Find someone that will let you work with them evenings and weekends to decide if this trade is really for you. What looks attractive may not be nearly as attractive when it is your sole means of support. Regardless of your age, you are going to have to start at the bottom, probably working much harder (physically) for much lower wages than you are now. While not being "trapped" in an office is attractive on a sunny 70-degree June day; it is not nearly as attractive on a 20-degree February day! I remember rough wiring a house with no windows or doors installed in the middle of a snowstorm. A nice warm office looked pretty enticing. Every job has the good and the bad - that is why it is called work. Just go in with your eyes open...
career change
- Thread starter sbarrett
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cschmid
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern cold country
Well I got my black belt from JC penny's no test involved..YOu knew someone would go there..:grin: 
If I were you I'd look for a shop that is willing to pair you up with a more mature electrician. I'm in my mid 30's. Almost a journeyman and it annoys me to work for guys in their 20's. For the most part they are immature and bug the hell out of me. Act like high school kids. Flame away but most of you know what I'm talking about.
TwinCitySparky
Senior Member
- Location
- Minnesota
I'm 43 and completing my 4th year. Should be testing for journeyman in July. I dont miss anything from my low voltage days of alarm systems and CCTV except, the lack of about $75K per year!! Its hard for me to believe no-one took me aside as a kid and said Johnny, your gonna be an electrician. I was 7 years old when mom noticed/allowed me to "continue" replacing the broken outlets in our old house! She couldn't stop me. . . Everyone in my life knew, I've always been a born sparky. One crappy math teacher in my life led me to believe that math was a major part of becoming an electrician. (Bad advice) Nothing has felt more natural to me than this trade. I'm happy that I followed my dream before I got too old. Now, if I could just find some time to get back to my inventions!! (I'll skin that cat too) I can say with confidence that my boss values me very much. I think the desire to be an electrician is either burning inside you or not. Only you know for sure... :wink: John
nyerinfl
Senior Member
- Location
- Broward Co.
TwinCitySparky said:
Math IS a major part of being an electrician. You said you're taking your j-mans test, without math you will need a miracle.
Wireman - I'm in my mid 20s, I'm a licensed contractor, and your comment about not working for people in their 20s is exactly why I brushed off even looking at a resume yesterday for a guy in his 40s, for that attitude exactly. I don't need someone not as qualified as me looking down at me for being younger. Should I be penalized for starting young and working hard to get to where I am? Just because you're in your 30s does not make you better in any way.
nyerinfl
Senior Member
- Location
- Broward Co.
wireman71 said:
You don't have to be in your 20s to act like this.
TwinCitySparky
Senior Member
- Location
- Minnesota
nyerinfl said:
I did not say you dont NEED math - Its simply not the rocket science level that was being implied by said teacher/idiot. >>> Please do continue "brushing off us older guys". Many people in their 40's (count me in!) run circles physically, mentally and (very important point here) emotionally around you younger "pups" !
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nyerinfl
Senior Member
- Location
- Broward Co.
TwinCitySparky said:
I am not against hiring someone in their 40s, honestly I would give anyone a shot. But I've got enough of my plate without having to deal with added complaints because they feel entitled to something because of their age. I don't doubt that people in their 40s work hard, I'm not saying they don't, but even in this thread alone their seems to be a sense of entitlement because of older age. And honestly, THIS type of attitude only makes it more difficult for people like the OP to find a job.
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
Around here I see it as the opposite...it is the young guys who think they are entitled to something without working for it.
JohnJ0906
Senior Member
- Location
- Baltimore, MD
don_resqcapt19 said:
Same here.
SegDog
Member
- Location
- Philadelphia
good career
good career
This thread brought back a number of memories; mostly good.
After leaving the trade, and returning after years, I had to study hard and sign-on to some really hard jobs to get up-to-date. (not forgetting - many night-courses)
No one group has a monopoly on idiocy. Advanced age and education guarantees nothing.
I've worked for a number of younger people and most were a pleasure. They treated me the way that I treated them. The few that didn't, I hope that they'll change, but after meeting their parents; I have doubts.
No regrets...
SegDog
good career
This thread brought back a number of memories; mostly good.
After leaving the trade, and returning after years, I had to study hard and sign-on to some really hard jobs to get up-to-date. (not forgetting - many night-courses)
No one group has a monopoly on idiocy. Advanced age and education guarantees nothing.
