I agree with everything except for sitting in certain situations. In my first year the journyman I worked for would bring out a mini stool to sit on for days we would trim out a whole house ( 50+ receptacles) it doesnt cut into time and saves your knees and lower back. working smarter not harder is never a bad thing.
Agreed, I won't subject my middle aged knees to kneeling when I can just sit and stand up. I've worked on nursing homes, hospitals, TV stations, movie theatres, etc. and can trim out devices literally for days on a job. When attaching power cords to installed garbage disposals, I have to lay on the floor inside a cabinet just to reach the work. If the speed and quality of my work aren't an issue but somebody has a problem just with me sitting down, we'll see how their knees feel when they're approaching 50.
If you are doing your work efficiently then its fine. His point here is that you can't be sitting around taking your sweet time doing something simple.
@@alisaleh7925Not everyone is super fast , some people are more slower than others and be the most hardest worker. Things are quicker to those who already know what they are doing !
New apprentices, put your ego away for the first few years. Even if a journeyman already taught you how to do something, don’t stop a different journeyman from teaching you how to do that same task because there’s probably a golden nugget of information that will add to your repertoire of skills. Also take advantage of downtime to ask a journeyman an off-topic question about theory, code, or electrical work.
I’ve learned to always twist wires before putting on a wire nut and also to never do that. One hole always should be screw hole up….or down depending on the journeyman. And some other stuff too. I always listen and ask why. I figure with enough time (2 months right now) I will have my own things too.
It's a double edge sword. Act like you know everything and you will be taught nothing. Act like you know nothing and you will be given no responsibility or respect. It's a fine line of expressing appreciation for any advice, while also making it known that you aren't a moron.
@@nachoisme everyone definitely has their own ways to do things. I am a journeyman electrician and I prefer to justify methods with reasons not “just because” I always pretwist my solid conductors together to make it look pretty and a solid electrical connection and cut so the ends of wires are even and straight that way you ensure everything has even contact and nothing shrunk down when just using a wirenut to twist together. For stranded to stranded connections I twist them together as well and cut even and then wirenut. Always always always do the pull test, it saves a call back later on, sure it might take a few seconds more, but taking down that whole chandelier or ceiling fan after you installed it because the wire didn’t make proper connection is going to look 10x worse than a few seconds of ensuring a good connection. And as far as the one hole clip goes, when running a conduit horizontally I would say put the screw down, think about if/when that one hole could fail and bend it will still be inside the clip if the screw is down, if it is up and that happens the pipe could come out of the clip. Hope this helps, and good luck
@@timothyjewett625 they have all been very cool about explaining the logic. I’ve yet to be brushed off and told ‘cause I said’ or similar. I looked up the one hole thing and apparently the screw hole up is the way to go. Reason being the hole down would creat a leverage point to pull the screw out and hole up you have the break the shear force of the screw. There was a UA-cam video I saw and still people saying both ways. Got to the video form an electrician Reddit page.
@@nachoisme You have found the golden nugget of super truth. They'll all have their reasons, but now you are free to sort through those reasons and find the RIGHT one, or as you did, know which things you should look for more opinions on. More data is always better. More methods are always better, even just to know why you shouldn't do one.
Best advice I have for apprentices came from my first foreman. He said for the first year, maybe two, if someone asks you if you know how to do something, just say no, even if you've done it before, this is how you learn the tricks of the trade that make you a quicker and more effective electrician. Also, always be paying attention to what your JW is doing and how. You can pick up a lot by really paying close attention.
Instead of saying no, I would say I’ve done it before but how do you usually do it? Especially if you’re getting a new job, tell them at the interview you know how to do certain things then all of a sudden you don’t know how to do shit when you hit the job site
@@chriscollins8432 its more of a religious or humble way to be i guess, my christian dad has always said just say you dont know because at the interviews everyone says they know how to do this and that and they end up getting paid high on the first day but at th3 end they quit befor3 the week ends
My dad (RIP) said he learned three things in his 42 year career. 1) Always make your boss look good in front of other people. If you have a problem with something or need to correct him/her, do it in private. 2) Never carry what you can drag. 3) Never be seen walking empty-handed. It looks like you're going for a leisurely stroll. Grab a tool or a drawing so that if you are going for a leisurely stroll, people will think you're doing work.
Can't say I agree with your dad on #2. On #1, it works the other way around as well. If you are the boss, don't correct your subordinates in front of others. You get much more respect back this way.
@@kevinhernandez62 ... been using #3 for decades... it's called the "dead wrench" trick. Just grab the largest tool handy whenever you need to walk away for a few moments.
There's Something I learned in the military that's a really low way of kneeling where you sit on your foot with the other foot planted on the floor. It can take some flexibility but you're able to get up and down as easily as kneeling while still being as low to the ground of sitting.
I am 6 foot 8, obese with really bad knees! Even though I do not work in the electrical trade my job does require bending, stooping, or kneeling. im sitting down to do my job in the most efficient, comfortable and healthy way possible for me. If others don't like it they can suck on an egg.
Im not an electrician but a GC. Some of the smartest, most experienced people I've worked with have no ego. They ask questions, are willing to learn from anyone, are good listeners, and aren't afraid to say they don't know something. Learning is a skill in itself, soak up everything, and don't be afraid to say I don't know. As a boss, communication is key. Treat people with respect, and communicate professionally. If your helpers/ apprentice isn't working out most likely it's your fault. Ive seen so many people in the trades complaining that they can't find any good help. And as an outsider, I understand why. Most of the people complaining are miserable to be around with a bad attitude. If you are working with more than one person you are essentially a team. Set goals as a TEAM, work as a team to complete them. If you want to know what not to do as an apprentice, work as an individual. If you want to know what not to do as a boss, work as an individual. Just my experience 🙂
If the student fails despite showing up and applying themselves, then that's the fault of the teacher. Same applies to an apprentice and a journeyman or master of a trade.
So true. For the most part the journeymen I've worked with have been very generous and patient. I had just one guy who would berate me for stuff I hadn't learned yet: "It's not rocket science, is it?" Nevertheless, I maintained a good attitude, worked hard and learned a lot.
Sorry for the long comment.. 😇🙂. One of the hardest thing for me is to figure out what "teaching method" to use with some apprentices to make them understand/comprehend How to work well and efficiently. But also to make them realise that someone is paying you good money to do this for them.. This is not a Job, it's a Profession. I have noticed that sometimes, the friendly/smooth/easy going teaching method does not work well with some apprentices. I'm a very patient teacher at first, until you make me repeat everything twice or dont give a damn or dont demonstrate somekind of Will to learn/to improve your skills. Sometimes, the best professionals are the ones that learned the Hard way..
@@martf1061 If they have a bad attitude, flunk 'em out. Keep the ones who care about their work. I've known a few guys who weren't the brightest, but they cared and therefore became highly skilled and were some of the best guys on the team.
As a 50+ year old Journeyman with more knee pain than any man should ever endure...., I understand Klein sponsored the video, but i never tell an apprentice to get off there butt to install receps. I buy them a stool on wheels with a tray. I was were you are now and i thought i was supposed to be that way, but its BS. The kid will respect you and do 10 times more work when he knows you care about his 50+ year old body.
I think the biggest thing here is that these kids don't wanna be treated like shit for $10 an hour. you can ride their ass, you can be a boss, but there's no need to talk to someone like they are unhuman because they do something like misplace their knife. With as many as these kids on the autism spectrum as there is now, they are super intelligent, but they can't handle being talked to like that.
Yes don’t communicate your needs properly, don’t expect apprentice to read your mind. And accept your way is not the only way. Last one know sometime you can be wrong, it’s ok to admit it, shows your humbleness.
I sit on my butt when wiring receptacles. Tool belt is on floor and the 4 to 5 tools are laid out in a logical manner given what I am doing. My 65 year old self will thank me. I do take the time to trim wires accordingly so it isn't as exposed as it needs to be. It doesn't take long to ensure you're not out-of-pocket on knee replacements. With that said 3 minutes is about right once all the wires are prepared for connecting
I’m 23 and broke my back, I always sit on a bucket when doing receptacles and set my tool bag next to me. I’ve left a job site, just walked off, because they caught me sitting on a bucket and decided to scream at me. These contractors need to get over themselves sometimes. Same with cell phones. My phone has a clock, a reminder to take pills, and even my code book and uglies references.
@@bigguyprepperyeah bro I’m fortunate the place I work isn’t to picky about using our phones or technology for help when working. Also sitting on a bucket wiring receptacles doesn’t seem like it looks lazy. My journeyman always rant about efficiency and what not and using ur body less but then tweak whenever you sit down on a job that is completely suited to sit down for.
Yup, its purely an appearance thing, and not a problem if you as a worker have protections. If you are doing the labor, how you do it, whether sitting, standing squatting, or kneeling, is irrelevant. Its simply a contractor trying to control you and make your work more unpleasant. Or bootlicker journeymen. Its like how all these tech businesses hate work from home even though productivity is up or identical, because they can't micromanage. Like elon stopping work from home for twitter. Because higher ups like the "appearance" of working hard. Its an old school toxic masochism masculinity thing. Obviously still wear kneepads, and sometime you need to bust out receptacles quickly, or get up and down a lot, but if youre working on something low to the ground for awhile or longer than 1 minute, you have time to sit down. Another reason to join the ibew and drag if a contractor has a huge problem with HOW you work not your work quality or speed. Especially as sitting is far better for long term health. EDIT: The tool bag on a bucket seat is amazing though FYI. Have all your tools attached to your seat right below you.
I had to sweep the floors of a newspaper plant before the electricians there put in a good word for me hahaha. Yes I had to forget how to operate a broom and place boxes to keep fall hazards off floors... lmao.
As a 43 year old 5th year apprentice (C of Q here I come)I see value in keeping your mouth shut and ears open on every way to do a job. You may not like it but journeymen can be your greatest asset. Every day I spend time to ensure more time to learn by taking grunt work (even ordering and cleaning up meals) away from the ones willing to share their knowledge. As for tools, I’m fortunate enough to work for a company that buys what I need and when you need one it’s there if you ask, but you damn well better return it (clean and not broken)! Lastly, messed up?… take it like a man and find the lesson to move forward. Thank you to everyone out there making myself and the next generation better than they were yesterday!!
Never to late to educate yourself. Knew a guy who pursued his dream if being a doctor at 40 and finished at 55. Men are not limited by time like females do with reproduction. We are limited by our ambitions alone. my 30s now pursuing this career.
Facts bro, it hurts my back more because the box is too low so I have to bend my back some more and put more pressure on my legs, yeah no I’ll just sit and do it faster.
My boss was big on the no sitting when I first started with him 4 years ago. After a few weeks he’d leave me to cut down rooms on my own. He had walked in and seen me sitting while cutting down a receptacle, realized I was moving quicker than when I knelt. He no longer questions how I situate myself to get things done. Also along with what the video said, to anyone new in electrical or any trade; the only dumb question is one not asked. Don’t be afraid to not know things. I’d rather teach you the same thing twice than have you mess it up because you were afraid to ask for a quick once over lesson.
