Apprenticeships Program
Lakeside Industries is eager to help with the education and training of those who are entering the trades. Lakeside participates in apprenticeship programs in conjunction with local trade unions to train new employees and offer education for field staff. Programs are available to those interested in becoming Laborers, Operating Engineers, and Teamsters.
While in the program, the apprentice gets hands-on experience through technical instruction, supervised on-the-job training, and steadily increasing pay as they make their way through the program.
Most of our leaders started in field positions. Apprenticeships offer comprehensive education and on-the-job experience. Graduates of apprenticeship programs have opportunities for rewarding well-paid careers in the construction industry.
Considering a career in trades? Find out what local trade unions we partner with and how to apply to their programs below!
Apprenticeships Serving Centralia & NW Washington
Apprenticeships Serving Longview, Vancouver, and Portland:
Why Join Lakeside
We Care About Our People & The Communities We Live In
Ask anyone who works at Lakeside to describe our culture and you’ll more than likely hear the word “Family”. Lakeside is more than a workplace, it’s a place where we care about each other. Whether you’re from a family that has worked here for generations, coming fresh from a trade school, or anywhere in between, you will be welcomed into the Lakeside Family.
We not only care deeply about our immediate Lakeside Family, but we also care about the communities we live and work in. We take pride in building and connecting the roads, bridges, and airports in the communities where we live. Recruiting and employing people in these communities creates better engagement – empowering our employees to take pride in making a difference in their own neighborhoods. Additionally, Lakeside is proud to support various local community organizations, through both donations and volunteering.
Lakeside believes in giving back to the communities where we live, operate, and work.
We Care for Each Other
At Lakeside we believe that enjoying the people we work with and what we do makes all the difference. We have a culture where people are excited to come to work. Through our positive and fun work environment, we work hard as a team to accomplish our goals and go out of our way to take care of each other. This is our secret sauce and one of the many reasons people stay at Lakeside as long as they do. We take great pride in our employee retention and longevity.
We provide opportunities for growth
Employees at Lakeside have the opportunity to create and build long-lasting, successful, and meaningful careers. Many of our employees in key leadership roles started their careers in the field with a shovel and rake in hand.
Our people truly are our best asset. We have the hardest-working, smartest, and most talented people in the industry. To help our employees reach their career goals, we provide training, and mentoring to set up plans for success. This allows us to promote from within, staying true to the values we have worked so hard over the years to uphold.
Apprenticeship FAQ
It depends on the trade you are entering!
Operating Engineers: High school diploma, GED, or other high school equivalency. If you do not meet the required education, you can apply for a waiver. To be eligible for the education waiver, you must provide documentation that you have worked for 2+ years in the construction industry and reach a score of 70% or higher on the Math and Reading assessment exams given by the Operating Engineers Apprenticeship.
Laborers: Proof that you have completed at least the tenth grade of high school.
Teamsters: No formal prior education is required. Must be able to read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English language, respond to official inquiries, and make entries on reports and records.
Each apprenticeship has its own application process, here are links to the apprenticeships we support provided by our signatory unions:
Apprenticeships Centralia North:
Operating Engineers Apprenticeship
Apprenticeships Longview, Vancouver, and Portland:
Previous enrollment in a pre-apprenticeship program is not required. But if you do not have any previous experience in construction, pre-apprenticeship training can make you a better candidate for the apprenticeship you are applying for.
Prior construction experience is not required but makes you a better candidate for the apprenticeship you are applying for.
It depends on the program. Lakeside Industries employs apprentices in the Operating Engineers’, Laborers’, and Teamsters’ apprenticeships. Their working hours to completion of their programs are:
Operating Engineers: 6000 hours
Laborers: 6000 hours
Teamsters: 3000 hours
Operating Engineers, Laborers, and Teamsters
There are open shop apprenticeships available in Washington state. Lakeside Industries cannot employ them due to contractual obligations to our partner unions.
There are many routes to union participation.
- If you have no previous construction experience, you can apply directly to the apprenticeship program of your choice or participate in pre-apprenticeship training for an improved chance of acceptance.
- If you are new to construction and need more training to reach journey-level skill, an apprenticeship is there to meet your needs.
- If you have many years in the construction industry and can work at the journey level contact your nearby local and talk to them about joining.
These options will get you into a union and there will be a chance of being dispatched to Lakeside Industries.
A more direct route to field employment at Lakeside Industries would be if you see a position advertised on our website and feel you have the skills to fill the role, apply. In the cases where we advertise open positions, we can hire you and get you signed up with the appropriate union for your craft.
Testimonials
What it's like working at Lakeside
Catina Piliaris
Environmental Technical Specialist
Working at Lakeside has been a gift and a joy.
I started as a Parts Runner, worked in Accounts Payable, and have settled into an amazing role in the Environmental & Land Use Department. Coming from Corporate America, Lakeside has been like a breath of fresh air. Working in a "family type" environment is a change I've been incredibly grateful for.
Like any family we have our quirks, but this is a family I'm proud – and thankful – to be a part of. I know that I'm supported, cared about, and appreciated for the role I play at Lakeside, and that feeling is something that can't be beat!
Tonya Davis
Division Accountant – Vancouver
Lakeside truly cares about its people.
This is apparent from the compensation to the safety precautions to the ability for job autonomy. Management isn't all about titles and politics, but they are willing to listen to ideas and suggestions from those at all levels. Additionally, I have had the freedom to perform my job in a manner that works best for me, while also contributing to the success of the company.
John Arreola
Shop Foreman – GSE
At Lakeside the professionalism and willingness to go above and beyond is at the core of who we are.
Those who work here are committed to quality, both at work and in the community. When I was looking for a new job 12 years ago, I asked where a good place was to work and numerous peers told me to head to Lakeside. Once I was hired, I haven't looked back. Lakeside is true to its family values and works daily to preserve them.
Billy Campbell
Pit Operator – Anacortes
While I enjoy work because it's challenging and something that pushes me daily.
The reason why I have returned day in day out for the past 30 years is because of the people. I get to show up to work every day and have fun with the people I work with. We joke, laugh, and produce high quality materials all at once. The work-hard, play-hard atmosphere is something that I really appreciate.
John Hurd
Workforce Development Specialist
I enjoy working with my community.
Lakeside Industries gives me the opportunity to serve those around me and be a part of a team that is focused on being the best we can be every day. We literally build communities and feel that is important work.
Carol King
Division Accountant – Portland
Lakeside has cultivated a very special environment.
Everyone cares about each other, and I believe that caring attitude extends onto our customers in a very big way!
Loren Tonsgard
Operations Manager – Monroe
Lakeside is a family-owned, private company.
That directly is reflected in the community here. The culture is super tightknit, it feels like I am waking up every day to work alongside my brothers and sisters. Working in construction isn't easy. The nature of the work is competitive, time sensitive, and there are some long days. With that comes the opportunity to wake up every day and think of ways to be a better employee, boss, and be of better service to our communities.