Question for you "Young" guys

[Mule]

How many of you young guys choose this trade over punching on a computer, or something in the digital trade world? and if so, why did you do it?....lets say if your 30 or less in age

[NolaTigaBait]

well, im 27 and i have a bachelors degree from university of new orleans...i've always been a good mechanic and ive always been interested in this....plus, i hate being in an office...oh and the ability to work for myself is a plus

[TOOL_5150]

How many of you young guys choose this trade over punching on a computer, or something in the digital trade world? and if so, why did you do it?....lets say if your 30 or less in age

I do! But I knew I was going to be an electrician when I was 10. Out of high school I owned a "computer business" I made some good money. I got into a few construction jobs, had a job at big orange for some months too. Still while looking for a way in to this trade. I was a telecom tech for about 2 years. Worked on nortel systems. Still looking for my way in. I was onsite at a huge healthcare provider, browsing craigslist and finally found my way in. I hated that job - stuck onsite 84 miles away from home at a place where noone was friendly. I can build or fix just about any computer, I can program cisco switches and routers, but I love being an electrician. I will be an electrician till its my time to take a dirt nap.

~Matt

[Buck Parrish]

.........................................

[TOOL_5150]

Define Young Guy

he did... under 30


~Matt

[JJWalecka]

Mule,
I was in a tech prep program in high school. I wanted to be an engineer. I thought that sitting behind a desk all day would be boring. I decided to go into the trade. I love the work that I do. I like to create things. I take great pride in my work and I don’t regret choosing to work for a living.

Someday I would like to be involved in the code or perhaps a supervisor job. Till then I keep paying my dues at the company I work for. I believe that hard work and dedication will pay off in the long run.

JJ

[Mule]

he did... under 30


~Matt

It really doesnt matter about the age, I was just curious about those younger electricians that have chosen this labor intensive trade over a computer type trades.....Ive just always heard that there is a shortage of newcomers coming into the trade, so Im just curious why you chose the trade....

[mattsilkwood]

i had a full ride scholorship but turned it down to go make some money. if i knew then what i know now:smile:. but no seriously most days i really love what i do. i dont think i could live with myself sitting in an office for the rest of my days. i still get that feeling of pride when i see something start for the first time and know i did that:smile:.

[peter d]

I'm under 30 and I have no clue why I chose to be an electrician. But now I can say "I met Bob Badger" so life is complete. :D

[Mule]

So I guess the true question would be...

Is there really a shortage of young people coming into the trade?

[alfiesauce]

My dad really encouraged me to get into a trade. Right after highschool I was going to work for a year and then travel. He told me if I did an apprenticeship for the year he'd give me the family car and insurance.
I didn't even know what a trade was, so he gave me a list of possibilities. I looked down the list and decided electrical would involve the most head knowledge and math which I was inclined towards and dove into it. Now after 11 years I never did travel, but am still going strong and love the work.

[peter d]

So I guess the true question would be...

Is there really a shortage of young people coming into the trade?

I dunno. I see young guys in the trade all the time. In fact, I hardly ever run into "old timers."

[NolaTigaBait]

that's a good question...i think that alot of people my age decide to go into white collar jobs b/c they don't want to get their hands dirty...i like what i do...i get that sense of satifaction when you build/fix something...

[TOOL_5150]

I dunno. I see young guys in the trade all the time. In fact, I hardly ever run into "old timers."

Yeah young guys wanting into the trade [union] always outnumber the amount they want to hire.

BTW, I would like to meet Bob in person as well :D Seems like almost all the regulars around here are from the east coast.

~Matt

[peter d]

Yeah young guys wanting into the trade [union] always outnumber the amount they want to hire.

BTW, I would like to meet Bob in person as well :D Seems like almost all the regulars around here are from the east coast.

