You get assigned to a mechanic. He can treat you either really good or like you're a moron. You're the latter. You should have on you at all times: your safety gear (Hardhat, gloves, sleeves, glasses, knee pads and harness), a pocket knife (no longer than a 3" blade), a pen, a small notebook (try to find a hardbound one that's durable) and a stick rule that you'll use once a month.
You'll screw up a lot and some of you won't make it. The job is not easy, it's also not hard. Psychologically it can be rough. Your mechanic is under no obligation to help you in anyway. Some mechanics will teach you; some only want you to lift heavy stuff. Try to learn as much as possible.
In one year, your probationary status will cease, so they can't just get rid of you. But until then you could fart and be run off. Good Luck!
Also, mechanics and other members of the Union have no idea when they're going to hire new people the Business Rep might. So whatever scuttlebutt you've heard you can take with a grain of salt. The word is in my local that there's more work than we can handle and they're going to hire as many people as possible (they've hired four in six months). Don't buy into the BS the wait will be long.
Sure they hired 67 people in 3 months BUT did they fire them? NO. Are the jobs they are on lasting forever? NO. Do they lay them off just to hire off the list? NO. These 67 guys are attached to 67 mechanics that's 67 units that can be worked on. And at an average of 2-3 weeks per elevator that's roughly 20 elevators a week that is completed.
This is not including the other 900 plus mechanics and helpers. that would increase the amount of jobs completed. Including them it's what 500 units at a time 2.5 weeks a job 225 done a week? That's a lot of units complete for that level of population. Where do they go when the job is done? They go to the next job. And don't think a company won't stall a job start so they don't have to hire anyone else.
You are being absolutely delusional if you think that hire rate is going to continue. If I were ranked higher than 150 I'd be thinking about maybe doing something else or bulking up for the next round of interviews. You have to know that the companies can request a new list once the 1st Tier level of interviewee's has been hired (that's an interview grade of 95% or higher).
I hear a lot of the mechanics are baby boomers.. How true is that? I'm wondering if a lot of guys are retiring this year in local 8.
This local is massive, it spans all northern california and reno.. 67 in 3 months sounds high but there's a lot to cover... Guys retire, or get hurt and go on disability, and maybe even get promoted to a salary position. Those are some other factors as well