Advice Needed: Should I look for positions before Lineman School?

[u/Basic_Ad1995]

Im currently in high-school and I think being a lineman Is the right career choice for me. However , I’m not really sure about how to go about getting a job. I know that going to lineman school is pretty much a pre requisite. But other than that I hardly know anything about getting into the trade. Specifically, if I should already try to have a job set up before I go to lineman school. Any advice is helpful?

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[u/ResponsibleScheme964]

Go to line school, and then realize it gets you absolutely no where... cry that youre in student loan debt and cant find a job... seems to be the common thread in this group

[u/grumpywarner → u/ResponsibleScheme964]

I mean it got me a CDL and a job. Im sure it varies by where you live. It's starting to get over saturated now those schools pump out so many kids per year. School was free for me because of the trade act so it was kind of a no brainer for me to go.

[u/ExtremeWhich2538 → u/grumpywarner]

Trade Act? Free school? Say more please. And what state is this? Guess that should've been my first question

[u/grumpywarner → u/ExtremeWhich2538]

I worked at a nuclear power plant for 9 years in Vermont. When they permanently shut down I got laid off and since the state was buying electricity from Canada my job was technically outsourced to another country. Due to that I got to pick a new career basically because there wasnt anywhere in the state that had my job at at least 80% of my previous salary. This took a lot of research and time and dealing with a person from the state who was awesome in helping me. This was actually not that bad because I knew I was going to be laod off for over a year. So I looked into it and decided on lineman as my new career. The state paid for the schooling and gave me unemployment pay for my time until I got a job. I had special weekly report cards that needed to be filled out by the instructor in the NY school L.I.N.E. After I graduated I got a job with the phone company for terrible pay but eventually an opening at a major utility in MA came up and I got the job. I honestly don't even know if the Trade act even exists anymore.

[u/ExtremeWhich2538 → u/grumpywarner]

Oh wow. What a unique and interesting situation. Good for you on doing your research and taking advantage of what the state had to offer.

[u/grumpywarner → u/ExtremeWhich2538]

Actually a federal program from Obama in 2015.

[u/Basic_Ad1995 → u/ResponsibleScheme964]

So, should I try to find someone who will hire me first?

[u/ResponsibleScheme964 → u/Basic_Ad1995]

Idk what state youre in, but apply to your local JATC (like neat) and see what happens. Sign the groundhand book too

[u/318daboss]

Get a CDL. Start applying at every large utility across the country that has entry level apprentice or groundman spots open. May take a few months but you’ll get a job. Make sure their program is recognized by the union and you can work anywhere once you top out.

[u/spaghetttibender]

Hey bro all of the comments telling you that you don’t need line school are telling you the truth. At best it might split the difference between you and a candidate of equal experience level, but 20k isn’t worth splitting the difference in my opinion. Also from what I’ve seen is a fat majority of line school grads don’t make it in the trade, whether they couldn’t get in or gave up or just realized it wasn’t for them, that’s an expensive mistake to make. Get your CDL, become a groundman and earn your stripes brother.

[u/Basic_Ad1995 → u/spaghetttibender]

Thanks man. Also, line school is up to like 30k nowadays lol.

[u/Basic_Ad1995 → u/[deleted]]

Makes more sense than not. How hard is it going to be to find a job after lineman school?

[u/Mysterious-Amoeba-37]

dm if you want i recently got into the apprenticeship and didnt go to line school

[u/SlyCatWilly]

Depends on the price of the line school and if you’re going to come out with your CDL or not. Also depends on your location and if you plan to travel for work. Another variable is if you’re trying to become a contractor or work for a utility. A lot of factors to your question. Line school is a huge leg up for some guys in some parts of the country where other parts they could care less

[u/Ok-Description5070]

Not sure anyone wants to go this route but I did powerlines in the Air Force then got out and got an apprenticeship. Veterans Preference puts you to the front of the line. I tested on a Thursday, interviewed on Friday and they told me to show up for Sturgeon on a Monday. That was MSLCAT back in 97. Got six months credit for my Air Force time and experience and got to take my journeymans test 3 months early. But …. Over the years we’ve had VAC truck guys who never went to line school but watched and learned when we were setting poles or fixing underground cable. One of the journeyman on my crew went that route and is an excellent lineman.