~Matt

Not only did I meet Bob, but I actually worked with him on a few projects as well! The best part of the whole experience was watching him run a "zamboni" to clean up a water leak we accidentally made in a supermarket job. :D

[Mule]

I dunno. I see young guys in the trade all the time. In fact, I hardly ever run into "old timers."

HEY...I resemble that "old timer" comment...:D

[TOOL_5150]

Not only did I meet Bob, but I actually worked with him on a few projects as well! The best part of the whole experience was watching him run a "zamboni" to clean up a water leak we accidentally made in a supermarket job. :D

Well, now im just jeallous! :D

~Matt

[Okie Sparky]

The best part of the whole experience was watching him run a "zamboni" to clean up a water leak we accidentally made in a supermarket job. :D

Did somebody get pictures.

[Mule]

Ha Ha those things will turn on a dime....literaly

[Aledrell]

Well I am 27, went ASU for a while had some white collar jobs in data entry, and customer service, even worked as 411 operator once. Really polished my typing skills sorry about bad spelling never picked that up, but my dream was law enforcement. I got into federal law enforcement, got called up by military reserves, did a year in Baghdad, came home to nasty divorce. Became single father with custody, parents had purchased an electrical business mom and pop from the neighbor who wanted out as he got a job with the city of Phoenix as a commerical inspector. He sold company cheap, my parents wanted it for my brother who showed no direction in life, but he is uncapable of running anything. Therefor, I needed a job where I could make my own schedule to care for my children, picked uo the trade fast. Honestly though I put in 60+ hrs a week have including myself 10 employees, I can see why my parents neighbor wanted the commerical inspector job, he can go home and not think about work, I on leash called a cell phone. You guys back east who are union, that is a foreign concept to me has AZ is non-union state.

[Mule]

Well I am 27, went ASU for a while had some white collar jobs in data entry, and customer service, even worked as 411 operator once. Really polished my typing skills sorry about bad spelling never picked that up, but my dream was law enforcement. I got into federal law enforcement, got called up by military reserves, did a year in Baghdad, came home to nasty divorce. Became single father with custody, parents had purchased an electrical business mom and pop from the neighbor who wanted out as he got a job with the city of Phoenix as a commerical inspector. He sold company cheap, my parents wanted it for my brother who showed no direction in life, but he is uncapable of running anything. Therefor, I needed a job where I could make my own schedule to care for my children, picked uo the trade fast. Honestly though I put in 60+ hrs a week have including myself 10 employees, I can see why my parents neighbor wanted the commerical inspector job, he can go home and not think about work, I on leash called a cell phone. You guys back east who are union, that is a foreign concept to me has AZ is non-union state.

So, did you serve any kind of apprenticeship before becoming a EC?

[Aledrell]

Yes, my father stucking with a guy who had 20+ years experience and I became his tool fetcher/attic rat for about a year. He then left the company and I started working with an old union guy out of Ohio that moved here. Learned as I went, each inspector/journeyman taught me something new and I am still learning every day. The good thing about our company is that we don't specialize in just commerical or residential we do it all which broadened my experience. I get calls from guys wanting a job that only know one or the other, gotta go where the work is.

[brantmacga]

i turned 26 last sunday. i had no intentions of being an electrician growing up. i came up on a farm, just like every male member of my family since the beginning of time, and was pretty set on doing that. my dad started his own farming operation at age 16 and i figured i'd do the same thing; i was trained to do it from birth. i started driving tractors at age 6 and running combines and other more advanced equipment by age 12. as soon as i could walk i was doing some type of chore on the farm. usually it was mechanical type work. anyway, my dad quit farming full time when i was about 13 and encouraged me to find another line of work. he started a real estate company; although to this day i still work on the farm as my grandfather still operates it full time.

when i got to high school they had an 'agricultural electrical systems' class so i took that to fill a spot in my schedule. i picked it up extremely quick. emc & ffa put on a statewide electrical competition and i finished #8 in georgia, so i thought it may be something i could do full time. i graduated h.s. a year early and went to college as an ee major, but eventually changed to computer programming. i had a couple of management jobs at a department store and another at a call center while i was in school and came to the realization i could never be forced to work in an office for someone else all day long, so i found a job w/ an ex-union EC with the sole intention of doing the required 4yr apprenticeship and then starting my own company. i put in my 4yrs, got the license and here i am today.

