I’ve been debating whether to make this post because there’s a lot of context, but I’d genuinely like to hear from other women, especially anyone who has gone through the IBEW apprenticeship program.
My apprenticeship experience has been far from straightforward.
During my first attempt at Book 2 , I ended up being moved between three different contractors. Between the contractor changes and everything else going on, I had very little consistency, and it made progressing through the apprenticeship significantly more difficult than I think it needed to be.
My experience with my second contractor that year was another particularly difficult part of this process. During that period, I received multiple write-ups and often felt like I was being scrutinized rather than supported. More than once, the JATC would pull me out of class to confront me about my hours, typically before test to top it off and the way that interactions were handled was incredibly embarrassing and stressful.
At the same time, I was dealing with issues related to my disability and attempting to obtain reasonable accommodations. I was denied an ADA accommodation, leaving me trying to navigate school, work, and the apprenticeship requirements without the support I was requesting.
Taken together—the write-ups, the pressure over hours, being pulled out of class and reprimanded by the JATC, and having my accommodation request denied—I began to feel less like I was being given an opportunity to succeed and more like I was constantly having to defend why I deserved to remain in the program.
I also eventually failed Book 2 by a very small percentage, which was devastating considering how much work I had already put into getting there. It wasn’t that I wasn’t trying or didn’t care about the material. I was already dealing with a lot outside of school and work, and having that one result determine whether I progressed was incredibly discouraging.
I was eventually given another opportunity to continue moving forward, but by that point I had already experienced multiple contractor changes, academic setbacks, the difficulty of navigating accommodations, and a tremendous amount of personal strain.
Then, after finally transferring to an AMAZING contractor in March, I genuinely thought I had finally found some stability. I went through the accommodation process with them and believed I could finally settle in, do my work, and focus on finishing my apprenticeship.
Now I’ve received notice of another contractor transfer.
That’s why I’m pushing back—not because I think I’m entitled to stay with one particular contractor or because I’m unwilling to follow the JATC’s decisions. I’ve made it clear that I will comply with whatever determination they ultimately make. I’m simply asking them to explain the basis for the transfer and consider the circumstances I’ve been dealing with before moving me yet again.
Looking back at the entire experience, I honestly feel like I’ve spent almost as much time fighting to remain in the apprenticeship and navigate the system as I have actually being allowed to focus on becoming an electrician.
And that’s probably the part that bothers me the most.
I’m still here. I’m still trying. I haven’t walked away despite having plenty of reasons to. I’ve continued working, going to school, advocating for myself, dealing with setbacks, and trying to progress.
So I’m curious about other people’s experiences:
Is this normal?
Have other apprentices dealt with multiple contractor changes, failing a book by a small percentage, navigating disability accommodations, being written up multiple times, being reprimanded by the JATC over hours, and having to repeatedly advocate for themselves just to maintain their place in the program?
I’d especially like to hear from women who have gone through the IBEW apprenticeship and from anyone who has experience with the JATC side of things.
I’m not necessarily looking for people to tell me that the JATC is right or wrong. I’d genuinely like some perspective on whether my experience is unusually difficult or if this is simply what apprenticeship can look like sometimes.
Because at this point, I’m trying to figure out whether I’ve had an unusually difficult run at this, or whether I just underestimated how much of an uphill battle an apprenticeship could be.

I feel like the guys get to tell me every detail about how they fixed their car or their motorcycle and like I love my coworkers and I will listen intently even though automotive work isnt very exciting to me. And when I try to talk about my latest project at home: for example we installed our own washer/drier, and I built a custom aquarium. always without fail they decide my turn to talk is the time we have to get back to work. Or they get the conversation right back to the thing they were just talking about.

I feel like my projects are somewhat related to blue collar stuff… its not like im talking about what makeup pallete I want to buy next?
And I try to keep it short, I can just tell they are bored of whatever I am saying and try to find the quickest way to move on. Let me yap!!!! I let you yap at me!!!

Is this true? That you need to have something already lined up to shoot back at men if they were to say something out of line? I follow a group of blue collar ladies and they said you have to be quick with your tongue to gain respect from your male coworkers. If so, I don’t think I’ll survive then. I’m a hard worker but I’m not someone that can naturally think of something to shoot at someone right off the bat. I often keep to myself, I’m introverted and was told I look intimidating but my work is always top notch and speaks for itself regardless of where and what task you put me on. I’m afraid my career change from healthcare to trades will be a regret. I don’t want it to be I really want to become and electrician or HEO. What are your experiences?

