Should You Become a Material Handler? 

Hi, you mentioned in the second paragraph that becoming a material handler can push back your apprenticeship application. I was just wondering if you could talk about that a little bit more? I was hoping of becoming a material handler and then apply this upcoming January. Would doing that be a good idea?

@@JonathanSanchez-sz4uc Hey Jonathan! I think that becoming a material handler first is a great idea and that it will really increase your chances of getting into the apprenticeship like I mentioned in the video. All I meant by that was that if you decide to become a material handler right away then you are deciding not to apply for the apprenticeship right away because you’ll probably want to be a material handler for a little while first. That being said, the fact that being a material handler first will make you a more qualified candidate for the apprenticeship, it could actually speed up the process because you’ll likely get a better rank on the list based off of your interview and get called to start the apprenticeship sooner. Hopefully that makes sense.

@@MadElectrician Ahh now I understand. Thank you so much!

Anytime bro!

Hey, did you ever become a material handler for local 48? If so how is/was it? I'm trying to get in now and would really appreciate some insight. Thanks!

@@jasonw9046 Same boat bro, did you ever start on as a handler?

Same dream here, any insight?

​@@jasonw9046any help?

​@@alexsanoff585same boat

Right on, Tayvian! That’s an excellent way to get your foot in the door and start off your career. So many people I know used the material handler route as a means of getting into the apprenticeship. Thanks for taking the time to watch my video and I wish you the best of luck in your pursuit of this fantastic career! ⚡️

Thanks bro! It’s been unreal to watch the growth. My goal for the end of 2021 is 10,000 subs and it’s looking like that’s going to be a very attainable goal with the way that these numbers are projecting. I’m excited to see where things actually end up in a year from now. Are you planning on putting out more videos on your channel?

@@MadElectrician Yes! I just put up a new one and I have about half a dozen more planned out. My videos take a lot of time so it will take a while for them to start rolling out but it should be quicker than 5 months 😂

Yeah man, it seems like a lot more time is spent editing your videos than mine. Mine are very simple. I think all of the hard work you put into your videos really show and it adds a level of professionalism. I’ll check out your new video!

Hey, do you have an update on this? I am about to start as a material handler with local 48 to help get into the apprenticeship. Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks!

@@jasonw9046 I'm the same, I'm trying to be a material handler in the Seattle area but I want to know if it's a good idea

@@jasonw9046hey I start a material handler position on Monday in Portland also, did you get into the apprenticeship yet?

I think you might be right about that. You always have my back, Jeremy 😉

interested to hear how it went for you a year later?

@@oldGnRrocks1 wow first time I read this comment well I learned a couple things, first is that 2000 hours limit is stated on the website but actually doesn’t matter if you don’t want to be an apprentice and just want to work as a UA which is cool but I’m actually still trying to get in lol. So after having over a year of experience I’m on my second solar job now and it’s past the halfway mark. I didn’t make the cut the first time around, but this time will be different since I have about 8 letters of recommendation and more confidence and determination than the last time I interviewed. Hopefully to get my second shot by the end of next month or October. Still going strong and still trying to get in! No giving up, thankfully there’s steady work to keep working after this project and racking up hours which is always good for leverage in your interview!

@@jonathanpalos2560 How did it go your second time?

$24/ hr is actually a great starting wage if you're just starting out! It can be difficult to take a pay cut when pursuing a new career, but I would highly recommend doing whatever you can to make it happen, keeping the end goal in mind. Check out the video on my channel where I interview my brother about him needing to take a pay cut. You might find it insightful. Thanks for watching! ⚡️

A material handler where I’m in the San Bernardino area and the locals here don’t have that position

How’s everything going ?

@@highfeelz not so good I left it Wasn’t for me at least there but I mastered it in a month maybe I will try again in the future

@@OtaviaBrown ah man.. as I’m starting my onboarding tomorrow. Hope it goes well. Wishing you the best of luck with your next search or congrats if you have something already

@@OtaviaBrown is there anyway that you can apply for material handler on there website or did you go in person?

@@raindrxpz2473 it was actually through a temp agency believe it or not I had 30 days literally to obtain it and obtained it in less than 30 I just didn’t stick around for long

Great video suggestion. I think I’ll add that to my list. I’ve been compiling a pretty lengthy list of videos that I want to put out. Next year will be a big year filled with a lot of new videos. Regarding this topic, I’ll do my research and try to get a video out sooner than later on this topic. Thanks for the suggestion!

