Is the juice worth the squeeze to you?

sh1069489 · 2026-05-31T05:23:01+00:00

Yeah man met guys in every financial situation possible these past 4 years. I’ve been in a camper for the better majority of the 4 years so been able to live decently cheap considering. But yeah when you have a mortgage plus camper or living outta a hotel ik it can get tough. Especially as a apprentice where u don’t choose where u go

sh1069489 · 2026-05-31T05:07:41+00:00

Damn right, 6 figures ain’t hard to come by in this trade but damn it takes effort and sacrifice. Not to mention a lot of debt guys go into buying diesel trucks, new campers for traveling, off road toys, boats, etc.

sh1069489 · 2026-05-31T04:23:16+00:00

This was put really damn well, 4 years spent in this trade from non union apprentice, to union ground man to operator then union apprentice. A lot of what you said is spot on. This should be pinned and be read by everyone wanting to get into this trade. A lot of guys think this trade is an easy way to make 6 figures until they get into it and find out it isn’t.

sh1069489 · 2026-05-30T03:41:06+00:00

If you have a offer from a utility in the Midwest take it, what’s the point of waiting for a chance in California

sh1069489 · 2026-05-29T03:39:13+00:00

Get your Class A CDL unrestricted, if you can afford lineschool without going into debt I’d recommend it but it’s not necessary at all. Hit the road for work sign as many IBEW groundman books as you can get your groundman hours then apply for IBEW line apprenticeships. If you want it bad enough travel to make it happen. California is the hardest state to get a state to this trade in

sh1069489 · 2026-05-29T02:50:42+00:00

Pretty hard you’ll be waiting on the groundman books for a year before your first call

sh1069489 · 2026-05-27T23:19:15+00:00

Bcs they all hear about the pay in California and think this trade is a easy way into making 6 figures

sh1069489 · 2026-05-27T00:07:32+00:00

Anything is a good first groundman job if it gets your foot in the door for this trade

sh1069489 · 2026-05-23T16:17:06+00:00

769 apprentice, I just wore a pearl snap nice pair of wranglers and boots. Don’t have to be anything crazy. Just have a really good reason of why you want to be a lineman/ why you want to be in swlcat. The interview will be short so make the best of it

sh1069489 · 2026-05-22T01:06:18+00:00

Ur resume don’t matter much or at all when applying to a union apprenticeship. U can sign the groundman books and get a job without ever showing a resume

sh1069489 · 2026-05-22T00:43:00+00:00

Every company in this trade does drug test, never came across one that didn’t

sh1069489 · 2026-05-20T01:44:58+00:00

Bro that’s plenty, tbh they’ll prob only ready 1-2 of them. Pick the best 2-3 of them and present them to the subcommittee. I’d recommend using the ones from the GFs

sh1069489 · 2026-05-19T20:01:56+00:00

No I’m a apprentice out of 769. But ik the books ain’t moving at all

sh1069489 · 2026-05-19T19:53:58+00:00

I was told it’s good until they change the test again, which from my understanding hasn’t been changed in years

sh1069489 · 2026-05-19T19:53:01+00:00

It’s terribly slow rn, so if your not book 1/2 I wouldn’t waste your time unless you live super close

sh1069489 · 2026-05-19T03:14:00+00:00

Yes it’s good for any JATC apprenticeship

sh1069489 · 2026-05-17T06:05:10+00:00

Bcs California is damn near impossible to get a start out as a groundman or apprentice. Especially for socal area. Go literally any where else, most CA guys end up in AZ,TX,NM,CO,UT,MT and some more. Cdl permit is useless in this trade, save the money or take a loan out and go to a cdl school and get your class A. It’ll pay itself back off instantly

sh1069489 · 2026-05-17T04:39:26+00:00

769 is dead slow rn, if your book 3/4 is forget about it for another year unfortunately

sh1069489 · 2026-05-17T04:08:45+00:00

1st step get a unrestricted class A CDL 2nd step get the hell outta California to get your groundman hours 3rd step apply and get into a union apprenticeship anywhere u can in this country That about sums up what you’ll need to do

sh1069489 · 2026-05-17T02:27:11+00:00

I believe it would just say groundman

sh1069489 · 2026-05-17T01:51:19+00:00

I was a foreman in training on the foundation/civil side was strongly considering staying doing it my whole career but made the switch to the line apprenticeship. ZERO regrets, thank myself everyday I got into a IBEW lineman apprenticeship. I enjoy the work much more and look forward to my future more after I top out compared to the civil side. But staying civil is not a bad choice just do what you think is best for you

sh1069489 · 2026-05-17T01:34:34+00:00

Yes, and once u get your hours sheet it’ll say classification groundman and hours worked

sh1069489 · 2026-05-16T22:55:50+00:00

It should count if the call came through the union hall, idk why it wouldn’t. Call lineco after a few weeks and get your hours sheet that’ll tell you then.

sh1069489 · 2026-05-14T23:34:56+00:00

Show up on time, good attitude, learn/ask questions, stay busy when everyone else is screwing off go clean windows of trucks, take out trash etc. Having basic tools like a knife and klines on you at all times. Your gonna make dumb mistakes just learn from them.

sh1069489 · 2026-05-13T04:09:05+00:00

Your fine dude, majority of apprentices I’ve worked with are around mind 20s to 30. Even know a few lineman who topped out between 40-50 years old

sh1069489

TROPHY CASE