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12-18-2008, 12:19 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Henrico, VA
Posts: 2
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Entering field at ag 30
After abouit 10 years of delivery driving I am looking to change my profession to a more rewarding career as an inside wireman. I am currently in the application process at the local IBEW. My only concern is that I am already 30 years old and by the time I make it to the interview portion I will be 31. I have no experience in the construction field other than my 2 brother in laws are drywallers. I am totally comitted to this career change. Any advice would be appreciated.
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12-18-2008, 01:08 AM
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#2
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Chief Electron Relocator
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Cornpatch USA
Posts: 31,265
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Don't worry about it.
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In winter, why do we try to keep the house as warm as it was in summer when we complained about the heat?
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12-18-2008, 05:38 AM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 89
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I was 47 when I started my apprenticeship.
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12-18-2008, 05:51 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Chicago Suburbs
Posts: 328
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!Do you have experience digging long deep trenches?
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12-18-2008, 06:29 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: CA/MI
Posts: 4,396
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With the economy I couldn't imagine how long the wait is for an ibew apprentice to get a call to go to work would be. Good luck though.
__________________
When ls lunch?
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12-18-2008, 11:22 AM
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#6
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Bilge Rat
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Fernley, Nevada (near Reno)
Posts: 2,372
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On just about any job of any size around here, I'd bet that about 1/2 of the apprentices in all the trades are over 30.
Don't sweat it, you'll do fine!
Rob
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12-18-2008, 12:36 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 8,057
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Never to late to learn something new. Go for it!
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12-18-2008, 08:29 PM
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#8
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Darn good sparky!
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Sunny California!
Posts: 109
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if you dont mind been told what to do, or sometimes been told what to do by someone younger than you, you shouldnt have a problem, good luck on your carreer change
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12-18-2008, 08:45 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,967
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Go for it. If the United States does turn its attention to rebuilding and/or building infrastructure, I expect everybody in any trade will be wanted and needed. Thirty? You're finally grown. No big deal.
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12-18-2008, 11:06 PM
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#10
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Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Henrico, VA
Posts: 2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bkessler
With the economy I couldn't imagine how long the wait is for an ibew apprentice to get a call to go to work would be. Good luck though.
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Nice rabbit. :-)
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12-19-2008, 02:35 PM
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#11
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"A" inside wireman
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Ocean, NJ
Posts: 4,721
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Quote:
Originally Posted by astratton78
Nice rabbit. :-)
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In my area when the economy is slow apprentices get more calls than jws.
__________________
A Veteran - whether active duty, retired, guard or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America," for an amount of "up to and including my life."
"One Nation Under God"
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12-19-2008, 02:38 PM
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#12
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"A" inside wireman
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Ocean, NJ
Posts: 4,721
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Quote:
Originally Posted by astratton78
After abouit 10 years of delivery driving I am looking to change my profession to a more rewarding career as an inside wireman. I am currently in the application process at the local IBEW. My only concern is that I am already 30 years old and by the time I make it to the interview portion I will be 31. I have no experience in the construction field other than my 2 brother in laws are drywallers. I am totally comitted to this career change. Any advice would be appreciated.
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Welcome to the forum first off. Good luck in your endeavor. 30 is not old at all for starting out in my local.
Do yourself a favor and don't mention being related to drywallers around an electrical crew.
__________________
A Veteran - whether active duty, retired, guard or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America," for an amount of "up to and including my life."
"One Nation Under God"
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12-20-2008, 05:34 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Maine
Posts: 485
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Quote:
Originally Posted by randomkiller
Do yourself a favor and don't mention being related to drywallers around an electrical crew.
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Best advice in this thread! 
__________________
Rick -
"fool-proof systems do not take into account the ingenuity of fools"
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12-24-2008, 01:37 AM
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#14
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FiberYellowBrickRoad
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Illinois
Posts: 6
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Quote:
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Do yourself a favor and don't mention being related to drywallers around an electrical crew.
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Why's that?
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12-24-2008, 02:52 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Maine
Posts: 485
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RxTxStack
Why's that?
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If you spend any amount of time doing residential electrical you will likely understand.
Drywallers don't like elctricians because we put those pain in the ass boxes everywhere that they have make holes in their drywall for.
Electricians don't like drywallers because they often do not cut said holes to the correct dimension, fill our boxes with joint compound, or cut into the insulation in the wires in the boxes with their neat little roto-zip toys.
As with any rule of thumb there are exceptions, but generally electricians and drywallers are not the best of friends on a job site.
__________________
Rick -
"fool-proof systems do not take into account the ingenuity of fools"
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12-24-2008, 02:55 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Maine
Posts: 485
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Quote:
Originally Posted by calimurray
!Do you have experience digging long deep trenches?
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 Been in the electrical field for 12+ years, and have never dug a trench by hand! 
__________________
Rick -
"fool-proof systems do not take into account the ingenuity of fools"
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01-03-2009, 12:27 PM
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#17
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Chairman of the Bored
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Atlanta, Ga.
Posts: 8,955
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I started in the trade when I was 30 and new zilch but happened upon some former union guys who taught me allot about the trade very quickly; you'll be a helper for plenty of years but every day you shold learn something new. I would suggest the IEC (independent electrical contractors) for schooling instead; some employers will pay for you to go through school. It's a four year program and pretty competent. Frankly, Unions are on the way out and work will be limited for you. Good luck.
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01-03-2009, 12:39 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Leesburg, VA
Posts: 20,370
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Quote:
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Unions are on the way out and work will be limited for you. Good luck.
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This statement is area dependent, in many areas unions are strong and offer good schooling, pay and benefits, IF YOU CAN GET IN.
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01-03-2009, 03:08 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 5,386
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I didn't even take life seriously until I was 30. You are still a young man.
The electrical trade will be the last to be taken over by immigrants so I think it's still a good choice. Plumbers have to dig too much and occaisionally deal with poop.
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01-03-2009, 03:26 PM
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#20
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Professional Nit Picker
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Manchester ,Maryland
Posts: 1,305
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Another option if the local IBEW doesn't pan out is ABC.( Associated Builders and Contractors)
Find a contractor that is a member and go through the apprenticeship at ABC. Most contractors will pay part of it , if not all of the cost.
As far as being 30, It shouldn't be no big thing. It might work in your favor. Most people have calmed down by then and are taking life serious.
Last edited by manchestersparky; 01-03-2009 at 03:41 PM.
Reason: Corrected acronym
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