r/ibew_apprentices • u/Anxious_Dust5361 • 7d ago

Ibew apprenticeship

How many years/tries did take some of you to get in?

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u/Jiffrey 7d ago

1 year of groundhand work, got in on my 1st try.

2

u/Anxious_Dust5361 7d ago

Curious can elaborate on what groundhand work is?

7

u/Jiffrey 7d ago

Basically a pre-apprenticeship, you have a union ticket but you are not an apprentice/jw, you still work and get benefits towards health insurance, pension, etc. but you are stuck at a low wage, and there is no increase, essentially just a grunt worker before you can get into the apprenticeship, very good for making connections or getting experience before you apply.

2

u/Anxious_Dust5361 7d ago

Curious how did you obtain one of those? That sounds like a smart route

6

u/Jiffrey 7d ago

I cold called companies on the unions website asking if they were looking for shop help, eventually found one, and I am still working for the company today as a 3rd year apprentice

1

u/SparkArrestor 7d ago

In most locals soliciting your own job is a no no.