u/FlawlessBeryl

I’m currently in the last week of the 6 weeks of classes that my local does for first year apprentices, and although I will say I’ve been enjoying the last two weeks of shop time, I feel like I’m behind some of my classmates as far as understanding certain hands on concepts.

I really want to succeed in this trade, but I’m worried that once I get called out into the field I won’t be able to pick it up as quick as I maybe should, or I won’t know certain things that my journeyman and foreman may expect me to.

For instance, today in class we did a project where we hung iron pipe and copper pipe and joined them at a certain distance after attaching them to 90’s to point upward and meet in the middle with a male sweat to female threaded copper adapter. I was placed in a group with two people who had already been in the construction industry, and one person who hadn’t, but had been to an HVAC trade program. I myself have zero prior construction or building experience.

Throughout the project I’d often find myself trying to think of things to do. I threaded and cut some of the iron, and hung some of the hangers, but the bulk of the work was done by the two who had prior experience. Some things that we did it seemed that my hand was being held by the guy with plumbing experience, which I appreciated, but I wished that I could have been a more productive member of the team, and not felt like what was essentially an anchor.

I felt pretty bad not knowing what to do, and essentially just watching them complete some tasks, basically staring and twiddling my thumbs (not literally). I’d ask them how I could help, but sometimes there was just nothing I could do besides handing them what they needed up on the ladder.

I don’t intend on quitting at all, but I’d just like to know if anyone else has had similar experiences and how it turned out for you. Did it start clicking eventually?

I think it’s partially really weighing on me because when we were out on smoke break I heard a couple of the other apprentices talking before we were put into groups and they said something like “ah, you’re gonna have so and so, and so and so and so and so” “fuck, if that happens I’m just leaving” and I was thinking to myself “if I wasn’t in earshot I’d probably be listed along with them”, and I don’t want to be in that list of the least helpful people hahaha.

I’m one of maybe two or three people in the class that have no prior construction or similar experience, so it’s been a huge learning curve after getting into the shop.

As the title states, I was notified and accepted my apprenticeship offer as of yesterday, and was told to wait for my packet in the mail, but in my excitement I honestly feel like there was something I may have missed, and didn’t receive any email on the matter.

Is there anything I should be getting ready, or doing that is urgent before I receive my packet?

Can I be sure they didn’t call the wrong person? Lol

I think most of my anxiety is coming from the lack of an email confirmation or anything of that sort.

I just got home from my UA JATC interview, and at the end of the interview was told by one of the board members “So after the interviews, we’re gonna have (lady) run the numbers and come up with the averages, and it’s all done by the scores, so even if you don’t end up getting in this round, I’d strongly suggest you reapply. I had to apply twice before I got in. If for some reason you don’t it didn’t mean we didn’t like you or anything, just that the numbers weren’t in your favor this time.”

In my mind, that was essentially him giving me a soft “probably not this time…”, and left me wondering:

What could I do to help my chances in the next application period?

How could I begin work as an apprentice/helper in a non-union shop if that is a good option?

Was his response a “soft-no”, as I anticipate or is it generally standard?

How much better are my chances of placement on re-application?

I know those last two questions may sound needy or otherwise, but I was very much looking forward to the opportunity to join this trade, and I’m already feeling a bit like I’ve been turned away before I get the results.