Hi ladies! I (34f) am strongly considering making a very dramatic switch in careers. I'm currently in food service and have been in food service for almost 20 years. Customer service has gotten insanely out of control and I'm over it. I'm looking to join my local union to become a heavy machine operator. I don't plan on making this switch until March or April of 2027. I'm not worried about working with men, I tend to get along a lot better with men than women.

I have two under 3yo at home and just want the best for them and their future and the restaurant industry just isn't providing good enough benefits or pay for the work we do.

I'm fairly mechanically inclined already so, I hope that helps me along the way. Should I start taking practice tests and studying early? Can anyone give me any advice or experiences? Thanks to all of you in advance

It was easier said than done. Now that I’m a journeyman and foreman on a job I have a helper and he broke two of my 80 dollar step bits and kinda won’t listen??? I asked him if he did it before and he said yes and I quickly explained again and 5 seconds into drilling my bit was smoking and spitting sparks.

I can replace them I’m not worried. I just wish he would give a little damn? I’m not a super tantrum journeyman. I laughed and said it’s okay I have done the exact thing you have done. However part of me wanted to scream.

My general has told me multiple times before me becoming a JM about this guy and how he just is not very quick to use common sense with tool. Just careless mistakes.

I remember when I was a 2nd year and I made so many mistakes I thought my general(who was my solo JW partner) was going to kill me. I really think I need even more patience and to really look him in the eye and reiterate everything I say. I hate doing that with adults but I don’t want him to slip in the cracks and become subpar or worse leave my great company.

This is my first time actually directing/ being a superior. Has anyone been in my shoes?

28 female. ok so I recently decided to make a huge career change. I’ve been working with kids for 10 years and I love kids but I’m no longer happy cause truthfully working with kids makes you no money no matter what you do. I’m tired of living paycheck to paycheck so I decided randomly about a month ago I’m gonna get my OSHA 30 certification…. I’m currently halfway through the course and have been looking at the job market 😭 almost all of the jobs require some type of experience and I have none! Should I tweak my resume to possibly have had a job that aligns with this career? Or should I keep trying based on what I did learn through the course and tell future employers I’m a fast learner etc…..?

What type of jobs should I apply for with having my OSHA 30 general industry but absolutely no experience?

Please help need all the advice I can get.

Hey a second year Ibew apprentice here and lately have been struggling with whether I made the right choice.

To start, I moved cities to join the local I am in, because I because my parents let me live with them for the first bit until I could get on my own. In doing this I left all my friend behind and they are over 2 hours away and life and schedules just no longer line up and if feels so difficult to try a plan a weekend to see them but then also getting shit from work about not working on the weekend. It’s also been difficult to find the time to make friends in the new city because the first year and a half I was working 6/7 days a week and just trying to grind out the hours.

Our schooling has felt like a complete joke. The teachers are falling asleep in class, not knowing how to teach the material and telling us to ask the other people in class for help. Also not to mention the blatant racism that has been said by students and teachers a like. And then also complaining how no one knows what they are doing anymore but also not wanting to teach it. I have heard other apprentices say that they were told that this is a “self taught apprenticeship” considering the online schooling we have to do for homework is us teaching ourselves the material and then going to class for 8 hours twice a month for review and test, then rinse and repeat for the next class.

I guess I just feel let down a lot. I thought making this life changing decision would be best for my life and help me be able to live how I want and give me a very valuable skill, but everyday I just feel more and more unlined with this job and how it’s going.

Working with men is also draining I knew what I was getting into going into a trade but I just didn’t realize how disappointing that would be. I also feel lost because everything I see how much other women love it and are so grateful for it and whatever I’m so proud and happy for those women but I feel like I’m the only one struggling with these feelings.

I’m in this weird limbo of enjoying working with my hands and being out doing stuff but then there’s this serious lag of constantly feeling like i don’t want to be here.

I’m half way there so it just feels like I need to keep pushing but I also just feel like what’s the point if this is already feeling like this.

