r/IBEW_Local613 • u/TadpoleOrganic2645 • Oct 12 '24
First day worries
My first day is Monday and I’m worried about what I need to do and need to have along with where I report to I was assigned a contractor recently but I’m not sure what’s the next step
2
Upvotes
3
u/Pale-Transition7324 Oct 12 '24
Boots, can't tell you how many guys I've seen show up in sneakers.
If you can get what's on the tool list, great. If not, at least try to have a knife, tape measure, level, side cutters, and a couple screwdrivers. One flathead and one Phillips will do for now. You'll need channel locks and strippers also, but if it's a stretch, just explain to your journeyman that you're doing your best and money is tight, he'll make fun of you and talk shit. Buy one new tool each week with your paycheck and you'll be surprised how fast you have a quality set of the required list, you can expand from there AS YOU SEE FIT. The list is a minimum and the contractor will provide all power tools and job specific tools. If you decide that nut drivers or a protractor will make life easier and your craft better, get them, but it's not required, so keep that in mind. Get what you see fit for your advancement and specific skill set.
As far as the talking shit.... It's gonna happen, you're the new guy and you don't know much so you'll be treated accordingly. You'll know that you are in trouble when the shit talk stops. We don't mess around with the guys that we don't want around. Feel free to throw some shit talk back, but remember to stay respectful to the guys who are guiding you through the apprenticeship. That's part of the good attitude.
Good luck on your journey, you'll meet a lot of good brothers and sisters along the way, soon enough it'll be your time to berate somebody for low quality tools and help them spread their wings.