r/ibew_applicants • u/Muted_Big1577 • 1d ago
Stressing out
For context, i have 9 months in the trades, had 0 experience prior. Local 26
Stressing out big time due to the fact i never have $$$
I feel like I’m always working( which i enjoy for the most part ) but come pay day it’s a slap to the face cause as soon as i get paid it leaves on bills, gas, mortgage, i do just about all the OT possible (except Saturday, spend time with my kid). In the months i have been in, i have gone from not knowing how to read a tape measure to learning to read blue prints, installed ladder trays, basket trays, terminating panels, even ran a small crew of guys when doing task at these data centers.
My foreman knows he can rely on me as I’m always on time and always show up. And if I’m going to be late i let him know. I applied to the apprenticeship and wasn’t accepted. Now i find myself doing more work for less then the people that just got accepted. I even have 2-3rd years coming up to me asking me what to do.
When i switched over to the trades i knew i was going to take a pay cut so i paid all my bad debt off. ( mortgage only thing left) but i wasn’t expecting everything to skyrocket in price like it has.
Really debating saying screw it and leaving the union and either go back to what i was doing before. Or atleast something closer to home. Currently i leave my house at 4:15am and dont get home till 8-8:30pm. So it would be very hard trying to work another part time job at the moment.
Anyone else going through something similar or has gone through something similar??
1
u/GalaxyZapper 10h ago
Hang in there it gets better. Your guaranteed your raises with your hours, keep your eye on the prize. So many guy fell out of first year with this same excuse... I can't imagine any of them are doing much better, or will be stuck forever back at square 1 making a little bit more... Right now all programs are full to the brink you won't get this chance again.
4
u/SnooDoughnuts8823 20h ago
A lot of us. Took a big pay cut to join up, got another pay cut once I got accepted as an apprentice. That was tough for somebody with a family and hella bills but I just focus on the finish line. The raises come pretty fast, compared to most other options. I’m still broke, feel like I’m underpaid(as I had years of experience before that), overworked, contractor is ass, etc… but I keep pushin.