High voltage worker stories: jude jolma

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general foreman

Prior roles: Journeyman Electrician, Journeyman Lineman, IBEW Local 125 Union Business Rep.
Location: vancouver, washington
years in the trade: 22 years

@all_time_gainin
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Take care of your body and mind. Jumping off trucks, not using assistance, being the machine will cost you in the long run and often sooner

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Stories in the trade

This series hands the mic to the folks who keep the lights on—how they got in, what they’ve seen, and where the trade’s headed

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What do you wish someone had told you when you first started on the job?

Several things, The home/family comes first! Linework is like a hard drug, once you have that Jman ticket it's like a license to print cash. It's hard to put it down especially when you justify it as being the provider! The strain it puts on everyone else in your life that cares about you goes further and deeper than we often realize.  Unfortunately that realization comes too late and at an extreme cost.
 

Don't go broke trying to look rich. Live within your 40 hour means. Debt will eat you alive and deteriorate your credit and credibility. nothing worse than making $300k + per year and have nothing to show for it.

 

Take care of your body and mind. Jumping off trucks, not using assistance, "being the machine" will cost you in the long run and often sooner. Listen and take heed of the "old timers" when they choose to give you advice. If they didn't like you or think you were worth it,trust me they wouldn't do it.
 
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Travel and make big money before the kids come  and travel again after they’re raised. You’ll never get that time back, but there’s always time to make money

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What's one thing about this work that outsiders totally misunderstand?

From my experience in outside construction. Many folks seem to be lost on the generation aspect of power. They see someone online turn a light bulb on in their basement using two magnets and a small coil of copper and think it's as simple as that. Which in logical theory it is. But what people fail to comprehend is the load aspect of the grid and what is required to keep it up and running. The misinformation about renewable sources being more reliable and efficient than clean coal, natural gas, and dams, and the regulations put in place that block adequate power generation.

What's the hardest part of the job and how do you handle it?

There is no arguing that our jobs can be mentally overwhelming and sometimes violently physical. The wear and tear it puts on the body can be crippling at times. There's a reason this work is a "young man's" game. I've learned over the years and often the hard way, is that peak mental performance will result in peak physical performance. 

 

If there's trouble at home, that generally affects your physical performance at work. While nothing is ever perfect in our personal lives, to be successful you have to put your mental health first. This can mean a variety of different things. 

 

Most employee provided insurance plans are equipped with mental health providers on many different levels. It usually takes a life altering event to kick this into gear for many people. But it's never too late to address your own mental health. 

 

For me, physical exercise and weight lifting have been a huge part of mental and physical recovery. Being "active" at work does not replace consistent exercise and good nutritional eating habits. Some families are ok with the travel aspect of line-work, and it works for them. 

 

I've also seen families torn apart as a consequence of traveling. My advice to younger lineman would be this. Travel and make big money before the kids come. And travel and make big money after the kids are raised. You'll never get that time back, but there's always time to make money. A smart lineman always finds a way to get back lost OT.
 
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Theres a reason this work is a young mans game. Ive learned over the years and often the hard way, is that peak mental performance will result in peak physical performance

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What kind of person thrives in this work? What kind of person doesn't?

As a member of the NW Line JATC interview committee, I've seen just about every walk of life interview to become a lineman apprentice. Ranging from homeless and drug addicted, to farm raised kids, to college educated administrative people. I've seen both become excellent lineman, and I've seen both fail in the first year. Aside from the basics of working outside in all types of weather and environmental conditions and hazards, comfortable climbing and working on heights and high voltage, and with a wide range of different types of personalities you'll come across The main thing that separates people who are designed for this work and those that arent is, adaptability! If you can work, get along, relate to, be comfortable with being uncomfortable and expect the unexpected all while knowing your role and executing it while meeting and beating expectations you'll make a top hand. You've got to be thick skinned and have lots of common sense. for every action there is an equal or greater reaction.

What advice would you give to someone who's just thinking about joining the trades?

If you think you meet the criteria that I mentioned above. Once you get your foot in the door, Remember. 

YOU ARE ALWAYS BEING EVALUATED! 

As grunts, as apprentices, journeymen, foremen, general foreman and so on, you are always being evaluated by customers, employers, those working above you and more importantly by those working below you. 

 

Don't piss in the creek you drink out of, because someday you very well may be answering to the very individual you went out of your way to make life difficult for. Don't be that guy! Your name will beat you to the next job. 

 

Remember that you represent your Union, your company and more importantly this industry and trade we all love so much!

we’re opening the floor to the folks who do the work

⚡ Features of real workers in the trade 
⚡ Craft features 

⚡ Tips for the trade

Just real experiences, real lessons learned, and real advice from people who do this work every day.

We want to hear from you

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We're High Voltage Industries

High Voltage Industries started because the most dangerous and essential work in America is also the most invisible. You put your lives on the line every single day and people don't even know what you do. 

 

We're here to share your stories and honor the sacrifices you make so people can flip a switch every day. And we make gear for those who literally risk their lives to keep the world running.

This is your story

Working in conditions others won't face, taking risks others can’t even imagine, solving problems others can't understand, carrying responsibility others can't handle. The grid doesn't maintain itself.

 

We're telling that story.