Advice needed - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Mr.Fingers · 04-06-2006, 04:33 PM

I'm currently a apprentice electrician and I enjoy doing it. Recently, I've been gaurnteed a job being a power lineman. The starting pay the company is offering is the same as a 3rd year electrician, making it possible for me to move out this year. But, I've been told that the job is very dangerous and hard. I only have a couple weeks to decide.

Does anyone here know or have any experience of what the work is like? Is it as dangerous as everyones telling me? I don't know what to do. If I take the job and I end up hating it, I would have to start my apprentice electrician all over, because they cancel the contract once you get out of the trade.

Thanks

ken0042 · 04-06-2006, 04:43 PM

Are you a member of a union? If so, you might want to check with your union as to what safety concerns they might have.

Mr.Fingers · 04-06-2006, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

Are you a member of a union? If so, you might want to check with your union as to what safety concerns they might have.

No, I'm not with IBEW. If the electric company I work with even heard you mumble those letters, they would can your ass.

And I'm sure that safety would be a number 1 priority with any power utility company.

SaskaBushFire · 04-06-2006, 04:50 PM

Well if you get your ticket you always have that to fall back on, if you take this job like you said you might end up with nothing in a couple months.

Risk vs Reward ... in this case I say that the risk is greater than the reward, especially considering the line of work you are in.

Frequitude · 04-06-2006, 05:04 PM

I'd finish your apprenticeship. That will open many more doors and opportunities. If you take this power lineman job and don't like it, you're kinda back to square 1. At a relatively unexperienced part of your career, there's no sense heading down such a narrow road.

Mr.Fingers · 04-06-2006, 05:06 PM

Another things is I've been told that once things slow down in Calgary, that Electricians are the most saturated of the trades. Yes, we need them now, but once Calgary slows down (only question is when) out of all trades, electricians will be one of the most hurt by it. Its no secret at are company that out of all the trades, most people go into electrical. (I've been told)

With a power line-man though, you always have those lines that need to be maintained. They are already understaffed and the benefits the company is offering (health premiems paid, full dental, prescriptions, RRSP's, 2 weeks holiday first year, 3 weeks the next year ect.) is much better than what Merit offers.

I just have no idea what I'm gonna do, and I don't have much time to decide.

RougeUnderoos · 04-06-2006, 05:12 PM

http://www3.gov.ab.ca/hre/whs/public...f/OID_2004.pdf

I don't know if that'll help. The stats for "utilities" don't look all that dangerous.

There are a lot of resources on the internet to learn about occupational health issues, even Alberta specific things. Poke around a bit and you might find some #s or information. I'm sure you can even phone the government or a union about this stuff.

Mr.Fingers · 04-06-2006, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fotze

In this economy especially for an electrician I would not jump at the first thing especially if you are apprehensive. It's an employees market so take advantage of it because when it is reversed they WILL take advantage of it.

and if you ever want some work to make some dough on the side doing some very simple electrical here PM me PLEASE!

Its not really jumping though, its more of a take it, or leave it ( I have an in). The company is offering first year line-man $21 bucks an hour, benefits that are better than any electric company I have seen, and are a respected, well-known company.

Its also very different work. Although both work with electrical, line-man maintain the grid. Which will always be needed whether its 5 or 30 years from now. too me, its more about looking toward the future than anything. Because with Electricians, once their is not as much work, so is the need for not as much electricians. (I heard storys from journeymen all about layoffs, when their is not enough work for everyone)

Thanks Rouge, I'm a little concerned about safety, but lets be honest, Electricians have a chance of getting bit too (thats why the rule is, treat every wire as live, until you know its dead). I think most of my concerns stems from friends more than anything. One told me he watched "Worlds most dangerous jobs" on TLC, and lineman was number 1. But I then did a bit of research of my own, and different sites had differnet opinions. none had line-man as number 1, some didn't even mention line-man, and others had line-man in the top 10. so who knows.

It was funny though, all the lists of most dangerous jobs I found on the net, whether they had line-man on their list or not, almost all had fisherman in their top 3. Good thing I have no interest in that

HockeyPuck · 04-06-2006, 07:37 PM

I think I'd agree with most others here, saying to stick with your apprenticeship. If the job market dries up here in Calgary, you can practice your trade up in Fort McMurray. I don't know if you want to do that, but from what I've read and heard, trades people up there make 6 figure salaries.

You could even keep a house here and still work up there - commuter buses come in and out of Fort Mac every weekend - 4 days in and 3 days back at home. That bus ride's gotta be a bear, but if you're young and have no obligations here - you might want to consider this option. I don't foresee the job market up there drying up - there so much development with the oil sands that those big companies will be active up there for quite a while.

Hey look, you are 2 cents richer...

KGB33 · 04-06-2006, 08:19 PM

It makes no sense to leave the trade before you are a licensed journeyman electrician. Stick with the apprenticeship and you will be able to get a job anywhere and always have your ticket to fall back on. Companies will say and offer you just about anything to get you to work for them, only to find out they're a lousy company to work for. If you take the job and down the road you are not happy with them you'd be screwed. You can always go back to them once you got your ticket.

