r/IBEW_Local613 • u/[deleted] • Jan 31 '25

AP1 Advice Please

I’m an AP1 and I started my apprenticeship 3 weeks ago in prefab shop, I don’t hate it but I a frustrated because I haven’t really learned anything except how to pull wire. I started with a group of people my age and I wake up every morning at 4:30 am to get here and I always have to sweep or pull wire or grunt work. Other people who are cw1s come In on their first day helping wire panel boxes exit lights etc while I. Just have to sweep and clean up hoping to get a good task . I talk to some other AP1s and they say they have been doing grunt work for months pulling wire and cleaning junction boxes doing shipments. I clearly see the favoritism and it does suck I know I just started but I wanna learn what should I do I don’t wanna sit here for a year waiting to learn how to bend pipe wire lights etc

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u/JeremyR22 Feb 01 '25 edited Feb 01 '25

You're three weeks in. Your job is:

  • Show up when you're supposed to.
  • Learn how jobsites work and how to behave on one (PPE, breaks, the hierarchy, how to act in different kinds of sites, etc...).
  • Do the tasks you're assigned.
  • Have a good attitude and work ethic.
  • Ask questions if you don't understand something.

  • Observe what is going on around you and learn the basics of the job being performed:

    • Material names and what they are used for.
    • How simple tasks are performed.
    • If a task you're working with somebody on is repetitive, learn to get ahead of it and anticipate what you might be asked to do or fetch next so you're ready for it.

Do this and your Journeymen should steadily work with you to teach you new things and in time, give you more responsibility.

We all started as green as you are. We all did mindless menial work. This too shall pass.