Its me the jobless apprentice

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JONATHAN20

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CLINTON, CT
I think im am going to go about this another way. Its risky but im getting to aggrivated with this. This one dude told me that since you dont know anyone who can get you in that is currently working in the field, your gonna have to lie and say you have worked in the field and make up a contractors name. Out of state and out of business. Would you guys follow up and track that contractor down or would take my/someones word for it?
 
Just keep making the rounds. Work clothes and can do attitude will get you a job. Fabricating experience won't help you. The boss will talk with you and know your full of bs asap.
 
& that will also look good on next application "reason for leaving".

Theres Ten Commandments, its not selecitve, the truth will come out...
 
One of my more favorite sayings has been "fake it 'till you make it", but I never thought that lying about your skills was part of that. To me, it means more like try hard, even if you're not 100% sure of your ability to be succesful.
 
mdshunk said:
One of my more favorite sayings has been "fake it 'till you make it", but I never thought that lying about your skills was part of that. To me, it means more like try hard, even if you're not 100% sure of your ability to be succesful.
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I have a funny story about faking it, I got hired by an EC years ago, told him I had no experience in building electrical cuz all my experience was on aircraft in the USAF. Told him I had two qualities that i thought he should except and hire me I would be on time EVERY day and I don't make excuses. He didn't hire me till after the guy he did hire showed up one day and not the next two and made poor excuses for not being at work. I get to work on my first day as a helper electrician the guy i was teamed with tells me to go grab a box of single gang nail-ons ( i didn't have any idea what they were) I went in the shop looked around said man I know they are here i don't see them. another guy asked what i was looking for, I told him he pointed to them and I acted like I was blind wow thanks ok all that. I learned the lingo quick and love the trade took some code classes and four months later was running a truck as a lead guy.

you will get a job if you tell the truth you will go far if you bust your a--.
 
JONATHAN20 said:
I think im am going to go about this another way. Its risky but im getting to aggrivated with this. This one dude told me that since you dont know anyone who can get you in that is currently working in the field, your gonna have to lie and say you have worked in the field and make up a contractors name. Out of state and out of business. Would you guys follow up and track that contractor down or would take my/someones word for it?
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You're better off advertising on Craigslist claiming that you've been a Journeyman for 10 years and are doing side jobs. Nobody will know the difference and you'll learn as you go. You'll make more money than if you worked for an EC and be able to make your own hours. Get the "Basic Wiring" book from Home Depot and some business cards.
 
HaskinsElectric said:
You're better off advertising on Craigslist claiming that you've been a Journeyman for 10 years and are doing side jobs. Nobody will know the difference and you'll learn as you go. You'll make more money than if you worked for an EC and be able to make your own hours. Get the "Basic Wiring" book from Home Depot and some business cards.
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I'd even claim I'm a licensed attorney and all of my experience is from watching The People's Court and Judge Judy. I could wire your house and settle any claims all at the same time :D
 
JONATHAN20 said:
I think im am going to go about this another way. Its risky but im getting to aggrivated with this. This one dude told me that since you dont know anyone who can get you in that is currently working in the field, your gonna have to lie and say you have worked in the field and make up a contractors name. Out of state and out of business. Would you guys follow up and track that contractor down or would take my/someones word for it?
Click to expand...

All joking aside, I would ask you if you know why you're not being hired and if any feedback has been given to you by the companies you're applying at. Aside from being new to the trade and still learning skills, how are you presenting yourself during interviews? Are you showing up looking like you're ready to work or with your pants hanging half off your backside? You're 21 so I would assume you've interviewed once or twice in your life and should know that you never get a second chance to make a first impression.

Unless the electrician job market is slow in CT I would think that if you're making inroads in your education, showing up to work on time everyday and working hard that you would be hired. The aforementioned is what the ECs I know here have the most problem with finding in an employee. I've personally experienced it with some on jobs.

Shed some light on your job application experiences for us to better understand your position.
 
Well Jonathan, when you get serious about finding a job you'll find one and it doesn't matter that you're a greenhorn.

Lying about something simply means you're a liar.