[MikeGee]

I feel into this trade. I knew I wanted to be a blue color worker like my father but I was not going to be a truck driver. So after high so I went to a lincoln tech type studying hvac. Got a job told I was too slow. (even though I was faster then there 2 year apprentice). I was fired then got a job in an electric shop at a hospital. about 6 months after that I regreted not presuing electric right out of high shcool.

[mark32]

I got into the trade after high school because I would hear good things from "Grown ups" about how electricians make good money and it seemed interesting to me, especially after pumping gas and stocking shoes at JCPenneys. After three years I tired of the work environment, low pay and the negative comments I would hear from guys that had been in the trade longer than I had. I got into copier repair but that went nowhere, got back into the trade because I really missed it.

After three more years I tired again of the trade for the same reasons (Especially the negative comments. The most damaging one was when I would ask guys if they'd want their sons, or daughters, to join the trade and not one said yes.) and went to a tech school in '99 when companies were throwing money at people that knew anything about computers. Two years later when I graduated (9/01), the tech field was in the toilet and I couldn't even get an interview much less a starting salary of $60,000 which was streamed into my head when I started. Back into the trade I went for another two years then tried real estate, that too went nowhere so I decided to stick with the trade and got my journeyman's now my master's license. I now work at a Home Depot as their electrical specialist, overall it works for me, heat in the winter, a/c in the summer, refrigerator, microwave and a bathroom, items one normally doesn't have access to in the field. Descent benefits and a 401k are nice too.

Mark

[walkerj]

I turn 24 in two weeks. I had a job at a large local medical research facility as a computer technician. That was absolutely no fun. I gave up a free ride through college to do this work and I haven't regretted it once. College just wasn't my cup of tea, but then again neither was high school.

I grew up around mechanical stuff. My dad is a plumber, an electrician, an HVAC tech, and a jack of all trades. It was hard for me to not learn all about pipes and wires and motors and things. It all worked out well for me.

If I would have stayed in college I wouldn't have met Angela, I wouldn't have owned my own home at 22, I wouldn't drive home a free vehicle with free gas, and I damn sure wouldn't have the benefits and savings I do now.

It is all thanks to this wonderful trade!

[sgeers]

Just turned 25 myself. My father and his brother starting working at a large organized shop here in NJ back in 1979 as truck drivers. After a while they got the opportunity to be organized into the IBEW. When i turned 18 i had dreams of being an accountant but decided to give this job a whirl. I ended up falling in love with it, followed through the whole 5 year apprenticeship and a month later passed my EC exam. Now im just thinking of what to get certified/licensed for next in this wonderful trade.

[William1978]

You mean there is something else that I could have done other than electricial work.:D

[growler]

After three years I tired of the work environment, low pay and the negative comments I would hear from guys that had been in the trade longer than I had.

After three more years I tired again of the trade for the same reasons (Especially the negative comments. The most damaging one was when I would ask guys if they'd want their sons, or daughters, to join the trade and not one said yes.) .Back into the trade I went for another two years then tried real estate, that too went nowhere so I decided to stick with the trade and got my journeyman's now my master's license. I now work at a Home Depot as their electrical specialist.


This is the story of many of the guys that I have run into. It's not so much that young guys don't get into the trade it that they get disillusioned if they don't find a good job with a good company in the first few years. The odds of finding a good job with good pay and benefits is often quite slim. It really depends on the area of the country and need for electricians at the time.

I see many people saying that they started out at say $7 and hour in the early 80s well that $7 and hour in 82 is now over $15 and hour because of inflation in 2008. So a journeyman is now making litttle more than a helper did less than 30 years ago. Any guy with any experience making less than $20 an hour anywhere in the country is really getting screwed.