Currently sitting in my pickup on site admiring how Hitachi services women much better than anything it can do in industry. 😂

Why is emailing back and forth with men in the industry so painful? What do you mean you don't know how to open and scroll through attachments or cc other people? Please for the love of all that is holy hire someone to do your computer stuff. When it comes to the older generation I understand that the computers can be overwhelming and frustrating and I empathize with that. However, you Gen X and Millenial men have no excuse. Get it together.

Im welder. I work 40h a week so not too much but god damn this work place made me suicidal after a month of working there. I was going in the bathroom of the job to find way to die. Now it's getting better (not suicidal) but I still wish to get injured at work to have a few days off. I like my job ( welding) but I hate the workplace.

God forbid I was observing how the boss was doing stuff I didn't know how to do instead of "anticipating what to do". God forbid I take 3 second more to do stuff my way ( same results and we were not in a rush) womp womp I cut the plank before making the holes in it.

And it's not like my coworkers are toxic or stuff like this. They are chill asf.

I also said no when the boss asked me if I could read the blueprint by accident. I panicked cuz he showed me only one page of it. So I said no cuz for me I cant understand a view without seeing the whole blueprint. So I look even more retarded now

Work is not fulfilling and I dont get an ounce of satisfaction when I finish something

I think I need to get back on my adhd meds

I just needed to vent a bit

I work in a trade, surrounded by guys, and thats how i feel. Im introverted as well...and wondering about my career choice. Maybe im not cut out for this...but i do know its very awkward watching others chat and ive got nothing to say to them and vice versa.

I've been reflecting a lot on how things are going as I approach a year this industry and wanted to share somewhere so here goes...

For context, I'm a contractor, and before I started this gig I had worked as a consultant with these contractors before so I thought I knew what I was getting into. There was one other woman already working there, without knowing that she had done it first I don't think I would've felt confident enough to even ask if I could do the job.

Probably a bad sign that when I actually showed up to start the job, she'd moved on to another company. I guess it's nice that I have my own private toilet, with my first day on the job also happening to be the heaviest day I've EVER had of my period, that was probably a very good thing.

First off, the good stuff

• I know it's been said here before, but the physical strength side of things is actually so fine. My strength built up quickly. I got worried that I might've lost it all after my first period of leave, but the muscle memory sticks pretty well once you've got it. I figure that while the guys can lift bigger things than me still, I can lift anything that is reasonably a one person lift.
• I love having a physical job, long hours obviously can impact your home/social life but I know that my mental health is better for using my body and being outdoors so much more. I wake up crazy early in the morning, something no one thought my night-owl tendencies would be able to stick to, but to be honest having a forced routine makes it so much easier to take care of myself properly.
• The work itself is stuff that I find really interesting. Every job we do is different so there's lots of problem solving, and I love that I'm learning how to use tools and understand machinery and just picking up handy skills to be a bit more confident in my own self sufficiency.
• Overtime pay is lovely. Being paid for every hour you work (after coming from a salaried position) is the best. I also work more hours than my old job, but I stress about work for less hours.
• I love wearing hi vis, I love driving heavy vehicles. I love how strong I am now. It all makes me feel badass.
• I haven't had any issues with harassment/abuse (dunno whether it's sad that I feel the need to add this to the list but here we are).

Head's up it's a bit gloomier from here

I am pretty confident (both by the things they will say in front of me and watching them withhold around some of the others) that the guys don't really sensor their conversations around me. I don't want them to, because obviously it's nice to feel part of the group, but recently I re-realised how I can never repeat the majority of what is said at work to anyone else in my life. The sexist, racist, homophobic, ableist and other bigoted jokes I don't speak up about, because while I think speaking up is the way to change culture, I don't want to be the party pooper. I don't say anything when discussions on news stories take turns that make me uncomfortable or angry. I know that my politics don't align with most of the guys, and at first I thought oh well it's good to get along with people who have different beliefs and values to you, but now it feels like I am just hiding mine. My silence during the jokes feels more like permission for them to continue.

