brian john

While there is a certain amount of how bad I was treated as an apprentice posted here. I'd like to expand on that.

Year one this "A" hole that treated me like crap and told me I was the stupidest helper he ever knew, drove me (mentally) to get my license journeyman's and master before he got his first journeyman's.

Many of the mechanics that gave me a "all in good fun" hard time, standard joking. Now take pride in hiring my company and expound to others that I use to be their apprentice.

Many of the apprentices I worked with on a few jobs are still tight and there is a certain "friendship" that comes with working hard and playing hard. Unfortunatly the only time we get together now is at someone funeral.

All in all I think I was fortunate to work where I did and with those I had the privilege to work with.

randomkiller

Some of the clicks of guys that were in the Union when I started used to bust certain guys chops all the time. You would get busted by some of the Irish guys for being Italian or vice versa. My last name was a hard to figure for most of them because it can be Irish, Jewish, or a few other nationalities in between. So I only got abused a few times for that type of bs. I think I was just a tad too large or strong in my apprentice years to really want to get into it with me. But, that never stopped them from giving me the dirtiest job or the one in the smallest space.
I refused to go out for coffee once and got tossed off that job the next day. The foreman on that job was a red haired Irish boy nick named Flash that thought he was Gods gift to the electrical world. Too bad ducking wasn't what he was quick at. I do remember a few good brawls back in my first couple of years on the job. Overall I worked with some great guys that taught me well. The only time I get to see most of those guys now is at a funeral.

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brian john

I always tell the mechanics and apprentices be nice to everyone you'll never know which apprentice may be a foreman one day. DC is a small town, and crow ain't all that great for break.

micromind

I have a slightly different perspective here, I've never been an apprentice. Everything I know about the electrical trade came from basically 2 sources.

1) The observance of electrical theory in actual application. I learned theory either by reading about it, or to an even greater degree, just thinking about how something works. Then, when I would see how this theory was applied in the real world, I had the answers I was looking for.

2) Working around experienced electricians. I asked alot of questions, and learned to take what they say with a grain of salt. Just because a licensed journeyman says it doesn't mean it's gospel truth. I did get a huge amount of accurate info from these guys though.

I've learned over the years to establish myself as a respectable knowledgeable electrician before I make any mention at all of my 'lack of proper training'.

Over the years, I've learned that there are basically 4 type of electricians.

1) The basic journeyman who gets by mostly on his license or certification. This guy is usually not too sharp, can't think on his own, but he certainly knows the rules. And he's very quick to ram them on you. As long as you jump through all the hoops properly, you'll get along with him OK (sort of). Of course, not much actually gets done here, we seem to spend alot of time with 'you can't do that'.

2) The basic journeyman who is happy to be just a basic journeyman. This guy likes being told what to do, and usually does it fairly well. Easy to get along with. Happy right where he is, and doesn't want to advance at all.

3) The know-it-all. Frequently a foreman, doesn't know a whole lot, usually hides behind a big mouth coupled with an equally big ego. Is quick to belittle anyone who makes a mistake, though he never makes one, mainly because he never actually does anything. Nearly impossible to please, very difficult to get along with.

4) The true electrician. This guy knows alot. A WAY lot. But he'll never admit it. He loves to teach, and is very patient with apprentices. You can't work around a guy like this for more than 10 minutes and not learn something from him. He very rarely belittles anyone, even if they have it coming. His commitment to the trade is reflected in the quality of his work. He loves his job, even the bad times. Though his knowledge is immense, if you ask him 'how much knowledge is enough?' he'd likely answer 'just a little bit more'. He never stops learning. To him, his job, like his life in general, is a journey, not a destination. This is what sets him apart from any of the others.

Generally speaking, I've found that the guys with the most knowledge and experience are the easiest to get along with. There are exceptions, but they're rare.

Rob

p_logix

Heres my 50 cents,

I myself never went to a so called approved apprenticeship program but learn from my father and other journeymen went to school and passed a journeyman's test to get a A card into local 2295 ibew journeymen union. I would never say i was never a apprentice, as to me a apprentice is a, ap·pren·tice A beginner; a learner. I feel at one time everybody is a learner regardless of a union training or not.



I remember going out on a job and the foreman telling me if all the fixtures were not wired up at the end of the day i was fired. I told him I'll leave right now. I had a car payment to make. (Only 20 at the time lived with parents)I think he must of liked my attitude because he took me under his wing. After that he wanted to teach me every thing. Even though he was a racist punk rocker, piercings on his on his face, tattoos all over, but he was a hell of a good electrician. Don't always judge people based on appearance alone.

Now in my career as a foreman/lead man i train electricians but i don't get the satisfaction that i am looking for. Why? The electricians in my local just don't want to learn anymore or their just focus on retiring. I continue to fight with management but they don't seem to care. I have been offered a position to teach and what could be better then people who actually want to learn?

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brian john

I never served a sponsored "apprenticeship", but worked as a helper. I never let that bother me as I have stated before the local told me I was not qualified to work in this trade. I'd work circles around any of those guys. BUT that is part of what drove me to try and be tops in my field. I refer to this time as an apprenticeship and this may be wrong but after 38 years I have nothing to prove.

I truly think most good electricians tackle their knowledge this way. I never believed anything I was told and found most theory taught by on sight electrician's was way to mystical to be the truth. All learning comes from a variety of directions. School, self taught, reading, OJT, and intuition and expierence.

I know one BIG HEADED JERK, very knowledgeable one of the top smartest guys around. BUT customers would rather work with a nice dummy in lieu of an intelligent prick. Customers tell me this all the time about this one 5'6" Napoleon type.

But my real point in this post is the friends I amde then and the good times I had then out weight any hard times I may have encountered. And some of those that gave me a hard time have hired me to resolve issues they have/had and we laugh at those days.

leland

Absolutely! I was fortunate enough to start as a 1st yr helper as the #14 employee of a company only 1 year old., The company grew to over 300 trades people,over 11 yrs. (started 1981)

Ive met all described above, but the best and brightest are described in the selected quote.

I owe a debt of gratitude to many of them!! and we are still tight today.

(a hundred stories and there all good. like the others they'll come out over time.)

My problem: that was my first contractor, Very high bar to match!!!!

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Bkessler

The 2nd guy I worked really taught me how to get things done. I think I have a great work ethic and I learned that from one him. Not a second in the day gets wasted although he was hard on me it was what I needed at the time and I do not think I would be were I am today without ol' Joe Terlecki. Are you out there Joe?

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