I started out only making $2 an hour in a very depressed area but when I put this figure in the inflation calculator it still comes up to over $14 an hour in todays money. Think about it.

[peter d]

I started out only making $2 an hour in a very depressed area but when I put this figure in the inflation calculator it still comes up to over $14 an hour in todays money. Think about it.

Wage stagnation is the primary reason why young people are turned off by the trades IMO.

If you present the charts that show the additional earning power of a 2 or 4 year degree to a high school student, then show them the money they will make in the trades, why on earth would a student be compelled to work a trade? It seems like the trades and the military are the "last resorts" for high school graduates.

[iwire]

Heres the thing.

Wages will be whatever they have to be to fill the needs of the ECs. If there is a shortage of applicants the wages rise, if there are many applicants the wages will go down.

There is nothing tricky about it, simple supply and demand.

[peter d]

There is nothing tricky about it, simple supply and demand.

Ahhh...surely you know there is nothing simple about economics. :D

[iwire]

Ahhh...surely you know there is nothing simple about economics. :D

Well the issue of wages is certainly simple, if your needed the wage goes up, if your not needed the wage goes down.

[Mule]

Yes, my father stucking with a guy who had 20+ years experience and I became his tool fetcher/attic rat for about a year. He then left the company and I started working with an old union guy out of Ohio that moved here. Learned as I went, each inspector/journeyman taught me something new and I am still learning every day. The good thing about our company is that we don't specialize in just commerical or residential we do it all which broadened my experience. I get calls from guys wanting a job that only know one or the other, gotta go where the work is.

Certainly nothing personal to you, only speaking of your local laws. You having only one year of experience, then becoming not only a journeyman, but a EC, is in sharp contrast to the IBEW's requirements, and also our state of Oklahoma's requirements to become a Journeyman, and/or a Contractor.

[76nemo]

How many of you young guys choose this trade over punching on a computer, or something in the digital trade world? and if so, why did you do it?....lets say if your 30 or less in age



Wow , this will sure to be as good as the,..... "What do you look like now?" thread.

Great question Mule, great question. All growing up my Father would tell me,...."Son, I'll show you how to fix something a couple of times, and you better watch and ask any questions you have because I am going to fix this for you now and a couple of times after this." He showed me how and why things worked. I was fascinated by electrical work because it can be manipulated so many ways. My Father was a shop steward at a large facility. He learned it all,..... construction, pneumatics, hydraulics, and our juice.

He taught me safety, he taught me the know how's. I love electrical work, CAT IV or CATI. It fascinates me to this day. I have so much to learn, so MUCH, but I look forward to studying it:wink:

Every time I tend to get bored with what I am doing, I remember Dad saying,....."You haven't even scratched the surface yet son, there's always more to learn."

What got me interested in this field Mule?,...... my Pop, that's who!!!!


Rest easy old man:grin:

[Mule]

Wow , this will sure to be as good as the,..... "What do you look like now?" thread.

Great question Mule, great question. All growing up my Father would tell me,...."Son, I'll show you how to fix something a couple of times, and you better watch and ask any questions you have because I am going to fix this for you now and a couple of times after this." He showed me how and why things worked. I was fascinated by electrical work because it can be manipulated so many ways. My Father was a shop steward at a large facility. He learned it all,..... construction, pneumatics, hydraulics, and our juice.

He taught me safety, he taught me the know how's. I love electrical work, CAT IV or CATI. It fascinates me to this day. I have so much to learn, so MUCH, but I look forward to studying it:wink:

Every time I tend to get bored with what I am doing, I remember Dad saying,....."You haven't even scratched the surface yet son, there's always more to learn."

What got me interested in this field Mule?,...... my Pop, that's who!!!!