Typical rough in day. Clock in, secure ladders on truck, empty water cooler, fill clean cooler. Grab shopping cart and fill van truck with wires and connection boxes, fan supports and tools. Get yelled at for standing around because your journeyman was late and didn't see you do any of that. Crew goes to store grabs lunch and drinks for the day. Arrives on job site. Empty van truck. Generator hooked up. Wires conduit boxes and tools empty truck. Laddere. Mini fridge and radio set up. Lay out blueprint, Grab chalk and mark all locations on floor. Nail up switch and receptacle boxes. Get yelled at for taking a text message. Pull all romex wires Lunch time. Break on site with no a/c pass out under a tree. Afternoon Hang light brackets lose your supervisors favorite screw driver. Hang fan brackets. Run low voltage lines coaxial ethernet cat 5 cat 3 door bell garage lines. Get yelled at for drinking water out the cooler. Drill holes in studs for more outlets around room. Inspect work all staples and wires secure and neat. Nail plates. Nail boards up for switches near door ways. Put all tools supplies back in truck. Drive back to office while guys and supervisor smoke weed. In van. Get kicked off truck. Because while you did 90 percent of the work. The crew leader is a drug addict that somehow thinks he is your boss. Steal his multimeter and just go work for a better company. The end.
An older female journeyman on a job showed me a wire stretcher she made on the job…the same one she made when her journeyman sent her after it when she was an apprentice. She cut a couple pieces of bare, solid #10 wire about 6-8 inches long. She then cut a white cloth rag in a small rectangle about 4X6 inches. She stitched the cloth around the wire along the 2 long sides of the cloth to fashion it to look like a stretcher (the kind you would carry an injured or dead person with). After that no one ever messed with her again! That’s how you outsmart your journeyman when he’s clowning on you!!
That is a great one. Many years ago, as a Marine aviation mechanic working in the metal shop ( at the time ), one of the guys told me to grab the metal stretcher. I laughed and said I am not falling for that. Well, he said, " it's right there at your feet under the table next to the metal shrinker. I laughed even harder. Well, he stormed over flipped up the canvas and pulled out both. There actually are both types of devices. So, the joke was on me after all.
@@dallasarnold8615 ... if a plumber can ask the new guy for a bucket of steam, can an electrician ask for a bucket of power / juice? BTW, I brought a plumber a bucket of water and told him it just needs heating when he's ready for the steam.
@@rupe53 the only electrical materials I know of off the top of my head that come in a bucket are jet-line and wire pulling lubricant. But I have sent a few cubs after a box of ohms
Man I needed to hear this. I’m not an apprentice anymore and I’m in HVAC but I have been very complacent lately. I’m a young early journeyman service tech and I have noticed I have been way too apathetic and thinking too highly of myself lately. Thanks for this, we all have something to learn.
Hey bud, how goes? There's also a guy on UA-cam who goes by MandatoryFunDay and he put out an exceptional leadership manual for free. I'm an apprentice who is often put into somewhat of a lead position so I try to take his words to heart and it's given me a higher standard both for myself and the leadership I'll tolerate.
The things that you are talking about apply to ANY job. Humility in the workplace is one of the best skills a person can work on. Employees who look for things to do, ask questions that make the boss feel like the person is taking the job serious, and staying off their fricking phones are priceless.
🍻 Here’s to those electricians who figured out that their labor actually benefits their fellow man. They have come to realized they have something of great value to offer others. Reminded me of this quote “You can buy a person’s hand, but you can’t buy his heart. His heart is where his enthusiasm, his loyalty is. You can buy his back, but you can’t buy his brain. That’s where his creativity is, his ingenuity, his resourcefulness. Treat employees as volunteers just as you treat customers as volunteers, because that’s what they are. They volunteer the best part-their hearts and minds.” Stephen Covey Good leaders help others to eventually become good leaders. No actors (hypocrites) necessary.
My personal rule for apprentices on my crew: If you’re using my tools, put it back where you found it, not where it belongs. Where you found it is where I left it and that’s where I’m going to go looking for it. If I have to come find you to find my tools we’re have a different conversation first.
@@crypt0sanguine obviously, you understood me wrong. I never said that i oblige to only use my tools. You want to borrow one of mine for whatever reasons and i accept, its only normal to replace it if you break it by dropping it or miss use it , etc...
I'm an apprentice and this video was really helpful. I like what you said about balancing the quantity and quality of your work. At the end of the day I'm there to make my boss money. Sometimes I need to speed up and sometimes I need to slow down. Plus I notice when my boss does work, he slows down a little bit, but comes up with really smart ways to do things, which ultimately saves him time in the long run. Being an electrician isn't the main thing in my life, but I still want to be good at what I do. Its like the apostle Paul and how he was a tentmaker, it's just a way to pay the bills and focus on bigger things in life.
I feel like most journeymen, don’t realize they set themselves, and their apprentice’s up for failure when they begin screaming at a frustrating situation. I refuse to work under any such journeyman. When someone come up to me, and can’t talk like an adult. All I say is “come back and talk to me when your ready to use your big boy words”
@@theflamingpotato1939 In the civilian world that shit don't happen, because it's assault and battery and then you lose your firearms. Womp womp. I wouldn't get THAT sassy with a superior, but I absolutely will stop them and say "Listen, I'm on your side. My job is to learn and get better and help you. Talk to me like we're on the same team." If they can't do that, they're not worth working for. Worst lead I ever worked for was the best electrician I ever worked for and taught me the most, but he was absolutely insufferable, and it almost got physical one day so I quit on the spot. A man's got to have respect for himself, first, if he wants to be worthy of anyone else's respect. That goes for him losing it all the time and me standing up and walking away.
You disrespect yourself by talking down to those under your command. Why would anyone respect a leader who can't even respect themselves, much less their subordinates? We're all supposed to be on the same team, accomplishing the same goals. I met a lot of guys who didn't really grasp that concept.
Very good video Dustin. One thing I would like to add to your list is, apprentices ... please do not cut corners thinking that no one is going to see your work. As an example, if you get sent into an attic or under a house and you are suppoaed to run some romex or mc cable and it needs to be strapped up and no sags when under the house and not all loose in an attic, using a strap or staple every two or three joists, between point a and point b, don't think that you can put one or two straps on a 30 or 40 foot run because you're too lazy to do it correftly because you figure no one is going to crawl down or up to check on my work. Wrong. Someone is going to check your work and sometimes there is more work to be done in the same area the next day or next week or a month later, and it won't be you crawling and that next wireman is going to see your wires hanging down into the dirt or they're gonna get their boot or tools hung up on loose wire with a bunch of slack and no strapping and immediately they're going to know who did that wiring because it's new work and usually no other company is working for this client so it is obvious that you didn't do your job correctly. Always do your work in a professional manner. Think about the next electrician who will be looking at your work in the future and has to repair something and it's all jacked up making what should be a ten minute job is now an hour of stress and struggle because you cut corners or didn't do the work like a professional. That next electrician might even be you two or four years from now and you have to deal with the bad work you did. Sorry for the long comment
Exactly. I always tell the new trainees that "It's the next guy's problem is not a sustainable model, because the next guy could be them. Or even worse, it could be me."
I'm military and planning to go electrical when I get out. Some tips I'd add from what I learned from the military: 1. DON'T BE LATE. If you're gonna be late due to unforeseen circumstances (car wreck blowing up traffic, flat tire, etc.) give your boss a call and be straight up about the situation. Common sense, but younger apprentices have a tendency to underestimate time. 2. Ask questions, especially to confirm what your superior is tasking you with. 3. It's better to "overcommunicate" than undercommunicate. 4. Do regular inventories of your personal stuff.
Best electrician I ever worked under was a Ranger. Went by Nick. Never got his last name, sadly. I learned more from him in the 3 weeks he was filling in for another lead than I did in the 3 months prior. Fuckin great dude. I hope he's doing okay.
the "do it this way" and the "I did it how I think it should've been" get under my skin. I'm in the dirtwork work currently going into the electrical field, and the first 2-3 years of me operating I always asked a bunch of questions and had a bunch showed and explained in many different ways to me. I still ask questions and I've been doing it for 4 years.
As an apprentice, this felt like a conversation with my boss. I'm especially guilty of the 4th thing (8:44). I just wish I could fast-forward through this trade. Thanks, Dustin. I appreciate this video. I got some stuff to work on.
When asked this (1st year apprentice) I'll explain what I do know, and then the journeyman can correct me, or fill in the gaps. Humility is KEY, and recalling and explaining what I've learned helps drive it home for me.
I am a plumber apprentice, I do sit occasionally, but it’s because my knees are shot and I tell the bosses that. As long as I WORK, they don’t care. I don’t stand around, unless I’m watching how something is supposed to be done. And I always try to listen to what people say, even if I know how to do something, there could be an easier way, smarter way, faster way to do it. I am there to work and learn.
As far as the sitting, do what you can in the trades to lessen the prolong damaged to your joints and muscles. Nobody is going to give a shit about you including the video creator if you need surgery or a knee replacement 10 to 15 yrs down the road. I've seen too many guys do stupid shit that will eventually land them with an injury simply because, "it looks more manly this way."
I’m a 4th year apprentice and everything you’re saying I can definitely relate to. I focus and try to soak up as much information as I can. Everything you’re saying not do to is definitely true💯😂
I am about to start my electrician journey after many years of putting it off and this information is invaluable. I am nervous excited to be an apprentice. Thanks for this.
You want them to be off their phones but demand that they respond through text message right away. That makes so much sense. My phone is my code book, uglys reference, watch, among other things I’ve used daily. And I always sit on a bucket to do receptacles because there’s no good reason not to. Sometimes I’ve even had to lay on the ground to do things. These contractors need to get over themselves.
Agree on all.. I'm new and have enough common sense to know I have to stay busy for 10 hours.. one thing I hate that isn't mentioned is when you're crew is assigned to do something and you want to try and do something, but the "higher" electrician will not let you do it. They'll do it themselves and it could be something so simple like setting anchors in concrete. It's that "no, I got it" that gets me, because I want to learn and try but they'll brush it off. But other people will be cool and actually teach you and let you do it.
I've done electrical in many ways many industries. Finally decided to enter the apprenticeship, I'm in and going. Here's my #1 thing I observed and integrated in my ethic. Never assume prior experience means you know what to do in a new or different job. I'll "reset" and come in open to learn from the new lead, supervisor, or job. I just show up early Ready for work Ready to learn
As a 2nd year "helper" and a 1st year "apprentice". These tips were icing on the cake. All of these I learned quick enough. I dont like to piss people off and I'm willing to learn and do the job as directed. Also, depending on who you work with, I just throw my ideas out there in general at times because we all aren't perfect. Sometimes that journeyman/master may not come up with a certain idea or maybe your idea as an apprenticeship is better at that said moment. And if your idea as an apprentice isn't good or not up to code or whatever, as to my experience, that said journeyman or master will correct you and tell you the right way. As I see it, it's best to mention ideas and ways to do stuff/ the job even if they're bad to show yourself and others that you're willing to work and scoping out the area.
Legit. I usually present different ideas as "Someone else did it this way" or "is there a reason why we don't do this?" If I thought of it, I can assume that someone else thought of it first.
I started working for a big shop and I work with different foreman’s on different jobs especially working OT on weekends wherever we’re behind. One thing I’ve learned is when someone wants something done a certain way just do it that way. Simple example would be, some people add prefab grounding tails to boxes, some people ground the box using a grounding wire coming into the box. I prefer the pigtail but I see the benefit of either way. Especially when that one extra ground wire sends you on a mission to find a big blue nut.
