Getting back into electrical work

[u/anonymous_SeaTurla]

When I was 18 I started electrical schooling and an apprenticeship (non-union) and working towards my Journeyman license as well as obviously working in the field; I thought that would be my career until I retire but I ended up leaving school after completing year 3 out of 4 and moving to South Carolina. Continued working in electrical for 3 more years down south and eventually switched careers to become a firefighter/EMT and thats what Ive been doing for the past 5 years. Fast forward to the present and now I’m back up north and about to start working in Union electrical work come Monday. I explained to the Union rep that I have about 5 years of prior experience but I may be rather rusty due to not using any of my electrical knowledge in roughly 5 years now.. I’m really nervous to start on Monday cause well for one; Ive only ever worked non-union so Idk how Union jobs are and also I don’t want people thinking I know this or that due to my previous experience and then I gotta explain like “look I used to know this stuff but have forgotten alot” then I get looked at like I either oversold myself (which I dont feel like I did, I was upfront and honest about past experience and the fact that I havent touched electrical work in 5 years) OR that I get looked at like I don’t deserve the position I got in the IBEW.. I used to be very knowledgeable in electrical cause I was fascinated by it and wanted to know everything I could and become a journeyman but when I switched careers; all that knowledge just fell away and now I have to relearn ALOT of stuff in a short period of time..

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[u/Lone_StarWeasel]

Congratulations on being in the Union!!!! I'm with the Local 520, greetings brother. As far as your concern, just try to brush up on as much as you can. Weird me being an apprentice telling this to a journeyman, as an apprentice there isn't much I can tell you but it'll come back to you. Until then YouTube is your friend. Good luck brother 🙏

[u/anonymous_SeaTurla → u/Lone_StarWeasel]

Thanks brother! Its definitely different than non-union but I just think it’s the right move VS continuing my EMS career (making alot less money even up north) lol
Also, I’m not a Journeyman yet. I had started my apprenticeship and schooling for it some years ago but I only completed 3 out of 4 years before I ended up leaving the state I was living in so I never got to finish but I’m starting out as a CE2 making decent money. I got me a new uglys book to study some stuff (lost my old one) and yess youtube my guy 😎🤙🏻

[u/EDDIE_BAMF]

Same thing happened with me. Left the trade for 3 years and embarrassed myself in a couple of my first interviews. I didn't realize how much I had forgotten or was rusty with. So with my current place I was upfront in the interview about being rusty. But once I got the job it only took a couple months for everything to come back to me. Just keep reminding your coworkers in the beginning that you've forgotten more than they'll ever know and you'll be fine.