Rest easy old man:grin:

Now that's heart felt passion......I'd hire you to build my service over the next guy, even if you were a pinch higher :D

[djcrzysounds@yahoo.com]

First, I'm just shy of 24. I got into the trade for the same reason as a lot of the guys who posted before me. I went to College to study to be an Electrical/Mechanical Engineer. I went through an internship between Sophomore & Junior year and found out that it wasn't as hands on as I thought, therefore I choose to be an electrician and work with the tools.

So I guess the true question would be...

Is there really a shortage of young people coming into the trade?

Yes and no is my answer to your question. There isn't a shortage as the past 2 apprenticeship classes in my local(#81) have taken in a very high number of guys. However, it is a matter of how many of them are really there to learn and actually work and how many are there just to be there.

This year they took in 27 students, last year 38. As of today, they are down to 22 and 18 respectively. I am sure by the end of this year the numbers will even be lower. I mean it's about a 50% drop out rate after the first year, so how many will actually complete their apprenticeship and be decent mechanics we will have to wait and see. Personally I am disgusted with the Local's JATC and can't do anything about it but think that they should be more stringent as to who they allow into the program.

Sorry for the rant, it's a very touchy subject to me.

[76nemo]

Now that's heart felt passion......I'd hire you to build my service over the next guy, even if you were a pinch higher :D

Thanks for that response. Really miss the old man. I am attracted to this site because of you all. The only construction I do is a branch here, a branch there. I don't do the work you all do. I don't like construction. I like fixing problems, that's what I learned from Dad. I'd rather fix it, than install it. You guys/gals are the professionals there. Construction seems too repetitive for me.

I got the itch from Dad, he'd walk right in and tell you,......."Your problem is right here." He had a nose for it.

That's my Pop;)

[Mule]

In truth Ive been sorta shocked at all of the youger guys in the trade with passion....ITS GREAT

[djcrzysounds@yahoo.com]

In truth Ive been sorta shocked at all of the youger guys in the trade with passion....ITS GREAT

Does it outnumber the ones who don't give a care?

[76nemo]

In truth Ive been sorta shocked at all of the youger guys in the trade with passion....ITS GREAT


I'll be 33 going on 60, you still want to label me as young???????

[Mule]

I'll be 33 going on 60, you still want to label me as young???????

Ha, when you are young, you want to be older...and when you get older, you want to be young....:D

[76nemo]

Does it outnumber the ones who don't give a care?

I can't speak for the others not on this site, but for those of us that are here, it seems we love our job. We take pride in the service we perform.

As far as those who don't care, they probably won't make it. We can only wait and see.

[Mule]

I can't speak for the others not on this site, but for those of us that are here, it seems we love our job. We take pride in the service we perform.

As far as those who don't care, they probably won't make it. We can only wait and see.

I fully agree, those interested in this forum, obviously have a desire to constantly improve at their trade IMO.......

[76nemo]

Ha, when you are young, you want to be older...and when you get older, you want to be young....:D

Mule, I don't wish to be older. My liver and mentality says so. I sometimes would like to be in my twenties again, yet that's too far gone:rolleyes:

[electricalperson]

i wanted to be an electrician since i was 5 or 6. when i was young i went into the basement opened the fuse panel cover, removed a fuse and stuck my finger in and hot a hell of a shock. i dont think i was grounded since i was on a wooden chair so i think i touched the back of the fuse socket and the shell

[Fulthrotl]

Yes and no is my answer to your question. There isn't a shortage as the past 2 apprenticeship classes in my local(#81) have taken in a very high number of guys. However, it is a matter of how many of them are really there to learn and actually work and how many are there just to be there.

This year they took in 27 students, last year 38. As of today, they are down to 22 and 18 respectively. I am sure by the end of this year the numbers will even be lower. I mean it's about a 50% drop out rate after the first year, so how many will actually complete their apprenticeship and be decent mechanics we will have to wait and see. Personally I am disgusted with the Local's JATC and can't do anything about it but think that they should be more stringent as to who they allow into the program.

