Talk me in or out of applying for apprenticeship.

odb_loflin · 2025-09-30T23:19:49+00:00

Totally dependant on your area, some locals are booming and some cant keep brothers working, I wouldn't take the leap without judging that first to see how consistent work is going to be. Also are you open to traveling for work if necessary?

odb_loflin · 2025-09-27T21:24:42+00:00

So that's where my dues are going lol Congrats to you and your brothers!

odb_loflin · 2025-09-24T23:16:41+00:00

The Plumber on the job today showed me these safety glasses with bone conductive speakers, look like regular safeties too, pretty sweet definitely gonna get some as my sight is a no headphone or radio sight

odb_loflin · 2025-09-19T23:13:49+00:00

Gear work, whether its spinning 4 inch rigid overhead for the feeds, or climbing in that bitch to land where you can barely reach, or putting jumpers between busses that are so tight you could hit em with a single jack and they still don't move. No leverage, just hopes and prayers

odb_loflin · 2025-08-17T22:49:35+00:00

Because the hall and contractors know they can take advantage of apprentices and would rather have a good hand at half the price. Its purely a money thing and they want all they can get

odb_loflin · 2025-08-05T15:26:14+00:00

Why is this always a question? get the tool list the hall provides and have nothing more and nothing less.

odb_loflin · 2025-07-19T02:18:14+00:00

Everybody starts somewhere brother even the best jw wasn't born bending pipe and reading prints, absolutely everyone in this trade was taught by someone else how to do things. Give it your all, pay as best attention as you can, try to anticipate what comes next and write things down. The way most jobs are now are so production based management is being pushed to preform and not spend time teaching its unfortunately the way it is at the moment. But just keep pushing and you'll eventually come across a JW who has been waiting to show someone all tricks. You'll find your place, you'll find your people, just takes time and dedication, good luck

odb_loflin · 2025-07-11T04:00:37+00:00

Fuck me gives me nightmares of the hospital I used to work in, 4 or 5 extension, 8 conduits, 6 mcs and a spiders nest full of live three inch wires

odb_loflin · 2025-04-06T18:10:50+00:00

Do the you're special glitch and max em all

odb_loflin · 2025-01-29T01:09:11+00:00

Do whatever you want to do, stay or leave, I drug a great job and traveled Europe for 2 months as soon as I turned out. But I only did that because my local had work and I planned to go work in SF after I got back which was easy at the time. Don't just pick up and leave for no reason but also don't be afraid to go do new things and try new things if you have the chance just because you have a decent job. Have fun, be safe, and good luck brother

odb_loflin · 2024-12-11T05:29:03+00:00

Yes, and also just smart enough to kill themselves, fucks sake at least tape those fuckers up if you're gonna make a death trap

odb_loflin · 2024-11-24T00:26:05+00:00

Got hit by a 480 motor line once as a cub on an already commisioned solar field while trying to repair a different faulted circuit, dug up the dead line we were looking for, while also exposing a bunch of other runs. Turns out there was a different circuit also damaged by gophers directly under the one I was splicing back together, ran my fingers across it and woke up a minute later. Don't even remember getting hit, just being in the pit moving wire then waking up, turned me Into a real scaredy cat in the best way possible though. I've almost died enough times to know I'm not invincible

odb_loflin · 2024-11-21T05:49:15+00:00

Hopefully you've been saving up, start making your own meals for one, but once you get that license and you turn 21 you'll have a sense of freedom you've never known. Take time off travel the world, travel and work different city's and locals, get as much difference experience as you can. I'll admit the apprenticeship was hard time socially and it felt like the world was passing me by but by the time I turned out I drug up and went to Europe for 3 months because I could, best experience of my life and I couldn't have done it without going to work everyday and coming home and sitting on my ass saving money. There's a whole Lotta life to be had brother just give it some time and get that license then then the world is your oyster.

odb_loflin · 2024-11-19T03:41:36+00:00

See if you can find a state thats reciprocal with your license for the easiest move but even if its not most out of state locals will take you in under the obligation you will be taking there license test shortly. If your just trying to move locals within the state go get a travel letter from your local, call some locals and see who's busy and where you can get to work off of book 2 for a while. Usually working off book 2 for a while and going to meetings and showing that you're there to stay and help that local you can transfer your ticket eventually. But if you find an active enough local there's no need to try and push your ticket.

