why an electrician

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jdr

Member
Location
Michigan
army aviation electronics, 2yrs college electronics tech, then took a job at a coal fired
power plant as electrical tech. where i did electrical and electronics. I liked electrical better.
 
cowboyjwc

cowboyjwc

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Staff member
Location
Simi Valley, CA
A buddy and I on summer break from college started a hauling business since we both had trucks, we were really just working for beer money. Did a job for a couple of contractors then did a job for each of them and then a couple of their friends.

Went back to school and was working at Toys R Us and around June of that year the electrician we did some work for came in and asked what I was doing working there and I told him it fit my schedule. He said he liked my work ethic and asked if I wanted to come to work for him, I told him I didn't know a thing about the trade and he said he could work with that. I went to work in June and in September I didn't sign up for school. Like someone else said, I was making $6 an hour and I had never seen that kind of money. I worked for him for six and a half years until I needed something with some benefits and became a maintenance electrician at a world wide printer manufacturer.
 
G

gardiner

Senior Member
Location
Canada
I was driving forklift for a company, someone offered me three months work for an electrical contractor doing a large industrial project that needed a licenced driver, sounded like something different. The three months turned into five years, when they found out I was willing to get of the lift and wanted to learn as much as I could. That was twenty years ago and I will admit the first couple of years was hard (apprentice wage was terrible back then especially for a man with children to raise) the rest of the time has been great.
 
Besoeker

Besoeker

Senior Member
Location
UK
For me it's a simple story. It's what I always wanted to do. And it's what I have always done.
 
2

220/221

Senior Member
Location
AZ
Right out of high school I started installing lawn sprinklers. I realized that after 3 years I was pretty much at the top of that field and the mexican labor was poised to take it over, limiting my future earnin potential. My friend's Father had a small EC business with about 15 guys roping houses and he put me on in 1973 ish.

I took a pay cut to $4.25 but was back to my six bucks an hour in about 6 months when I started roping by myself.

I spent a few years trying to be a musician. When I came back to electrical work a couple years later I was offered NINE bucks an hour! I thought I was going to be rich!!

In the following years I spent most of my time working for myself doing whatever came along. Elec, plumbing, tile, and typical small GC remodel stuff. I opened small retail business with my wife in about 85. I started as a full on, legit EC about 16 years ago when we sold the retail store (wedding dresses).


What was the question again?

Oh yeah............. My friend got me a job.
 
charlie b

charlie b

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Lockport, IL
Occupation
Semi-Retired Electrical Engineer
I honestly can?t remember. I do know that by the time I was halfway through High School, I recognized that I enjoyed, and was good at, math and science. By the time I had to start applying to colleges, and filling in the application form question about ?intended major area of study,? I had decided to answer ?electrical engineering.? So somewhere in my Junior year, I had set the direction of my professional life. Like many of you have already said, I never looked back.
 
C

charlietuna

Senior Member
My dad was a plumber and always talked about how easy the electricians had it on the job and when it came time for high school it was vocational and he suggested this trade!
 
C

charlie k.

Senior Member
Location
Baltimore, Md.
My father was a sheet metal worker and told us boys none of my kids are going into construction. Well I was always into why things worked and the electrical field excited me. I went to a vo tech high school and the rest is history. I told my son when he was 14 that I would prefer him not to get into construction and he listened as well as I did. He just graduated the JATC electrical apprenticeship. Looking back I have no regrets.

Charlie
 
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cschmid

cschmid

Senior Member
Location
Northern cold country
let see long time ago i went to school for small engine mechanics, one ummer of work and decided that was not it..so i went to automotive school one year of that and supporting beautiful blonde wife and kids decided that trade was not it..went to industrial technology school..discovered industrial controls and electricity and have never looked back..Now look what I achieved..happy family lovely grandchildrn and a beautiful wife..oh and I am one rich man..dont have lots of cash though..
 
J

jeremysterling

Senior Member
Location
Austin, TX
Before I joined the Navy...

Before I joined the Navy...

Before I joined the Navy, I couldn't even spell electrician.

Now, I are one!:D

Seriously, I joined up looking for electronics training. That field was full so the Navy assigned me to be EM 3354. Thank you, USN. I love my job and career.
 
byourdesky

byourdesky

Member
Location
vista,ca
Was working at a supply house delivering and stocking....was pretty boring and it seemed like the other side of the counter was more fun and not such "dummy" work.
 
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