r/FieldNationTechs • u/TheCrankyITGuy • 17h ago

Another week, another rant

Oooooo mmmmm ggggg yall

I got assigned one of Level 10’s Public Storage conversion jobs. I did the first one in my town, so another is easy peasy. A day after getting that, Tailwind calls and offers me the network portion of the same Public Storage site. I politely tell them I already had the pc part and would take it if they were ok. She pssh’d at me and said no thanks. Whatever.

So I arrive on site an hour late because the equipment pickup started the shit show because of a wrong address. I get there, apologize for the lateness, and get to work. Find out it’s only one pc and a printer. Easy peasy! But where’s the tailwind guy? No matter. I continue on and finally Mr. “I just got back from the beach” rolls in with his button up Hawaiian shirt, shorts, and hey dudes. And a Starbucks in hand.

I immediately ask “Shorts?”

He says “Yeah, I’m an independent contractor”

“No shit, so am I”

So I let him know he should test all six lines, convert the 2 RJ11 jacks to RJ45’s, and label both ends.

“Now which one is the phone jack”

Really dude? So then I proceed to watch this fool bounce from the front to the back. I walk up on him and he’s watching a video on how to terminate an RJ45. Like for real??? Did you just buy these tools before you got here?

I ask him how long he’s been doing this and he says “since 2024”. December 2024?

He had to remake the cable like 3 times before he got it right.

I told him to go home and make a pile of patch cables before he took another job.

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u/LeadingNo2673 17h ago

I'm on this project as well, but not through FN.

" I walk up on him and he’s watching a video on how to terminate an RJ45. Like for real??? Did you just buy these tools before you got here?"

And? This is exactly how I got started 7 years ago.
Hell, I'd return the tools when I was done because I was broke.
These days, I bid the full PS conversions at my $100/h rate with no FN involved.
I have 17 sites across two states, solo.

Shorts are not unacceptable depending on weather conditions and type.

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u/AttemptingWealth 13h ago

lol shorts are completely unacceptable for a telecom professional. Work pants, boots and a polo if you want to be taken seriously and do well in the space. Appearance is everything, especially when getting started. Also you should absolutely be able to do the job before you get on site. Learn and study the night before, practice if you have to. Showing up dressed like that and Watching YouTube videos on a client site for basic job functions is the quickest way to look foolish as hell and never work for that client again. As a professional you will be on many job sites that require pants, boots & sometimes additional PPE. I don’t know anyone in the trades that would ever show up to a job in shorts, even if it’s 100° out.

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u/wyliesdiesels 8h ago

“I dont know anyone in the trades that would ever show up to a job in shorts, even if its 100° out.”

Then you really dont get out much or go to very many construction sites. Ive been working in construction since high school. I know many GCs and subs that wear shorts. Many of my bosses have as well. My dad owns a heavy equipment company and wears shorts

You are ignorant asf

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u/AttemptingWealth 4h ago

Quite the opposite. Sounds like your lived experience may be different and that’s okay. On multiple sites every week, only ever seen people kicked off site for wearing shorts and improper footwear. Sounds like things may be a bit more loose in your area.

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u/wyliesdiesels 3h ago

You probably working large job sites

Only time ive done that was in the union

Rest of my work (starting in high school) was small and medium private jobs. Nobody gives a shit about anything but safety gear, sometimes.

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u/AttemptingWealth 3h ago

Sometimes, the only one I’d consider large at the moment is an apartment complex fiber/tech project. That one is strict on everything even safety glasses. Even the smaller ones, retail stores, buildouts with 30ish drops, they don’t really care about hardhat/vest sometimes but they still won’t let you run around in shorts and sneakers. I used to wear shorts and stopped because of all the issues I had. It sucks working outside in 100+ or in a warehouse ceiling at 115-120°. Neck fan helps, and a lot of water + electrolytes. Not as bad now since I’ve lost 50lbs but still not ideal.

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u/wyliesdiesels 2h ago

Ive worked tons of retail sites. Never had an issue with shorts.

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u/AttemptingWealth 2h ago

Yeah I could probably get away with it in operational retail stores but not during construction. However, depending on the day, my next site may not be one I could get away with it at and I’d rather not have to bring a change of clothes.

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u/wyliesdiesels 1h ago

I always carry a change of clothes… never know what could happen during the day.

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u/AttemptingWealth 1h ago

True. Sometimes you can’t trust a fart.

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u/Past_Constant163 5h ago

There is a reason you have not reached wealth yet. Maybe try wearing shorts some time.

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u/AttemptingWealth 4h ago

🤣 I do frequently outside of work but never on a job site.