Pre-apprentice program provides an opportunity for local talent to see if linework is a good fit
Recruiting and retaining talent is a priority at PEC. To help us maintain a skilled workforce of lineworkers with local knowledge, our human resources team has launched a pilot program called the PEC Pre-Apprenticeship Program in our Kyle District.
The program aims to recruit local high-school graduates into paid positions to receive training and determine if a career as a lineworker is right for them. This creates a pathway for those interested in joining PEC as a lineworker apprentice 1A and progressing their career toward becoming a journeyworker.
To be eligible, candidates must meet the same minimum qualifications and physical demands as those included in the lineworker apprentice 1A job description, including having a high school diploma or equivalent, a valid driver’s license, and reliable transportation to the district office. Pre-apprentices will work as contractors through a staffing agency for 40 hours a week for up to 3 months.
During this time, they will gain basic experience serving as groundsmen and seeing firsthand what being a lineworker entails. Pre-apprentices will be evaluated by district operations on various criteria, including dependability, work ethic, teamwork, communication, and retention of basic knowledge of linework. Pay will be $22 per hour, with the opportunity to earn a full-time position with benefits working for PEC as lineworker apprentice 1A. Interested candidates should send their resume to [email protected].
If the pilot program is successful, PEC plans to expand to the other districts and make this a standard process for hiring many of our lineworker apprentice 1As. We hope that this exciting new program will strengthen the cooperative, support our local communities, and help build the next generation of lineworkers at PEC. Please help spread the word and refer great candidates for these positions.
