Apprenticeship Experiences
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My First Day as an Electrician Apprentice: A Journey of Learning
Excitement and nerves filled me as I prepared for my first day as an electrician apprentice. The dispatcher had advised me to arrive at least half an hour before the job began, but my eagerness led me to the job site a whole hour earlier. Eager to embark on this new journey, I was introduced to my journeyman mentor, Ben, a seasoned professional who appeared to be in his 50s+ with a friendly, stocky build. To my surprise, the day’s task involved upgrading the HVAC system, which struck me as unusual for electricians. However, it became clear that our role was focused on the electrical aspect of the upgrade. As…
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My Journey into a Non-Union Electrician Apprenticeship: Patience, Persistence, and Success
In 2018, I set my sights on becoming an electrician, determined to join an apprenticeship program. At first, I leaned toward the union route, knowing it was often regarded as the gold standard in the industry. But there was a catch: the limited sign-up windows for union apprenticeships made it difficult to even get my foot in the door. After several attempts to time it just right, I started looking at alternatives. That’s when I discovered the non-union path, and to my surprise, it was much more accessible. Unlike the union, non-union programs offered year-round sign-ups. While I knew the union had its advantages, I decided to take the plunge…
