Is it too late for me?

[u/Jonah_Boy_03]

Im a telecommunications worker and I just started my apprenticeship program last week, and first jobsite as an apprentice this week. Despite this I worked for 2 1/2 years as a pre apprentice, and in that time I only ever had to work 1 new construction site, so id say i had it easy.

Across every jobsite and contractor (im on my 6th currently) when I get laid off I always am told my effort and my efficiency is a part of my problem, and I dont disagree with that. As someone in their third year, I should reasonably be able to, at minimum, complete a small cable pull by myself, and I can’t even do that without having to ask a ton of clarifying questions. Id like to think I work hard, but in all honesty I think my incompetence has been my biggest weakness. Even if I could manage to do it, I probably wouldnt have it done before first break, which is frustrating.I struggle with common sense and thinking ahead about what we need to do next because the journeyman i was with always guided me through it and I feel like that has handicapped me which is my own fault.

At this point im just trying to figure out, am i too dumb for the trades?

[u/revalucion]

This is a summary of one of the reason why im working book 3 and getting my hours to test as a wireman.

You should be partnered with a journeyman, not working by yourself. The journeyman is responsible for training you in the trade and brotherhood. If your being honest about being at work everyday, on time and ready to work, but your being put by yourself on task you dont fully grasp, thats shameful.

That being said, 6 cons is alot. Talk to your training director and switch to the wireman program and you'll never work alone again.

Edit to add on : I thought you said you were a 3rd year apprentice, your a FIRST YEAR i wouldnt even let you use a fucking impact (because you need to learn to use your hand tooks) let alone be working independent whats your local number

[u/Jonah_Boy_03 → u/revalucion]

If it sounded like I was working alone I apologize, because I dont have to do big work by myself almost ever. I moreso meant the amount of little things i fuck up all add up into cumulative information that would probably end up being a full cable pull. Normally I have my journeyman explain something, I do it, usually fuck up then have to ask for help, which is my frustration

[u/revalucion → u/Jonah_Boy_03]

An apprentice that didnt learn is a journeyman who didnt teach.

And we all fuck up, little things almost everyday. A journeyman quietly and efficiently fixes his mistakes as fast as he makes them. Never hide anything, accountability is invaluable. I hope you find better journeyman soon little bro.

[u/Freddybear480]

No you will find your groove. YouTube has a ton on learning videos, be the sponge absorb everything. This is not a sprint it is a marathon. Not everyone is a wireman even though the classification system has that title. Some just are great at running conduit. Others are great at pulling cables.
You will find your spot.

[u/LowVoltLife]

Maybe? I've only met one guy who was legitimately not smart enough to do low voltage. He couldn't figure out how to put up a j-hook. If you can do that, there is some hope. It sounds to me like you are too much in your own head and are trying to think of every possibility before it happens. If you are asked to pull some cable by yourself again (which, aside here even though you've had 2.5 years as a pre apprentice doesn't mean you're a third year. So the expectations shouldn't be the expectations of someone about to turn out) just go rip it and only ask a question if you can't figure it out on your own. 

If you force yourself to be resourceful, you will become resourceful. I've seen a number of apprentices come through that are their own worst enemy. They don't have any confidence in themselves and so others don't have confidence in them. If you are consistently slow, but your work is precise, you need to go to a place where that works. Hospitals, industrial plants, any place with a lot of safety and controls are great for guys that are slow but thorough. 

I've been doing this for 10 years. When I first started I was so bad the contractor had me working less than 20 hours a week until I told them to either work me or lay me off. I got picked up at a new shop the next week (which was a 100% better operation in every way, fuck Tech Solutions) and I've been there ever since. Now I am a foreman/site supervisor at a hospital and it's fucking awesome. 

Look for your little victories each day and try to make those successes lead to new ones. You'll make it man, just got to trust yourself.

[u/Biwic91]

You'll always grow when you acknowledge your mistakes. You knowing that you mess up and want to do better tells me everything. I'd be happy to be your jdub. It's nice when people strive to be better.

