Please some advice.

[Wishes]

Hello, I am not sure if this is the correct area to put this but i need some good advice.. heres my story

I am 17 im going to be graduating in 3 months, i also turn 18 may 23rd. and i have no idea what im doing with my life, I love math and i love to do things hands on I like computers but i'd rather dig a hole for 12 hours then sit infront of a computer and anwser questions, I have been looking into an aprentenship with a electrician type field, i do not have a car at the moment but my current job (grocery clerk >) will hopefully fix that.
I have been looking into this for quite some time, I live in Washington State and I really would want to know the best steps to ensuring my place in this field, do you think this would be a good job for me? it is something i would enjoy, but i don't want to get into something that i wouldn't be able to support myself for the first 2 years, any anwsers would be great. Thank your for your time ~ Alex in Washington.

 

[roger]

Alex, this has been a great trade for me, and looking back to when I started at your age, I really wouldn't have wanted to do anything else knowing what I do now.

You get to do physical labor (dig ditches for one example) as well as use your brain.

Your apprentice years will probably stretch you as far as making enough money to make ends meet, but that will be true of what ever you may choose to be your profession.

I have been able to provide very well for my family, own multiple properties (with help from my better half and many blessings) as well as have a good number of toys.

The trade will never stay still with technological advances and changes, so you will always be challenged and forced to continuously learn and educate yourself.

I say go for it and good luck.

Roger

 

[tshea]

One way to get into this trade is to go to ALL the electrical contractors in your town and try to get a job as a helper/ gopher. Do your best, don't complain, be on time and above all else stay drug free!

This is true of any job. After you get into a shop do whatever is asked of you. If you have questions, ASK! When the opportunity presents itself ask for the apprenticeship.

Good Luck!

 

[George Stolz]

Alex, going from grocery-store clerk to electrician is an easy jump.

I'm 26. At age 19 I went from managing at a Wendy's to stacking newspapers. I had only been in burger management for a year or so, so the pay hadn't taken off yet. Stacking newspapers (Asst. Supervisor over one guy) was a slight downshift in pay, or sideways, if I remember. Easier work, and no meetings. Better work environment.

Fortunately, I only stuck with that for three years, and then the opportunity came to go wire houses. This was another side-shift in pay, I was able to negotiate an extra dollar per hour to start to maintain my pay level starting in.

I have found that the problem with any industry is that if you stick around, you make more money. If I had stayed at Wendy's, I would be bringing home as much (or more) than I do now. If you stick around at any job, then changing careers becomes harder, because you're too highly paid to leave and start over.

My attempt to recruit an old friend of mine brought that to light. I make the same (or a little less) than a press operator comedian friend of mine who works nights. He would love to work days, get away from ink and rolls and whatnot and start over. But with a wife and a daughter, giving up $8/hour is impossible.

I won't lie to you: I envy the lifestyle that my computer-programmer brother-in-law can afford. He's paid off his 4-year degree from CSU, and works for IBM. On cold winter days, I find myself wishing I'd gone to college. Whenever I have a dispute with an inspector that goes south, I wish I'd gone to college. Whenever it's so hot all you can do is guzzle water all day and find excuses to stand around in the basement, I wish I'd gone to college.

But whenever I finish a house in a good time, look over it as I leave and see a job well done, it's encouraging. Whenever you're in a trench on one of those "medium" days where it's just gorgeous out, you're wearing shorts, gettin' a tan, doing easy work, you feel like you're robbing somebody.

Whenever you sit around and shoot the breeze with an inspector for an hour, taking code and methods and enjoying the talk, it's uplifting. Whenever a new concept finally sinks in and you've suddenly mastered another code or principle, it's divine. When you aquire a license and earn a raise, it feels good.

You will need to make a choice. But the good news is, you can try it out and see if you like it and be none the worse for wear. If you stick with it, manage your money well, then you can save enough to just pay for college, if you change your mind. I've made $6 in raises in three years, and I am hopelessly lousy in negotiating a raise.

I hope this helps.

 

[Wishes]

All these answers are really helpful its really uplifting to be reading all this and to know everyones thoughts on it. Today I was sitting at work tinkering with this lightbulb and got shocked and all i could do was laugh thinking about going into something with electricity, Thank you all for all your answers knowing this makes my decision so much easier and I actually have some direction to go in my life. I love to read the forums, reading all the questions and answers hoping one day i'd know ever one of them.. yet again Thank you~Alex

 

[JohnE]

Alex,

For me this is a very rewarding trade. It is sometimes physically challenging and sometimes intellectually challenging. You get to work on many different types of jobs with many interesting customers and other tradesmen.

I went to clollege and have a degree. I never planned on doing this for a career, as I had grown up doing it working in my father's business. At one point I realized how much I like it. I decided to make it my career as it is rewarding and affords me a nice living.

If the opportunity allows, choose a company that does many things so you can be exposed to more types of installations. As others have said in different posts, residential work builds a solid electrical foundation allowing an easy transition to commercial. The opposite is not always as easy. Long term, commercial will almost always pay more.

Starting this career when you are young is best, as it is notorious for low starting wages as George said.

My advice is to jump in, you can always get out if it's not what you expect.

 

[hardworkingstiff]

I quit college in 1972 after a couple of years. I made a conscious decision to become an electrician. It took me 3 months to find a job as a helper. I dug ditches for the 1st 2 months. I don't regret it at all, NOT ONCE!

It's a great way to make a living.

Here's the other thing. At your age, you will be one of the few that will know how to work a trade when you reach middle age. Your knowledge then will be very valuable (see, not many want to get into trade these days).

Good luck, don't let nervousness hold you back.

 

[bob]

I am 17 im going to be graduating in 3 months, i also turn 18 may 23rd. and i have no idea what im doing with my life, I love math and i love to do things hands on I like computers but i'd rather dig a hole for 12 hours then sit infront of a computer

I would say that 99% of the people you age have no idea what they want to do for the rest of your life. That a long time to plan. I would suggest that you look at your math and science grades as well as the other grades and if they are good, consider college. You can work while attending college and you will get an idea of what you want to do.
I hope that you won't dismiss the idea of continuing you education.
Many companys have a coop program that lets you work a semester and go to school a semester.