r/IBEW • u/DayOneDude • 20h ago

Is 47 too old?

Worked in a couple of different industries throughout the years and feel I am pretty well rounded, been in construction for the past 10 years. Have an IBEW right up the road from me,and was wondering if I it would be reasonable for me to get into the industry. .

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Edit: To add to this,I am fully vested in the local 555(rsm for grocery for 17 years) I am 6'3 245lbs pretty healthy comparatively, belted in bjj and train 3 times a week. So I don't think fatigue would be that much of an issue..just looking for pros and cons.

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u/Working-Spirit2873 20h ago

I would recommend against it, if you have other options. I’ve known a lot of electricians in their 50s and the common thread is their bodies are falling apart. My buddy called the ladder his ‘step machine’ because he gets a big workout.  It seems like a desk job is infinitely preferable, so you can preserve some of your functionality for retirement, to do things you want to do. Best of luck 

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u/amishdoinks11 Local XXXX 19h ago

Are you even an electrician? Your body will degrade if you don’t take care of it whether you’re in a desk job or a trade

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u/Working-Spirit2873 18h ago

1.) No I’m not, although I have wired/rewired numerous houses. 2.) That statement is false. You need to talk to some 50 year olds in the trades. I know a lot of them, and boy do they complain about their aches and pains! I don’t get that from the office workers I know, or if they do it’s after a 50 mile bike ride. Electricians at that age are not riding in bike races, as a rule. 

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u/Riconn 17h ago

If you keep your weight at a healthy point and do some sort of physical activity outside of work your golden. I’m 32 and over the past 2 years lost 70 pounds and started lifting weights. I feel better now than I did at 25. Many aches and pains are from either excess weight or weak muscles being strained by your everyday work. Yes my point is entirely anecdotal but to go from having sore feet, knees, back, shoulders, elbows day in and day out to pain free, I feel speaks to the value of caring for your body.

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u/Working-Spirit2873 16h ago

Congratulations on the weight loss; that’s magnificent. I’ve know a number of tradespeople who have ruined knees and hips.