Employed by Orange or Blue?

Status
Not open for further replies.
infinity

infinity

Moderator
Staff member
Location
New Jersey
Occupation
Journeyman Electrician
Not yet, but if the economy doesn't get better soon, well maybe....:roll:
Why do you ask?
 
chris1971

chris1971

Senior Member
Location
Usa
I sold carpet as a kid at Menards. I was also a dishwasher at Shakey's Pizza but, that's another story.
 
cadpoint

cadpoint

Senior Member
Location
Durham, NC
Orange and Blue is an easy out verses facing your marketing skills or lack of!

There are million's of house's that need servicing, WET, or WIN, what ever it takes, or What Is Needed, needs to be serviced!

Long story short, re-invent yourself!
 
Last edited:
V

Volta

Senior Member
Location
Columbus, Ohio
electricmanscott said:
It might be time.
Click to expand...

A few years ago HD was starting the 'EC in the aisle' or whatever they call it. The mailed out invitations to myself and various other contractors to apply for jobs. While I wasn't interested, I passed it on to a friend who I knew was tired of being an EC, and it has worked out very well for him. He's still there, and they have treated him well.

Customers and corporate politics, sure, but no attics, late payments, cold service changes, or needing to wear so many different hats. You could do worse. Good luck.
 
ceb58

ceb58

Senior Member
Location
Raeford, NC
electricmanscott said:
It might be time.
Click to expand...

From what I have seen and by knowing several people that work at slowes they are advantages and disadvantages. Around here they pay the "pros's" around $14.00 per hr. but they hold you down to less than 32 hrs per week to get out of bennies.
If it comes down to it and you are employed by ether one you will face a delima. Will you give advice on how to or just give them what they ask for knowing they are making mistake? I would not want to give advice to some one that I knew didn't have a clue as to what they were getting into. I know you would give the correct answer but depending on some one else to follow those instructions would be a different story.
 
T

ty

Senior Member
Location
3rd Rock from the Sun
electricmanscott said:
Does anybody here work for Home Depot or Lowes as an employee?
Click to expand...

Not any more.

I worked there part time for a few years. Got alot of stocks out of it.
At that time, the way the ESPP was set up, I could work 8 hours a week, but could base my input $$ on 20hours. Back in the days when the stocks would split and actually be worth anything.
I lost alot of $$ in HD stock after 9/11 and once Bob Nardelli took over when the original founders stepped down.
 
George Stolz

George Stolz

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Windsor, CO NEC: 2017
Occupation
Service Manager
electricmanscott said:
It might be time.
Click to expand...
I hear you. Really. I had lunch with an old friend of mine from Wendy's and half-joked that I might be down there looking for a job next week...

ceb58 said:
If it comes down to it and you are employed by ether one you will face a delima. Will you give advice on how to or just give them what they ask for knowing they are making mistake?
Click to expand...
I tell ya, if it comes down to that or facing foreclosure, I think I'll give advice. I'll advise them to use jumper cables to hook up their spa before I sit on the side of the road with a cardboard sign, thanks. :D
 
M

macmikeman

Senior Member
Location
Planet macmikeman
Go down to the big orange real early in the AM and stand out in front of the door about 15 minutes before the store opens. Get a load of the ra,ra, ra, cheerleading session all the store employee's get to sit thru. That will probably end your thinking about possibly working there for less than 20 an hour. I think I will weave coconut frond hats for tourists before I go that route.... By the way, that does look like a fairly good way to motivate a bunch of sparky's just before they leave the shop for the days job. But I don't think that would work with electricians. Not the ones I know.
 
mcclary's electrical

mcclary's electrical

Senior Member
Location
VA
macmikeman said:
Go down to the big orange real early in the AM and stand out in front of the door about 15 minutes before the store opens. Get a load of the ra,ra, ra, cheerleading session all the store employee's get to sit thru. That will probably end your thinking about possibly working there for less than 20 an hour. I think I will weave coconut frond hats for tourists before I go that route.... By the way, that does look like a fairly good way to motivate a bunch of sparky's just before they leave the shop for the days job. But I don't think that would work with electricians. Not the ones I know.
Click to expand...



Not the ones I know either. I'm embarrassed to even be in the store when they do that! Dumbest thing I've ever seen
 
electricmanscott

electricmanscott

Senior Member
Location
Boston, MA
peter d said:
That bad, huh? Don't feel bad though. Next week I have a huge job. I have to replace 3 receptacles, install a GFCI breaker and install a GFCI receptacle. I don't know how I'll handle such a workload. ;)
Click to expand...

It is that bad. Last year was the "ride it our year". This year has seen no improvement and in fact it is worse. I've been talkng to a ton of people, gc's and ec's, it is dead here. There is just no work and what work there is pays crap. You've all seen everybody posting bid results.

I'm about to turn 40 and I am far worse off than I was at 30. I've got 18 years of self employment behind me, most pretty succesful, but the last year and a half has essentialy left me just about broke. I am just about to start using my "emergency" money that I have been saving for years. The road I am on is leading me into a situation where if I were to continue I will spend the rest of my life digging out.


So, it's time. I've always known that sooner or later I wouldn't be able to work like I do now as I got older and it would be tougher to compete with the younger guys and that I didn't really want to do this forever. I didn't think it would be this soon but it is what it is.

I am not really that bummed about it. The thought of showing up to work in a heated/air conditoned clean space and just working my hours has some serious appeal after 18 years of more or less "always" working. That and a paycheck I can count on coupled with some sidework, I can forsee a decent furture.

Thanks for the replies guys. :)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top