being an electrician: experience?

[RockinZ28]

In my experience, you get a job first and then get in the union if it's required by the company. Usually get a 3 month period to get into the union from hire date. Just pay your initiation fee and 3 months dues in advance or whatever they require. Really no reason to deny you as you're already working and they're just getting the fees.

And then the company you work for should have an apprentice program. Like work 6 months, go to school for 2 weeks, rinse repeat until you're a journeyman. I tried electrician, but the pay was so low to start out I quit after a month.

Ever considered working for the railroad? Not building tracks, but the signal/electrical side. Found a lot of opportunity here. Being good with computers is a huge plus. Have similar apprentice programs, but the starting pay is usually a good deal more. Benefits are very good. Find it quite entertaining, lot of different stuff to work with.

We hired guys in their early 30s starting with no related experience at my former employer. Actually one of my workers presently was like 34 working as a manager at a pizza place before my company hired him.

 

[Kneedragger]

I got into the Electrical trade about 16 years ago. I was a tinker growing up and always had my head into electronic devices. Looking back on my career as an electrician it's nothing like I envisioned it would be. I don't regret it at all because I like what I do.

I never wanted to own a company so I got into the Union which in my area has way better pay and retirement than a non Union would pay me. Opening up your own shop isn't for everyone and not a necessity either.

Ive done all kinds of work from homes, commercial buildings, Jails, Biotech labs, Standford Linear Accelerator and a Football Stadium. (I've been building the new 49ers for almost two years) and the one thing that is a constant is the crew you're working with makes the job. So you can have a great place to work then the next job could suck because you might have a bunch of shit heads on it.

All these companies now are changing even for me. I'm actually looking into inspection classes so I can side step into that when the opportunity arise. You see if your not working your not getting paid. Construction has its ups and downs and is not a steady job. A lot of guys in the trade can stay with a company for a long time but it still gets slow. But the best part is if you manage your money well you can take advantage of it and take vacations..

I'm only 34 and feel like I'm a old man already. This work is hard on your body and can wear you out. Now you can always become a Foreman or General Foreman and get out of the "hands on" aspect of the job but it also comes with the added mental stress and headaches..

 

[TheSlamma]

Same applies to you but you've managed to convince people otherwise.

No he hasn't.. who is convinced?

 

[Carson Dyle]

I'm only 34 and feel like I'm a old man already. This work is hard on your body and can wear you out.

I know a number of young electricians, some who are at the Journeyman level and a couple still working toward it, and that's my overriding impression. Their hands, too, are often shredded after a day's work. I'd say at least half of the kids I've known have moved on to other professions, with many of them going back to school.

 

[Thebobo]

you guys probably don't have the skills you think you have.

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[Kneedragger]

I know a number of young electricians, some who are at the Journeyman level and a couple still working toward it, and that's my overriding impression. Their hands, too, are often shredded after a day's work. I'd say at least half of the kids I've known have moved on to other professions, with many of them going back to school.

Yeah right now my hands and knees are the naggers. The best thing I've done the last couple of years is try to use a drill for anything I can. Instead of using a screwdriver I'll try and use the drill to save my hands and wrist. I'm just hoping that when I get older I can get replacements haha. They can do knees now so ....

 

[CountZero]

Nothing first hand but my dad is an electrician. Was an electrician before joining the navy and picked it up again after retiring out of the navy.

My dad hates unions and so he works at a non-union place. He makes crap pay, gets crap benefits and is constantly being hit by boom/bust cycles. Three months of straight, everyday work and then three months of less than 10 hours a week work. I'm fairly sure a union gig would be far better but that's his call.

He doesn't do residential but withing the realm of commercial has done numerous different jobs. Hospitals, warehouses, grocery stores, greenhouses, etc. He likes all the different challenges he has to solve but the vast majority of the work is just manual labor. Pulling miles worth of cables for weeks on end.

It requires a strong attention to detail. I've heard tales of new guys not paying attention and then after pulling all the wires realizing they have no idea where all those wires coming into the junction box actually go.

It can also be very dangerous. All construction carries risks. He's seen many people killed or maimed because they got complacent about the fact that electricity is dangerous.

After doing manual labor for so long (he's 61) he is totally beat down. Bad knees, back, shoulders, etc.

People sometimes get this idea that being an electrician is nice and clean compared to carpenter or plumbing but it isn't.

I can see the appeal but it's hard stuff to do. If you get into the union or own the shop that might be good money.