Any electricians in the house?

An old friend and his company has offered to take me on as an apprentice. The pay is very fair for a newb such as I would be. He's convinced I would do well in the trade. The company is owned by him and his father, and a brother of his being one of the main guys. I've known he family over 20 years and have a lot of respect for them, good people. Mostly commercial stuff.

Anything to keep in mind? Anything to think about before I go ahead with this? I wouldn't be starting till the fall/early winter.

Joey

I think that from a long term perspective, electrician, plumber, auto repair, etc. is a very good career choice. Pretty darn hard to outsource commercial electrician to China or India.

I agree with the Doctor.

Working with electricity is like working with anything else mechanical. You can't be scared of it, but you MUST respect what it can do to you, and treat it with respect.

I'm about a week away from getting my Non-Residential Maintenance card here in Washington State (EL07). Let's call it a 4 year apprenticeship in a 2 year state . There's a good demand for commercial electricians just about every where you go; you could do much worse as far as career choices go. While codes and laws might change over time, the principles and work will stay much the same, unlike other industries.

I find the work to be rewarding, although it can be a bit hard on the body at times. It's a good mix of physical labor and administrative work once you get into it. At first you are probably just going to be pulling wire and bending pipe. Some people love conduit work, some people loathe it. I was dreadful at it at first and hated it, but now I'm as good if not better than the guy who taught me and I enjoy it quite a bit.

There's a lot of responsibility that goes into it, too. Everything has to be done by the book. You really do not get to cut any corners. Just keep in mind that you are working with an invisible force that can and will kill you or your coworkers or any else that might be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

If you have any specific questions about the work, let me know and I will do my best to answer.

But, yeah. I say do it!

Trade unions and companies periodically offer apprenticeships, often they are filled from the inside before being publicly advertised. From outside applications, trade school grads will have the advantage.

They offered you an apprenticeship... paying you to learn a trade, you are very lucky. Journeyman papers or card will be your Gold Card down the road.

I'd take it and say TYVM.

Thanks guys! It would be nice to have a trade.

Also, he said come and try it for a few months, no strings attached. So if it's not for me no hard feelings.

My field crew guys make nearly six figures working four 10-hour days. That is working on breakers and stuff in substations, but some of them started out with the same apprenticeship you are being offered.

It's a great field, and there will always be work. I recommend trades to anyone as a quality of life alternative to college.

oldopelguy wrote: It's a great field, and there will always be work. I recommend trades to anyone as a quality of life alternative to college.

I was just gonna say that.

There'a shortage in skilled trades as older workers retire, not lettin' up anytime soon. Trade school as an alternative to college or OJT will open doors to better jobs. Journeyman papers and/ or licenses are your gold cards.

Electrician would be my first pick if doin' it all over followed by Machinist, Stationary Engineer/ Boiler Operator, RHVAC, Plumber/ Pipe Fitter, Millwright. Bigger money in metro areas, less so in outlying areas. Maintenance Techs are a combination of a few or more trades there also, combined trades are a big thing now.

not to mention just about any trade is better than molding away behind a desk.