As a 2 year apprentice, I feel like everyone starting in the trades has done all of these things a few times, myself included going to trade school thinking I would be the best apprentice ever lol. Knowing the knowledge of what I have been able to gain from residential and industrial projects, what separates a bad helper from a great apprentice is someone who has the least amount of time spent in the “pet peeves” phase and wants to actively be engaged and involved. Not to the point of running a while crew solo, but being able to read a set of plans and understand the basics of what is going on.
Just came across your channel. I've been thinking about making the plunge. I was an ASE certified mechanic for about 6 years and have been driving a truck for about 4 years now. At 28 years old with 2 kids, a wife and a mortgage, the thought of having to start over as an apprentice again irks me lol
A couple process things that might help two of these situations. Make the processes normalized, encourage everyone at every level to do it so the apprentices don't feel singled out. First: When person A tells person B to do something, person B responds with what they heard before saying something to the effect of "ok, got it". Sort of like on movies of naval (especially submarine) operations. Where someone commands the helm "30° port", the helmsmen responds "30° port, aye!". This lets the person giving direction know that what they said was actually what was heard. (I've never been in the navy so I don't know if that actually happens in the real-world. But it makes sense to have a communications feedback loop as long as it doesn't take too much extra time.) Second: At the end of the day everyone checks the worksite, their tool bags, and pockets for things that need to go back on the truck or back to other people. If time is budgeted at the end of the day, no one will have the excuse that they didn't have time at the end of the day for cleanup and tool return.
The wire stretcher is at the factory where they make wire. Still looking for the EMT threader... its not next to the lateral bearing grease... Can I come be an a-print-tice now...
Here's the thing. I learned a long time ago that if you borrow somebody's thing and break it, They have a new thing and you still have no thing. Personally, If I have to borrow a thing twice, I realize that I need it. So I go and buy me that thing....Which is why I have a tool shed full of things.
Hey Dustin! I really enjoy your channel & I learn a lot! One thing that always confused me as an electrician is, when we need permits & when we don’t, can you make a video explaining please, thanks in advance
Little pro tip if you want to be a good apprentice: if you’ve already been shown something but a different journeyman is trying to show you the same thing you could say “I was shown one way but I’d like to see how you do it “
At a union job I was involved in the TV audio system, low voltage install. Once i completed a room I started to sweep and was lectured by the forman. He said they have personel for that.
Yeah, I hate this boomer BS he talks down to specifically younger apprentices. Alot of the time it's the ones with longer hours in field doing all of this and aren't even nearly as efficient, but they expect this of students/apprentices to be taken advantage of. I never really mind doing this, but cut the hypocrisy. Even if the students/apprentices do all this, and slack off once, there's always a superior waiting to chew them out!!!
Several years ago while working as a paint booth installer, we had to pass some duct work through the roof. I told my assigned helper to stay on the roof and I would go down and guide the bottom and that he would need to lift when I shout. Well, I shouted and shouted. No response, so I had to climb down go outside, shout. Still nothing. I climb up onto the roof and find him ASLEEP ! He is so lucky he did not roll off the roof. This was just a matter of maybe 5 minutes.
I'm a remodeling contractor and as far as I'm concerned he nailed my biggest pet peeves. I keep a lot of tools with me because I have MY tools I don't loan out, and I have tools, that aren't as good as the ones I use, that I will loan out. And even those must be put back where they belong. Also, I found that the longer I worked in a trade, and the better I got, I didn't mind asking questions or people questioning why I was doing something a certain way. I really enjoyed watching this.
Video Idea: Can you do a video explaining the thought process for laying out the main panel as to what goes on each circuit? Example: Is it better to have each room on a circuit, or separate the outlets and the lights? What are the considerations? I do A/V work and sometimes find odd things tied to the same circuits.
@@raygunsforronnie847 That figures. It always irritates me when I want to plug something in and there is no nearby receptacle because all they installed was the bare minimum. What I'd like to know is how an electrician would do his own home if money was not a problem.
I've had bad knees since high school. I can kneel and will for one or two, but if I'm kneeling all day I will not be walking the next day. So I sit on a bucket or the floor, however that don't mean I spend more than 3 or 4 min per device.
You’re a smart guy and know a lot about electrical, I’ve personally learned so much as a second week apprentice! Just wanted to let you know that you said a few things that make you sound like an idiot, and I know you’re not, so to help you present yourself truthfully learning grammar is a huge thing. Main thing is when you’re “shaking” your head, it’s side to side as in no, you cannot shake your head yes in a standard situation, that would be “nodding” up and down. Thanks.
If your back is fucked from kneeling all day it makes sense to sit. You can get lower with less stress on the lumbar. Not about to destroy my body for the optics.
My biggest problem is just standing around Im an ap1 and it's my second going on 3rd month as being an electrician and I understand and can do a good amount of work or so I think lol but most of the time we're doing a lot of new or different types of work every week so I kinda don't understand what to do so I always catch my self standing around and watching to see how to do what im doing and my lead is always saying something lol
My only gripe is the sitting while working. With my apprenticeship I’m whored out to the entire crew so I go from moving material to taking out trash to installing (insert item here) and then back over to another set of guys to help pull wire and then back to moving material again. Since I’m doing 15 miles a day on my feet I want to be comfortable as possible and we only get one body. I am not killing myself for a job. If the thing on the wall is low and it’s easy to sit down next to it that’s what I’m doing.
If the slow worker bothers you, just explain the work past to him/her and let them go. There are certain medical and mental conditions that people can’t think and act faster than they do.
I started working as an Electrician’s Apprentice when I was a teenager. Through all of the aggravation and headaches associated with the trade, and many of the “beaut’s” in it, I stuck it out for years and became a pretty damn good mechanic. I had more than my time in and the pay stubs to prove it, so I began taking night classes to study for my Journeyman’s license. But one night while in class, I realized that more than anything, this was not what I really wanted or desired and that continued pursuance was not in my best interest. This is not where my heart was! That was a long time ago now, and looking back, I know that I definitely made the right decision. I hope that anyone else that feels the same way will get there much quicker than I ever did.
This is me right now I took an eletrictian trade school that has some carpentry in it and i started liking working with wood more then wires that’s sometimes it doesn’t feel like work when building a shed or house
I need some advice. I started working with a company as an apprentice with no experience. I accepted minimum wage I was doing my best. Showing up on time, listening and putting all my energy. But the journeyman always timed me & put pressure on me to work fast, fast, fast which made me really nervous & uncomfortable He told me this is not the way, you should change trades. He told the owner now it has been a few weeks i have not heard from them. I don't know if I should continue or what to do.
Don't let the hiccups get to you.The day you have all the material you need, all the information you need, the site cooperates with you, the day you have all the tools you need, and the day you make no mistakes and every goes in smoothly; that's the day they let you retire. Until then all that can happen, will accept it and don't let it rattle you. Be humble: you can learn something from everyone even if it's how not to be an asshole. Good luck best career ever.
I'm struggling with the standing around when I'm helping the journeyman. Esp when he is measuring or thinking or doing single man work. I don't know what to do and it sucks that a lot of times I don't know what to do next. I've been an apprentice for a month now. My favorite thing about the job is when im giving my own projects that keeps me busy and I don't have to worry about standing around
Just started my apprenticeship this week. Today my journeyman said "I know you're eager and you want to help. But sometimes you're just in the fucking way." 😅
I do not like that response at all. This is exactly why we get TONS of apprentices from resi/commercial applying for our industrial apprenticeship. Because 90% of the time it’s not about speed, it’s about repetition. It’s about letting the apprentice get first hand experience by doing things over and over and making those mistakes in order to improve. If you just jump in and do the work in front of them, MOST of them are not learning the trade and to work with their hands. Also, in industrial there is usually a ton of extra capital to work with on wasting a certain amount of material. Granted when I was an apprentice I took pride in taking my time in order to almost never waste material, but every master and journeyman I worked with said “we got plenty of conduit, who cares if you waste a couple of sticks”. In residential all I ever see is pressure that puts people out of the trade because houses are all about efficiency and speed to make the best profit margin and not to hold up the people who finish the house and the deadlines.
I do two of these things often. Albeit for totally different reasons than you state here. I use a mechanics chair to do receptacles, it also carrys all my tools and trash bin, then I also still do it within 3minutes for most receptacles(why put long term injuries on myself, when not needed. IE overloaded tool belt when my chair can hold it, mechanic chairs are awesome. Knees and back from squating constantly, instead Im rolling around unless floor is finished. If floor is finished and doing a trim out, I refrain out of respect for the customer). Then I constantly use my phone during work, but not for anything personal, it is my NotePad and electrical references in it. If I take measurements, I put them in there. Use calculator, notes, keep track of my hours, keep track of jobs, to do list, etc. Seems people older don't realize it can used in that way. I don't even use facebook. Now having said that. I'd refrain at any new job from doing those, because I know people view it negitive by default most times. But once I know you know the type of worker I am, then I do it. But if whatever you tell me is actually faster, I am all for it. For I'm always looking to improve and that mechanic chair is a big improvement to me. Even if you don't sit on it, it still rolls your tools around. Sorta like one them bucket aprons, yet so much better. -edit also if my Boss demands it, then I comply, he's my boss after all.
I love good knee pads. But it’s not just because sitting down affects productivity. It’s because I’m older, I’ve been through a lot, and if I sit down, I might not be able to get back up again. :^) Take care of your knees FFS.
Fantastic video! Ego is a big factor! I remember my younger days when my father taught me how to do things around the house. He warned me that if I borrowed a tool and did not return it , there would be hell to pay.
Fuck that, if I can sit and work I will, I will work, when you a heavy guy get tiring, especially when not allowed to take off them belts. so Any chance I can, I will, but I will work, not to slack off.
2:20 I have a question " stupid maybe " but here, in Quebec, Canada we use metal boxes in drywalls and mostly everywhere except outdoor. Why that in some countries, they use plastic inside drywalls?
we also use plastic boxes in canada, it's really just preference when vapour barrier isn't required. Carrying gangable boxes is simpler than carrying a bunch of different sized plastic device boxes but imo the plastic ones are nicer to work with.
So after the EASY PULL fiasco on my first day, Jack told me to go over to a junction box, and tie the reds together. Now, I have a nasty habit of doing EXACTLY what you tell me to do. So, there were 4 red wires, and I tied them together, as instructed. He failed to tell me, is to tie the 14’s together, and the 12’s together, NOT all together. D’oh!
This brought back good memories. I recently switched divisions to a group that largely refuses to do hard work and screws around on their phones all the time. It’s great money, but I’m half-tempted to go back to a crew that makes little less money but has strong work ethics- those are the ones who still have work when the economy slows.
I appreciate the insights into a journeyman but I will say this. Apprentices shouldn’t be ridiculed all the time. Tel us when we are wrong. Most of us want to learn. However, more often than not, journeymen are far to quick to ricidule or judge us. Respect, comradeship, correction, and Encouragemnet.
How about explaining exactly how you want Something done. Because, it will effect a later part of the job. Then you come back and they've done it completely different. Even after you tell them "I need it done this way because....". Happens with apprentices and journeymen/women.
Had my jman card for 4 years doing commercial and now im doing roadway work, i now feel like the apprentice and let apprentices show me how too do stuff!
The phone thing is the worst. On a jobsite, your phone is a tool, not a toy. I'm on my phone all the time for blueprints, documentation, code, and coordination. Im on the engineering side though. For work, to look something up, or to change your music-fine. But no Facebook or personal. Also, you will never know everything so don't be afraid to ask someone who's more familiar. 99% of everything I do is on a din rail, so I asked a lot of code questions rewiring my house from a lot of good residential electricians.
