about 30 seconds, see who RSVPs and how reliably they’ve shown up before, check them in at the door, and answer each one afterward (invite back, offer, or not a fit). There are no placement fees and no cut of anyone’s wages. See how it works for shops.