Surveyor Assistant, Instruments

• There will be a 30-day announced notice of the apprenticeship opening.

• At the end of that announcement, there will be a 10-business-day application acceptance period.

• After the deadline, all applications will be reviewed for eligibility.

  • Those that are deemed eligible will then be notified by mail of the interview date and time.

  • Those ineligible will also receive a notice by mail of their status.

  • Eligible applicants will be required to respond to the interview notice confirming they wish to be interviewed.

  • Those who do not will be removed from the eligibility list.

• Interviews are conducted in person in Anchorage unless otherwise noted. We highly encourage applicants to participate in the free interview workshops at the DOL Job Centers. Do your homework about the program and type of work. Be sure this is the industry you are interested in.

• Applicants who are interviewed and selected for the program will be notified by telephone and mail.

  • At that time you will be required to obtain your Drug & Alcohol substance test. (Depending on location and provider the fee is typically $70).

  • Once we receive Negative test results for substance tests; you will then be required to complete a post-offer pre-placement Functional Fit Test performed by our affiliate clinic.

  • Upon successful completion of this test; an official offer of acceptance into the training program will be made and you will be notified for the Orientation day.

On Orientation day, you will be required to sign-up with the Alaska Teamsters Local 959 to obtain your Start Date and Ledger #. That requires a $25.00 non-working dues payment. You will also need to maintain that monthly dues payment until you receive your first work dispatch. At that time a working dues structure will go into place. 
 

• Your personal investment for all of the above with or without funding assistance during the first week of class is approximately $225.  

• The Training for the apprenticeship program is at no cost, that is our investment in you and is approximately $15,000 for your first year in the program.

Keep in mind there will be additional costs for appropriate work gear which can be an investment as well. We provide an outline of recommended gear, boots, and even suggested personal items to be prepared to go to the job site for the first time.

These fees are the apprentice’s responsibility. On occasion there may be assistance available from other sources and is a case-by-case, individual qualification status (i.e.: DOL & AK Native Corporations, etc.). We recommend you begin searching for your options as soon as possible.

The length of training before an apprentice is eligible for work will also vary by the time of year and needs from our employers. Training time is also unpaid. Individuals must be prepared to attend a minimum of 3 to 5 weeks of consecutive training in Anchorage as well as participate in self-study related instruction courses and online testing throughout your apprenticeship. If you are eligible for unemployment benefits, you can typically collect during apprenticeship training. Other assistance may be available through the Job Center's on a case-by-case basis. Again, we recommend you check into those options as soon as possible.

All apprentices, regardless of previous training will attend the initial training. It is vital to the program that each apprentice receives the same training and team building that comes with the program. We have very high expectations of our apprentices and it is possible to be cancelled from the apprenticeship during the initial training program. There are a number of benchmarks you are required to meet along with a minimum 80% GPA. However, even that is not a guarantee. It is still possible to be cancelled anytime along the way during the initial 1000 hour probation period. We are looking for individuals who are willing to make a commitment, work hard and represent not only themselves but the Teamsters and all of our membership professionally!

The intent is to have our apprentices trained to begin their career for winter construction work on the North Slope. Work will likely start in late January or early February. Weather dependent!

Work is assigned by the Apprenticeship Coordinator. You do not seek your own employment. Typical work seasons are:

Summer: End of June/Early July through October
• Most summer schedules are 6 on - 2 off.

Winter: Late January/ Early February through March/April
• The winter work season can typically be 8 weeks straight - NO R&R, although some companies have a 6 on - 2 off schedule.

Work for this apprenticeship program is typically all along the Alyeska Pipeline corridor, North of Fairbanks along the haul road, and on the North Slope. Some work may be in remote locations for projects however, it is typically not local in-town work. 

Due to the seasonality of construction work, it is very important that individuals have a solid plan for savings.

Even at a reduced apprentice wage you will likely begin making higher wages than you ever have and want to run out and buy new and expensive items (vehicles, homes, toys, etc.).

The key to success and surviving the highs and lows of construction is saving for those low periods of no work. We even recommend waiting until you've completed the program and become a journeyperson before making those big purchases. Even with an apprenticeship, it is possible to go several months without work.

We do ask applicants to provide information about previous criminal convictions.

Not all incidents are automatic disqualifications. Other offenses may be disqualifications due to employer policies, we look at these on a case-by-case basis. If you are unsure, before you apply please contact us.