@@MadElectrician Hey many, appreciate the super helpful videos. I haven't seen a video with addition certifications to increase your chances of acceptance. Does OSHA-10, OSHA electrical, OSHA CPR AED sound like it can be helpful? I've seen someone say they did these online certifications and I'm wondering if its actually helpful?

Awesome! Thanks Royce! It’s my pleasure. Happy Thanksgiving to you too ⚡️

@@MadElectrician couple questions for you if you don't mind.. going through the apprenticeship program with the IBEW/JATC/NECA, there is a rank in which one has to wait to be hired on by a contractor correct? Are contractors slowly hiring people due to the pandemic? Has the construction industry taken a hit because of Covid? Thanks for all your helpful advice!

Love that idea! I’ll probably make that a video that I do pretty soon. I have a couple that a want to probably do first but I think that’s a great idea. I’ve had a lot of people asking me about that. Thanks for the suggestion!

@@MadElectrician thank you for spreading knowledge, advice and positive encouragement in the comments. you're the man, man

Lmk if you find out

It’s my pleasure! Thanks for watching Ricky ⚡️

Hey Aj! Right on! I’m really glad to hear that. Sorry I haven’t been able to be too much help with how they to things there in BC Vancouver. Glad that you’re still finding this information to be helpful!

I live in Washington too. Idk what part your in but I’d recommend going to the union hall in your area and ask for a blue card. With this you can apply for any open material handler positions for the ibew. The best pre experience is the kind that gives you some experience around electrical workers. You can’t work for them until your 18 and have your diploma so I’d say apply for the ibew and work as a material handler while you wait. You could be waiting at least a year

@@ycazawilliams2535 and I could apply as a material handler at 16 correct?

I’m 16 trying to apply when I’m 18 Washington

Hey Preston! I just saw your direct message on Instagram too. I’m a little backed up on messages there but I’m trying my best to keep up here on RU-vid. Thanks for reaching out! If I were you I would go for it. First, I think that being a CW temporarily until you can start school is actually a great idea. It will give you a lot of experience and then you’ll just be that much more ready when school starts up. I can’t speak to what the non-union is like from experience, but I can speak to how I’ve been treated here at Local 48 and what my experience has been like. To be honest, I feel like I’ve been given an incredible opportunity through the IBEW. Pay, benefits, and pensions aside (which are usually people’s reasons for going union), it’s been pretty incredible. The schooling is top notch and paid for by the IBEW. Not sure if your union will be the same, but here they gave us all free milwaukee and Klein tools, and they also give us all of our books that we need throughout our apprenticeship. I’ve been treated great and I feel like if anything ever happens on the job site that the union will have my back. I never have to worry about not being paid fairly, not getting breaks like I should, not getting holidays off (of paid overtime for holidays), being pressured to work in a dangerous situation that I’m not comfortable with, etc. There are so many reasons why I would recommend going with the IBEW. Of course, like I said, the pay, benefits, and pensions are just a given too because they are so great. Watch my IBEW Wages video if you haven’t seen it yet. I talk a lot about that. I know it’s probably a difficult decision, especially if you can see yourself having a career with your current company. I would just say that you probably applied for the IBEW for a reason and to remind yourself of what those reasons were. I personally know a lot of people who have made the switch from non-union to union and have been really happy about it. I think that if you’re being offered an opportunity to join then you should absolutely take it. I know I’m partial to the union side but that’s just because of how great my experience has been with it. I know that there are also great no -union companies out there too that also treat their employees great and have great pay/ benefits. Anyways, I hope that helps a bit. That’s my two cents, for whatever it’s worth. Feel free to ask any follow up questions too 👍🏼 Side note: some day hopefully soon I’ll make a video talking about this stuff.

@@MadElectrician your awesome. Thank you. Definetly a tough decision but i want to make the right one so i can stay and grow there. Thanks for all your feedback. Keep doing what your doing. I love the content and it has helped me a lot through the process!!👍🏻👍🏻

Not sure how things work out in Kentucky, but are you earning hours towards an electrical (whether Kentucky electricians or Kentucky master electrician's license) and plumbing license simultaneously? Will the union offer the opportunity to gain a Master license, whereas the other company will eventually grant a "lower tier" license? Looks like from what I'm seeing online - you have to be a licensed master to do commercial work. Here in WA there are multiple "tiers" - 02 residential, 01 commercial/journey level, and master - which you can only get after having an 01. I think eventual licensure opportunities are a big factor in weighing career choices. Not to mention whoever is offering the most robust education.

