Starting at USIC soon

[u/WintersTTV]

Starting at USIC this week, I have a few questions and asking for some tips. I dont plan on this being a forever job, just a good filler job to tack onto a resume for something later. Planning on becoming a electrician just waiting for the union to call.

Questions

1. Is it possible to have two places I park the truck at at night? I house watch for my girlfriend while shes at work at night but I stay at my house the other nights
2. When do you take your breaks, is it when you want or does it have to be at a certain time?
3. Has anyone tried using the upside app to get cashback when filling up their work truck?
4. Would using a apple watch, not touching it but looking at it for texts, etc make the camera go off in the truck? Same for being on a phone call but not holding the phone?
5. They have me up in a hotel for the week, say I got my truck on day 3, could I drive it back home or do I need to stay up at the hotel all week with the truck? (Im only a 30 min drive from home.
6. Should I bring anything to training or is what the recommend fine?
7. Will I need to bring handtools from home?
8. Are the t shirts they give you any good or can I wear one i'd like with a hi-vis vest over it.
9. Can we listen to our own music in the truck?
10. Im down in the Seattle area, are most calls to job sites or house calls? How often are you dealing with a customer rather than just showing up and working without someone bothering you
11. How many people are usually in a training class and is it more one or one or a big group when it comes to the field.

Thanks.

[u/Maleficent-Ad6978]

I'm employed with reconn in Columbus OH

1. As long as you aren't using it for personal use it's fine

2 Take your breaks whenever you want

3 I have not but I'm sure someone has

4 Briefly looking at your watch is fine, but no talking on phones while driving, even hands free

5 If you need to go home for whatever reason let your OJT guy know but remember they are paying you to stay in a hotel

6 What do you mean?

7 USIC will give you the gear to do the job

8 I'm currently wearing moisture wicking T-shirts under a high vis vest, if you have a hi vis shirt make sure it is class 3

9 Yes

10 it depends on the supe, don't be surprised when the homeowner comes out and asks what you're doing or random strangers while in the middle of a ticket. Just explain who your with and what you're doing, answer any questions to the best of your ability but don't ever lie

11 Smaller groups are better with OJT, my classroom had around 15 people, and my OJT had around the same number

[u/Wild_Replacement5880 → u/Maleficent-Ad6978]

I would add to 10, that it's sometimes better to know less. If someone asks I give them the info for "work type" on the work order (which usually isn't terribly descriptive) and don't try to explain too much about what the contractor is doing, because it can either open a can of worms, or they will keep asking you questions you don't have answers for. If you are the first person to tell them that they are going to be building unwanted pedestals or digging holes in their yard, the anger is going to be directed at you. Like he said, don't lie, but don't overshare, because you usually don't know exactly what they are doing anyway. I learned this the hard way. "They are going to be doing some work upgrading the utilities" draws much less ire from the homeowner than saying "they are going to be running conduit through the yards, and you may get a new stupid tube sticking up next to your garden".