Reply With QuoteWhat all apprenticeships have you applied to?
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need advice, help, etc...
Hi everyone, my name is Dan and I am 28 years old. I am currently trying very hard to get in to the industry but I am having difficulty. As it stands right now, I applied for an apprenticeship and found out that I am incredibly low on the ranking applicant list. I feel confident in saying that I am a **** good employee and bust my butt every day I'm on the job. I have never been fired from a job and feel as if I have given my best effort in every position I've ever been in. I asked for an explanation as to why I was so low and it was a "lack of experience" thing. I have signed the books at 4 locals and was told when I was there that it was a long shot because of all the people ahead of me on the groundman books. I want to get the experience but I feel as if its next to impossible to get. One thing that they commented on quite frequently in my interview was my "lack of experience" driving with my CDL because I actually got it the day before the interview. That was the time I could get it between my work schedule and I got it done. So I've recently quit a job and taken one on a farm driving equipment to get that "experience" of which they speak. I am not in any type of position to drive or fly all over the country and sign books to give myself a better chance of finding work. I have a degree in Biology so paying for more schooling, lineman school, is pretty much out of the question for me financially. I want more than anything to get into this industry but feel like it's next to impossible for me because I have to maintain a steady job. What should I do?? I am literally at a point where I have no idea what to do...
Advice.
What all apprenticeships have you applied to?
spend a couple hours a day looking for leads.
are you willing to travel? there are a ton of contractors out there. since you dont have experience it will be very hard but maybe even try some non-union contractors....it is possible. call everyone you might know that is in the trade and ask questions. call utilities and co-ops and see if they will tell you who is contracting for them or who has in the past..get some names and #s.
Slim the lineman went to the jobsite and begged for a job. try that too. good luck.
advice
I interviewed for the Northwest Line Apprenticeship, and have applied for the Mountain States Lineman Apprenticeship and the Alaska Joint Electrical Apprenticeship but have not heard back. I have spoken to a friend of mine who is a lineman for NYSEG in New York and he is reaching out for me as well but so far we have both turned up empty handed. I am willing to travel but I have to financially make it work and right now thats fairly tough. I just cant afford to fly or drive a few states away for an interview. I am trying to work as much as I can right now to save up but I have bills to pay. The experience thing is something that frustrates me a great deal, it seems like EVERY level requires some sort of experience so where do I get in???
I really feel for you guys,back in my time ,no experience no problem,hired.Also nowdays companies can be interested in you,but they wait,sometimes for a couple of months to get back with you,or they dont.I guess next time you talk to someone,let the truth come out,ask for suggestions if traveling far for an interview is a hardship for you.You dont have much to lose by asking.Have you tried calling a union hall?If your hoping to get on with a utility,you might be asking for too much,these days you better take what you can get,so try a contractor.Originally Posted by yaegs6
This may be a dumb question but is there a difference between a local and a union hall? Because I have gone to 4 different union locals and signed the out of work groundman book 4 for 2 months now and have heard nothing. I could honestly care less if I get on with a utility I just want to get in to the industry and work. Should I just start cold calling contractors and showing up on job sites like Bighorn Ape suggested and asking if they need any grunts? Just as a side note, I have been reading an aweful lot of threads on here and have noticed that you (reppy007) are replying to quite a few. If no one else has at this point, I would like to be the first to thank you for taking the time to help out. And that goes for everyone who gives advice to us frustrated wannabes. When I first decided I really wanted to do this I heard that Lineman were in high demand nationwide and the chances were excellent. Definitely a kick in the grapes when you find out they are in high demand... just not for the inexperienced ones...
I was cautioned against working for non-union contractors because the hours I put in may not be accepted by a union apprenticeship. Could this be because this was a union member that told me that or is it actually true? Unfortunatly just my one friend from New York is in the trade and he doesn't really know what to tell me at this point. Do you think utilities and co-ops will give out that kind of information?
bummer
Just noticed when looking on the AJEATT website that they require 1 year of Alaska residency for apprentice applicants... Guess thats why I havent heard back yet...
Try SWCLAT amarillo sub-committee
that is true, some companies wont accept all of your apprentice hours if they were earned non-union....but they are recorded with the department of labor....
its the experience that you need though....thats the only reason i accepted a non-union apprenticeship. It was all i could find. i plan on going union ASAP! Good luck with the hunt. dont give up.
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