Well said. And it’s not difficult to tell whether a person is goofing off on their phone or doing something work related. A superintendent for a company I worked for was upset with excessive phone usage on the job and implemented a no cell phone, no exceptions policy. He stated that if you need to check the time, go buy a watch. But I use my phone periodically throughout the day for many work related things (code questions, calculator, conduit fill, pictures, drawings, etc). I ignored him and just kept doing my thing. No sense in making someone’s job more difficult or making them less efficient because of a few bad apples who have no self discipline.
@@Ephesians-ts8ze It's a lot easier to have building drawings on a share drive. Hands down using the tech saves us man hours. But I do have to keep people off their phone sometimes.
@@brad885 of course. You have to police it because a lot of people out there are social media junkies or have some other kind of obsessive thing they do on their phone. It could be playing silly games or buying/selling bitcoin. No matter what, if it’s not DIRECTLY related to the job, it should be done during break, lunch, or after hours.
Somethings I think people just sometimes don’t understand about my generation Z. (Not always the case of course) Like the phone thing for instance. I was told I have a phone problem by my boss, and I literally pulled out my screen time and I have less than 5 minutes per day on my phone. I’m not texting people, I’m not using social media. I listen to podcasts and I’m hitting the next podcast in my playlist lol. It takes a whole 30 seconds, a majority of that time is just typing in my password, i click the next video. Then it goes back in the pocket. But all an older guy sees is a phone being taken out, and even if its only 30 seconds every few hours they have this image of young people being addicted to phones and think im vlogging my work shift💀 for reference. I used my phone almost a quarter of what my JW uses it. Because it takes him longer to even unlock his phone and text his wife or whatever. And if ya literally just don’t like me taking out my phone for 30 seconds to select a new podcast. Sorry like thats just a really dumb disagreement to have lol. Like, I bring coffee and water to work too. And every once and awhile I also drink my coffee or my water. Matter of fact I spend far more time doing that then selecting the next video on my playlist lol. But nobody has an issue with it. Because I think a lot of people just assume young person + phones = unproductive. But yeah a good chunk of my generation genuinely has an issue, dopamine receptors fried. But its not all of us lol
Btw, I mean this as in, sometimes those of us who don’t have an issue are still treated like it’s an issue I think mostly because assumptions people have. Not as in, people should be on their phone all day.
As Electrician Helpers can we use small step stools to install receptacles? To do rough-in and trim-out? To protect the lower back, and knees. You know ... for safety.
No sitting I would quite on the spot if I got told not to do that I am not going to destroy my knees for my boss because I look Lazy add some colorful language here. I will be able to work just as hard well saving my knees a little. And yes I do where knee pads but they can only do so much after 6 hours of installing receptacles
That’s cool but don’t get madd when you get laid off. Everything is perception brother. If I see you sitting Indian style its not a good look you may be working but from my point of view it looks Like your just chilling and being complacent.
Glad you had an opportunity to vent bro. When will part 2 be posted? Seriously been thru the same scenarios. When working with a new person for the first time the job takes twice as long to complete. So if the second and third job don't improve time wise, it's time for a new assistant. Some folks just don't have what it takes. They might be better at a desk job.
The "on the phone" thing is really irritating - they are being paid to work, not be on the phone. I'm not on the phone all day, neither should they be. Another thing to do - at the end of the day, make sure ALL the tools/supplies are back in the truck ... not just the tools you used ... ALL the tools.
Question, I recently had to replace 7 GFCI receptacles, exterior with double gang weathertight metal brand box's mounted to the side of several trees. I believe these boxes originally carried circuits to lights mounted to the upper tree branches. I think these were upgraded at some time and someone had crammed 2 gfci receptacles in each box. Anyway, all failed, all gfci's were not weather resistant and none actually had the ground attached to the receptacle it self, but the box was grounded. I know this is not to code, but was actually installed by a lic. electrician ( or his helper and he wasn't a very good overseer. My question is, what do you think would cause all to fail, (supposedly about the same time , theses are only used for Christmas lights and SUPPOSEDLY worked last yr) All had one or two wire nuts facing down and corroded. So what would cause the failures all about the same time. FYI two receptacles had no mounting screws mounting them (did they work or even could they?)
if they are all exposed to similar conditions then failing about the same time is not out of the question. BTW, did they have "weather resistant when in use" covers?
@@kennydykes1145 ... the main reason I mentioned them failing about the same time was about 10 years ago I worked for a guy and he had 5 circuits go bad in his barn during the same summer. All of the outlets were inside so not directly exposed to anything special... except the dampness of open doors with New England summers. It was one of those situations where every time I opened the place up the floors got wet for an hour. That's damp!
it doesnt but dont make it a routine on the same question, talk to your journeymen and take pics, notpad, and remember everything u can couse in the trade we are all over the place and are limited on time.... good luck brotha
Late to the party on this comment Dustin, firstly I appreciate all the hard work you’ve put into making Electrician U an absolutely amazing channel and resource. EU has been my go to for Electrician and electrical info. I am an Electrician in the Film and TV industry, so I am not trained in the same manner or to the same level as a residential/commercial Master Electrician. We use the ETCP certification,However there is a ton of overlap and one of the main difference being that our power and installs are non-permanent, but 100% I deal with the same shenanigans from newer crew members. What we do to get around the Dunning Krueger effect and the “I can’t remember what I was asked to do or don’t know how, but I’ll pretend” problem in the crazy world of Hollywood is by having every instruction repeated back. For example- “ Hey so and so, throw 5 sticks of 100’ 4/0 on a cart and start running them out in such and such place, males facing the genny and phased correctly” And they say “ Copy…repeat what I just said back to me”. Chances are someone else will also be within earshot of the instruction being repeated in case the the worker gets stuck. And at least whomever gave the instruction knows that the order was received correctly and hopefully they will ask a question if they don’t understand. Hopefully. Not my most concise comment ever. Apologies. Thanks for the great content!
I'm so glad I don't have to deal with that shit anymore. If I wanna work on my ass or sit on my phone I'm gonna.. nobody to tell me otherwise. But boy do I remember the days
You and I might get along. Neither of us could work in a Union setting where you take 10 minutes to take 1 step. Although I do sit comfortably when working, no vertigo or knee stress. These knee pads really mess up the backs of my knees. I could really use some work pants with Velcro over the knees and pads that attach to the Velcro.
I was fired from my job as an apprentice I violated rule number two I was sitting and taking several minutes to wire the plugs and switches in the houses we were wiring. People didn't want to work with me because I was so slow and sitting a lot. I now build and wire complex displays for a retailer and I now realize when to go fast and when to take my time I am never sitting
When your learning going slow is natural it doesn't matter the field of study. If your fired for going slow the employer is at fault NOT you. It's a sign of an incompetent employer not an incompetent apprentice. A sign that the apprentice is taking the time to learn not going slow because they want to. A greedy employer might demand fast paced work but if you've never even used a drill in your life to date? Well what can one really expect you are there to learn after all. I've zero tolerance for people who have unrealistic expectations for someone. When they are genuinely learning and applying themselves day in and day out. Sitting on the job depends on the type of job and what it entails.
at my wife's shop it's 3 strikes and you're out on the phone bit. They take it away and you can have it back at lunch time... or at the end of the shift. If they have to do that again, it's another 3 strikes and you are out the door.
Being on the phone and "borrowing" tools w/o asking and then not putting it back are me 2 biggest pet peeves being a journeyman elec/ foreman on job sites. I'll let you borrow whatever you may need to get the job done but ask so if you forget to put it back (people forget, it happens) I can ask you for it back. And unless it's an emergency, STAY OFF YOUR PHONE! It's so unprofessional and if the customer see's you on the phone and not working, they will say something to the foreman or worse, call the owner
I hate when they take out a phone real quick! I notice if there not a tool or something in there hand or just at a short pause that phone pops out real quick . Hate that
my first day as a apprentice i told my journeyman that they need to put me with someone that knows what he is doing. it worked for me, but 100% it ain't gonna work for you.
I agree with everything except for sitting in certain situations. In my first year the journyman I worked for would bring out a mini stool to sit on for days we would trim out a whole house ( 50+ receptacles)
it doesnt cut into time and saves your knees and lower back. working smarter not harder is never a bad thing.
Yeah, I wasn't sure why that was such a big deal. It's not like I can't get up and move quickly from a sitting position.
Agreed, I won't subject my middle aged knees to kneeling when I can just sit and stand up. I've worked on nursing homes, hospitals, TV stations, movie theatres, etc. and can trim out devices literally for days on a job. When attaching power cords to installed garbage disposals, I have to lay on the floor inside a cabinet just to reach the work. If the speed and quality of my work aren't an issue but somebody has a problem just with me sitting down, we'll see how their knees feel when they're approaching 50.
If you are doing your work efficiently then its fine. His point here is that you can't be sitting around taking your sweet time doing something simple.
@@alisaleh7925Not everyone is super fast , some people are more slower than others and be the most hardest worker. Things are quicker to those who already know what they are doing !
at 98 for a day wish i could sit
New apprentices, put your ego away for the first few years. Even if a journeyman already taught you how to do something, don’t stop a different journeyman from teaching you how to do that same task because there’s probably a golden nugget of information that will add to your repertoire of skills. Also take advantage of downtime to ask a journeyman an off-topic question about theory, code, or electrical work.
I’ve learned to always twist wires before putting on a wire nut and also to never do that. One hole always should be screw hole up….or down depending on the journeyman. And some other stuff too. I always listen and ask why. I figure with enough time (2 months right now) I will have my own things too.
It's a double edge sword.
Act like you know everything and you will be taught nothing.
Act like you know nothing and you will be given no responsibility or respect.
It's a fine line of expressing appreciation for any advice, while also making it known that you aren't a moron.
@@nachoisme everyone definitely has their own ways to do things. I am a journeyman electrician and I prefer to justify methods with reasons not “just because” I always pretwist my solid conductors together to make it look pretty and a solid electrical connection and cut so the ends of wires are even and straight that way you ensure everything has even contact and nothing shrunk down when just using a wirenut to twist together. For stranded to stranded connections I twist them together as well and cut even and then wirenut. Always always always do the pull test, it saves a call back later on, sure it might take a few seconds more, but taking down that whole chandelier or ceiling fan after you installed it because the wire didn’t make proper connection is going to look 10x worse than a few seconds of ensuring a good connection.
And as far as the one hole clip goes, when running a conduit horizontally I would say put the screw down, think about if/when that one hole could fail and bend it will still be inside the clip if the screw is down, if it is up and that happens the pipe could come out of the clip. Hope this helps, and good luck
@@timothyjewett625 they have all been very cool about explaining the logic. I’ve yet to be brushed off and told ‘cause I said’ or similar. I looked up the one hole thing and apparently the screw hole up is the way to go. Reason being the hole down would creat a leverage point to pull the screw out and hole up you have the break the shear force of the screw. There was a UA-cam video I saw and still people saying both ways. Got to the video form an electrician Reddit page.
@@nachoisme You have found the golden nugget of super truth. They'll all have their reasons, but now you are free to sort through those reasons and find the RIGHT one, or as you did, know which things you should look for more opinions on. More data is always better. More methods are always better, even just to know why you shouldn't do one.