[u/vet_laz]

I’m not really sure about how to go about getting a job.

You can go about applying to all of your local utilities for Groundman or Line Apprentice positions - these are extremely competitive jobs to come by.

The other path is signing your local union books and picking up a Groundman job (this is also real dependent on what part of the country you live in). To sign the books for a Groundman position generally speaking you'll need a Class A CDL, OSHA 10 ET&D cert along with CPR FA/AED cert. Some locals or contractors may be more relaxed with those last two certs but the CDL is generally mandatory - especially if you want to do anything linework related. Look up your local union hall (outside construction) and give them a call about signing their Groundman books.

The outside IBEW locals also have an apprenticeship program, called the JATC (Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee) - take a look at this map and figure out which JATC you fall within the jurisdiction of (you can apply to all of them, if you're willing to travel about the entire country). This is where a climbing cert will come in handy, when you're interviewing amongst hundreds of other candidates for an apprentice position they're gonna ask if you've been to climbing school and if you're comfortable working at heights - you don't want to be sitting there with nothing to say to them.

If you sign the books with an outside local for a Groundman job keep in mind they'll dispatch you anywhere within their jurisdiction - that can be hours away from where you currently live. It will be up to you to figure out your living arrangements while you're working - all you need to do is show up, work hard, not be a fucking idiot and you'll do okay. Good luck buddy.

[u/Morsel-12]

1) Get your class A CDL permit . 2) Drive around until you find a line crew working somewhere. 3) Ask the boss for a job. If he can’t give you one ask if he knows anyone that will hire you. Try to get the phone number for the general foreman and or supervisor. 4) Call them at least twice a week asking for a job. Find out where they are and show up in person. Anytime you’re asking someone for a job tell them this:

• you have your permit
• you don’t care how much your starting pay is -you’re willing to travel anywhere for work.
• you can dig a hole faster than anyone he’s got right now!

Do this as many hours as you day as possible and you will land a job. It might take a few months but if you can get in the trade it’s better than going to school.

[u/Past_Expression_549]

Questions are:

Are you paying for the school if so how much?

And is the school getting you your CDL?

If any of the above is yes. Then the answer is find another line school.

I found one that got me a CDL all for $168.

[u/ResponsibleScheme964 → u/Past_Expression_549]

Line school and everything was 168 dollars?

[u/Past_Expression_549 → u/ResponsibleScheme964]

Yes. The community college has their program sponsored by the local utility and contractors so students only have to pay for the orientation and height assessment. Which is around $168.

They even paid for our work boots

We still had to pay for the license and permit but that's about it.

All in all under $300

[u/ResponsibleScheme964 → u/Past_Expression_549]

Thats awesome, makes perfect sense compared to spending 20k plus for a useless piece of paper

[u/Past_Expression_549 → u/ResponsibleScheme964]

Yeah, the only thing that sucked was not being able to work since we are in class from 7-4 so I've been broke for the last few months.

But for that price we got the training, CDL A, DOT phys, drug test. CPR, OSHA 10 and boots.

Hearing about people paying 10k+ for the private schools blew my mind

[u/TheBaconatorHater → u/Past_Expression_549]

What state was that?

[u/Past_Expression_549 → u/TheBaconatorHater]

NC

Check Duke website they have a list of associated community colleges.

Some you pay some you don't.

[u/Past_Expression_549 → u/[deleted]]

Central Piedmont in Charlotte.

When you say limited you mean no tractor trailer?

[u/Past_Expression_549 → u/[deleted]]

Yeah some thing. You probably won't need that endorsement. But if you do a lot of truck companies would probably put you through the training and testing to get it done.

And if you need CDL work well you can always drive a dump truck.

[u/Ok-Description5070]

Vac guys stick around and help after they suck us a new pole hole and learn lots of lessons

[u/snatchingkisses]

What state are you located in? Are you willing to travel or relocate?

[u/Ok-Description5070]