If you are interested in E&I or electrical, you can go to the local IBEW union hall and get all the information for the apprenticeship program. The program allows you to work for a contractor during the day as an apprentice and go to school at night. They train you to be an electrician while you maintain steady income during the day. There is an aptitude test that you have to pass plus a board interview for the program, but based on my experience they let just about anyone in. ymmv. If you want to work as a general mechanic at some refinery or mill, you have to go to school first and have your cert before they will even talk to you. My mill requires multi craft mechanics so you would have to be able to weld in addition to electrical and instrumentation (for instance). We are actually hiring now for mechanics, but it sounds like you don’t have the experience/training. I think they top out somewhere around $40/hour. Any questions, let me know.