Where Did You Learn The Trade?

[iwire]

Learned from Dad, then High school trade school and onto on the job training. After 25 years working in the trade I am still learning here at the forum and on the job. :smile:

 

[walkerj]

Shouldn't this website(or Mike Holt) be one of the choices?

 

[ptonsparky]

Although the poll will only let me enter one vote, three of the four apply to me!:smile:

Same here and still at it.

 

[220/221]

After six months or so wiring houses I did a one year stint as an IBEW apprentice and decided the union wasn't for me. The bulk of my training has been "Earn while you learn".

 

[360Youth]

Vo-tech school in high school, on the job training, school of hard knocks. I'm not done yet.

Hear, Hear! :grin:

 

[chris kennedy]

I took my brother in law to a construction trailer in 1990. I left the restaurant biz 3 months prior due to the fact it was killing me. Guy sticks his head out of the trailer and says:

Hey pal, you want a job?

Got my license in 96. I love my job and wish I had gone to trade school instead of college.

 

[khixxx]

I wanted to be like my uncle the lineman, Till I found out what he really does So I went to a trades school I spent $8k now that school is $28k. I passed the Journeyman exam without working a day in the field I didn't even know what a back strap was. soooo Green. I am learning everyday. I try to expand my knowledge with reading and asking questions.

 

[nakulak]

there seem to be several options missing (as was relayed to me by some of the gentlemen whose pictures showed up in some of the ignominious postings). assuming that there should be a count of these options, they should at least include:

- learned it while I wasn't surfing or bartending
- on the Hog Farm where I was raised
- worked as an electrician when crabbing was off-season
- the Taliban trained me as an electrician (check out the services I did in India)
- "from the manual I received in a Cracker Jacks Box"

:grin:

 

[abe72487]

On the job

On the job

Trained at my father's knee was nine when i learned about tools, packed wire and cleaned for long time. got license in 1977 became and inspector in 1990. Work for any EC and get experience

 

[satcom]

The larger number of apprentices, were trainned in non union apprentices programs, operated in most states by the state labor departments, and trainned by non union independant contractors, all over the country.

The thinking is, that if they have an apprentice program they must be Union.

 

[TOOL_5150]

I started reading code handbooks when I was 10. I was hands on every chance I could get. Any and every electrical book I could find I would read. At a very young age I saw that the DIY books arent always right. :grin: Been learning the trade ever since, and I still feel like I dont know 'enough' I am 26 now, and read through 4 electrical forums almost daily. I have learned so much from these forums, now I cant keep myself away from them. Thank you all for giving me another way to learn stuff on a daily basis!

~Matt

 

[brian john]

Someone once told me you can become an electrician without any school training, but you can't become an electrician with only school training.

Gotta have the OJT, any apprenticeship, votech, previous mechanical training, ect is icing on the cake

 

[JohnE]

Grew up begrudgingly working with one of my father's crews from the time I was 12. Went on to get a EE degree but am still stuck pulling wires 27 years later. It pays the bills though.

 

[TOOL_5150]

you can't become an electrician with only school training.

Technically, you can, But if you put the only school trained guy next to a guy that has OTJ training to do the same job. I bet the 2nd guy would complete the job faster, easier and maybe even better then the first guy. This trade is one of them that does not always go 'by the book'

But in other words, I agree.

~Matt

 

[iwire]

Technically, you can,

Not here.

8000 hours required OJT plus trade school required before applying for the journeyman test.

 

[ElectricianJeff]

I am 26 now, and read through 4 electrical forums almost daily. I have learned so much from these forums, now I cant keep myself away from them. Thank you all for giving me another way to learn stuff on a daily basis!

~Matt

Me too X 2, I'm 52.

It's my 3:30-4:00 am habit. Just last night she said, "why don't you skip the forums in the morning and work on that pile of paperwork laying next to the computer?"

She just doesn't understand.

Jeff

 

[hardworkingstiff]

..... "why don't you skip the forums in the morning and work on that pile of paperwork laying next to the computer?"

I almost spilled my coffee!, that was great Jeff. :grin: :grin:

I truly understand.

 

[jrannis]

USMC MOS 6332 Military A School AE (Aircraft Electrician)
Two wasted years in ABC electrical trade school, but worked with my dad the whole time and learned what working 7AM to 3:30 really is. Including lots of digging, chipping and 1/2 hour lunch in your work area, pick up tools at 3:20.
Then
Three tough years of three to four nights a week, five solid hours per night, MJATC LU 349 Miami. Could not be late or EVER miss a class. Very good education.
Worked mostly heavy and complicated commercial and light industrial work with some of the best talent around. Very well rounded experience.
I have to admit that I had no appreciation for the education at the time

Then obtained Journeyman license in third year of apprenticeship, obtained journeyman status in LU in July 87. Worked on condo projects, commercial jobs and service work for almost 10 years. Obtained Masters License in 93. Went white collar in 96, got enough experience doing that for 10 years, opened business in 2005 full time in 2006. Still learning everyday.

 

[guschash]

I worked in a glass manufacturing plant, that had around 400 hundred electricans. Most of them learned to be electricans either in the service or tech school and alot of on the job training. They decided to start a apprenticeship and I was lucky to get in. We had to have four years in school and 8000 hours of OJT plus two years of cross training into other skill trades at the plant. We had continous in house training.

 

[barbeer]

there seem to be several options missing (as was relayed to me by some of the gentlemen whose pictures showed up in some of the ignominious postings). assuming that there should be a count of these options, they should at least include:

- learned it while I wasn't surfing or bartending
- on the Hog Farm where I was raised
- worked as an electrician when crabbing was off-season
- the Taliban trained me as an electrician (check out the services I did in India)
- "from the manual I received in a Cracker Jacks Box"

:grin:

Yeah, I saw the smiley, but somehow that was degrading to all of us!