Frasbee

Long story short, got laid off, worked with another guy, got called back, and somehow managed to dodge another round of lay offs that put some of the same people out of work for a second time.

I guess getting laid off the first time opened my eyes to how expendable I was despite my work ethic, and because I don't have any formal education/training it made searching for jobs more difficult. Well I found a company that offers to pay for ABC school, but I heard they're one of the "bigger companies" where you're one in a hundred. I also heard they bust ass and they're hardcore into safety (hard hat, safety glasses, and a vest at all times).

I've gotten the gist that my old company was pretty lax. And I'm afraid I might've developed some bad habits (mostly, moving too slowly). Since everything I know about electrical work was through them, I'm wondering if this is going to be a bit of a shock.

My foreman today who had work with them, was really playing up their work ethic, and I'll admit, it has me a bit nervous, but I'm kind of glad to hear it because I've always felt like I might've been spoiled by the old company, and if I can be pushed to produce quality work, faster, I'm willing to take the challenge. I don't know though, I'd hate to bust my ass and still not cut it. Then again, maybe they can help me break some of those bad habits.

Kevin J

The last person I worked for was a short, skinny bowlegged little Italian from Long Island who had a Napolean complex, but, he was fast and neat. And demanding. And outspoken. But, I was coming from a company that I had gotten some ''lazy'' habits from, and I must say, this was a wake-up call for me to get serious. I stayed with him for ten years, and now that things have slowed up a little bit, me and him have partnered up to keep things going. I think this is what is lacking with today's youth, is that they have no one to teach them proper work ethics. Sure, some are smart and knowledgeable, (at least they think they are), but they're lazy. Everybody when they're young needs an old guy to kick them in the butt and show them how it's done. Good luck, and from the sounds of it, you'll do fine.

wildleg

there's nothing to be nervous about. jump in with both feet and get your ass in gear.

__________________
Chuck Norris sleeps with a night light. Not because Chuck Norris is afraid of the dark, but the dark is afraid of Chuck Norris.

walkerj

Frasbee, you just need to move to BR and let us teach you some work ethic

I was brought up to work hard, safe, and in a hurry.

I currently work with two guys who are the same way. One of them, 62, is "old school" all the way.

Anyway, their two helpers have been taught "the way" by Steve and can outperform any journeyman I have seen with fast, quality work.
NO CORNER CUTTING. NO CELLPHONE BS. NO BREAKS. NO WHINING.

__________________
Jason

running dummy

Your days definitely feel more satisfying and your day flies. As long as you have a "go get 'em" attitude I think you should be fine. That is how my shop is right now and it definitely pays off, I dodged multiple lay offs of about 50 guys...

Frasbee

It's not the first time I've worked for someone that needs me to hustle, it'll just be the first time in the electrical trade.

I know this may sound a little cheesy, but I felt kinda good quitting the last company. I was starting to feel too dependent on them. I was talking to our project supervisor about how I gave the guys that got let go the 2nd round of lays offs, the number to the residential electrician guy I worked with. It was 3 weeks before someone finally called him for work, like they were just sitting around waiting for the old company to call them back. I would have called that guy the same day I got let go. To that my project supervisor said: "Well that's because you young guys have only worked for one company, you don't know what else is out there."

Amongst other things, that kind of encouraged me to look for another company.

At least this way they hired back one of the guys who got let go.

We don't need anymore people sucking the unemployment teet.

william1978

Give it a 100% and bust your ass and you'll do just fine. It already sounds like your willing to learn the way that the new company does things. Good luck to ya.

Buddha In Babylon

i just transferred to a new company, and things are a lot different than my last company that's for sure. Although i have the feeling that safety is more important than speed for this company. But i think the speed of a job is affected by a lot of conditions. I have been on jobs where they tell me "don't work yourself out of a job."
and then i have been on jobs where they are telling me to just get it done, no matter what you have to do which to me says " we didn't bid this job right so we have to just make it work no matter how ****ty it is." I can't stand this.
I find such a double standard in the industry when it comes to safety and productivity. anyone else feel like there are two faces to this beast?

Frasbee

With my old company, it all depended on the foreman you were working with. Some were all about speed, others were all about avoiding breaking a sweat.

Personally, I dislike the "hurry up and wait", work. No matter the speed, I'd rather keep the pace steady.

Frasbee

The job is building a new school.

I've never been on a job of that scale before, so it was a little intimidating.

The guys on that project seem alright.

I ran pipe most of the day, but tomorrow we'll be up top installing PVC, and with the heat we've been havin' is gonna be a b*tch.

I'd say, so far so good.

I hustled the best I could, but I'm beat. Wearing those harnesses and pouch while carrying around a 12 foot ladder has killed my feet.

william1978

I did schools for about 6 to 7 years I HATE schools. It would not bother me if I never set foot on another school that was under construction.

Frasbee

Well, it's prevailing wage at least.

Though, I don't know if I'll get my check this week or next, so I don't know how much exactly they're paying me.

davis9

Are you a registered Apprentice?

Tom

william1978

You mean you went to work and don't know what your making on the hour.

Frasbee

I called him to a second time before I started to get a clear answer from him, and he simply said that my base pay is 12, but if I'm on a prevailing wage job it's around 15.

Thing is, I don't really trust what employer's say, anymore. So I'm half expecting that I'll see 12 on the check and them come up with some excuse or technicality as to why that happened to slip their mind when I asked...twice.

Regardless, if they're going to pay for my school that's a step up from what my last company was doing.

And no, I don't have an apprentice number. I asked him if that would be a technicality in reference to my prevailing wage pay, and he said "no", that it's just a change in title.

davis9

Usually if you aren't registered you make the full prevailing wage, at least I did when I worked a few times on them. Was nice taking home more on a Saturday than I did all week. Check your local and state laws.

Tom

drsparky

Read up on it.http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/programs/...s/trainees.htm

__________________
"Whatever is felt is within suffering."

Frasbee

Thanks for the info, so unless I'm mistaken, this applies to me?

Does that suggest that if you're hired to be an apprentice within 90 days of being registered for a program you count as an eligible apprentice?

I would start school in September...

william1978

Boy do you have that right!! Thats a good thing.

davis9

Are you going to be in a recognized APP Program or just Schooling?

Tom