May 22, 2009

Good evening ladies and gentlemen. My name is Mike and I am currently a first year apprentice of the JATC Local 26. This will be my first time blogging ever but it seems someone out feels I'm qualified for the job so it would be a pleasure to share my experiences.

Well guess I'll start from the beginning. Unlike most I came into the apprenticeship with no previous construction experience what so ever. I've worked continuously basically all of my teenage and adult life but I lacked direction and just floated between various typical and untypical jobs. I heard a little bug about apprenticeships through some casual conversation and it led me to do a little research. Initially I had my mind set on engineering but after a bit of researching different programs the JATC stood out to me the most. To make a long story short I had some job troubles put in an application and after a some interviews and testing I was a union electrician (crazy right).

So what can expect on actually stepping onto a job site? I was extremely worried about my what my first day would be like. I was afraid I'd go to work and be the only one that didn't know a thing and look foolish, but after my first day I realized the whole apprentice thing was a regular process for everyone that's been around and ever tho I was eager to learn I was given some beginner task until I someone got my feet wet. As time progressed I seen my scope of work and knowledge increasing and I'm at a point now where I feel pretty comfortable in the workplace, but of course there is still a world of things for me to learn.

Now onto the school aspect of things. School feels like a day off from work to me. You'll find that all the teachers are very down to earth and since they've pretty much experienced everything that you will in the apprenticeship and as journeymen it has made them very knowledgeable and aware of the tools you will need to succeed. In class the teachers and students speak and exchange thoughts very freely. This definitely helps me personalize information so that I understand it in my own way.

My overall experience in the JATC has been very positive. They've given me an education, career, opportunity and all they've asked in return is for me to succeed. I will keep everyone posted on my progress. Thanks to all of you who have taken the time out to share some of my experiences and hopefully my insight may offer you some of the guidance I wish had before joining.