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I got a job!

13K views 137 replies 26 participants last post by  Alexander1989 
#1 ·
#3 ·
Tips to be the best apprentice I can be would be greatly appreciated.
Congrats :smile:

I was once told that a good apprentice always has a pencil. A great apprentice always had gum.

But the best tip I can give is to always be working, always. Even when the others stop and there is nothing to do, go sweep up the floor or organize material. Also, never complain. Be that person that they say "he/she never complains". Hold it in until you get home.
 
#13 ·
LOL!

Congratulations I (like many of us) knew you would do great in your interview and do well getting hired.


When I read the title of your post, I felt like my kid made the honor roll!
 
#15 ·
1. Listen more than speak

2. Have a pencil and note book, not your phone.

3. Always be busy and don't complain (as others have said)

4. Never be afraid to ask questions.

You will succeed with the attitude you have shown us here.
 
#42 ·
1. Listen more than speak

2. Have a pencil and note book, not your phone.

3. Always be busy and don't complain (as others have said)

4. Never be afraid to ask questions.

You will succeed with the attitude you have shown us here.

I have had many, many employees down through the years... my suggestion is very much like Mec's #3... always try to have a positive attitude... don't get caught up in negative shop gossip.
 
#18 ·
Take care of the basics - be timely, follow instructions, keep the phone put away except at break time, follow all the safety rules, just generally conduct yourself in a professional, responsible, adult manner - these things keep you on the job.

Display a good work ethic - show some hustle, pay attention to detail, be organized ... that puts you ahead of most.

Do the best possible work, always try to improve your workmanship, learn as much as possible about everything you're doing - to me that's the kind of thing that makes a good worker great but also make the job interesting long after the excitement of the first day fades.
 
#21 ·
Oh side question, my parents gave me some money as a graduation present to pay for my apprentice card fee and to buy myself anything I need for work

I’m considering buying the milwaukee job site backpack since it has two separate main pockets so I could put my lunch in one, and all my tools in the other

Would that be a viable option or am i better off trailing a lunch box?
 
#30 ·
A job is work, but it doesn't have to be miserable, but some people want to make every job that way. They're miserable and want you to be. Don't let these kind of asshoIes bring you down. Take the job seriously, stay on task, listen when someone who knows more than you speaks. And question everyone.
 
#38 ·
Congratulations on your new job!!!

I'm sure you'll do great. just being a member here shows your commitment to succeed at this Trade.


Around here gloves are considered PPE, and are contractor supplied. The're usually kept in the gang boxes, on the shelves or under the watch of the foreman. They are usually the thin type, almost cut proof, with the griping palms and fingers.

That company looks like they are up on safety. I'm sure they have gloves in all sizes. Of course If you want something different/warmer you can get your own.

Like others have said, don't complain. A bad trait I saw on the last big one was to put down their fellow apprentices to cover up their own mistakes. This job had three first years. One was a girl. She was far better than the other two. Never complained, smart, worked hard and was always busy. The others complained that she was getting special treatment. She probably was treated better, because she deserved it. The other two were always looking to hide and took to long for simple tasks. It was like every where they went they were holding hands.

I gave up on the one that I had for a while. Every time I took the time to explain something it went in one ear and out the other. he continued to make the same mistakes, never learning from them. Every day was like starting from scratch. When he started in with excuses, like saying that's not how I showed him, that was the end.

She stayed with the company. The other two moved on (after being covered in firestop for the last few months) . I think the one got the boot a few months into the second year.

Always remember "The world owes you a living.... You just have to work hard to collect it"

Congratulations again!
 
#39 ·
Congratulations on your new job!!!

I gave up on the one that I had for a while. Every time I took the time to explain something it went in one ear and out the other. he continued to make the same mistakes, never learning from them. Every day was like starting from scratch. When he started in with excuses, like saying that's not how I showed him, that was the end.

!
had an apprentice like that.
Took him aside one day, explained that the first time he made a mistake after I explained how to do the work, was my fault, as I may not have explained it properly. The second time, was again my fault, as i didn't make sure he understood. The third time, either he was ignoring what I said, or he was too stupid to understand. I got the deer in the headlights look, and from that point on, he listened very carefully lol
 
#44 ·
The other day I had 2 guys that I employ doing cake work while I was on my hands and knees cleaning, dustpan and broom, dust in my face and all. I then made 4 trips to carry it all outside while they were both sitting down and doing the easy work. And I own the company :vs_mad:

:biggrin: Cleaning is part of the work, and someone has got to do it. Usually that person is the lowest man/woman for efficiency reasons, but it could be anyone depending on the circumstances. I wasn't going to take a guy off of the work he was doing to clean, it made more sense for me to do it while letting him finish up the work he was engrossed in.
 
#52 ·
They asked me to sort out one of those big two sided cabinets today with all the connectors, bushings, clips etc and I actually had a blast. I made everything really clean and identified everything with big letters so you don't have to actually try to find anything, it's all really obvious really in front of you.
My journeyman and another one really liked what I did so they brought me a completely empty two sided cabinet and had me make a big list of all the stuff they wanted in it and to sort it nice. The foreman really liked what I did and mentioned to me today that he'll probably get me to re-do all the cabinets on all the floors (there's 6) since it was so clean, precise, and would make all the guys be able to work more effectively.

I got to go in one of those outdoor elevator things today, that was fun. (there's a name for it but I forget). I had to do a lot of return trips to the storage on the ground floor to go get all the boxes.

Sorting cabinets took pretty much all morning since I had to do so many return trips and I was on the 4th floor. Did more bx cable in the afternoon and helped my journeyman with a bunch of stuff. Foreman told me not many 1st year apprentices get to cable stuff at that company and they mostly just fetch stuff and watch and learn, so it was a nice feeling that my journeyman trusted my work on my 2nd day.

I liked today a lot better than yesterday, excited for tomorrow! :glasses:
 
#53 ·
Oh and newbie question.

I have wicked blisters on the back/side of my ankles, on both feet. My boots aren't new, as I've been wearing them at school, but they're not worn down by any means.

do you guys think it's
a) i need to tie my boots up even tighter
b) get women's boots since my feet are more narrow
or c) something I can't think of

We worked in small workshops at school and just walked through hallways and whatnot so I didn't have to wear them very much, so I obviously never got blisters.
 
#65 ·
[emoji34][emoji34][emoji34][emoji34]
I dont care if they were $1000 lol

They gave you blisters so obviously thats not the right boot for you

Maybe its the boot, maybe its the size?

These clowns told me how great timberland pro boots are and I absolutely hate them!

They gave me blisters too! Lol

Sent from my LG-K550 using Tapatalk
 
#69 ·
It might be both! I have dwarf sized feet (size 6.5 mens) and they don't make that size, so I got a 7. So right off the bat they're a bit too big, but I wear a thick pair of socks to make up for it.

I'll try tightening them up to see if it helps at all, but I'm thinking my heel my just be too narrow for the boot and that I hadn't noticed it since I wasn't actually WORKING wearing them, just doing stuff in workshops at school
 
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