I got a great job offer and I'm second guessing myself.

Matias

Matias

Been here much more than a while
Location
Butte County
I've been working for an old logger, mostly doing big conifer removals, occasionally doing some half-assed pruning on trees that haven't been worked on in forever and only going up to remove a couple of target pieces while being told to ignore the deadwood and stubs. He's really good at what he does, but we never get to do any structural pruning, and we never completely clear all the dead wood out of any tree we get into. I have learned to bite my tongue since he pays me well, but I haven't done a lot of work that I am really proud of.

I got a little pissed off when he started insisting that I climb almost exclusively on a tautline hitch like he still uses. He's been telling me for almost a year that I am gonna wake up one day and throw out my Zigzag and ascenders, and won't even want to use prussik and pulley, or even a split tail! Well I haven't, but he keeps insisting that I'll "see", but he can't explain how that's going to happen.

I actually really like working with the guy, and the other two guys on the crew are great too. Everyone can climb, and I get first dibs on all the non spur climbing, as that's my favorite. But like I said, I got pretty pissed when he started insisting I stop using SRS at all and go all the way back to a tautline hitch on the end of a climbing line; opposed even a split tail and the couple of benefits they offer.

So, I sent out my resumé, and low and behold I had someone thinking that it looked good enough to warrant an interview. I know I can do the work, and I can even run a ground crew, but I'm really nervous that I won't be getting the jobs done in the time frame he bids the jobs at, especially at first. I can't see how I could let him try me out for real without quitting my other gig, and I can't afford to be put of work if the new gig doesn't work out.

This new gig is has so much of what I want. The guy's trying to be the guy you call when you want it done really nicely. Clearing every single stub and dead branch, and structural pruning. Maintaining tree canopy in an urban setting. He also has a tracked 85' lift, which has an appeal to it.

I have never quit a good job where I was making good money and had no ill will towards the boss. I have a pretty good situation, but I wanna do the specific kind of work that this other guy is doing. I'm just scared to make the jump.

Am I overthinking this? What am I not considering here with my relative lack of experience?
 
So the old timer you work for wants to limit your growth as a climber and have you do things the old hard way. That sounds like a dead end job when it comes to growth as a climber and an arborist. I’m sure you will learn a lot when it comes to felling and old school removal techniques but maybe not a lot else. How do you want to spend your time and your career? Doing big removals of pondos and grey pines or doing high end pruning work?

How the new company owner bids his jobs and your efficiency completing them is not your problem or your concern. Your concern should be: your happiness. Happiness at work can come with working people who value the skills you bring, people who want to see you advance your skills, people who understand that there are easier and better ways to do the work that should be embraced rather than avoided. A good employer knows that there will be growing pains and an adjustment period when adding a new team member. Sometimes that means jobs will take longer while you adjust to how they do things and while they get used to how you do things. That period is inevitable and necessary.

You are an arborist in a market where tree workers are in high demand. You shouldn’t fear trying something new and the “what if” of it not working out. Just be honest and communicative about your skills, the things you want to learn more about, and things that you need to work on. The more transparent you can be in the hiring process and early on in that relationship, the better that relationship can grow allowing all involved parties to thrive.

You are obviously on the edge of the nest looking to fly if you sent out resumes. I for one encourage you to jump out.
 
Be honest and open about your desire to do different work with your current employer and don’t burn that bridge.
New things are scary, but it’s risk and reward. Chances are you will thrive under a new surrounding and look back and say wow what a long way I’ve come.
A 3 day working interview or something equivalent with the prospective employer could help to see if it is an environment that suits.
 
Go, and don't look back.
As nice and as much as you like the old guy, he won't be around that much longer. You stick with him and when he is no longer there... where are you?
Don't fret not being able to do the job in the time bid. That is not your problem, that is the boss's issue to deal with. If he bid wrong he/she will need to make adjustments in their bidding process.
Do what you want in life. It is too damn short not to.
 
Id tell your current employer how you feel and where you stand on things. There's absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to improve and expand yourself. Try not to burn the bridge with the old boy... at the same time possibly do some research on the new company and boss. Not everything is what it always appears upfront. Your first few jobs with a new crew are usually gonna have a few hiccups until everyone learns each others personalities and capabilities. At the end of the day don't settle for anything less then what your goal is. Might have to try a few different paths to get there but as long as you keep moving you will.
 