I've worked for a number of younger people and most were a pleasure. They treated me the way that I treated them. The few that didn't, I hope that they'll change, but after meeting their parents; I have doubts.
No regrets...
SegDog
ItsHot
Senior Member
- Location
- A little piece of heaven!
go for it
go for it
Go for it! Jump in head first! In this trade about the last thing you will have to worry about is your age!!
go for it
Go for it! Jump in head first! In this trade about the last thing you will have to worry about is your age!!
willdalrymple
Member
- Location
- Texas
I started in this trade on april 1st 1999, yes april fools day at the age of 33. I passed my journeymans test 9 months in ,then had to wait for my hours. 2 years 2 months into the trade passed my masters and again had to wait on hours. I did find one city who's only requirment was to pass the test, its changed since then. Should have seen the look on the faces of my bosses who told everyone what the pay scale was for masters when I showed them my license. Anyway I know I drove everyone crazy with my questions about what was on the test or what made them decide to run somthing a certain way, after a while when there were no mistakes on somthing I was working on I got more responsibility. There were many nights up till 1 or 2 in the morning studying, with the ultimate goal of owning my own company, been in business now for 4 years in may. I guess what I saying is that for me it would not have mattered if i started at 33 or 43 my goal was to own my own business, and have employees who are not afraid to ask questions because they are afraid of looking stupid. There will be some out there who will treat you that way but don't let it get to you, they are either jelous or to stupid to know better. Good luck no matter what you choose.
Will Dalrymple
Will Dalrymple
The Iceman
Senior Member
- Location
- Florida
The only advice I have is run. :grin: If your really serious, study the trade. Don't just be an installer. This is a great field, and this website is a great start.
BackInTheHabit
Senior Member
- Location
- Lexington, Kentucky
nyerinfl said:
I think the EEOC would call that discrimination.
HaskinsElectric
Banned
- Location
- Helping K8MHZ demo a kitchen.
Our society no longer produces electricians. In fact, our society seldom produces anybody with the type of aptitude required to become an electrician. I'm talking about real electricians who know the code and the trade and can work without supervision. Real electricians are a vanishing breed.
If someone wants to become a real electrician, they should be encouraged regardless of their age.
If someone wants to become a real electrician, they should be encouraged regardless of their age.
L
Lxnxjxhx
Guest
career change
If you know how to fix radios, and you join the army, the last thing they will have you doing is radio repair. This, because you know too much. The Army does not want you to have preconceived notions of how to fix radios because they want to tell you, in very clear terms, how they want you to fix their radios.
The older you get, the more you know, and employers don't like that. They can't get away with anything, with you.
Also, employers can now statistically predict almost to the nearest dollar what they will be paying for your up-and-coming health problems. And if they collect your DNA they'll know more about your present and future health than you will.
One countermove is "The Rule of Threes": if having an income is important to you, then have three separate and distinct sources of income. Also, it wouldn't hurt to look at some books on Employees' rights. Not that you can successfully sue, but at least you'll know when they are misbehaving.
If I had had a law degree, a third of the companies I worked for would be in a courtroom right now, as defendants, for criminal and/or civil wrongs.
One last thing and then "Mr. Sunshine" is out of here. Employers want to know three things:
Can you do the work?
Will you do the work?
And, most important at your age, Are you desperate?
Good luck.
If you know how to fix radios, and you join the army, the last thing they will have you doing is radio repair. This, because you know too much. The Army does not want you to have preconceived notions of how to fix radios because they want to tell you, in very clear terms, how they want you to fix their radios.
The older you get, the more you know, and employers don't like that. They can't get away with anything, with you.
Also, employers can now statistically predict almost to the nearest dollar what they will be paying for your up-and-coming health problems. And if they collect your DNA they'll know more about your present and future health than you will.
One countermove is "The Rule of Threes": if having an income is important to you, then have three separate and distinct sources of income. Also, it wouldn't hurt to look at some books on Employees' rights. Not that you can successfully sue, but at least you'll know when they are misbehaving.
If I had had a law degree, a third of the companies I worked for would be in a courtroom right now, as defendants, for criminal and/or civil wrongs.
One last thing and then "Mr. Sunshine" is out of here. Employers want to know three things:
Can you do the work?
Will you do the work?
And, most important at your age, Are you desperate?
Good luck.
I totally agree with Haskins Electric, talk reviving the dying breed of electricians... I've read an article on the net i think this will be a great source of information: ELECTRICIAN FAQs
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