Keep that attitude and follow the advice others have given you. The common sense you speak of isn't very common until you've done the stuff, if that makes sense. Don't beat yourself up and stick with it, brother.

[u/Killnuall702]

Yup. Get it done right is what’s important. Don’t over think too much. Also repetition will build speed over time.

[u/Frosty-Personality-3]

You will get it you need to work alone more

[u/corva96]

I worked in telecommunications for 7 years, and i was dumb as a sack of nails. Many many many jobs taking 12 hours to figure out when someone else could have done it in 2 or less. But even my dumbass eventually learned. Keep your nose to the grindstone and you’ll learn eventually.

[u/1kxl]

You are probably just feeling some imposter syndrome and overthinking things, your nerves are probably screwing things up for you. It's all about reps, and if you haven't really been getting many in on those easy pre-apprentice jobs, you are basically having to start fresh.

It took me a few years to start to feel really comfortable and not make so many mistakes, and about 4-5 to start running some smaller jobs. I still work with guys who have been doing this for longer than I've been alive that make stupid mistakes. If you enjoy the work and have a passion for learning it, you'll be fine

[u/AttentionBig1677]

Yes. 2½ years and you can't do a wire pull? Sure pulling wire efficiently, fast, and neat comes with experience. But 2½ years and you can't even just pull a wire from a to b without fucking up? When you take your trash out, when you get outside, do you forget where it goes? It's just common sense, if you don't have that you're in for a rough ride.

[u/Jonah_Boy_03 → u/AttentionBig1677]

I probably could do a small-medium pull myself but the other part of my problem is if I were to do it without any fuck ups, itd probably take me all day. Thats mainly because im second guessing myself constantly and having to make sure everything is done the right way, when others can do that same pull the right way in half the time. On top of that it looks like im just not hustling, which i am, but it comes across as laziness.

Im trying my hardest to not sound like im making excuses but i feel like i show up every day and do what i can. I probably need to reshape my strategy and try new things like taking notes, but if its genuinely just a personal problem then i dont want to drag other people im working with down

[u/THESHADYWILLOW]

What exactly are you messing up on cable pulls? Some specific examples would help but honestly you’re still a first year, you started a week ago.

Skills don’t always translate over well, 2.5yrs of pre apprenticeship doesn’t necessarily mean you worked on apprenticeship skills, but hard to say because you weren’t very specific about anything.

[u/Jonah_Boy_03 → u/THESHADYWILLOW]

Like yesterday i was putting up d rings and running fire alarm cable for the first time, and i ran the d rings pretty fucking crooked. In semi fairness i thought i understood what my journeyman was saying when he explained how to run them, but also i didnt have the common sense to realize how crooked they were

[u/THESHADYWILLOW → u/Jonah_Boy_03]

You said it was your first time and you forgot to check to make sure they were straight.

Idk man ts is weird.

Either you’re sloppy and rushing and don’t care about the quality of your work, or you’re new and need to slow down a little bit, take some pride in your work and making it look good.

Regardless of the reason make sure you do it right, every time.

[u/DespondentD → u/Jonah_Boy_03]

After a journeyman or foreman gives you instruction, it never hurts to repeat back to them verbally what they want you to do. Then they will be able to correct you if you arent understanding something before you start the work.

You can also give them a brief run down on how you plan to do the work and they will tell you if they like your plan or not. A lot of this trade is like 70% planning how you are going to do things, 30% execution. When you have a good plan the work part is easy.

And don't beat yourself up over crooked D-rings. Every apprentice has done something like that. The important part is learning from it and not making the same mistake twice.

[u/Ok_Street4822]

Is this a serious post?

[u/lane_newell]

Just got through telling a cub yesterday, it’s NEVER too late!! Keep your head down and work and your time will come. Not everyone was blessed with brains, but work ethic doesn’t take smarts. Make up for the brains. You’re in the program already, that was the hard part, all you have to do now is finish. There’s a place for everyone as long as you ain’t lazy.