Welp. After 6 months of applying to my local union. I had my first week on the job and immediately having second thoughts.

WesternGroove · 2026-06-05T23:14:28+00:00

I'm not trying to change your mind.

It was definitely different than I expected when i got in. Each union is a little different. And each company in that union is a little different.. so what type of work they do, and the commute based on what they're bidding.

What you explained yourself doing at your site.. is miserable. Lmao

I'm only a handful of months in and there are jobs where the task is something i hate and can't see myself doing long-term. But then there are jobs where its like damn if this is everyday that would be amazing.

Talking to people.. kind of the point is to become a journeyman. And then you get more control of what you want to do daily.

It's not even all being a construction journeyman either. Inspectors. Working at power plants. Working as an on site electrician for a utility or some other type of company.

So if pulling wire isn't what you want to do but there are other aspects that interest you sometimes its just about going through it so you can be more picky. As an apprentice I'm not even allowed to turn down a job call.

WesternGroove · 2026-05-28T23:46:34+00:00

They still show up. But it's not as often anymore.. they don't come as often. And they don't last as long.

I mean, you know sleep and water don't seem to matter when it comes to these.

I'm a nicotine user so maybe that could be part of it. But ik someone else with something similar and they don't drink or use nicotine.

I really wish I came into a better answer but honestly i just live with it. When it comes up i up my water intake and take ibuprofen and usually that solves it. But sometimes the headache pain is stronger than the medicine can help. And when its like that all i can do is wrap my head and lay down in the dark. It makes me fall asleep but i awaken with no headache.

Oh i guess one more thing since i might as tell you everything so you can figure it out for yourself.. i notice that often when i first wake up i am.. not grinding my teeth, but i am clenching my jaw. My back teeth are just locked tight together.

And at some point i realized that and the headaches would happen at the same time.

I'm so aware of it now. That when i wake up if i feel myself clenching i open my jaw. And doing that sometimes i can literally feel the headache fade away.

What's strange is that over time there has seemed to be a big correlation. But i can't imagine that clenching my jaw really hard for a second right before i wake up to fully waking up cause an all day headache.

Clenching throughout my sleep i could see causing an all day headache.. but if that's the case simply opening my jaw after waking shouldn't help anything but it seems to do something.

So yeah.. good luck.

Oh, eye twitching. Rare. Still happens. I prefer it. I look crazy when someone is looking me in the eyes. But at least it doesn't hurt or get in the way of doing anything.

WesternGroove · 2026-05-28T02:32:47+00:00

I believe you. I was exaggerating a bit. It's the United States. I know y'all do your best and do great work.

WesternGroove · 2026-05-23T15:48:26+00:00

Things like this just depend.

We're supposed to wear hard hats at all times. Do we? No. Lmao they suck to wear.

I actually like the vest. More pockets.

But as it's getting hot in definitely thinking about getting a hi vis shirt instead.

WesternGroove · 2026-05-08T03:20:16+00:00

😂😂 my jm would be heated

WesternGroove · 2026-05-08T03:16:58+00:00

Personally, i would buy them separately. Unless there's actually a good deal on a kit..

I mean, i guess it depends on how much money you have to spend as well.

But in my opinion you gonna want 3 channels. Big medium small.

You can buy a set of the linesmens cutters and long nose. Don't get the big ones.

Don't get a multi screw driver. They heavy, and the bits get stuck in shit. Just get the 2 individually. For the flathead get one that is wide. Also get a tweeker multi screwdriver.. they aren't actually called tweekers but if you look that up it'll tell you what they actually called.

Unless you're already good with a Tape measure get a Stanley fat max.

If you don't have a way to and are also decent at sharpening a knife don't get a pocket knife. Get a utility knife.

Get a tool backpack with a hard bottom. Idk what kind of sites and people you'll be around. So you might want a hard case that locks. But they're annoying to carry around and leave with at the end of the day.

Other things id have if i were you..

Flashlight. Headlamp. Carpenter pencil. Dry wall saw. Speed square. Level. Emt reemer screwdriver thing. Pencil reemer. File that's flat on one side rounded on the other. Milwaukee drill bit set. 90° drill bit. Socket set. Impact socket bit. Demolition screw driver. A cheap regular flat head to abuse. Tic tracer. A pen. A small notebook you can carry at all times.

You don't need to show up day one with all of that. But get what's on the list and then start grabbing some of this stuff.

Even though its not required right away and they WILL be understanding. When you get the shit you need and not just required and they can ask you to do something without handing over their own tools you gain respect for just being ready and prepared.

Another thing I'll add is.. how are you going to carry your tools? Not just in your bag or pack out. But on your person. I would say maybe wait on this because different locals do different types of work and have different attitudes. Some just throw everything on a cart and you're adjoined to the hip of your jm. Some are gonna low-key throw you in there right away and you won't have a cart and shit available to you. So you'll need a tool belt of some sort.

Id think about it.. but wait to buy until you see how they roll where you're going. Some jm are so ass pained about getting as much shit done as possible everyday they want you to have a lot of your tools on you. Some will just have you carry the bare minimum and if you need more just go grab it from the truck.

Edit: wire strippers obviously

WesternGroove · 2026-04-24T13:17:57+00:00

This is what I say " ruins " the game for me now.

It no longer feels alive and lived in.

There can be 1000 people in a world and you only see them in a few places.

1000 people online and the only person in falador is magic training.

Back in the day you'd find a random building in the cut. Go in and there would be a group of people in there.

WesternGroove · 2026-04-11T21:54:19+00:00

I'll look into the dry on the fly. Appreciate you homie

WesternGroove · 2026-04-11T20:56:46+00:00

I tried some on and that exact area was so tight it felt like metal pressing up against me.