Best advice I have for apprentices came from my first foreman. He said for the first year, maybe two, if someone asks you if you know how to do something, just say no, even if you've done it before, this is how you learn the tricks of the trade that make you a quicker and more effective electrician. Also, always be paying attention to what your JW is doing and how. You can pick up a lot by really paying close attention.
Instead of saying no, I would say I’ve done it before but how do you usually do it? Especially if you’re getting a new job, tell them at the interview you know how to do certain things then all of a sudden you don’t know how to do shit when you hit the job site
@@chriscollins8432 its more of a religious or humble way to be i guess, my christian dad has always said just say you dont know because at the interviews everyone says they know how to do this and that and they end up getting paid high on the first day but at th3 end they quit befor3 the week ends
Also if he fuck it up you can be out of blame.
@@diegoestebandagatti4150 lol, that's a good point, actually that's a crazy good point.
My dad (RIP) said he learned three things in his 42 year career. 1) Always make your boss look good in front of other people. If you have a problem with something or need to correct him/her, do it in private. 2) Never carry what you can drag. 3) Never be seen walking empty-handed. It looks like you're going for a leisurely stroll. Grab a tool or a drawing so that if you are going for a leisurely stroll, people will think you're doing work.
Dale Carnegie!!!
Can't say I agree with your dad on #2. On #1, it works the other way around as well. If you are the boss, don't correct your subordinates in front of others. You get much more respect back this way.
Number 3 is golden!! Rip to your pops 🙏
@@kevinhernandez62 ... been using #3 for decades... it's called the "dead wrench" trick. Just grab the largest tool handy whenever you need to walk away for a few moments.
@@rupe53 sounds like your putting alot of effort into not working.
Ah man I'm 6'4", if I gotta sit down to tie in a receptacle, I'm fuckin sitting.
Yep.
There's Something I learned in the military that's a really low way of kneeling where you sit on your foot with the other foot planted on the floor. It can take some flexibility but you're able to get up and down as easily as kneeling while still being as low to the ground of sitting.
6’2 😂like cmon
He only put that in to segway into the kneepad sponsorship😂 sitting down isnt even that slow
I am 6 foot 8, obese with really bad knees! Even though I do not work in the electrical trade my job does require bending, stooping, or kneeling. im sitting down to do my job in the most efficient, comfortable and healthy way possible for me. If others don't like it they can suck on an egg.
Im not an electrician but a GC. Some of the smartest, most experienced people I've worked with have no ego. They ask questions, are willing to learn from anyone, are good listeners, and aren't afraid to say they don't know something. Learning is a skill in itself, soak up everything, and don't be afraid to say I don't know. As a boss, communication is key. Treat people with respect, and communicate professionally. If your helpers/ apprentice isn't working out most likely it's your fault. Ive seen so many people in the trades complaining that they can't find any good help. And as an outsider, I understand why. Most of the people complaining are miserable to be around with a bad attitude. If you are working with more than one person you are essentially a team. Set goals as a TEAM, work as a team to complete them. If you want to know what not to do as an apprentice, work as an individual. If you want to know what not to do as a boss, work as an individual. Just my experience 🙂
If the student fails despite showing up and applying themselves, then that's the fault of the teacher. Same applies to an apprentice and a journeyman or master of a trade.
So true. For the most part the journeymen I've worked with have been very generous and patient. I had just one guy who would berate me for stuff I hadn't learned yet: "It's not rocket science, is it?" Nevertheless, I maintained a good attitude, worked hard and learned a lot.
Well said 👏
Sorry for the long comment.. 😇🙂.
One of the hardest thing for me is to figure out what "teaching method" to use with some apprentices to make them understand/comprehend How to work well and efficiently. But also to make them realise that someone is paying you good money to do this for them..
This is not a Job, it's a Profession.
I have noticed that sometimes, the friendly/smooth/easy going teaching method does not work well with some apprentices.
I'm a very patient teacher at first, until you make me repeat everything twice or dont give a damn or dont demonstrate somekind of Will to learn/to improve your skills.
Sometimes, the best professionals are the ones that learned the Hard way..
@@martf1061 If they have a bad attitude, flunk 'em out. Keep the ones who care about their work. I've known a few guys who weren't the brightest, but they cared and therefore became highly skilled and were some of the best guys on the team.
As a 50+ year old Journeyman with more knee pain than any man should ever endure...., I understand Klein sponsored the video, but i never tell an apprentice to get off there butt to install receps. I buy them a stool on wheels with a tray. I was were you are now and i thought i was supposed to be that way, but its BS. The kid will respect you and do 10 times more work when he knows you care about his 50+ year old body.
I've had JW's say to avoid kneeling whenever possible because it is so horrible on your body. I think more people are with you on that.
110% agree! As an apprentice. Someone giving some mild case of giv-a-shits goes a long way!
I hope my teacher is as kind as you
Can we get a video of what not to do as a Journeyman, towards an apprentice?
This was a good one!
I think the biggest thing here is that these kids don't wanna be treated like shit for $10 an hour. you can ride their ass, you can be a boss, but there's no need to talk to someone like they are unhuman because they do something like misplace their knife. With as many as these kids on the autism spectrum as there is now, they are super intelligent, but they can't handle being talked to like that.
That would be an hour long video, I'm sure! Lol
I love exploring both sides of a coin, so to speak
That would be a very good video!
Yes don’t communicate your needs properly, don’t expect apprentice to read your mind. And accept your way is not the only way. Last one know sometime you can be wrong, it’s ok to admit it, shows your humbleness.
I sit on my butt when wiring receptacles. Tool belt is on floor and the 4 to 5 tools are laid out in a logical manner given what I am doing.
My 65 year old self will thank me.
I do take the time to trim wires accordingly so it isn't as exposed as it needs to be.
It doesn't take long to ensure you're not out-of-pocket on knee replacements.
With that said 3 minutes is about right once all the wires are prepared for connecting
I’m 23 and broke my back, I always sit on a bucket when doing receptacles and set my tool bag next to me. I’ve left a job site, just walked off, because they caught me sitting on a bucket and decided to scream at me. These contractors need to get over themselves sometimes. Same with cell phones. My phone has a clock, a reminder to take pills, and even my code book and uglies references.
@@bigguyprepperyeah bro I’m fortunate the place I work isn’t to picky about using our phones or technology for help when working. Also sitting on a bucket wiring receptacles doesn’t seem like it looks lazy. My journeyman always rant about efficiency and what not and using ur body less but then tweak whenever you sit down on a job that is completely suited to sit down for.
You’re fired!
@@dallas5374 I'm good with that. 😀
Yup, its purely an appearance thing, and not a problem if you as a worker have protections. If you are doing the labor, how you do it, whether sitting, standing squatting, or kneeling, is irrelevant. Its simply a contractor trying to control you and make your work more unpleasant. Or bootlicker journeymen. Its like how all these tech businesses hate work from home even though productivity is up or identical, because they can't micromanage. Like elon stopping work from home for twitter. Because higher ups like the "appearance" of working hard. Its an old school toxic masochism masculinity thing. Obviously still wear kneepads, and sometime you need to bust out receptacles quickly, or get up and down a lot, but if youre working on something low to the ground for awhile or longer than 1 minute, you have time to sit down.
Another reason to join the ibew and drag if a contractor has a huge problem with HOW you work not your work quality or speed. Especially as sitting is far better for long term health.
EDIT: The tool bag on a bucket seat is amazing though FYI. Have all your tools attached to your seat right below you.
He lost all logic when he said to grab a broom. Electricians don't use them we all know that.
We use brooms. As a resting post
That’s my job as a foreman.
Facts 😂😂
I do. I always clean when I’m finished with the job.
I had to sweep the floors of a newspaper plant before the electricians there put in a good word for me hahaha. Yes I had to forget how to operate a broom and place boxes to keep fall hazards off floors... lmao.
As a 43 year old 5th year apprentice (C of Q here I come)I see value in keeping your mouth shut and ears open on every way to do a job. You may not like it but journeymen can be your greatest asset. Every day I spend time to ensure more time to learn by taking grunt work (even ordering and cleaning up meals) away from the ones willing to share their knowledge. As for tools, I’m fortunate enough to work for a company that buys what I need and when you need one it’s there if you ask, but you damn well better return it (clean and not broken)! Lastly, messed up?… take it like a man and find the lesson to move forward. Thank you to everyone out there making myself and the next generation better than they were yesterday!!
Never to late to educate yourself. Knew a guy who pursued his dream if being a doctor at 40 and finished at 55. Men are not limited by time like females do with reproduction. We are limited by our ambitions alone. my 30s now pursuing this career.
Got you both beat: started apprenticeship st 48! Damn humbling to work with people smarter than me at half my age, but I'm here for it!
The no sitting rule is out-dated. As a 6'3 electrician I can't get into an outlet without getting on the floor.
No excuse to be slow though
I agree. I’m only 5’8” but almost 50 and my knees can’t take the stooping, squatting, and kneeling all day every day for the next 15 years.
Facts bro, it hurts my back more because the box is too low so I have to bend my back some more and put more pressure on my legs, yeah no I’ll just sit and do it faster.
Fuck yeah sitting down for me too I’m not f ing my body up
I lay down and make up my plugs. Work smarter not harder.
My boss was big on the no sitting when I first started with him 4 years ago. After a few weeks he’d leave me to cut down rooms on my own. He had walked in and seen me sitting while cutting down a receptacle, realized I was moving quicker than when I knelt. He no longer questions how I situate myself to get things done. Also along with what the video said, to anyone new in electrical or any trade; the only dumb question is one not asked. Don’t be afraid to not know things. I’d rather teach you the same thing twice than have you mess it up because you were afraid to ask for a quick once over lesson.
Typical rough in day.
Clock in, secure ladders on truck, empty water cooler, fill clean cooler. Grab shopping cart and fill van truck with wires and connection boxes, fan supports and tools. Get yelled at for standing around because your journeyman was late and didn't see you do any of that.
Crew goes to store grabs lunch and drinks for the day.
Arrives on job site. Empty van truck. Generator hooked up. Wires conduit boxes and tools empty truck. Laddere. Mini fridge and radio set up.
Lay out blueprint, Grab chalk and mark all locations on floor. Nail up switch and receptacle boxes. Get yelled at for taking a text message. Pull all romex wires
Lunch time. Break on site with no a/c pass out under a tree.
Afternoon Hang light brackets lose your supervisors favorite screw driver. Hang fan brackets. Run low voltage lines coaxial ethernet cat 5 cat 3 door bell garage lines. Get yelled at for drinking water out the cooler.
Drill holes in studs for more outlets around room. Inspect work all staples and wires secure and neat. Nail plates. Nail boards up for switches near door ways.
Put all tools supplies back in truck. Drive back to office while guys and supervisor smoke weed. In van. Get kicked off truck. Because while you did 90 percent of the work. The crew leader is a drug addict that somehow thinks he is your boss.
Steal his multimeter and just go work for a better company. The end.
I love the last part 😂
I think we’ve worked with the same supervisors lol
Wait… smoking weed makes you a drug addict now?? Shit. I must be a full blown junkie with the drugs I do then… huh. Whodathunkit
'if you aren't running the job you're a shitty apprentice'
@@shasmi93 yes it does
An older female journeyman on a job showed me a wire stretcher she made on the job…the same one she made when her journeyman sent her after it when she was an apprentice. She cut a couple pieces of bare, solid #10 wire about 6-8 inches long. She then cut a white cloth rag in a small rectangle about 4X6 inches. She stitched the cloth around the wire along the 2 long sides of the cloth to fashion it to look like a stretcher (the kind you would carry an injured or dead person with). After that no one ever messed with her again! That’s how you outsmart your journeyman when he’s clowning on you!!