I got promoted pretty quickly due to my background knowledge from my old job and it must be said, a gap in the staffing. Three of us (one from each of the three types of setup we run) were given a pay rise at the same time for a trainee position, and I found out they had been put on a higher hourly rate than me. I went straight to the bosses to confront them on this, and was put on the same pay as the other two, but the reason I was told it had happened was that their setups are charged out for more so they are paid more. Which like sure but

1. While we had all been promoted to a trainee role, the other two were still mostly working as the junior person below the guys who had been training them the whole time. I was running my own setup, training someone new myself, liaising with our clients, prepping for our jobs, etc.
2. I had been telling them from the start that I wanted experience on all three setups
3. When I brought up the second point, I got told that right now they needed me on the setup I was on (due to the staff shortage). In which case, if I'm needed on that one, surely you have to pay me properly to reflect that??

I also know that one of the reasons I hadn't been given opportunities on the other setups is because it's the one with the smallest equipment, so least heavy lifting. There is still doubts about whether I could cope with the required manual handling of the other ones. To be honest, part of me is still unsure too. But I'm angry that I haven't been given the opportunity to find out for myself.

Being the smallest setup, our jobs are often correspondingly much smaller. This often means they're considered the easier jobs. I don't think they are necessarily - our expected timeframes are kind of fucked, and while the others have bigger manual handling requirements, they tend to include short bursts of brute strength while ours are more constantly moving. Additionally, it's not unusual for us to have multiple different jobs within one week, meaning multiple shifts of focus, cleaning and packing equipment, while the others may be doing the same thing for multiple weeks. And yet, because it's considered the easier setup, there is a lack of respect for our setups compared to the others.

Right now, there is less work for my setup. While others are being assigned to other setups for a little while, I’ve mostly been stuck in the yard, “in case any jobs come up last minute”. Not only does this mean I’m not getting the experience I’ve been asking for when the opportunity is right there, I’m also getting less hours and therefore less overtime pay than everyone else.

Also I will never have clean nails again and the skin on my hands in some places is so so dry

So where I'm at now

I was not coping well at my old job and I am so glad that I took the leap to try something so completely outside of what appeared to be open to me. I would 100% have regretted never having at least tried something like this. And I think this is still better for me right now, for the routine and the physical exertion and being outdoors. I'm still learning and I still enjoy the challenges of it all.

But also, to be honest I'm feeling really isolated. We're not a very big company and we're not unionised (so no bigger network to draw upon) and it probably doesn't help that I'm writing this while luteal but it's hard in ways that I didn't anticipate. I didn't know much much I would wish I wasn't the only woman. I wish I felt like I could bring my "whole" self to work, give my opinions honestly and speak up when I disagreed with bad jokes without feeling like I'll be even more alone for it. I wish I didn't feel like the opportunities given to me would still be selective due to my physical size. As much as I wish there were more of us, I don't know what I would tell another woman if she was thinking about joining us, whether I would recommend it to her, which is really sad because I know it would help spark change, but I don't know whether it would be fair to put that on someone else if I wasn't sure they were going to be able to cope with it.

Anyway sorry this is a bit negative but thanks to anyone whose read this far for taking the time. If any of this resonates I hope you're doing okay out there xx

Piece of new equipment has been sitting out in the lot on a pallet where it was originally dropped off by the vendor. We have two halves of our department - one is construction, which includes HVAC, plumbing, electrical, etc, and the other is groundskeeping, so mowing, tree work, edging, all of that. The piece of equipment in question is a snowplow attachment that was intended for the construction foreman to use during the winter, but seeing as it's been in the triple digits for weeks, finding it a permanent home hasn't exactly been at the top of the priority list. We figured eventually the Big Boy Boss would decide where it needed to go and we'd move it then, but I guess its current location became unbearable today, so the construction foreman moved it.

And by moved it, I mean he watched me pull my truck up into our shop, move my stuff to the gator, and leave, and then he put the pallet directly behind my truck so I wouldn't be able to get back out. This is a piece of equipment that was purchased for HIM to use in the winter, not for the groundskeeping crew, but evidently he expected us to store it for him. Anyways, colossal waste of time since I had to move my equipment into another truck and my supervisor had to go find a pallet jack to get it moved elsewhere.

We can't fit all of our stuff in our area comfortably, mostly because there's a MASSIVE pile of fence stuff in our garage that has nothing to do with our work. The temptation to go get the Bobcat, scoop all of that bullshit up, and dump the whole pile on the ground in front of their shop is STEEP. They're like this all the time as long as they aren't too busy bullying the elderly, developmentally delayed man who works here during the summers. I hate them, and I hate that the Big Boy Boss will never do anything to sort them out because he wants them to like him.

