High voltage worker stories: Matthew Beston

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Cable Splicer Craft Instructor

Prior roles: wireman, cableman, cable splicer crew chief
Location: local 77
years in the trade: 19 years

@jw_cablesplicer 
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Plan your job, understand your role, work your plan. When something that isn’t planned occurs, stay calm and repeat the process. The work gets done, the people go home.

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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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How did you first hear about the trade and how did you get into your first role? 

I got a girl pregnant at 19 and needed a job. My mom had worked in an office for construction companies my whole life. So she had some of her friends reach out to me and I applied for every craft they told me about. The IBEW got back to me first. That was that. Passed the tests and got into the program.

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

I think there is a huge misunderstanding of how long it takes to learn. Most people do 3-5 years of apprenticeship for an electrical trade and think they are good to go. That's the bare minimum qualification. If you are not constantly learning and trying to improve, you will not continually succeed. 
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 If you are not constantly learning and trying to improve, you will not continually succeed. 

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What’s your proudest moment on the job so far?

Honestly, it is seeing my brother's and sister's succeed in the trade. I have had people reach out and personally thank me years after their apprenticeship for things I had taught them. That kind of thing makes it feel like you're doing something good in the world.

What’s the most high-pressure or intense situation you’ve had to handle?

You know I've been fortunate enough to work for pretty good places and people that those kind of things don't happen often. The only time anything becomes truly scary is when life or limb is on the line. You should be training for when that happens, so when it does, what has been rehearsed 100 times just happens.
There will always be some sort of pressure or time constraints, equipment failure, or delay, especially on large projects or critical infrastructure, but how you handle the situation when it happens is what really matters. Plan your job, understand your role, work your plan. When something that isn't planned occurs, stay calm and repeat the process. The work gets done, the people go home. 

Replaced some pre assembled terminators on an old bug with my buds.

What’s the hardest part (physical/mental) of the job and how do you handle it?

Travel and long hours can take an immeasurable toll on you and your family. Protect your peace.

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

See, that's the thing, they all tell you everything. You hear it all coming up. You just dont listen or dont think it can happen to you.

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

You have to enjoy the challenge. You have to be flexible. You have to be resilient. You can have 100 things going on and you'll be expected to take on one more job or task, and you will. 
Lazy people don't last long. This job isn't fun sometimes. That can go on for a while. 

teaching a lost art
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you trade your time AND your BODY for money. 

Understand that. Take care of yourself.

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

I love my job. I live and breathe the craft. Sometimes late at night, when its really cold, or pouring rain, and I'm out in it, I wonder what it would be like if I would have gone to college or something. Sometimes.

 

Anyone thinking about this you need to understand that you trade your time AND your BODY for money. Your knees, back, shoulders, hands, and elbows are going to start to hurt. Understand that. Take care of yourself.

Have you worked in both union and non-union environments? 

Always have been IBEW. I have my thoughts as anyone would. There are good people on both sides of the fence. What the industry should really be talking about is the current state of training in the industry. 

What’s something that went wrong on the job but taught you something important?

I've seen all kinds of things go wrong. The most important thing is how you handle the situation when things go wrong. 
Things always go wrong because people who don't know what they should are in charge and shouldn't be and they are often taking short cuts for production or to save cost.
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You have to enjoy the challenge. You have to be flexible. You have to be resilient. 

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How do you handle stacking OT or traveling for the job while having a family?

Honestly, I've never handled it well. I have always worked too much and traveled too far. Don't lose reality chasing the dream. Go home for a bit brother.

What’s your career path look like (past, present, and future plans)?

Started in 2007 at local 611 as an inside wireman. Did the 5 year apprenticeship. I learned from some really great people. They really took care of me. Did that for a while, got some experience under my belt and really took in all of the training and knowledge that I could. I started teaching a little bit at the jatc. Went through an outside cable splicer program through 77 in 2015 and have been doing that since. Moved through journey to crew chief, and now my focus is on training and apprenticeship. My future plans are to try to better the industry through competent practical hands on training. There are essentially 2 schools of training. 

Best for the crew

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.

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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.