That is a great one. Many years ago, as a Marine aviation mechanic working in the metal shop ( at the time ), one of the guys told me to grab the metal stretcher. I laughed and said I am not falling for that. Well, he said, " it's right there at your feet under the table next to the metal shrinker. I laughed even harder. Well, he stormed over flipped up the canvas and pulled out both. There actually are both types of devices. So, the joke was on me after all.
@@dallasarnold8615 😂😂😂
@@dallasarnold8615 ... if a plumber can ask the new guy for a bucket of steam, can an electrician ask for a bucket of power / juice? BTW, I brought a plumber a bucket of water and told him it just needs heating when he's ready for the steam.
@@rupe53 the only electrical materials I know of off the top of my head that come in a bucket are jet-line and wire pulling lubricant. But I have sent a few cubs after a box of ohms
@@Ephesians-ts8ze ... wonder what he would have brought if you asked for a box of amp clamps? Maybe ground rod acorns?
I bust my ass and I 100% sit down to make up receptacle.
Man I needed to hear this. I’m not an apprentice anymore and I’m in HVAC but I have been very complacent lately. I’m a young early journeyman service tech and I have noticed I have been way too apathetic and thinking too highly of myself lately. Thanks for this, we all have something to learn.
Hey bud, how goes? There's also a guy on UA-cam who goes by MandatoryFunDay and he put out an exceptional leadership manual for free.
I'm an apprentice who is often put into somewhat of a lead position so I try to take his words to heart and it's given me a higher standard both for myself and the leadership I'll tolerate.
The things that you are talking about apply to ANY job. Humility in the workplace is one of the best skills a person can work on. Employees who look for things to do, ask questions that make the boss feel like the person is taking the job serious, and staying off their fricking phones are priceless.
🍻 Here’s to those electricians who figured out that their labor actually benefits their fellow man. They have come to realized they have something of great value to offer others.
Reminded me of this quote
“You can buy a person’s hand, but you can’t buy his heart. His heart is where his enthusiasm, his loyalty is. You can buy his back, but you can’t buy his brain. That’s where his creativity is, his ingenuity, his resourcefulness. Treat employees as volunteers just as you treat customers as volunteers, because that’s what they are. They volunteer the best part-their hearts and minds.”
Stephen Covey
Good leaders help others to eventually become good leaders. No actors (hypocrites) necessary.
I love this. So damn true.
I'd go through hell for a good lead, but a bad lead gets minimum viable effort until I can gtfo.
My personal rule for apprentices on my crew: If you’re using my tools, put it back where you found it, not where it belongs. Where you found it is where I left it and that’s where I’m going to go looking for it. If I have to come find you to find my tools we’re have a different conversation first.
sounds like my mother... and she was right. if you put it back where you found it then two people know where it is!
Sheesh I live by that rule for my co workers and foreman but no one gives that energy back when it comes to my tools.
@@andrewcaballero6288 exactly.
And if by accident you break MY tool .. I expect that the next day, you bring me one exactly like the one i had
@@crypt0sanguine obviously, you understood me wrong.
I never said that i oblige to only use my tools.
You want to borrow one of mine for whatever reasons and i accept, its only normal to replace it if you break it by dropping it or miss use it , etc...
What if the tool is broken
I'm an apprentice and this video was really helpful. I like what you said about balancing the quantity and quality of your work. At the end of the day I'm there to make my boss money. Sometimes I need to speed up and sometimes I need to slow down. Plus I notice when my boss does work, he slows down a little bit, but comes up with really smart ways to do things, which ultimately saves him time in the long run. Being an electrician isn't the main thing in my life, but I still want to be good at what I do. Its like the apostle Paul and how he was a tentmaker, it's just a way to pay the bills and focus on bigger things in life.
I feel like most journeymen, don’t realize they set themselves, and their apprentice’s up for failure when they begin screaming at a frustrating situation. I refuse to work under any such journeyman. When someone come up to me, and can’t talk like an adult. All I say is “come back and talk to me when your ready to use your big boy words”
As an enlisted solider, if I told my Sargent to ‘go use his big boy words’. I’d get kicked in the mouth before I even finished the sentence
@@theflamingpotato1939 Well... this isn't the military. Nice try, though.
@@theflamingpotato1939the fact you misspelled soldier and sergeant tells me you’re definitely not in the military
@@theflamingpotato1939
In the civilian world that shit don't happen, because it's assault and battery and then you lose your firearms. Womp womp.
I wouldn't get THAT sassy with a superior, but I absolutely will stop them and say "Listen, I'm on your side. My job is to learn and get better and help you. Talk to me like we're on the same team."
If they can't do that, they're not worth working for.
Worst lead I ever worked for was the best electrician I ever worked for and taught me the most, but he was absolutely insufferable, and it almost got physical one day so I quit on the spot.
A man's got to have respect for himself, first, if he wants to be worthy of anyone else's respect. That goes for him losing it all the time and me standing up and walking away.
You disrespect yourself by talking down to those under your command. Why would anyone respect a leader who can't even respect themselves, much less their subordinates?
We're all supposed to be on the same team, accomplishing the same goals. I met a lot of guys who didn't really grasp that concept.
If a helper tells you “been doin’ this for 8 months, buddy” (real quote) your response should be “congratulations, it’s still your first day.”
Very good video Dustin.
One thing I would like to add to your list is, apprentices ... please do not cut corners thinking that no one is going to see your work. As an example, if you get sent into an attic or under a house and you are suppoaed to run some romex or mc cable and it needs to be strapped up and no sags when under the house and not all loose in an attic, using a strap or staple every two or three joists, between point a and point b, don't think that you can put one or two straps on a 30 or 40 foot run because you're too lazy to do it correftly because you figure no one is going to crawl down or up to check on my work.
Wrong. Someone is going to check your work and sometimes there is more work to be done in the same area the next day or next week or a month later, and it won't be you crawling and that next wireman is going to see your wires hanging down into the dirt or they're gonna get their boot or tools hung up on loose wire with a bunch of slack and no strapping and immediately they're going to know who did that wiring because it's new work and usually no other company is working for this client so it is obvious that you didn't do your job correctly.
Always do your work in a professional manner. Think about the next electrician who will be looking at your work in the future and has to repair something and it's all jacked up making what should be a ten minute job is now an hour of stress and struggle because you cut corners or didn't do the work like a professional. That next electrician might even be you two or four years from now and you have to deal with the bad work you did.
Sorry for the long comment
Exactly. I always tell the new trainees that "It's the next guy's problem is not a sustainable model, because the next guy could be them. Or even worse, it could be me."
It's me, I'm the guy you're screwing on the job.
Don't do shit work please.
I'm military and planning to go electrical when I get out. Some tips I'd add from what I learned from the military:
1. DON'T BE LATE. If you're gonna be late due to unforeseen circumstances (car wreck blowing up traffic, flat tire, etc.) give your boss a call and be straight up about the situation. Common sense, but younger apprentices have a tendency to underestimate time.
2. Ask questions, especially to confirm what your superior is tasking you with.
3. It's better to "overcommunicate" than undercommunicate.
4. Do regular inventories of your personal stuff.
Shut up POG
@@am9868 Mad because your boyfriends never called after you got out?
@@am9868👈 big POG energy
Best electrician I ever worked under was a Ranger. Went by Nick. Never got his last name, sadly. I learned more from him in the 3 weeks he was filling in for another lead than I did in the 3 months prior. Fuckin great dude. I hope he's doing okay.
the "do it this way" and the "I did it how I think it should've been" get under my skin. I'm in the dirtwork work currently going into the electrical field, and the first 2-3 years of me operating I always asked a bunch of questions and had a bunch showed and explained in many different ways to me. I still ask questions and I've been doing it for 4 years.
As an apprentice, this felt like a conversation with my boss. I'm especially guilty of the 4th thing (8:44). I just wish I could fast-forward through this trade. Thanks, Dustin. I appreciate this video. I got some stuff to work on.
Here is an honest person that admits their issues then addresses it to correct it 👍
When asked this (1st year apprentice) I'll explain what I do know, and then the journeyman can correct me, or fill in the gaps. Humility is KEY, and recalling and explaining what I've learned helps drive it home for me.
Me too bruv
9:15 instead of getting pissed at them, just assume they dont know shit. Problems and heartache averted.
Lol nah buddy I’m definitely saving my knees and taking a seat for a few minutes.
I am a plumber apprentice, I do sit occasionally, but it’s because my knees are shot and I tell the bosses that. As long as I WORK, they don’t care. I don’t stand around, unless I’m watching how something is supposed to be done. And I always try to listen to what people say, even if I know how to do something, there could be an easier way, smarter way, faster way to do it. I am there to work and learn.
As far as the sitting, do what you can in the trades to lessen the prolong damaged to your joints and muscles. Nobody is going to give a shit about you including the video creator if you need surgery or a knee replacement 10 to 15 yrs down the road.
I've seen too many guys do stupid shit that will eventually land them with an injury simply because, "it looks more manly this way."
I’m a 4th year apprentice and everything you’re saying I can definitely relate to. I focus and try to soak up as much information as I can. Everything you’re saying not do to is definitely true💯😂
I am about to start my electrician journey after many years of putting it off and this information is invaluable. I am nervous excited to be an apprentice. Thanks for this.
how’s it going so far?
You want them to be off their phones but demand that they respond through text message right away. That makes so much sense. My phone is my code book, uglys reference, watch, among other things I’ve used daily. And I always sit on a bucket to do receptacles because there’s no good reason not to. Sometimes I’ve even had to lay on the ground to do things. These contractors need to get over themselves.
A lot of outdated mentality. Hope in the next 5-10 years that will change.
Ive been watching your videos for years now. Much respect brother greetings from Houston TX
Agree on all.. I'm new and have enough common sense to know I have to stay busy for 10 hours.. one thing I hate that isn't mentioned is when you're crew is assigned to do something and you want to try and do something, but the "higher" electrician will not let you do it. They'll do it themselves and it could be something so simple like setting anchors in concrete. It's that "no, I got it" that gets me, because I want to learn and try but they'll brush it off. But other people will be cool and actually teach you and let you do it.
I've done electrical in many ways many industries.
Finally decided to enter the apprenticeship,
I'm in and going.
Here's my #1 thing I observed and integrated in my ethic.
Never assume prior experience means you know what to do in a new or different job.
I'll "reset" and come in open to learn from the new lead, supervisor, or job.
I just show up early
Ready for work
Ready to learn
As a 2nd year "helper" and a 1st year "apprentice". These tips were icing on the cake. All of these I learned quick enough. I dont like to piss people off and I'm willing to learn and do the job as directed. Also, depending on who you work with, I just throw my ideas out there in general at times because we all aren't perfect. Sometimes that journeyman/master may not come up with a certain idea or maybe your idea as an apprenticeship is better at that said moment. And if your idea as an apprentice isn't good or not up to code or whatever, as to my experience, that said journeyman or master will correct you and tell you the right way. As I see it, it's best to mention ideas and ways to do stuff/ the job even if they're bad to show yourself and others that you're willing to work and scoping out the area.
Legit. I usually present different ideas as "Someone else did it this way" or "is there a reason why we don't do this?" If I thought of it, I can assume that someone else thought of it first.
