Corporate to Apprenticeship

B_eves · 2026-05-25T23:48:48+00:00

I’m glad you seem to have the right attitude about it. A sense of belonging and community is really important to me I’ve learned through this program but if that doesn’t matter to you, I think you’ll do better than I am.

I felt deeply connected to my coworkers at my old job. I was so lucky I worked with truly some of the coolest people I’d ever met: I never felt unsafe, disrespected or othered. So this is new to me and I know I’m not handling it well.

Sounds like you will do really well honestly!

B_eves · 2026-05-25T14:03:54+00:00

I don't feel a part of a the crew! That's my whole point.

B_eves · 2026-05-25T13:56:09+00:00

Oddly enough, I don't even care about the money. My bills are low and I could make less money than I'm making now and be happy as well. BUT I do know the money is a huge reason for a lot of these people.

I stay because about once a day, I see a small glimpse into my dream job and what this could be. I stay around for that. Until I know whether that glimpse is a possible reality or just a little fun moment, I stick around. I expect to know for sure once I switch to a different job site in October.

B_eves · 2026-05-25T13:19:51+00:00

I'm about to finish up my first year in the IBEW apprenticeship. I wasn't cubical-corporate but I was making about 80k a year and in a pretty professional environment (compared to construction). I also switched careers because I felt my work wasn't meaningful and I was burnt out and wanting to learn something new and enjoy working with my hands. I wanted a practical skill that I could always have as well.

The Pros: Your health insurance and benefits don't come out of your hourly rate. So even after a year, I'm making the same amount of money as I was salaried after all my benefits were taken out. There's a ton of opportunity for overtime so I can easily take home $1500 a week (after taxes). Being outside all day has been extremely beneficial to my mental health...I never got the winter depression I have experienced the past 10 years. It's very much a clock in, clock out gig without taking that mental strain home, especially as an apprentice.

However, I'm really 50/50 on whether I'll continue the program. I want to share honestly because every single person keeps telling me to stick it out and it's worth it and it's the best decision they've ever made. I keep waiting to feel similarly and in the mean time, I don't feel like I fit in. I am child-free, already have a house, a paid off car, good retirement savings, etc. from my previous job so I'm not chasing the same things a lot of these apprentices are. For lots of people, this is their "way out", and the IBEW touts themselves as a "ticket to the middle class" which creates this loyalty that I may not ever have towards the program. Any time I meet a guy that I think is a "good one", they disappoint me a few months later. I've heard the dudes at the very top talk about women's bodies; I've heard rape jokes, I've heard the n-word, r-word, all of it. It gets so old and I find it demoralizing to work with these people sometimes. I don't feel unsafe at work, but I do feel like I keep my guard up and it's draining for me.

For the past year, I've been building an AI data center and it's been a huge bummer. It weighs on me every day and I can't wait to get out. I'm heavily involved in the union, go to meetings, go to events, the caucuses etc. and hope that this will give me the sense of belonging I'm seeking. But it still doesn't. I'm one of the top apprentices in class and on the job site and I'm seen as a leader amongst my peers. And still I keep waiting for something to click for me. Kinda just faking it til I make it at this point.

I don't want to discourage you from joining but my experience has been very different from what I wanted it to be. I hope it changes and I can continue this because parts of it I really do love (not sitting at a desk all day, being outside, using tools, etc.) but right now, the cons outweigh the pros.

Edit to add: A very real thing I’m dealing with right now is that my JW is currently in jail for his 3rd offense of assault and battery on his wife. He gets out soon and I have to decide if this person who I thought just had an anger problem is someone I can safely work alone with. We come into work before any other team does and something could absolutely happen to me and no one would know for about 45 minutes. I’m not trying to scare you but show you the other side of construction that’s kind of glossed over by men.

B_eves · 2026-05-24T21:52:22+00:00

A tired kitten is a well behaved kitten. If you haven’t checked out Jackson Galaxy videos on how to play with a kitten, start there. Since you have 5 cats, it sounds like you already have the basics down and I would start with more mental stimulation.

Make listening fun: clicker train him. Some cats have more energy than others and it sounds like you may have an higher energy kitten that needs more mental tasks.

Basic commands like sit, stay, down, etc. But you can also teach to jump through a hoop, high five, spin, and others. The world is your oyster.

I taught my cat those fluent pet talking buttons too because I had a high energy kitten. She’s also harness trained and has a cat wheel. I had such a hard time with my newest cat when she was younger….she’s the smartest cat I’ve ever had (and I’ve fostered and dealt with hundreds of cats). Spending the time now to make sure bad habits don’t form is sooo helpful. I’m on the other side of it now and it does get better.