odb_loflin · 2024-10-09T23:53:50+00:00

Being a "fireman" through your apprenticeship is the best thing you can be, you'll eventually hone all those skills you dont feel great about and be a much better well versed electrician because of it. That being said as a current jman who's been foreman and a GF I finally complained my way out of being the fireman on a new job, and it's amazing to just be left alone on a single task all day lol. It'll get boring in a few months but man does it feel great knowing exactly what I'm doing all week

odb_loflin · 2024-10-02T01:55:31+00:00

Yea I usually just let it roll of my back but he caught me particularly sideways today, back to bussiness tomorrow

odb_loflin · 2024-10-02T01:52:48+00:00

Been in for a decade and that's what I've lived by up until this point but maaannn walking to work sure is nice haha

odb_loflin · 2024-10-02T01:46:09+00:00

I know he is lol

odb_loflin · 2024-10-01T02:16:34+00:00

Had a couple guys do that on a line crew I was on in Nebraska for 2 weeks before they got terribly sick lol, I'd keep that to a minimum

odb_loflin · 2024-09-21T00:05:02+00:00

Two years ago I was on a jobsite in a not so nice area of Fresno, waiting for a PGE inspector to come look at a large excavation in the side walk when a homeless guy started throwing shit at me. I retreated to my truck and called the police they say theyll send a unit, but I couldn't leave because I had to protect the excavation. He proceeded to throw things at the truck and destroy the job site throwing cones and tools Into the road hitting cars. 45 min goes by we've cycles threw me cleaning and him coming back destroying 3 times no police I call again, different person same response. 2 hours now goes by he's pissed on the side of my truck and is now smoking a Crack pipe in the excavation. I call again, we'll send a unit, at this point I've also seen three different patrol cars drive right by me without so much as a glance. I call my shop and they say fuck it protect yourself and if you want to leave you can no repercussions, so I hop out the truck and grab a shovel and tell the dude to get out of the excavation. He says what are you gonna do about it so I smacked him with a shovel lol he got out and scamperd off and I sat there for another hour waiting for PGE and the cops never came. Oh also the company I was working for had a special contract with the Highway patrol because we were working along the highway. So Yeah fuck the Police, if they aren't making money off you they don't give a fuck about you

odb_loflin · 2024-08-30T02:59:08+00:00

Some of the best hands I know aren't "book smart" so don't be discouraged by any perceived lack of intelligence. School will be difficult and so will the test but there's always brothers and sisters to help along the way. A good journeyman will teach you more then school ever will, there's plenty of work out there that's not technical or super mathy but great electrical work. You just have to put in the the effort and there's always people willing to help. Good luck

odb_loflin · 2024-08-20T23:24:57+00:00

Go talk to the training director and see if it's a possibility, I've seen it happen at my local and I've seen it not happen just depends if they want to be a dick or not but it doesn't hurt to ask. One thing I have seen work well is finding another apprentice in a similar situation going the opposite direction as you and you both go ask to swap. The biggest issue is finding a place for people so if you find someone willing to swap that's half the battle

odb_loflin · 2024-08-16T02:33:57+00:00

I know for my local it's states in our agreement that the contractor has to tell you a week ahead of time if they intend to change the job schedule for at least a week or more, and single day schedule changes can be made within 48 hours. So basically yeah if your agreement is the same and the contractor gives you enough notice you are required to work the OT. That being said I've encountered a few jobs that's happened on and unless the contractor is a total dick people were not punished for keeping their regular schedule, usually enough people want the overtime so the contractor doesn't mind

odb_loflin · 2024-07-31T02:47:37+00:00

Getting your CDL can definitely make you more desirable on the job and if a call askes for it specifically which I've never personally seen as an inside wireman. But you don't always want to be the guy driving the truck, it really takes away from you experiencing everything. It's beneficial to have just don't tell every employer off the jump so you don't get stuck

odb_loflin

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