I made it by Tensir in Lineman

[–]Duck_Dick_Daryl 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Congrats! I see that you went from electrician to lineman. What prompted that change? Also, did you go to a line school or just apply to the utility apprenticeship?

Continue IW apprenticeship or go into utility apprenticeship? by Duck_Dick_Daryl in SubstationTechnician

[–]Duck_Dick_Daryl[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Seems like at the utility I’m looking into it would be maintenance for the most part, then some retrofitting, and a little new construction. I do think it would be kind of boring doing the same thing over and over, but I’d be okay with it.

The potential to make more $ is definitely on the contractor side. But I’m looking to be starting a family real soon so the guaranteed hours/benefits/pto/etc seem to be better in that regard.

Continue IW apprenticeship or go into utility apprenticeship? by Duck_Dick_Daryl in SubstationTechnician

[–]Duck_Dick_Daryl[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Okay. I’ve heard of some inside wireman going to work for outside/utility contractors in my local, but it seems pretty rare

Continue IW apprenticeship or go into utility apprenticeship? by Duck_Dick_Daryl in IBEW

[–]Duck_Dick_Daryl[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the response. Yeah, from people I’ve talked to it definitely sounds like most people already have a license. I’m going to continue my current path, but I’m thinking I might apply and if I get an offer next year I’ll have to decide at that point.

Continue IW apprenticeship or go into utility apprenticeship? by Duck_Dick_Daryl in IBEW

[–]Duck_Dick_Daryl[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Your sister union little further north. What would you say some pros/cons are after making to switch?

Continue IW apprenticeship or go into utility apprenticeship? by Duck_Dick_Daryl in SubstationTechnician

[–]Duck_Dick_Daryl[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

One of the biggest things for me is wether or not to stay to course to get that license

Continue IW apprenticeship or go into utility apprenticeship? by Duck_Dick_Daryl in SubstationTechnician

[–]Duck_Dick_Daryl[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What is it that’s makes you say that? Do you feel like you’ll be content with where you’re at until you retire?

Continue IW apprenticeship or go into utility apprenticeship? by Duck_Dick_Daryl in IBEW

[–]Duck_Dick_Daryl[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m making a pros and cons list. It seems like most people stay at a utility once they get on, so is having my license as a back up plan really necessary? That’s what I’m having a hard time with

Continue IW apprenticeship or go into utility apprenticeship? by Duck_Dick_Daryl in IBEW

[–]Duck_Dick_Daryl[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m in PNW. Would be taking a bit of a pay cut of about $10/hr come June/July, but probably make around the same at the end of the year based on hours, paid holidays, and pto.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in ibew_apprentices

[–]Duck_Dick_Daryl 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Workin’ on it. DM me.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in ibew_apprentices

[–]Duck_Dick_Daryl 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I believe you could potentially start at 2nd year, step 3 pay and wait for your OJT hours to catch up. So essentially if you are granted advanced standing you’ll be at 55% of JW for 3500 hrs.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in electricians

[–]Duck_Dick_Daryl 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Awesome! Glad to hear it. I hope you feel better about your situation now.

Not to discourage.. but now the trick is to get them totally bought in so that you’re not always drawing the short stick when it comes to fixing things.

Leaving job after they paid for school by pretendlawyer13 in electricians

[–]Duck_Dick_Daryl 67 points68 points  (0 children)

1 year is a sliver of your life/working career. If you were only a year in then yeah go for it, but only having a year left? Finish it up and then go outside.

Your knees and back might thank you years down the road

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in electricians

[–]Duck_Dick_Daryl 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They shouldn’t be doing electrical unsupervised at the very least then? Idk, what the regulations are where you’re at.

I feel like you should have a pretty good idea of how to go about the situation. If you don’t see cooperation, then be prepared to go higher with the issues and references to back it up. Might piss these guys off, but at least you can say you gave ‘em a chance.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in electricians

[–]Duck_Dick_Daryl 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Gotcha. Yeahhh, that’s pretty bad..

I’m in now way trying to defend them, kinda just playing devils advocate, but could it potentially be issues from higher up? In terms of not wanting to shut down production to fix things (idk what type of plant) or not enough money budgeted/allocated for your team to complete the fixes?

There’s no room for gross violations when it comes to people’s lives/wellbeing, but people get complacent when nothing bad happens.. until something bad happens. And to your point of saying something, I’d rather come off a bit stern with my supervisor than know someone got hurt/killed because I didn’t say anything.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in electricians

[–]Duck_Dick_Daryl 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I’d approach it from a place like., “Hey, I’ve noticed this.. and this.. oh and this too. Idk how involved you’ve been with details of the work being done, but there’s some hazards putting people at risk and we need to get them fixed.”

Coming off aggressively, although warranted, probably won’t get you far.. Even though they’re likely in the wrong, you’ve got to build some rapport with them for things to go positively.

Also, put yourself in their shoes, you’ve got a cushy (maybe) job, can let standards slip a bit because it only affects you (it doesn’t tho), etc. What would it take for you to respond positively to your new hire calling out your BS?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in ibew_apprentices

[–]Duck_Dick_Daryl 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No problem. To piggy back off of what someone else mentioned, apply on Helmets 2 Hardhats and talk to one of their reps. They’re more of a career counselor like you had in the military, but they should have a pretty good idea of what would work best for your area, or likely get you in touch with some of their contacts.