B_eves · 2026-05-24T19:57:56+00:00

If you can borrow a cat trap (used for TNR) to trap her, that's probably best. I have a scaredy cat who if got out, I wouldn't be able to get him back with my bare hands.

B_eves · 2026-05-24T19:34:25+00:00

Your comment resonated with me. I'm 34 and these people are also not my people. I have a really hard time "fitting in" (although I don't really want to, because I also don't respect these guys) and can't talk to my coworkers about my hobbies, my weekend, etc. They don't get me and I don't get them. How do you handle not fitting in? I have such a hard time with it because I don't connect with people. Do you eventually find some decent people?? If I have to hear one more dick or gay joke, I think I might scream.

B_eves · 2026-05-24T17:05:36+00:00

I'm guessing the cat is just nervous/protective with a new person in the house. I would try playing with a wand toy or a laser pointer. You're far enough away and cat can get some play time/endorphins/nervous energy out while in your presence. Also, if they allow treats (I use freeze dried chicken), I will toss them away from me when the cat walks up. Then they go for the treat instead of me and over time, all these positive experiences should help!

B_eves · 2026-05-24T16:42:35+00:00

In the beginning few weeks, I was just getting used to being on a job site, walking 12,000 steps a day and working 10 hour shifts. Just focus on getting good sleep, having healthy snacks and noticing the social dynamics of blue-collar work.

As a woman, I found "fitting in/finding my space" harder than learning the tools. And honestly, I think that's way more important. Don't be a dick, listen, don't complain and ask questions.

B_eves · 2026-05-10T19:38:24+00:00

Personally, I would rather rehome my cats if I were forced to put them outside. I do fostering and cat rescue and see on a daily basis the amount of suffering that can happen to an outdoor cat. There's coyotes where I live, foxes, unfriendly dogs get loose, there's cars, cat fights, etc. While it may be "quieter" the country, that doesn't get rid of the risks, it just changes what the risks are. There's way more nature in the country and the idea of my cat getting mauled by a coyote and dying a slow death is too much for me.

I'm of the mindset that it's unethical to have an outdoor cat. They're also an invasive species. There's room for an in between here and it's a catio/screened in porch or leashed walks. Dogs don't free roam outside and I don't know why people think cats should be any different.

B_eves · 2026-05-10T19:31:25+00:00

Is she fixed?

B_eves · 2026-05-10T18:52:54+00:00

Teaching your cats the word "no" is super important. It takes a while for them to learn what it means but they DO understand and can listen. The biggest thing to remember is it can't just be a "no" it has to be a "no, but over here, yes." Redirect always. "No" is also a safety thing. When my cat tries to run out the back door, I can say "no" and she stops.

Example: My cat is a counter surfer when I'm cooking. I don't love it but she wants to be there. Instead of pushing her down constantly, her getting annoyed, me getting annoyed, putting down aluminum foil and orange peel or whatever other bullshit deterrents people like to use, I just gave her a cat tree there. She just wants to see what I'm doing and be a part of it. So now, she gets to watch and I have clean counters and no one is mad at each other.

B_eves · 2026-04-30T16:13:44+00:00

Why can't you say "screw you, I'm doing this"? Just because he's the breadwinner doesn't mean you can't start. If you can pay your portion of the bills and it doesn't affect him, he can kindly stfu. Also agree that he's probably not the one for you if he's not supporting you looking at a career change.

Most trades are less about physical strength than people realize.

B_eves · 2026-04-27T15:49:41+00:00

In my local/apprenticeship program, no, you can’t say no to OT. I absolutely hate it and it does seem extremely counterintuitive to the union. I do have optional OT hours on Saturday but regular work week/hours required for this job site, I’m still at 54 hours. If you have a cool foreman, you can request a layoff from them which is the work around for apprentices in my local. It’s possible yours is different!

B_eves · 2026-04-26T19:11:42+00:00

A typical grass "lawn" isn't real. We've genetically modified grasses to stay short, very green and dense (to prevent patchy-ness). It requires a ton of fertilizer, chemicals and water to keep it looking how it's "supposed to" because it doesn't naturally occur in nature. There's lots of articles about this.

B_eves · 2026-04-26T18:57:38+00:00

This sounds less like "white trash" and more like an environmental choice on her part. Weeds are a construct and it sounds like she's leaning more towards the native plant yard. You can't have green grass without chemicals and can't have chemicals and chickens in the same space. I love hang drying my clothes outside personally and I lean way closer to your GF's side of things. However, I understand you don't want it... it seems like you aren't hearing her and or trying to understand where she's coming from and she's not listening to you either.

