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New Career

SuburbanNoize
Well guys, I might have gotten the line on a career, not a job. I may be able to leave behind my job, and start a Career!

Ive been invited/sponsored, by an employee where i work, for the apprentice program, i would start work as a Line Man, i guess working on the powerlines, here in FL. And from what i understand, you work, and go to their training school, which your paid for, and you can work your way up to Plant Operator, Or Turbine Mechanic, or any kind of power plant job.

And the best part, their a UNION shop!
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Comments

9 comments

Date Votes
  • Horse Plains Drifter
    If you can become a lineman, go for it!! If you are single and willing to travel you can follow those big storms around the US and make a ton of money.
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  • SuburbanNoize
    MT, the guy thats helping me, said you can make 40 grand your first year as a lineman!

    I am single, untethered, and definately willing to travel.
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  • spanielsells
    I'm not a fan of unions (a union shop would cause me to seek an alternative career), but I'm happy for you and if you think a union is a bonus, then that's wonderful!

    I wish you the best of luck in your new career.

    If I may offer some advice... enjoy the travel, but be realistic about it. I spent many years of my life traveling for the company. Living out of a suitcase sucks after a period of time. When you're on the road a lot, you tend to lose a lot of friendships and it is very difficult to develop and maintain relationships.

    I have another friend, my best friend from college, who has spent the last 20 years on the road. In the meantime, all of her friends have found someone and are now married. She is now almost 41 and wondering where her life has gone. She's got money because the company has pretty much picked up the tab on all of her expenses and she's had nothing to do but sock it away. At the same time, she's lonely and she's realized that she's not going to have kids.

    I realize that as a guy, this may not be a priority for you (compounded with the fact that we can have kids in our 90s if we want), but it is just something to consider.

    Make the good money now, do the travel bit, but also remember that you have to prepare for your life down the road. If marriage is of any interest to you, these days if you've not been married by the time you're in your mid-30s, many women will think there's something wrong with you (IOW, for some reason if you're 35 and divorced, you're still a catch, but if you're 35 and single, you're screwed up).
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  • mrseatle
    quote:Originally posted by SuburbanNoize
    and definately willing to travel.


    yer good to go then. With all those cooperation agreements between power company's, any big storm in the region and you could get sent there. So the OT could be good too.
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  • Maalox
    quote:Originally posted by SuburbanNoize
    quote:Originally posted by Maalox
    Good luck with the new position. For those willing to put in the hours it can be lucrative. I hope you like being outside at all hours and in all kinds of weather as that is what the position requires.

    We do some in plant work for the local electrical utility. If you moved into a plant position that would be nice also. However many of these positions are still 24-7 365.

    My only recommendation would be to work hard and be willing to learn.


    Thats me!


    I thought so! [8D] Be sure and take them up on any classess offerred to learn about the industry.
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  • SuburbanNoize
    Maalox, i definately will do that! My dad worked for Delmarva Power and Light, later renamed Conectiv, then they changed back to DP&L, for 20 years. He was a Union member, Local 1238, He was whats called an LMO (Elmo) Lead Maintenance Operator, i noticed down here in florida, they have operators, and maintenance for the turbines, My pop did both. He also worked a crazy shift, he would work 3 days, 7am-7pm, be off for 2 days, then work 2 days, 7pm-7am, be off for 2 days, then work 7am-7pm, it was crazy, he cold never get used to working a regular schedule. They say working shift work takes ten years off your life automaticaly.
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  • Maalox
    quote:Originally posted by SuburbanNoize
    Maalox, i definately will do that! My dad worked for Delmarva Power and Light, later renamed Conectiv, then they changed back to DP&L, for 20 years. He was a Union member, Local 1238, He was whats called an LMO (Elmo) Lead Maintenance Operator, i noticed down here in florida, they have operators, and maintenance for the turbines, My pop did both. He also worked a crazy shift, he would work 3 days, 7am-7pm, be off for 2 days, then work 2 days, 7pm-7am, be off for 2 days, then work 7am-7pm, it was crazy, he cold never get used to working a regular schedule. They say working shift work takes ten years off your life automaticaly.


    Know what you mean. My wife is a nurse and she used to work 12 hr shifts similar to your dad. When I was in college, one summer I worked third shift at a chrome plating factory. Lasted 3 nights and then found a another job working construction. Shift work was not for me!
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  • SuburbanNoize
    Ive been working 3rd shift for the last 8 months now, it works good for me, as i seem to have serious problems getting up before 9am!

    So whats going on in tampa?

    I hear they have that big gasparilla thing tonight or is it tommorow?
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  • zipperzap
    quote:SuburbanNoize:

    Well guys, I might have gotten the line on a career, not a job. I may be able to leave behind my job, and start a Career!

    One of my oldest and best friends became a line man for Buchanan/Niles MI when he was 18 - and is a supervisor today. It was a great career for him ... and as long as you aren't still riding the bucket in storms/blizzards, at 2am, after you're 50 it's a good job!

    ... I doubt blizzards will pose much of as problem to you in FL!
    [8D]
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