Sorry for the rant, it's a very touchy subject to me.

i posted something in another thread about work attitude, and how it's
different than it was 60 year ago.

it was a bit different 30 years ago as well. my apprenticeship class had
75 guys taken in, and as it was a 4 year apprenticeship then, four years
later 72 graduated. they lost 3 guys in 4 years. that was high, but it was
a large class.... previous years only took 20 each, and they lost 1 in four
years. a 5% fallout.

people tried for years to get in. why? there was an abundance of work,
and most all of it was done union, including housing. it was a premium
job. i was working in electrical manufacturing, making $6.25 an hour,
(pretty good in 1975), went into the apprenticeship at $6.28, and four
years later was making $25.50 JW scale, with double time for all OT,
and excellent benefits.

a very good friend of mine finally gave up teaching the apprenticeship
classes when he was having to teach remedial math to people who
couldn't do fractions, so he could teach them AC theory.

before you get all spun up at your local JATC, consider that they only
can work with the people who walk in the door.


randy

[djcrzysounds@yahoo.com]

I can't speak for the others not on this site, but for those of us that are here, it seems we love our job. We take pride in the service we perform.

As far as those who don't care, they probably won't make it. We can only wait and see.

My last foreman who I hold a great respect for gave me the link to this site and told me it was a great place to go to
A. Learn what goes on in the rest of the country.
B. Ask for advice from other Electricians
C. Be able to vent frustrations and get answers as to why.

I do enjoy reading a lot of the posts on here and just reading them makes me enjoy being an electrician more and more. I just can't believe the guys that think that twisting two wires together and going home and not caring if the two wires were the right two call themselves 'electricians' and are there just for a paycheck.

[jayrad1122]

I'm 18 going to college. Went to Vo-tech for 3 years and I was the top of my class. Got 4th in the Nation for motor control twice. (missed 3rd b/c I forgot to wear my safety glasses..LMAO) I going to school for Electrical Engineering, but I will be dropping out in December and going into the Union. My dad is a foreman for a large contractor and I will hopefully be working for them. (And he's on here too.)

I originally was going to college just for a degree and was planning to go into the union after college anyways. I was not planning to become an EE. I don't would rather be installing a hundred duplexes than sit in an English class.;) I just like doing hands on activities more than writing. And there are more reasons but I just don't feel like explaining.:roll:

-Jared

[adamants]

there are a lot of young people looking at coming into the trade, however, most of them don't really want to be there, they are only there to get out of school or to silence their parents. They want to spend all day texting their mates and having long smoko breaks, finishing early.... don't even bother asking if they want to work saturdays! Which leaves you with the rest, subtract the ones who don't know which way is up, or even have basic problem solving skills, and you are left with a very few, tidy, clued up, motivated workers, who really are hard to find. don't let them go, train them and look after them or they will be your future competition. I'm not old myself, only 28, but i feel like there aren't that many motivated worthwhile guys out there who will do what it takes to get the job done and give a damn what it looks like. but i'm not complaining!
Anyway, i got into the trade to shut my parents up (they knew of a job going), I was always looking to go home early, never worked Saturday... boy how things change when you work for yourself!:-?

[cschmid]

I see alot of kids in the tech schools and have had several apprentices from the tech schools..lets see several had to be micro managed..several droped out of the trade due to the amount of physical labor..and some have gone on to be real good electricians..around here micro managed means you can not keep a job..

[ryan_618]

After getting expelled from high school in 1994, I started framing houses during the day and going to (high) school at night. My brother had just returned from the marines at the time, and was an electrician. His pay checks were better than mine, so when I turned 18 and was able to get licensed as an electrical apprentice I did. When I was 23 or so I started as an inspector, as I didn't want to wear tools for the rest of my life, and I also didn't want to be an EC. I started teaching code when I was about 25. I am 30 now.