re: I got a my first real blue collar job working on the docks

Good luck buddy. You may feel out of place at first but just stay with it and you will fit in

Nobody cares about you until they care about you. Nothing personal you’re just another obstacle until they get comfortable around you. A few jokes in the beginning doesn’t mean you’re their friend. Once the routine is established and you’re comfortable and they are comfortable then that’s when you judge the job for what it is.
Also don’t kill yourself. The work won’t ever stop so no reason to kill your back. Take breaks when you need them. Take too many and people will notice and gossip like girls about it.

Blue collar baws are on white monsters and zyn now

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Any advice for going from white collar to blue?

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I would start by letting everyone else know your pronouns.

Learn to cuss mother ficker

Make sure you know your way around the tool room. You're going to be asked to go get the sky hooks and left handed crescent wrench early and often.

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This looks like a troll, but I’ll bite.

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This is the same guy that said he just left the Democrat party. He is trolling the hell out of everyone

Make sure your toolbox has a sky hook and left handed crescent wrench. They will come in handy

Made the white to blue collar transition about 10 years ago. Finished on Friday riding a desk and started training on a Monday.

Left the legal field and went to a telco doing outside work. First 3 months were orientation, and first week is what they use to separate out folks who couldn't hack it. Four days of climbing poles (on hooks), followed by one day of ladder skills. My hotel room that week had a hot tub. I made it through Wednesday before saying frick the bacteria or whatever was in there--my old body needed some relief.

As far as day-to-day, keep some Advil on-hand. Gold Bond and Boudreaux's Butt Paste mentioned above are worthwhile. Also those Icy Hot patches that Shaq is always hawking. Wear layers. Buy a dozen or so of those Hot Hands packs. If your workboots will get wet, make sure you have at least a second pair--nothing worse than pulling on yesterday's boots when they are still wet. Once summer comes around, get your GP to give you a script for terbafine (brand name Lamisil). It's an antifungal pill that will cure athlete's foot, but, along the way, it will knock out a case of jock itch.

Have a sense of humor and don't get pissy when you're sent to get a styrofoam cup full of gasoline.

If you have ANY prior blue collar experience, lead with that. I grew up on a farm, so that was my answer--never admitting that I had spent the past 2 decades in academia.

Be on time, pass your d&a tests, and do your job. It's that simple.