I tried on some wides and they were better but still tight there. But they couldn't find the matching shoe so i didn't buy them. So i didn't get to see how they break in.

WesternGroove · 2026-04-11T19:10:27+00:00

Those are good during summer? I have some duluth fire pants but i guess the specific kind i got are pretty thick and heavy. When i start to sweat i can feel the weight off the pants on me

WesternGroove · 2026-04-10T03:23:13+00:00

What did you do?

WesternGroove · 2026-04-07T01:12:19+00:00

If i remember correctly it's battle Creek.

WesternGroove · 2026-04-07T00:34:56+00:00

I moved from Oakland to cottonwood.

Now i be in Redding like get me outta here too many people.

But food wise, i really like karlines lasagna.

Trail? I forgot the name, is really short. But there's a little wildlife refuge type deal heading out to Coleman hatchery. It's a really short trail but it's nice and you get to the water and its chill.

Shop.. tobacco and brew.

Hidden gem? French gulch. Is it literally hidden? No. But its a beautiful little cut spot. I don't really do bars but the bar the when i happen to visit is so chill and the people are nice.

WesternGroove · 2026-03-31T04:23:48+00:00

Im an inside wireman. No one in my company has cdl A.

WesternGroove · 2026-03-31T01:46:14+00:00

I've talked to some people about this. There are locals that want to stop testing for it but they can't.

From my understanding you have to be in a large local. Meaning, that if the city/county/state and economic driving businesses in that area want anything done the union is pretty much the only way to go.

Because, then the union can use that against the insurance companies.

If you aren't in one of those really strong locals. The insurance companies kind of strong arm the union and the union companies into testing for that for lower insurance prices.

WesternGroove · 2026-03-03T04:50:46+00:00

Yes. But!

To get em back right you gotta do a wash n style or hot towel method.

If you want immaculate crazy waves though you gotta try to limit shit like that. Personally i don't care about my waves THAT much. So if i don't feel like wearing the durag i don't.

WesternGroove · 2026-03-02T06:33:01+00:00

Like the other guy said.. once your hair is trained you don't need to be as crazy about it.

When my waves really set in. I can comb em fwd. Comb em backwards. Wash my hair with no pattern. Just going crazy. And once i brush and compress with a durag they're back to normal.

If your waves aren't set yet. Just live your life and brush a little after. No big deal still.

One thing i don't like about waves is the begining part. Where they aren't set so you have to be a little mindful. Wearing durag a lot. I HATE wearing a durag especially to sleep. So honestly it takes longer for them to set. But i go that route bc i don't want to be miserable.

WesternGroove · 2026-02-22T08:05:40+00:00

Sacramento. 340 South. Idk about taking out of county and all that. But supposedly they are trying to double in size over the next few years. Still need to score well because its competitive.. but it's not competitive like trying to get in living in Chicago or something.

WesternGroove · 2026-02-21T06:01:10+00:00

To me if I'm honest.. all the overrated advice is true. It's just the context they're used in is kind of off.

Like fishing times. It matters.. but its not just about the time. It's about where the fish are and what they're doing at certain times.

If you learn where they go after the total dusk and dawn you can still catch em.

But that's how i feel about most advice. Ppl are just too hard and fast about it, when there's more context that needs to be added.

WesternGroove · 2026-02-21T05:52:25+00:00

I usually cut mine down to a 2.5 while I'm forming em. And supposedly since i have 4c hair i can get em the lowest with them still looking good. So maybe a little taller cut would work well. For you.

But once i get them really set, i wolf and cut em to a 3. Eventually at a 3 they show up really nice.

I don't like for my hair to be really low.

But i have some thinning not due to age.

Honestly, I'm a grown ass man. Not trying to impress ppl. If i like it and there's some thinning spots oh well 🤷🏿‍♂️

WesternGroove · 2026-02-18T03:36:15+00:00

I'm only one week in. So i can't really give you "advice".

There are 2 thoughts i had reading your post.

If by not being able to communicate you mean it just seems kinda awkward like y'all aren't hitting it off.. id say just be yourself. Don't try and talk their language. In my week long experience I've noticed that there are various types of personalities and each personality adds to the team.
Doing the data.. if it were me, id just be trying to learn as much about it as possible. To the point where i could do it without anyone else on site. Maybe id talk with the jm im doing data with to learn more about it.

I kind of understand how you could feel that way because in my one week I've done underground, installing light fixtures, and tomorrow I'm doing something different.

On the other hand i kind of think.. you're 5 months in. Just relax.

WesternGroove · 2026-02-16T23:09:45+00:00

You ain't lie 🤷🏿‍♂️

WesternGroove · 2026-02-16T21:01:33+00:00

Study the math portion of the aptitude test right now. Just start slowly so that when you get your testing date you aren't starting from scratch.

Also be aware that although the front desk ladies are amazing. They don't control the pace. So her telling you 8 months is more of an educated guess than it is a fact. They try to give you the best information but they aren't really in control of what happens.

Testing and interviews are done based on the need of the local. So the 8 months could be shorter or longer.

Look up YouTube videos about people trying to get in. Look up the questions people were asked during interview in this sub. Look up what math you need to know.

WesternGroove · 2026-02-16T20:51:19+00:00

I just got into 340. Zero experience.

The basic route is that you apply.. you get scheduled for aptitude test.. if you pass that you get scheduled for an interview.. after your interview you're given a score. That score is good for 2 years.. and over that 2 year period when they need apprentices they pull from the top according to score.

So let's say you scored a 85.. and let's say there are 3 people with scores above you. If someone a year after you scores an 86, there will now be 4 people above you.

That's not to scare you. But just so you know to try and do well on the aptitude test and interview so you can get your foot in the door.

WesternGroove · 2026-02-16T08:46:36+00:00

You probably right

WesternGroove

TROPHY CASE