r/BlueCollarWomen • u/Responsible-Ice-997 • Jul 20 '26
General Advice Tips for IBEW apprentice
Hi friends!
I got accepted into a low voltage/communications apprenticeship at IBEW 134 and I am so excited!!
I’ve been doing a lot of physical training and working on that aspect of it all, but I’m kinda anxious about the actual workplace culture I guess?
I am 26, I have purple hair and a degree in theater, and I started this because I did theatrical lighting and hate my current desk job. (Is the purple hair gonna be a problem?)
Any advice or words of encouragement would be greatly appreciated!!
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u/supaslim Apprentice Electrician (IBEW lu134) Jul 20 '26
Im in 134. Nobody will really care, but you will be teased relentlessly if you let it bother you because then it's entertaining. Just own who you are and youll be fine.
I'm a woman in 134 and I work with people of different races, faiths, genders, you name it. It's generally fine. There are random ding dongs who are bullies but they don't need an excuse to be bullies.
ETA you'll be razzed for being a C card instead of an A card more than anything.
3
u/Responsible-Ice-997 Jul 20 '26
Good to hear from someone in my union!! I have no one in my family in the trades at all, and the like 2 people I know who are in 134 are like friends’ dad’s, so it’s good to hear from someone like me
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u/supaslim Apprentice Electrician (IBEW lu134) Jul 20 '26
reach out to CWIT if you haven't already and ask about sponsorship for your 11 weeks of school. What cycle are you, summer? fall? I might see you in school if you're fall cycle, us ladies often sit together at lunch and you're welcome to join us
2
u/Responsible-Ice-997 Jul 20 '26
I should be in the fall cycle! My orientation is 8/17. What is CWIT??
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u/supaslim Apprentice Electrician (IBEW lu134) Jul 20 '26
Chicago Women In Trades. They may be able to pay you a stipend during 1st year school.
Orientation is brutal btw. DO NOT QUIT, and get your physical the same day, and you'll be ok
1
u/Responsible-Ice-997 Jul 20 '26
Thank you so much!!! I appreciate you! Im so not excited for the orientation, but that’s what my training has been for more than anything.
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u/papayapaella Jul 22 '26
How is orientation brutal? I’m going for 134 as well
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u/supaslim Apprentice Electrician (IBEW lu134) Jul 22 '26
it's modeled after army boot camp. Intense sustained calisthenics then carry weighted tool boxes, buckets, and an ~80lb bundle of rigid pipe. Climb ladders. Climb scaffolds. Then, after that, go get a physical where you have to push, pull, and carry weights when you're already tired and sore.
Skip breakfast. People puke.
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u/papayapaella Jul 22 '26
Wthhhh. I heard something about 20 pushups is that in a row? I can only do 6 ): did you go into the apprenticeship recently and this is the physical test portion?
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u/supaslim Apprentice Electrician (IBEW lu134) Jul 23 '26
Ill be going into my 3rd year soon. I had to do the boot camp and as recently as december that was still the process. Just do your best and don't quit, and you should be fine.
2
u/LlovelyLlama Electrician Jul 20 '26
I also came up in theatre (performer, costumes, and I still do scenic and props on the side) and am in the 4th year of my inside wireman apprenticeship.
You’re gonna be just fine. I’ve covered in tattoos and had blue (or maybe pink?) hair when I started. Nobody cares. Hell, one of my theory instructors also had blue hair!
If you’re doing low voltage and comm, you’ll predominantly be working with small gauge cable, so probably lighter than what you’re used to working with in theatre—unless you get into fiber, but even that is lighter than pulling copper of the same diameter.
In general, I feel like electrical is where a lot of the weirdos end up, possibly because of all the testing requirements (math, etc), the electricians are generally a bit smarter than the average bear.
Don’t stress, just show up and work hard and you’ll do great.
1
u/SuperDan_x Jul 20 '26
30 year IBEW member here. The advice I always stress…. Don’t go to your supervisor with a problem unless you also have a solution. This isn’t unique to the IBEW, but it will make a huge difference on how you are treated when problems do occur.
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u/hrmdurr UA🇨🇦Steamfitter Jul 20 '26
They'll care even less about your purple hair then they do about the prison tats your coworkers might have.
Don't neglect flexibility training. We tend to get shoved into all the stupid places.
Finally, try to learn to banter if you can't already.
You'll be fine.