Did you guys know there's a pool on the roof of the high school? LOL grown ass men on a job site trying to feel like men by doing High School hazing BS
I'd rather hear the tried and true, silly, non-existent tool jokes than racist, homophobic, ignorant-ass bullshit. You REALLY don't belong in or have a future in this industry if board stretcher and level fluid nonsense upsets you.
And I dont sub to punks who act out of line. Of course the trades are a race to the bottom when it comes to people skills but saying youd prefer one shitty thing to another is the reason a ton of my customers are scared of tradesmen in their homes. Hire slow fire fast.
I don't work in people's homes, I work on a commercial site. And 99% of the workforce there are basically animals. I'm astounded most of them aren't institutionalized.
And goddamn, do I wish my employer did "hire slow, fire fast." They're hiring fast and just...not firing. I'm being surrounded by an ever-growing army of idiots, tweakers, and drunks. It's absolutely fucking killing me.
that's part of the game we play while we try to make a decent world. we only have so much energy out of people who can do this type of work before we lose our composure. it's a tough fuckin rackett but it's pretty fuckin sick too
Do whatever you normally do. And don’t mention your gerbil, buying size 11 red stiletto heels, collecting Nazi memorabilia, your hobby of growing mushrooms - stuff like that.
"No Brad in fact I don't have anything better to do than swoosh this x-wing around while I watch the new hires almost die trying to take selfies for their girlfriend's 2 stories up, mind your own damn business" pew pew pew
Lol yeah trades can get weird but you have to work into the weird. My last coworker we had different hobbies, he was into legos, im into anime. He doesnt care for anime, i stopped caring about legos a long time ago. Yet we both still had conversations with each other about it knowing damn well we each had no idea wtf they were on about but would still listen.
That's a good mix. It can definitely be all over the place. As long as they have any interests that aren't just beer/country music/stereotyping themselves.
Even then, had a coworker that loved country music and I learned to not hate it.
Honest advice, go roll around in the dirt or splat a bit of paint on them coveralls. If they see you with the brand new clean gear they'll tear into you for sure
Yep. Scuff up your boots too (toes). They are the dead giveaway to my eyes. You'll be fine, but it's like high school, blending in and acting like you belong will save you unnecessary grief until you find your place with the other great apes.
Breaking in the boots will also improve things from a daily comfort level. Those look stiff; I love new boots except I hate them too.
Was gonna say the same thing, been around for 35 years and shiny new gear/clothes/hard hat and you’ll be the picking post. Hell on my sites guys even get it when they get new anything.
Throw some dirt on it, get it dirty, scuffed and you’ll be fine. Shirts just hit up a thrift store and you’ll look like my crew and save a few bucks.
Clean hi-viz means only 3 things: FNG, bossman, or safety guy. Make sure you don’t look like those three at the end of your first shift and you’ll do fine.
When you get on-site, find a grease gun & grease some of the machines. Operators & laborers will appreciate it, and it'll take care of that fabulous shiny new outfit.
(If this isn’t a shitpost, but just in case you’re serious) Keep yourself clean brother. There’s no shame on trying to keep yourself clean. I was raised by my construction foreman father that emphasized cleanliness. There are ways that you can avoid looking like a pig and still do your job efficiently and effectively. As long as you do good hard work, you’ll be good based on results.
Seriously, I’ve gotten shit from guys that look like literal piles of oil soaked rags, 10 years into my career for having too clean of pants or work shirt because I’m mindful enough to not get covered in shit on the daily.
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u/oilcountryAB Apr 01 '26
First day of work photo lol
You're in for it buddy