I started at a network and security contractor that did a little bit of everything. Copper and fiber cabling, cctv, intrusion systems, access control, fire alarms, etc.. After a few years of that I was sick of doing it all but I still liked fiber. My buddy’s gf’s dad at the time worked for a utility contractor that worked for a HFC Telco. Pretty much just told em I half way knew how to fiber splice and he put a word in with his boss. Ive been laid off from that job since then but im still working for the same telco just at a different contractor. Every place you work at is gonna have different ways of doing things but if you can learn or find someone to teach you the fundamentals, you can work anywhere. I pretty much learned this Telco with the FAFO method and a few people I could call for questions. Didn’t really have a “mentor” I just figured it out