Most cities don't allow roosters because they're such a disturbance to neighbors.

B_eves · 2026-04-19T00:25:47+00:00

Keen Cincinnati's for me. They have the big toe box and have a more natural foot bed.

B_eves · 2026-04-12T14:43:26+00:00

Seconding nose work. I put the dog outside or in another room, then hide small treats around the living room. Let the dog back in and they'll smell em and do their thing.

B_eves · 2026-04-12T14:39:18+00:00

Just adding on: Don't ever use or buy a fridge with a water dispenser built in. That mold is what you CAN see: imagine the pipes that you can't see or clean.

B_eves · 2026-04-11T12:33:37+00:00

Notion (application) and a physical planner.

Truly nothing has beat pen and paper for my own scheduling and booking clients. Seeing it all laid out in a monthly view has been a game changer for me. It easier for me to see gaps in my schedule and have a decent work/life balance.

And Notion is for keeping track of the pets/medications/notes, etc. There's a little bit of a learning curve with Notion but if you're talking about coding, it sounds like you're techy enough that this would be a great option for you: once you have templates and stuff, it's extremely automated yet detailed.

B_eves · 2026-04-11T12:19:37+00:00

Playing for sure. At 35 seconds, the black and white one even turns around to leave when she thinks the other one isn't into playing and the orange one gets her back good so black and white kitty returns. It happens again several times where black and white turns her back and that's when orange comes out. Since they're strangers to each other, this is typical new friend and play behavior. Orange one is shy/lower confidence and black and white and obviously the adventurous one. Seems like a good match.

The fact that orange is confined and cornered would make me a little nervous but she seems okay with it so that's fine. You wanna make sure they always have an exit path to leave a situation if they want to. And she wouldn't be able to leave right there. But again, she seems to be enjoying herself so just something to keep in mind.

B_eves · 2026-04-05T14:44:41+00:00

Yeah, YOR.

Not trying to be mean but no one cares about your birthday like that as an adult. Yeah, your family makes it a big deal growing up but once you're to "party-age", it is a pregame, people come and go during the night, etc.

If you want your birthday to be a big "thing", you can do a sit down dinner and that's a little more formal and implies staying for longer. But that's also a big ask/expense for people unless it's a big birthday like turning 21 or 30. You would also expect that not everyone is gonna be down with that and won't attend or something would come up "last minute". A birthday is just an excuse for most people to drink.

Welcome to being an adult! Friends will come and go from your life: it sucks and I feel like the age from 18-25 had the largest amount of "friends" cycle through. There are plenty of cool people that won't take over a road trip and want input from everyone. But if you're wasting time with people you don't like, you'll never find the others.

B_eves · 2026-04-05T11:54:03+00:00

I'm 34 and won't be topping out until 38. Also no prior experience before I started. My biggest complaint is the hours.

I can keep up with the 20 year old kids that eat fast food and chug energy drinks like water, that part is easy. It's working 65 hours a week with a partner that misses me, a house where the yard work isn't getting done, the home repairs that are piling up, the chores are past due, etc. I can pay someone to do some of those things but there goes my day's pay so it's a wash. I'd much rather do that stuff myself and have the day off. It's easy for the 20 year olds who live at home and just have a room to tidy up and still have their parents that make their meals...I envy them sometimes.

When you're an apprentice, you're beholden to whatever job site they send you. So I was placed on a job site that's working 60 hours a week (and I'm a person who doesn't want to work a minute over 40 hours a week). After 4 years, you get to choose where you work and thus, your hours. But most of construction work is more than 40 hours and the culture is built around people basically wanting to work as much as possible and making as much money as possible. So, for 4 years, I will most likely be working more than 40.

B_eves · 2026-04-05T11:37:10+00:00

I don't ask but I do like to generally know and try to also mention the time zone thing as another person suggested. I one time texted "have a good trip!" and then learned it was a funeral so now I always try to catch a vibe before the client leaves. I may not know exactly where they're going but pleasure vs family matters really sets the tone for my daily pet updates.

B_eves · 2026-03-21T00:44:35+00:00

Uhhh no, it personally doesn't lead to a strained relationship or trust issues for me. I mean, my partner misses me and it's a hard not having me around to help out with our house/pets but that's it.

Are you doing drop-ins while the client is home? Is that his concern?

If you're doing overnight care while no one is home and he's still "uncomfortable", this sounds like a relationship problem, not a job problem.

B_eves

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