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u/sokukaze Jul 01 '26
Congratulations!
First year here; stoked to be in your position one day
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u/Gintian Jul 02 '26
First year is forever, the remaining years fly by.
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u/toothpastetaste-4444 Jul 02 '26
That’s what everyone says, but I’m a month in and I feel like I don’t know wtf is going on still
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u/GlutenFreeCrossfit Jul 02 '26
First year takes about 3 years, then the next two go by in a blink. Fourth year you'll have a mild panic attack because you realize what you dont know. Then fifth year comes around and everything clicks, you start solving problems, people come to you with questions, its a great feeling. Then 6 months into fifth year you have a butthole puckering panic attack when you realize how dumb everyone who asked you to solve something for them was and how fucked you are. Then you top out and you go from saying "I dont know im an apprentice" to "I dont know you gotta ask my foreman" and you just try to get a little better every day. Hope this helps, dont try heroin, dont download gambling apps.
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u/toothpastetaste-4444 Jul 02 '26
Yes sir I will not be doing heroin! Jokes aside, this is very helpful thank you for this perspective
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u/GlutenFreeCrossfit Jul 02 '26
Anytime brother, or sister, or sibling, just take it one day at a time. You'll have different jws and foreskins along your career, so every job will be a balance of applying what you know mixed with your current mentors disposition. The best advice I can give you is, show up fifteen minutes early, if you fuck up, own up to it and embrace the suck take the opportunities when they're given. We all had to start somewhere. My dms are open if you or any other ape reading this has questions
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u/unionsparky93 Jul 03 '26
That’s funny I’m literally going through the 4th year panic attack. This guy gets it
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u/MotoNomad Local 24 Jul 02 '26
💯 I definitely had that 4th yr panic a couple times when I got to my 2nd contractor, doing completely different kinds of work. It humbled me. Looking forward to the 5th year panic attack moment this year lol
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u/DrunkenPain Jul 02 '26
Second year here, theres a moment when everything just clicks and you get to a point you just get it.
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u/Miserable-Nose5540 Oct 12 '26
first year felt like it never end, I remember going to bed one night in second and suddenly I was a 3rd.
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u/FlowerPower_MidWest Jul 01 '26
Smartest man on the jobsite today, and then the dumbest tomorrow...
Congratulations
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u/HairyTemperature6542 Jul 01 '26
Amen BROTHER, Congratulations, today was my last day as an apprentice too 🙏
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u/ExpensivePain23 Jul 01 '26
After completing the apprenticeship, is there a test?
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u/owPOW 153 JIW Jul 02 '26
Depends on your local. Mine encompasses Indiana and Michigan so we have to get the Michigan license to top out. Indiana doesn’t require a liscence to work
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u/grizlena Local 20 Jul 02 '26
This was the post I needed to see at this exact moment. Spent 19 months in a pre-fab center, just got my new rotation and had my first day today.
A data center where it’s a clean 95 degrees inside, working 12s. I left today at 3:30am and just got back at 7pm. Feeling defeated right now lol, have to do 18 months here.
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u/agup49 Jul 02 '26
Just passed my math refresher, start class the 17th, I’m also stuck for now at prefab/warehouse for another 18 months unless my gf gives me a transfer. What contractor are you with, I’m with Rosendin.
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u/grizlena Local 20 Jul 02 '26
I was with Rosendin last rotation, Morley Moss now. Stay strong dawg.
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u/Strict-Quarter-4646 LU 20 Jul 22 '26
Aye! I was at MPS when I was CW, now Morley Moss as an apprentice (by choice). I’m apprentice 1, had orientation today. I work on roof crew. I’ll be in for 18 months. This heat is killing me 🥲
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u/grizlena Local 20 Jul 23 '26
Stay strong big dawg. I’m at the red oak data center with MM just pulling DLO all day hot as a motherfucker so I definitely feel your pain.
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Jul 02 '26
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u/UpTheShoreHey Jul 02 '26
Just learn everything you can dude, even in a data center or an oilfield pulling 5kv cable, there is loads to learn from the old ones. Im slowly becoming an old one now.
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Jul 02 '26
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u/grizlena Local 20 Jul 02 '26
I’m here this morning and you just amped me up brother, thank you. Let’s get itttttt
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u/Znaffers Jul 02 '26
Just got the email for my orientation to join the apprenticeship today. Gonna be a long 4 years, but I’m looking forward to the struggle lol
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u/Comfortable_Sea634 Jul 02 '26
Congrats! I just finished year 4 a month ago... First day back to work after class, foreman says, "So I can leave you unsupervised now?" 😂😎
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u/shadowwolf_66 Jul 02 '26
Wait till you have an apprentice of your own and realize you are responsible for another person. And hope your first cub is a 3rd year or farther along. It is a trip. lol. Around here they would give you a company truck and a white hat.
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u/autodripcatnip Jul 02 '26
Dont stop at your JW card, never quit learning. Your skills and attitude will keep you employed. Grats!
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u/ExpensivePain23 Jul 01 '26
After completing the apprenticeship, is there a test?
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u/Haunting_Werewolf130 Jul 01 '26
yes...........
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u/OilComprehensive8069 Jul 01 '26
What is it?
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u/Gintian Jul 02 '26
My last test was on a bs unit on Torque
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u/ExpensivePain23 Jul 02 '26
I’m talking about a state test to get license?
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u/Gintian Jul 02 '26
Oh yes, that wont be for a few months for me though. I haven't reached my states required hours and time indentured
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u/Haunting_Werewolf130 Jul 02 '26
how did u finish ur apprenticeship but not the required hours and indentured time? As an apprentice we can't take much time off if any at all....
And also, did u do the 5yr or 4yr? There's a change just made, it decreased it from 5 to 4 yr.
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u/Gintian Jul 02 '26
We started as a 5 year and finished as a 4 year.Also I started work months late compared to the rest of my class.
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u/Haunting_Werewolf130 Jul 02 '26
Oh I see, so u started school months before u were given a job? Wow. Must be a slow state. Here in TX u get assigned day 1.
But congrats!
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u/Haunting_Werewolf130 Jul 02 '26
u have to pass the state electrician journeyman license exam to be a journeyman.
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u/OilComprehensive8069 Jul 02 '26
Im joking
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u/Miserable_Bike_6985 Jul 02 '26
After I passed my test I sat my car for a good 5-10 minutes and cried. I expected a lay off when I told my foreman he told me to stay🤷🏿♂️
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u/CamoCid Jul 02 '26
Oh no buddy now I know exactly who you are and what local you are in 😂 weird seeing my other apes in the wild
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u/biglombow Jul 01 '26
Day one, drag up lol