Mr.Fingers · 04-06-2006, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HockeyPuck

I think I'd agree with most others here, saying to stick with your apprenticeship. If the job market dries up here in Calgary, you can practice your trade up in Fort McMurray. I don't know if you want to do that, but from what I've read and heard, trades people up there make 6 figure salaries.

You could even keep a house here and still work up there - commuter buses come in and out of Fort Mac every weekend - 4 days in and 3 days back at home. That bus ride's gotta be a bear, but if you're young and have no obligations here - you might want to consider this option. I don't foresee the job market up there drying up - there so much development with the oil sands that those big companies will be active up there for quite a while.

Hey look, you are 2 cents richer...

I would not move to Fort Mac. I don't care how much they are paying people. I grew up in Calgary all my life, and the last thing I want to do is move way up North, in the middle of nowhere.

FireFly · 04-06-2006, 08:29 PM

If the job is that bad, it will be available again when you're done your apprenticeship. I'd say finish your training as you'll always have that to fall back on. Reminds me of all the college basketball players who go pro before they're done getting educated, blow their knee and then can't get educated as they no longer get scholarships because they can't play...

Mr.Fingers · 04-06-2006, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KGB33

It makes no sense to leave the trade before you are a licensed journeyman electrician. Stick with the apprenticeship and you will be able to get a job anywhere and always have your ticket to fall back on. Companies will say and offer you just about anything to get you to work for them, only to find out they're a lousy company to work for. If you take the job and down the road you are not happy with them you'd be screwed. You can always go back to them once you got your ticket.

I know someone in the company, and believe me, they are not a lousy company. A pretty well know company actually, with great benefits and pay.

I could also make the same argument that I would have a power line-man ticket to fall back on.

either way, this is annoying. I have no idea what I'm gonna do...is the grass greener on the other-side like I've been told?

notoepik · 04-06-2006, 11:08 PM

From your replies to the people that have given advice, it seems to me that you want to take the other job and move on with your life. You don't want advice, you want approval.

That said, I agree with the others to stick with the apprenticeship.

Vulcan · 04-06-2006, 11:45 PM

I'd finish my apprenticeship. You'll have it for the rest of your life. Being a lineman may require some travel so I wouldn't worry about sometime having to go to Fort Mac. If you have a family some day and have to make the mortgage payment, you'll go wherever you have to. Also as a lineman you'll have to do some climbing in all weather. Not always so pleasant. Getting a union job is also good as the wages and benefits are usually better. A union member should have a good medical ,dental, etc. and retirement plan and coverage. The big bucks are tempting now but have patience, get your ticket and than look for a secure job that isn't at the whims of the economy.

Vulcan, old retired tradesman.

I-Hate-Hulse · 04-07-2006, 12:25 AM

No question, finish the apprenticeship. You sound young, think of this decision as being between a career and a job. One's for the long term, and one's for the short term. Over the long run, a career point of view will usually be the better one.

Avery · 04-07-2006, 01:12 PM

I'm a Jman electrician myself and I would suggest taking the power lineman job if you are only a first year electrical apprentice. You'll make more money and will be guaranteed a job. I would consider myself to be not a half bad tradesman and it took eleven companies for me to finish a four year apprenticeship. Being a lineman is much more demanding physically but I wouldn't worry at all about the safety issue, I have worked up in Fort McMurray and the safety standards there are equal to working as a lineman. Keep in mind that what most people don't know is that first and second year school is common for electrical and power lineman so if you want to bail when you're a third year and get back in the trade, you can. It's a no brainer, trust me, I get laid off at least once a year, I would kill to have a guaranteed job whereby I can depend on a paycheque. It doesn't sound like a big deal right now, I'm 22 myself, but later on in life when you have a wife, two kids, mortgage, and car payments you will wish you have a permanent job. Good luck whatever you choose.

Cheese · 04-07-2006, 01:19 PM

I agree with Avery...take the Power linemans position. Electricians are NOT flooding the market at present and in fact are a highly sought after commodity throughout Canada. You can if needed go back and get your Journeymans ticket later.
You will have to step back in pay to do so though...so keep that in mind.
Power linemen usually have about a 5 year shelf life...they dont like keeping them much longer because they get comfortable...that comfort leads to mistakes. A 13.8kV or greater mistake is a bad mistake.

Avery · 04-07-2006, 01:23 PM

Cheese no disrespect but you don't know what you are talking about. I've worked with tonnes of power lineman...every time you hook up to the city they send an Enmax guy out to do the termination........they're all fifty plus, not 25-30. You people really overestimate the danger involved with working with electricity - unless you're a total moron, if you're working with someone else, as you almost always are, it's very very tough to mess something up big. The worst thing I've ever done was cut through a BX with a pair of sidecutters when I was a first year, learned my lesson then.

Cheese · 04-07-2006, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Avery

Cheese no disrespect but you don't know what you are talking about. I've worked with tonnes of power lineman...every time you hook up to the city they send an Enmax guy out to do the termination........they're all fifty plus, not 25-30. You people really overestimate the danger involved with working with electricity - unless you're a total moron, if you're working with someone else, as you almost always are, it's very very tough to mess something up big. The worst thing I've ever done was cut through a BX with a pair of sidecutters when I was a first year, learned my lesson then.

No disrespect at all but are you sure you want to get into this?...Ive been in Electrical Engineering for 30 years....I think I have some history on my side. I dont overestimate anything at all.