Kind of a different one. I'm a 1st year in Local 24, got in my first try, and I know that's partly luck. My best friend from school applied the same time, ranked way down, and now he's saying he's done. He's going to keep working at the Wawa in Montclair and "figure it out."
He's better with his hands than me, honestly. I don't want to be the guy who got in lecturing him, but I also don't want him to waste a year. What would you have wanted someone to say to you? Or is it better to just leave him alone for a while?
Foreman, Inside Wireman (IBEW) · 19 years · Morris County, NJ
Mentor
The useful thing you can do is make the next step small. Not 'reapply,' just 'come with me Saturday, a buddy's shop needs a hand.' Once he's working near the trade again, the application stops feeling like a verdict on him. Stay safe.
1st-year apprentice, UA · 1 year · Essex County, NJ
update: brought him to a Saturday side thing with my foreman's buddy, a basement bathroom in Bloomfield. He was better at it than me lol. Says he'll 'think about' reapplying. I'll take it.
4th-year apprentice, IBEW · 4 years · Bergen County, NJ
I was your buddy... took me two tries. what helped was a guy at my shop saying 'you're working here anyway, apply again, what's it cost you.' no speech, just that
Apprentice plumber · 3 years · Gloucester County, NJ
Did he say why he's done, or is he just embarrassed? Those are different. I'd let him be embarrassed for a week, then ask him to come help on something.