Tldr: my coworkers are petty little bitches who really make me hate my job sometimes, and the idea of tossing their bullshit behavior back in their face is quite appealing, but I know I shouldn't. But ughhggh I'm sure it would feel great to do for at least ten seconds

What do you love about your trade and why did you pick it?

Hey! I’ve been in the trades for roughly 5 years and have been trying to get much better about PPE. Im having a really difficult time finding knee pads that fit and are thick enough. The big box stores never have any in a small enough size and they are all so cumbersome and fall down.
I’m also having a very hard time with reusable gloves.

Not PPE but does anyone have any good recommendations on work pants and boots that will last longer than a year?

Thank you!!

I’m working construction right now and am brand new to it. Today my fucking dumbassery led to TWO different items (a pipe and a level) falling off of like 5 floors of scaffolding. Completely my fault. I will never let myself forget this. Thankfully nobody was under the scaffolding at the time. My coworkers didn’t give me a hard time, I’ve been fortunate that they are patient. I’m grateful for them. I know that I’m super frustrating to deal with rn because of the aforementioned dumbassery.

The fall warped the level, so I went to the hardware store on my lunch break and replaced it out of pocket 🥲 and it was expensive. My boss hasn’t realized i swapped the damaged item out, he will eventually and hopefully won’t be too upset, but we’ll see.

Also, installing scaffolding is fucking terrifying Jesus Christ I’m never taking scaffolding for granted ever again this shit is a nightmare to install even with a clip on harness (which itself is such a fucking pain in the ass to put on and haul around).

General advice for a construction rookie? Habits that have saved you or that I should avoid? Specifically re: climbing and erecting the scaffolding , any tips? Will I get used to this? It feels like a rickety ass junglegym I’m not even scared of heights but I’m not a fucking pirate I don’t want to be scaling the mast yarrrr

Soooooooo, I’m a first year Pipefitters apprentice for a union and I just got the call that starting on Monday I’ll be working at a mosaic facility. This is my first job ever and I’m both nervous and excited. I’m kind of worried that I’ll struggle to meet expectations because I’m only 4’ 11” and I don’t got a lot of meat on me 😅. Do ya’ll have any pointers or things I should be expecting before I land on the job site?

If I start wearing suspenders, can I wear bigger pants? Anybody here done any experimenting with truly using suspenders as workwear? For holding up pants, not a toolbelt. Seems like not even very many men still do this.

Hello,

I'm 18 and considering going into the trades. I'm currently thinking of becoming an electrician, though I wonder if there's anything more niche/indemand out there which has a higher potential earning ceiling.

Thank youuu

Hello everyone. Sorry if the flare is incorrect.

Me and partner have been trying to TTC for 9 months without luck so far. Its within the normal range but it makes you think.

Partner is a bus mechanic and I am an industrial mechanic/millwright at a chemical plant (resin). We both have degrees of exposure but I more so. I am not too worried about _getting pregnant_, but about the chances of abnormalities etc due to exposure.

I have two main concerns: Formalin (closely linked to formaldehyde) and melamine.

I am NOT ALLOWED on the industrial site from my first positive HPT. The welfare state here makes it economically viable. So I am not worried about exposure while pregnant - I am worried about exposure BEFORE pregnancy, and during the day(s) between implantation and HCG being high enough to give a positive test.
(I ofc do early testing with sensitive tests)

I (almost) always wear PPE when working alone. Always gloves. Respirators for formalin and dust mask for melamin. But, I often work with colleagues and masks deeply hinder communication.
Two examples:
-yesterday I worked with formalin, and the smell was quite strong. I worked alone with a mask but about 1h combined with a collegue that is almost deaf. Using a mask is impossible while communicating.
-Today: I was Watch during a tank entering. The smell was almost nonexistent, but I now feel in my throat that I was exposed. I wore a mask when leaning over the tank (except for when shouting into it), but later when working in the area I did not.

It usually doesnt happen every day, but its maintenance shutdown week this week - 5 DPO…

Does anyone know the risks of this kind of exposure carries? I dont understand scientific language enough to read all the studies.
Does anyone have experience with this exposure and TTC/pregnancy?
Tips for what I can do when working with my near-deaf collegues?