I started working for a big shop and I work with different foreman’s
on different jobs especially working OT on weekends wherever we’re behind. One thing I’ve learned is when someone wants something done a certain way just do it that way. Simple example would be, some people add prefab grounding tails to boxes, some people ground the box using a grounding wire coming into the box. I prefer the pigtail but I see the benefit of either way. Especially when that one extra ground wire sends you on a mission to find a big blue nut.
As long as you don't beeline the ground wire and screw the next guy down the road.
As a 2 year apprentice, I feel like everyone starting in the trades has done all of these things a few times, myself included going to trade school thinking I would be the best apprentice ever lol.
Knowing the knowledge of what I have been able to gain from residential and industrial projects, what separates a bad helper from a great apprentice is someone who has the least amount of time spent in the “pet peeves” phase and wants to actively be engaged and involved. Not to the point of running a while crew solo, but being able to read a set of plans and understand the basics of what is going on.
Just came across your channel. I've been thinking about making the plunge. I was an ASE certified mechanic for about 6 years and have been driving a truck for about 4 years now. At 28 years old with 2 kids, a wife and a mortgage, the thought of having to start over as an apprentice again irks me lol
I get that, I'm doing it in my late 40's, and wished I could be doing it 20 years sooner!
A couple process things that might help two of these situations. Make the processes normalized, encourage everyone at every level to do it so the apprentices don't feel singled out.
First: When person A tells person B to do something, person B responds with what they heard before saying something to the effect of "ok, got it". Sort of like on movies of naval (especially submarine) operations. Where someone commands the helm "30° port", the helmsmen responds "30° port, aye!". This lets the person giving direction know that what they said was actually what was heard. (I've never been in the navy so I don't know if that actually happens in the real-world. But it makes sense to have a communications feedback loop as long as it doesn't take too much extra time.)
Second: At the end of the day everyone checks the worksite, their tool bags, and pockets for things that need to go back on the truck or back to other people. If time is budgeted at the end of the day, no one will have the excuse that they didn't have time at the end of the day for cleanup and tool return.
I like the end-of-day routine idea@
The wire stretcher is at the factory where they make wire. Still looking for the EMT threader... its not next to the lateral bearing grease... Can I come be an a-print-tice now...
Here's the thing. I learned a long time ago that if you borrow somebody's thing and break it, They have a new thing and you still have no thing. Personally, If I have to borrow a thing twice, I realize that I need it. So I go and buy me that thing....Which is why I have a tool shed full of things.
I am a Journeyman HD mechanic and Carpenter you describe every thing i have seen over the years perfect. Great video
Hey Dustin! I really enjoy your channel & I learn a lot! One thing that always confused me as an electrician is, when we need permits & when we don’t, can you make a video explaining please, thanks in advance
This might have Been the most useful video I watched all year. Thanks man
Little pro tip if you want to be a good apprentice: if you’ve already been shown something but a different journeyman is trying to show you the same thing you could say “I was shown one way but I’d like to see how you do it “
At a union job I was involved in the TV audio system, low voltage install. Once i completed a room I started to sweep and was lectured by the forman. He said they have personel for that.
Union ca non union. Union pays properly so they don’t want to waste your time on dumb task
Yeah, I hate this boomer BS he talks down to specifically younger apprentices.
Alot of the time it's the ones with longer hours in field doing all of this and aren't even nearly as efficient, but they expect this of students/apprentices to be taken advantage of.
I never really mind doing this, but cut the hypocrisy.
Even if the students/apprentices do all this, and slack off once, there's always a superior waiting to chew them out!!!
Several years ago while working as a paint booth installer, we had to pass some duct work through the roof. I told my assigned helper to stay on the roof and I would go down and guide the bottom and that he would need to lift when I shout. Well, I shouted and shouted. No response, so I had to climb down go outside, shout. Still nothing. I climb up onto the roof and find him ASLEEP ! He is so lucky he did not roll off the roof. This was just a matter of maybe 5 minutes.
You mean lucky he wasn’t thrown off the roof?
@@Ephesians-ts8ze That certainly was a thought.
I'm a remodeling contractor and as far as I'm concerned he nailed my biggest pet peeves. I keep a lot of tools with me because I have MY tools I don't loan out, and I have tools, that aren't as good as the ones I use, that I will loan out. And even those must be put back where they belong. Also, I found that the longer I worked in a trade, and the better I got, I didn't mind asking questions or people questioning why I was doing something a certain way. I really enjoyed watching this.
Most important rule of all - never touch the bosses coffee.🤣
Make sure the TIP doesn't touch it after dispensing the #1. Also don't let it get cold make sure he drinks it WHILE ITS WARM.
Corollary: Don’t drop a tab of acid in it unless you get his permission first.
10:40 When someone tells me something I already know, I see that as an opportunity to find out how the information is organized in their mind.
Video Idea: Can you do a video explaining the thought process for laying out the main panel as to what goes on each circuit? Example: Is it better to have each room on a circuit, or separate the outlets and the lights? What are the considerations? I do A/V work and sometimes find odd things tied to the same circuits.
Any new, non-custom home will be wired in the manner that uses the least & cheapest materials and fewest circuits needed to meet Code.
@@raygunsforronnie847 That figures. It always irritates me when I want to plug something in and there is no nearby receptacle because all they installed was the bare minimum.
What I'd like to know is how an electrician would do his own home if money was not a problem.
So Electrician U I have a question about grounding. When it is OK to use a ground plate over a grounding rods.
Bro did you just turn 64??? This video was some old man stuff
It’s called hard work
I've had bad knees since high school. I can kneel and will for one or two, but if I'm kneeling all day I will not be walking the next day. So I sit on a bucket or the floor, however that don't mean I spend more than 3 or 4 min per device.
You literally named every electrican. I don't go 5 feet at work without seeing an electrician sitting on a bucket or chair
You’re a smart guy and know a lot about electrical, I’ve personally learned so much as a second week apprentice! Just wanted to let you know that you said a few things that make you sound like an idiot, and I know you’re not, so to help you present yourself truthfully learning grammar is a huge thing.
Main thing is when you’re “shaking” your head, it’s side to side as in no, you cannot shake your head yes in a standard situation, that would be “nodding” up and down. Thanks.
If your back is fucked from kneeling all day it makes sense to sit. You can get lower with less stress on the lumbar. Not about to destroy my body for the optics.
Exactly thank you why do I care what you think when the job still gets done in the same time
Make sure as an apprentice u follow your JW around with a bucket to catch the voltage drops
My biggest problem is just standing around Im an ap1 and it's my second going on 3rd month as being an electrician and I understand and can do a good amount of work or so I think lol but most of the time we're doing a lot of new or different types of work every week so I kinda don't understand what to do so I always catch my self standing around and watching to see how to do what im doing and my lead is always saying something lol
My only gripe is the sitting while working.
With my apprenticeship I’m whored out to the entire crew so I go from moving material to taking out trash to installing (insert item here) and then back over to another set of guys to help pull wire and then back to moving material again. Since I’m doing 15 miles a day on my feet I want to be comfortable as possible and we only get one body. I am not killing myself for a job. If the thing on the wall is low and it’s easy to sit down next to it that’s what I’m doing.
If the slow worker bothers you, just explain the work past to him/her and let them go. There are certain medical and mental conditions that people can’t think and act faster than they do.
👋
Doesnt like standing around in the trades. Thank you for confirming that working for DOT is not tradework!
I started working as an Electrician’s Apprentice when I was a teenager. Through all of the aggravation and headaches associated with the trade, and many of the “beaut’s” in it, I stuck it out for years and became a pretty damn good mechanic.
I had more than my time in and the pay stubs to prove it, so I began taking night classes to study for my Journeyman’s license.
But one night while in class, I realized that more than anything, this was not what I really wanted or desired and that continued pursuance was not in my best interest. This is not where my heart was!
That was a long time ago now, and looking back, I know that I definitely made the right decision.
I hope that anyone else that feels the same way will get there much quicker than I ever did.
What do you do now?
Did this story have a point, or were you just talking to hear your own head rattle?
This is me right now I took an eletrictian trade school that has some carpentry in it and i started liking working with wood more then wires that’s sometimes it doesn’t feel like work when building a shed or house
I need some advice.
I started working with a company as an apprentice with no experience.
I accepted minimum wage
I was doing my best. Showing up on time, listening and putting all my energy.
But the journeyman always timed me & put pressure on me to work fast, fast, fast which made me really nervous & uncomfortable
He told me this is not the way, you should change trades. He told the owner now it has been a few weeks i have not heard from them.
I don't know if I should continue or what to do.
Don't let the hiccups get to you.The day you have all the material you need, all the information you need, the site cooperates with you, the day you have all the tools you need, and the day you make no mistakes and every goes in smoothly; that's the day they let you retire. Until then all that can happen, will accept it and don't let it rattle you.
Be humble: you can learn something from everyone even if it's how not to be an asshole. Good luck best career ever.
I'm struggling with the standing around when I'm helping the journeyman. Esp when he is measuring or thinking or doing single man work. I don't know what to do and it sucks that a lot of times I don't know what to do next. I've been an apprentice for a month now. My favorite thing about the job is when im giving my own projects that keeps me busy and I don't have to worry about standing around
Just started my apprenticeship this week. Today my journeyman said "I know you're eager and you want to help. But sometimes you're just in the fucking way." 😅
I wish I got told that. They just laid me off instead.
I do not like that response at all. This is exactly why we get TONS of apprentices from resi/commercial applying for our industrial apprenticeship. Because 90% of the time it’s not about speed, it’s about repetition. It’s about letting the apprentice get first hand experience by doing things over and over and making those mistakes in order to improve. If you just jump in and do the work in front of them, MOST of them are not learning the trade and to work with their hands. Also, in industrial there is usually a ton of extra capital to work with on wasting a certain amount of material. Granted when I was an apprentice I took pride in taking my time in order to almost never waste material, but every master and journeyman I worked with said “we got plenty of conduit, who cares if you waste a couple of sticks”. In residential all I ever see is pressure that puts people out of the trade because houses are all about efficiency and speed to make the best profit margin and not to hold up the people who finish the house and the deadlines.
I do two of these things often. Albeit for totally different reasons than you state here. I use a mechanics chair to do receptacles, it also carrys all my tools and trash bin, then I also still do it within 3minutes for most receptacles(why put long term injuries on myself, when not needed. IE overloaded tool belt when my chair can hold it, mechanic chairs are awesome. Knees and back from squating constantly, instead Im rolling around unless floor is finished. If floor is finished and doing a trim out, I refrain out of respect for the customer).
Then I constantly use my phone during work, but not for anything personal, it is my NotePad and electrical references in it. If I take measurements, I put them in there. Use calculator, notes, keep track of my hours, keep track of jobs, to do list, etc. Seems people older don't realize it can used in that way. I don't even use facebook.
Now having said that. I'd refrain at any new job from doing those, because I know people view it negitive by default most times. But once I know you know the type of worker I am, then I do it. But if whatever you tell me is actually faster, I am all for it. For I'm always looking to improve and that mechanic chair is a big improvement to me. Even if you don't sit on it, it still rolls your tools around. Sorta like one them bucket aprons, yet so much better. -edit also if my Boss demands it, then I comply, he's my boss after all.
I love good knee pads. But it’s not just because sitting down affects productivity. It’s because I’m older, I’ve been through a lot, and if I sit down, I might not be able to get back up again. :^) Take care of your knees FFS.