Hey Aaron! That’s a tricky question actually. What I was talking about was almost more of the chain of command. That being said, a master electrician could be a journeyman, foreman, general foreman, or even the owner of a company. For that reason they could really fall in many different places. I think that if someone has put in the work to become a master electrician and they actually pass the test and get their license, they are likely to be the kind of person who would be in a higher position like a general foreman, project manager, or the owner of a company. A lot of people will get their masters electrician license so that they can pull their own permits, which is something that you’d need to be able to do as a company owner. Hope that kind of makes sense.

@@MadElectrician Ya I've done a fair amount of listening to Dustin Stelzer over at Electrician U and his former 'journey 2 master' channel - he's a master electrician in Texas who tells a fair amount about the path to that level. I hadn't heard anything about career fluctuations between journeymen and master's in WA or OR though. My current company has journeymen only but for example has an electrical administrator who I assume fills that permitting role. Definitely interested to hear about the career paths/histories of masters as you encounter them working with the union.

I gotcha. Maybe some day I’ll make a video about that as I learn more about it myself. To be honest I haven’t looked into a masters electrician license much yet, but someday I will. I’ll probably want to get a masters license for myself someday. Dustin’s channel Electrician U is a really great channel. I started watching his content after I got into the trade and I’ve learned a ton from him myself. Someday I’d love to do some sort of collaboration with him if he’d be willing. Maybe if/ when my channel gets closer to the 100k subscriber mark though 😂

Hey Ernesto! I would say that it kind of depends. I want to say yes, but there's always a chance that you'll end up being a material handler for a smaller company on a job that doesn't last very long. Generally, as a material handler you'll go from one job to the next as they are completed and stick with the same company. I know people at the company I work for who have been material handlers for years and have actually just made careers out of it with no plans to stop. Are you considering becoming a material handler to get experience to get into the electrician apprenticeship or are you more considering it as a long term job? If you're mainly considering it to increase your chances of getting in and to gain experience, then I would highly recommend doing it 👍🏼

Woah! I’m really sorry to hear that 😢 I didn’t have to take a physical before I joined and I didn’t even know that was a thing. I’ve had colorblind questions from multiple people at this point so this is very interesting to hear. Please keep me updated on this. I really hope that those glasses you order help! Is it just partial color blindness? Like green and red look similar?

@@MadElectrician yeah it’s supposed to be red and green colors but I swear to you I can see red and green, I just can’t see the number lol

Bro, it’s been wild! I can hardly believe it myself!

@@MadElectrician imma dm you bro! I need to send you tequila this calls for a celebration man!!

Hey Mark! It all just depends on what the demand for new apprentices is like in the local that you’re applying to. Here at Local 48 they are constantly taking in new apprentices because there is a demand for electricians here and a lot of work. In other areas where there isn’t much happening at the moment then that local probably won’t be taking in as many. Here we are taking is around 18 a month. At least that’s how it was the last time I checked. Hope that helps!

@@MadElectrician yea its in california do you think they are demand around here since its so populated

To be honest I’m not really sure what things are like there as far as demand goes. I’d recommend calling your IBEW local/ training center and maybe asking them. That’s what I would do.

Hey Psyo123! I just pinned a comment at the top of this video to clarify things a bit. I was a little worried about how some of what I said in this video may have came across. There is definitely room for development and growth, and there is nothing wrong with even choosing to work a whole career as a material handler. I know people who actually do this and are very happy with it. I agree that there’s a lot of value in being a material handler before hand. I would have been a much better first year apprentice if I had been first. Thanks for your thoughts on this. Your opinions are valuable and caused me to explain things a bit further in that top pinned comment, so thank you!

Hey Chrystal! Great to hear from you again. Some locals are a bit dry at the moment depending on where you live (ours is still thriving here at local 48). There really aren’t any walk/ short in jobs that I’m aware of as far as the IBEW goes. The closest thing would probably be applying for a material handler position. I think it’s a great idea to try to gain more experience though. I don’t really have anything in mind, but if you get creative enough I’m sure that you’ll be able to find something that you can apply for to gain experience, whether it’s with the IBEW or not. Anything construction related would be a good idea. If it’s electrically related that’s even better though.

@@MadElectrician Hey man, how would construction help with my resume/interview? I want to do it, but I don't see how it's beneficial. If I do enter construction is there some type of work I should do or learn to help me enter IBEW apprenticeship program?