SE Wisconsin- Sheet Metal Worker- New Journeyman in need of advice

Hey everyone,

I recently turned out as a Journeyman last summer and I’m looking for some advice from guys who’ve been in the trades longer.

Most of my experience is industrial and custom/modular fabrication, primarily shop work, with some limited field exposure. I also spent a considerable chunk of my apprenticeship working for a sign company, so I’m comfortable with architectural fabrication and detail-oriented work too.

Right now I’m dealing with my first longer-term layoff. I get the whole feast/famine thing is part of the job but It’s been a little discouraging and I can’t help but feel a bit pigeonholed, which has me wondering how others navigated this stage.

For those of you who’ve been doing this a while:

How do you keep work steady over the long term?

Is it worth pushing harder to broaden into more field/install work? (Seems easier said than done)

Any strategies you wish you knew when you first became a journeyman?

Just trying to learn how people navigate staying employed and building a solid reputation in the trade.

Appreciate any insight.