Fantastic video! Ego is a big factor! I remember my younger days when my father taught me how to do things around the house. He warned me that if I borrowed a tool and did not return it , there would be hell to pay.
Fuck that, if I can sit and work I will, I will work, when you a heavy guy get tiring, especially when not allowed to take off them belts. so Any chance I can, I will, but I will work, not to slack off.
2:20 I have a question " stupid maybe " but here, in Quebec, Canada we use metal boxes in drywalls and mostly everywhere except outdoor.
Why that in some countries, they use plastic inside drywalls?
we also use plastic boxes in canada, it's really just preference when vapour barrier isn't required. Carrying gangable boxes is simpler than carrying a bunch of different sized plastic device boxes but imo the plastic ones are nicer to work with.
So after the EASY PULL fiasco on my first day, Jack told me to go over to a junction box, and tie the reds together. Now, I have a nasty habit of doing EXACTLY what you tell me to do. So, there were 4 red wires, and I tied them together, as instructed. He failed to tell me, is to tie the 14’s together, and the 12’s together, NOT all together. D’oh!
This brought back good memories. I recently switched divisions to a group that largely refuses to do hard work and screws around on their phones all the time. It’s great money, but I’m half-tempted to go back to a crew that makes little less money but has strong work ethics- those are the ones who still have work when the economy slows.
I appreciate the insights into a journeyman but I will say this. Apprentices shouldn’t be ridiculed all the time. Tel us when we are wrong. Most of us want to learn. However, more often than not, journeymen are far to quick to ricidule or judge us. Respect, comradeship, correction, and Encouragemnet.
Underrated comment
Ridiculed all the time?
They should NEVER be ridiculed, never.
Thank you sir 👍 I just got my first apprenticeship a couple days ago. Always love your informational content. Good tips!
All I heard in this video was marriage advice 😂
How about explaining exactly how you want Something done. Because, it will effect a later part of the job. Then you come back and they've done it completely different. Even after you tell them "I need it done this way because....". Happens with apprentices and journeymen/women.
I agree
As usual, great content. I've been guilty of a few of these lol. This channel is definitely helping me be a better apprentice.
Had my jman card for 4 years doing commercial and now im doing roadway work, i now feel like the apprentice and let apprentices show me how too do stuff!
The phone thing is the worst. On a jobsite, your phone is a tool, not a toy. I'm on my phone all the time for blueprints, documentation, code, and coordination. Im on the engineering side though. For work, to look something up, or to change your music-fine. But no Facebook or personal.
Also, you will never know everything so don't be afraid to ask someone who's more familiar. 99% of everything I do is on a din rail, so I asked a lot of code questions rewiring my house from a lot of good residential electricians.
Well said. And it’s not difficult to tell whether a person is goofing off on their phone or doing something work related. A superintendent for a company I worked for was upset with excessive phone usage on the job and implemented a no cell phone, no exceptions policy. He stated that if you need to check the time, go buy a watch. But I use my phone periodically throughout the day for many work related things (code questions, calculator, conduit fill, pictures, drawings, etc). I ignored him and just kept doing my thing. No sense in making someone’s job more difficult or making them less efficient because of a few bad apples who have no self discipline.
@@Ephesians-ts8ze It's a lot easier to have building drawings on a share drive. Hands down using the tech saves us man hours. But I do have to keep people off their phone sometimes.
@@brad885 of course. You have to police it because a lot of people out there are social media junkies or have some other kind of obsessive thing they do on their phone. It could be playing silly games or buying/selling bitcoin. No matter what, if it’s not DIRECTLY related to the job, it should be done during break, lunch, or after hours.
Somethings I think people just sometimes don’t understand about my generation Z. (Not always the case of course)
Like the phone thing for instance. I was told I have a phone problem by my boss, and I literally pulled out my screen time and I have less than 5 minutes per day on my phone.
I’m not texting people, I’m not using social media. I listen to podcasts and I’m hitting the next podcast in my playlist lol. It takes a whole 30 seconds, a majority of that time is just typing in my password, i click the next video. Then it goes back in the pocket. But all an older guy sees is a phone being taken out, and even if its only 30 seconds every few hours they have this image of young people being addicted to phones and think im vlogging my work shift💀 for reference. I used my phone almost a quarter of what my JW uses it. Because it takes him longer to even unlock his phone and text his wife or whatever.
And if ya literally just don’t like me taking out my phone for 30 seconds to select a new podcast. Sorry like thats just a really dumb disagreement to have lol. Like, I bring coffee and water to work too. And every once and awhile I also drink my coffee or my water. Matter of fact I spend far more time doing that then selecting the next video on my playlist lol. But nobody has an issue with it. Because I think a lot of people just assume young person + phones = unproductive.
But yeah a good chunk of my generation genuinely has an issue, dopamine receptors fried. But its not all of us lol
Btw, I mean this as in, sometimes those of us who don’t have an issue are still treated like it’s an issue I think mostly because assumptions people have. Not as in, people should be on their phone all day.
As Electrician Helpers can we use small step stools to install receptacles? To do rough-in and trim-out? To protect the lower back, and knees. You know ... for safety.
Yeah
No sitting I would quite on the spot if I got told not to do that I am not going to destroy my knees for my boss because I look Lazy add some colorful language here. I will be able to work just as hard well saving my knees a little. And yes I do where knee pads but they can only do so much after 6 hours of installing receptacles
That’s cool but don’t get madd when you get laid off. Everything is perception brother. If I see you sitting Indian style its not a good look you may be working but from my point of view it looks
Like your just chilling and being complacent.
@@TheAdelgado1987 then I’m unionizing your shop real quick with my actual brothers and sisters
Glad you had an opportunity to vent bro. When will part 2 be posted? Seriously been thru the same scenarios. When working with a new person for the first time the job takes twice as long to complete. So if the second and third job don't improve time wise, it's time for a new assistant. Some folks just don't have what it takes. They might be better at a desk job.
The "on the phone" thing is really irritating - they are being paid to work, not be on the phone. I'm not on the phone all day, neither should they be. Another thing to do - at the end of the day, make sure ALL the tools/supplies are back in the truck ... not just the tools you used ... ALL the tools.
Question, I recently had to replace 7 GFCI receptacles, exterior with double gang weathertight metal brand box's mounted to the side of several trees. I believe these boxes originally carried circuits to lights mounted to the upper tree branches. I think these were upgraded at some time and someone had crammed 2 gfci receptacles in each box. Anyway, all failed, all gfci's were not weather resistant and none actually had the ground attached to the receptacle it self, but the box was grounded. I know this is not to code, but was actually installed by a lic. electrician ( or his helper and he wasn't a very good overseer. My question is, what do you think would cause all to fail, (supposedly about the same time , theses are only used for Christmas lights and SUPPOSEDLY worked last yr) All had one or two wire nuts facing down and corroded. So what would cause the failures all about the same time. FYI two receptacles had no mounting screws mounting them (did they work or even could they?)
if they are all exposed to similar conditions then failing about the same time is not out of the question. BTW, did they have "weather resistant when in use" covers?
@@rupe53 Yea, they all had Red Dot Code Keeper plastic covers. I just thought it was really odd 7 GFCI's fail all about the same time.
@@kennydykes1145 ... the main reason I mentioned them failing about the same time was about 10 years ago I worked for a guy and he had 5 circuits go bad in his barn during the same summer. All of the outlets were inside so not directly exposed to anything special... except the dampness of open doors with New England summers. It was one of those situations where every time I opened the place up the floors got wet for an hour. That's damp!
No sitting? Interesting I see you've never terminated MCC room or control cabinets.
Is it fine if you ask a lot of questions or does that annoy journey/master electrains?
it doesnt but dont make it a routine on the same question, talk to your journeymen and take pics, notpad, and remember everything u can couse in the trade we are all over the place and are limited on time.... good luck brotha
I gave you a dislike for the no sitting one
Late to the party on this comment
Dustin, firstly I appreciate all the hard work you’ve put into making Electrician U an absolutely amazing channel and resource. EU has been my go to for Electrician and electrical info.
I am an Electrician in the Film and TV industry, so I am not trained in the same manner or to the same level as a residential/commercial Master Electrician. We use the ETCP certification,However there is a ton of
overlap and one of the main difference being that our power and installs are non-permanent, but 100% I deal with the same shenanigans from newer crew members.
What we do to get around the Dunning Krueger effect and the “I can’t remember what I was asked to do or don’t know how, but I’ll pretend” problem in the crazy world of Hollywood is by having every instruction repeated back.
For example- “ Hey so and so, throw 5 sticks of 100’ 4/0 on a cart and start running them out in such and such place, males facing the genny and phased correctly”
And they say “ Copy…repeat what I just said back to me”.
Chances are someone else will also be within earshot of the instruction being repeated in case the the worker gets stuck. And at least whomever gave the instruction knows that the order was received correctly and hopefully they will ask a question if they don’t understand. Hopefully.
Not my most concise comment ever. Apologies.
Thanks for the great content!
I'm so glad I don't have to deal with that shit anymore. If I wanna work on my ass or sit on my phone I'm gonna.. nobody to tell me otherwise. But boy do I remember the days
You and I might get along.
Neither of us could work in a Union setting where you take 10 minutes to take 1 step.
Although I do sit comfortably when working, no vertigo or knee stress.
These knee pads really mess up the backs of my knees.
I could really use some work pants with Velcro over the knees and pads that attach to the Velcro.
I was fired from my job as an apprentice I violated rule number two I was sitting and taking several minutes to wire the plugs and switches in the houses we were wiring. People didn't want to work with me because I was so slow and sitting a lot.
I now build and wire complex displays for a retailer and I now realize when to go fast and when to take my time I am never sitting
When your learning going slow is natural it doesn't matter the field of study. If your fired for going slow the employer is at fault NOT you. It's a sign of an incompetent employer not an incompetent apprentice. A sign that the apprentice is taking the time to learn not going slow because they want to. A greedy employer might demand fast paced work but if you've never even used a drill in your life to date? Well what can one really expect you are there to learn after all. I've zero tolerance for people who have unrealistic expectations for someone. When they are genuinely learning and applying themselves day in and day out.
Sitting on the job depends on the type of job and what it entails.
at my wife's shop it's 3 strikes and you're out on the phone bit. They take it away and you can have it back at lunch time... or at the end of the shift. If they have to do that again, it's another 3 strikes and you are out the door.
I'm on the job right now while I'm listening to this lol. You should see some of the butchered up stuff! I wish I could post pictures on here😆
Being on the phone and "borrowing" tools w/o asking and then not putting it back are me 2 biggest pet peeves being a journeyman elec/ foreman on job sites. I'll let you borrow whatever you may need to get the job done but ask so if you forget to put it back (people forget, it happens) I can ask you for it back. And unless it's an emergency, STAY OFF YOUR PHONE! It's so unprofessional and if the customer see's you on the phone and not working, they will say something to the foreman or worse, call the owner
I hate when they take out a phone real quick! I notice if there not a tool or something in there hand or just at a short pause that phone pops out real quick . Hate that
my first day as a apprentice i told my journeyman that they need to put me with someone that knows what he is doing. it worked for me, but 100% it ain't gonna work for you.
“I’m just gonna… throw it in the pool”😂😂😂😂😂 I’m dying bro that’s so funny😂😂😂😂 13:15
A plus you nailed it I remember my high school teacher telling us the same thing about getting in the trade and don't make journeyman angry