There is an expectation of lowered efficiency when taking on a new climber, that every remotely intelligent business owner will understand. Having any kind of experience really helps them out. There’s a target for efficiency, all things being perfect, which they never are… and then there’s the reality, which takes into account that you might be learning things that are different and finding different processes with the crew… don’t let that make you rush into doing things you’re not comfortable whether that don’t make sense to you just because you want to keep the pace at what you think it’s supposed to be. Stop and ask the questions. Don’t rush. Get home safe and happy!
 
If you really want to go with the belt and suspenders approach and keep both options open, why don't you tell your employer that you need to take a week off, for whatever reason you want to offer, or none at all. Arrange in advance for a trial week with the new company. At the end of the week, you should know if the new gig is a good fit for you or not.
 
One old timer I have worked for as a groundie thought I was nuts for not taking trunk wraps and used a porty instead. His comment was “smooth roping”.
Don’t get pigeon holed into old techniques they are good to know in a pinch but not better. Speed and efficiency will come, do your best to prethink your rigging points and tie ins. Visualize how the work is to be done before you even leave the ground. Best of luck.
 
There are myriad bacteria, fungi, vertebrate and invertebrate creatures which utilize dead wood in trees for harborage, substrate media and places to mate and rear their young. Removing dead wood out of hand without consideration of this, diminishes the variety of species in an area and can have long term detrimental effects on the sustainability of the site.

Disneyworld horticulture/arboriculture protocols are not the template best for vibrant and diverse biomes.

Case in point: I was consulting with a client about their mangroves in a riparian area. As we talked, the client said "While you're here, remove all the dead fronds from the palms". I took a minute to point out to them that despite being in a very wet, warm and humid environment with a lot of standing water, we weren't being eaten by mosquitoes. They agreed and said they'd always enjoyed that aspect of the property. It was dusk and bats were beginning to emerge. The client was easily able to understand that the bats were serving as very effective mosquito control. I pointed out that the skirts of dead fronds were preferred bat habitat, and at that point asked them if they really wanted to pay good money to evict their very effective mosquito control system.

They decided to keep the fronds.
 
cerviarborist said:
There are myriad bacteria, fungi, vertebrate and invertebrate creatures which utilize dead wood in trees for harborage, substrate media and places to mate and rear their young. Removing dead wood out of hand without consideration of this, diminishes the variety of species in an area and can have long term detrimental effects on the sustainability of the site.

Disneyworld horticulture/arboriculture protocols are not the template best for vibrant and diverse biomes.

Case in point: I was consulting with a client about their mangroves in a riparian area. As we talked, the client said "While you're here, remove all the dead fronds from the palms". I took a minute to point out to them that despite being in a very wet, warm and humid environment with a lot of standing water, we weren't being eaten by mosquitoes. They agreed and said they'd always enjoyed that aspect of the property. It was dusk and bats were beginning to emerge. The client was easily able to understand that the bats were serving as very effective mosquito control. I pointed out that the skirts of dead fronds were preferred bat habitat, and at that point asked them if they really wanted to pay good money to evict their very effective mosquito control system.

They decided to keep the fronds.
Click to expand...
same thing around here, only the bats tend to hang out under bark flakes in dead/top down decline red alder trees.
 
cerviarborist said:
There are myriad bacteria, fungi, vertebrate and invertebrate creatures which utilize dead wood in trees for harborage, substrate media and places to mate and rear their young. Removing dead wood out of hand without consideration of this, diminishes the variety of species in an area and can have long term detrimental effects on the sustainability of the site.

Disneyworld horticulture/arboriculture protocols are not the template best for vibrant and diverse biomes.

Case in point: I was consulting with a client about their mangroves in a riparian area. As we talked, the client said "While you're here, remove all the dead fronds from the palms". I took a minute to point out to them that despite being in a very wet, warm and humid environment with a lot of standing water, we weren't being eaten by mosquitoes. They agreed and said they'd always enjoyed that aspect of the property. It was dusk and bats were beginning to emerge. The client was easily able to understand that the bats were serving as very effective mosquito control. I pointed out that the skirts of dead fronds were preferred bat habitat, and at that point asked them if they really wanted to pay good money to evict their very effective mosquito control system.

They decided to keep the fronds.
Click to expand...
But you could have made a buck!
 
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