[JorgeC]

Alright, so here's the thing, I'm just a young gun(19) trying to become a lineman and wanted some advice from people that are already in the field. I sort of stumbled into the field when I took a class in industrial/residential electricity outta high school. But the thing is I don't really want to do residential or industrial work, I wanna work for DWP or Edison. So then my cousin then told me about a class he was going to take given by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. The class was electrical craft helper. I passed it and got my certificate and what not. Now I'm waiting for the city to give the civil service test but that could be about a year away. The same cousin also told me about a job opening in Burbank for an apprentice lineman so I put in the application, passed the written test but I failed the last test of the physical abilities test because of carelessness on the timed toolbag lift on a bucket truck. So there went that opportunity. My cousin was lucky enough to get into the Pre-Electrical Distribution Mechanic Trainee class at the East Los Angeles Skills Center. The thing is that the waiting list for the class is like 2 years long. The way he got in was that he went to a local yard and started talking to a worker and the guy was nice enough to give him a letter of recommendation. With that letter they let him take a test and he was in the pole-climbing class just like that. But I've been having a little more trouble getting a letter of recommendation. There isn't many yards from DWP where I live since that area is mostly Edison. I really want to take this class and I was wondering what you guys would recommend that I do. By the way, I put in an application with the City of LA for an Electric Station Operator and I got a letter in the mail yesterday for a test date on the 19th so we'll see how that goes. I'm also on the books for the IBEW union. I applied, passed the test, and got an oral interview back in like October but still nothing. I was just wondering what you guys recommend an eager newbie do to get into the field. Thanks for taking the time to read the long post and any advice would be great.

[Robert F]

What area are you in?

Personally, I'd drive around till I found a yard or some linemen on lunch and start chatting with them. From what I've heard going through the East LA Skills center guarantees you job with LADWP. Is the city still offering the trainee position? Where they pay you to take the classes? If I see my neighbor later I'll ask him if he has any suggestions, he's not a lineman but he works for DWP in construction.

Which IBEW hall did you hit? LADWP is under Local 18.

[Robert F]

Hahaha and before I forget.... WELCOME ABOARD!!!!!!!!

You've found a second home

[Princess]

JorgeC: Welcome to the site. Don't give up on your quest.
I'm not sure of your exact location but if you tried Burbank
then maybe you can try City of Glendale. As for DWP maybe
you can get hired in at an entry level position and move
around once you get in. Your young so you have time to
do that. I think they have a pole climber trainee program.
It might have changed, not to sure.

Polehog might be able to shed more light on this for you.

Welcome aboard and hope to see you posting! !

[Wood Pecker]

Hey JC,
Welcome to the Boards
Damn I wish I was your age again
Sounds to me like you have done everything under the sun
Somebody somewhere is gonna recognize your determination!!!!!
I am sure it wont be long before that happens
Lets see if some of these old school lineman can give you a few pointers at getting on?
Who knows it may be one of the youngones that has the advice
WP

[JorgeC]

Thanks for the help people. Yeah, the DWP still offers the trainee position. I know there's other ways to get in but I guess I'm just stubborn and really want to take this pole climbing class. I've heard the same thing Robert F has, taking the class basically guarantees you a job with LADWP. But I'm not sure if the trainee position is where they pay you to take the class. As far as I know, the class is called Pre-Electric Distribution Mechanic Trainee so you would have to take it to start working as a trainee right? I know enrollment is like 100 dollars but that's not the thing cuz I'm getting like $2,300 in financial aid for the class that I'm taking right now. And my cousin also found a place that give you grants for your climbers and other equipment. Another thing I want to do is get my CDL, because I know that will be a big advantage. Hopefully it will take some attention away from my young age and inexperience on my application. haha. As for which, local hall I hit, it was local 11 in Commerce where the have the Electrical Training Institute. Which reminds me, I have to go in this week for roll call on the summer helper program. I'll have to try other Departments of Water and Power like Glendale, Pasadena, and Azusa. Thanks for your help and support Oh yeah, I live in Baldwin Park, northeast of the 605 and the 10.

[Princess]

Hopefully it will take some attention away from my
young age and inexperience on my application

By California law age can not be asked.

You should take all the classes that you need while your
still young and in good shape.

You have many city municipalities around you. Covina,
Monrovia, El Monte, Pomona, Alhambra, etc. But DWP
will probably be the best bet at your age. You can
retire in 30 years. Retirement at 49 sounds very nice.

Good luck in your endeavors.

[TheOgdenManCan]

Hey JC,
Another youngun' here on the boards Well, join me and FutureLineman Best time to talk to linemen is when there are out of state peeps on storm duty or simply just walking into a utility company office (hehe that worked for me everytime to collect some meter seals from that company). If you just walk into an office at a small company or an office which is not very congested, that is when you can get all of the info your looking for Check out some LA area utilities

Pasadena Water and Power
Burbank Water and Power
Glendale Water and Power
Azusa Light and Water
Colton Utilities
SCE and also DWP

So. Cal. has a shitload of muny utilities, heh, more options than what I have in the DC area(4 friggin utilities lol). Good luck wherever you start out man
-Nick

[TheOgdenManCan]

http://www.energy.ca...ic_utility.html

This might help your options for finding a company you want to work for

[JorgeC]

Thanks for the help. That was a great link. I approached a meter reader from Edison today and started talking to him and he told me that Edison is looking for Groundmen right now so I have to go put in an application and see how it hoes.

[slack-span]

Good luck, I hope you get on with them. You ahve alot going for ya..

[bulldozer7777]

Hey JORGE wishing you the BEST OF LUCK and WELCOME ABOARD enjoy this site






BULLDOZER
Safety is my Game

[bulldozer7777]

http://www.energy.ca...ic_utility.html

This might help your options for finding a company you want to work for 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hey Nick thats cool very informative







BULLDOZER
Safety is my Game