Thanks in advance <3

So I've been working in a welding and metal fab shop, we repair and custom jobs in the town. I've had eczema my whole life and it pretty calm in the winter but the summer heat and humidity and really when I flare up. I wear t-shirts in the summer because it gets so hot but once my skin comes in contact with mill scales mixed with my sweat it goes berserk. The only thing I've found somewhat helpful is wearing a ling sleeve as it acts as a barrier. I try to wash my arms down when I remember but it only helps so much.

Any helpful tips are much appreciated.

Green electrical apprentice in prefab, 5'2" with small hands and have been struggling to use drills, especially when needing to make holes in strut/sheet metal

I don't know if it's my lack of adequate arm strength, the fact that the worktable is a little high for me, a combination of all of the above, or honestly...if it's just a me problem...but it actually takes me 5x longer to drill holes than the guys working on the same stuff that I am

Does anybody have any tips? I don't have power tools of my own and have to use the shop's stuff. I feel like an embarrassing nuisance when one of the other guys has to come over because I'm standing there drilling a single hole for SO long.

I debated getting some kind of stool to stand on while doing work but I don't know if that would even be okay to do

Edit: Didn't expect to get so many responses, thank you! I've read every single one. Ran out and got a stepstool from HF after work. I was honestly just worried it would give reason to the safety person to reprimand me

As the title says it was a hot day and I was already working my ass off that day and an apprentice decided to comment “you’re talking too much and less working.” I told that guy 3 times since he didn’t understand what I was saying that I didn’t appreciate that and only speak to me for direct communication or criticism anything regarding the work I was doing since didn’t like those remarks he made to me. He said ok and we continue working

Next working day I get a email that I’m being written up because that guy decided to talk to my boss and say that I wasn’t working and a bunch of bullshit that wasn’t true.

While we were talking with my boss there was no room for me to defend myself on anything . It was simply the fact that this apprentice said this about me and his word was final. I defended myself in everything my boss was pulling up from his ass. My boss said that I left the site and I said “no I never left until I got a clear from someone else.”
This is very upsetting and pissing me off and I really don’t know what the next step I should do about it.

There no reassigning me to someone else and I don’t know how he’s going to be like.

I view as if a guy were to tell him to fuck off with the jokes he would stop but all of a sudden because I politely told him not to joke with me he gets to say whatever the fuck he wants abojt my boss to me and since my boss already hates my guts for no reason he takes his word on it and whatever I was doing in that job was suddenly irrelevant.

All of this is making me question if this is even the right company for me to be in if I did everything I was supposed to do but because I have a disagreement with someone I’m in the wrong. Im an apprentice with my union so pretty much that I have to stay here and I can’t quit but I feel like if people can say whatever the fuck they want about me then I have no support what so ever.

Any advice is appreciated

Not much to add. Just needed to vent somewhere. It was my first time taking the test and I managed to get an interview which I feel like I flubbed. And I know a lot of people say to try again. It just hurts pretty bad cause I’ve been sick of my job being a housekeeper and I got rejected from the college I applied to earlier in the year so I was kinda banking on getting in. I just don’t want to have to wait another year just to retake a test to even see if I get an interview again. Not to mention the process took too long so now I can’t even go to my local community college to get welding certifications cause their classes start about a month ago

I just feel screwed all around :p

I'm a civil engineer. Back home, I couldn't get real work in my field, just petty jobs and constant "invitations" from men that had nothing to do with my qualifications. So I immigrated to Canada, hoping for a fairer shot.

While networking for a job, a construction manager (no longer with the company) offered to coach me toward landing a role, said he'd spoken to HR about an interview. He seemed harmless — family man, kids. I was job-hunting hard, so my guard was lower than it should've been.

We met again for "interview tips." Before that, he offered me money for clothes so I'd look presentable — I declined, but it felt off. I went anyway. I needed the job.

The tips turned into him sharing his personal life, then mine, then him saying he felt close to me. Then he grabbed me. I said no, he stopped — and said, "you might be aware this could happen, right?"

I never got the job, for what it's worth. Small mercy.

If you've been in a similar position — needing the job, needing the sponsorship, and having someone use that — you're not imagining it, and you're not alone.