Roger
 
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bikeindy said:
I have a funny story about faking it, I got hired by an EC years ago, told him I had no experience in building electrical cuz all my experience was on aircraft in the USAF. Told him I had two qualities that i thought he should except and hire me I would be on time EVERY day and I don't make excuses. He didn't hire me till after the guy he did hire showed up one day and not the next two and made poor excuses for not being at work. I get to work on my first day as a helper electrician the guy i was teamed with tells me to go grab a box of single gang nail-ons ( i didn't have any idea what they were) I went in the shop looked around said man I know they are here i don't see them. another guy asked what i was looking for, I told him he pointed to them and I acted like I was blind wow thanks ok all that. I learned the lingo quick and love the trade took some code classes and four months later was running a truck as a lead guy.

you will get a job if you tell the truth you will go far if you bust your a--.
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A true 90 day wonder. Sorry, thats 120 days.
 
JONATHAN20 said:
You are gonna have to lie and say you have worked in the field and make up a contractors name. Out of state and out of business. Would you guys follow up and track that contractor down or would take my/someones word for it?
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With the residential market the way it is I get 3 or 4 calls every week and sometimes after a lay-off 3-4 calls a day from guys looking for work. Most of these guys sound experienced ( 10 to 20 years ) and they are still having a hard time finding work.

Experience is not the reason you can't find work. There is always a big demand for green helpers if there is any work around ( cheap labor ). The job market is slow.

If you think making up experience will help then go for it. I don't think it will do any good and may even get you hurt trying to perform jobs that you are not qualified for.

My advice is just to tell employers that you wish to learn and will work hard and show up every day. That's all they are gong to expect any way they can teach a good man to do the work.
 
It is a terrible idea, like others have said. Work is slow right now, but if you are persistent you will find work somewhere.

If you lie about your experience, and if you make it through the interview you won't last long anywhere. You be one of those guys that is never at a company more than 90 days.

I had a guy a few weeks ago leave a resume under my windshield. I looked at it and he had been with about 5 different companies in the last 3 years. A couple of them I considered to be really bad companies and he didn't even last there. I just took the resume off the truck and threw it in the trash.

Reasons for throwing in the trash.
1. Could not show stable job history even when everyone was busy.
2. He left it on my truck. I am not the owner or do I have anything to do with hiring.
3. I would be embarrassed to give the thing to my boss because of how it was delivered, the quality of his resume, and his job history.

My advice to you is start at the bottom. It's all about presentation and delivery. Keep at it and when you do find a job learn the ropes, work your tail off and try to find a company that treats you right and treat them right in return. You don't want to end of like this guy, looking for a job every few months.
 
I feel for you Jonathan, I can remember well my days out of high school. Every job required experience only need reply. It used to drive me crazy. Now I have just the opposite problem. Now I am overqualified. Like you I am looking and not finding.
 
So, what are the odds that Jonathan is going to come back and give his input in this thread? Or are we just talking to a brick wall just like last time? :roll:
 
peter d said:
So, what are the odds that Jonathan is going to come back and give his input in this thread? Or are we just talking to a brick wall just like last time? :roll:
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Well, .... :wink:

Roger
 
I closed my Electrical Contracting business at the end of 2004 due to a long illness. After closing my business, it took me six months to find work. I went to work for a homebuilder. I worked for them for 1 1/2 years. When the housing market started to crash I was laid off last year. I tried to get out of the contruction industry because I got tired of getting laid off. I went to get my Commercial Driver's License. After getting my CDL I went on the road for six months. Don't let anyone tell you you can make money as an OTR driver. It is rough on a marriage and you don't have any home time. I was offered a job by an Electrical Contractor that first laid me off years earlier. After two months, his work dried up and I was laid off again. I delivered roofing material for three months and got laid off in December last year. It has been almost 2 1/2 months. Unemployment checks have helped. I was laid off three times last year. Twelve times since 2001.

I will be starting work again next week operating a CDL bucket truck for a commercial Electrical Contractor.

To all the electricians that are between jobs, hang in there! The jobs are there. Don't rush it don't worry about it. The right job is there for you. Let your experience talk for you.
 
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