I recently spoke to a renovator, and he told me if he had to do it all over again, he would have trained to be an electrician. There was a thread awhile back about the best trade and a number of posters agreed that electrician was the best or one of the best trades out there. I was wondering if we could discuss how to become an electrician or an electrician apprentice (there may be different ways). Are there any negatives associated with this trade? Is there age discrimination? I am middle aged(40ish), but the electrician said I might still be able to become an electrician.
Electrician As A Career?
- Thread starter probyn
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If you are intelligent and want to become an electrician, you want to become an industrial electrician.
Being a residential electrician sucks in winter, and the work is somewhat boring. However, all of the sub-trades (residential, commercial or industrial) can result in you making big bucks.
Being a residential electrician sucks in winter, and the work is somewhat boring. However, all of the sub-trades (residential, commercial or industrial) can result in you making big bucks.
there are risks involved... The electrician in the company I worked in electrocuted himself at work. Plant had to shut down and police came in for investigation. Be careful. There is no second chance when you play with electricity xD
how hard is the course to be an electrician anyway?
how hard is the course to be an electrician anyway?
An electrician is an excellent trade to get into. Construction electricians kinda sucks because you work outside, exposed to the elements. That said all the trades generally pay better but are more hazardous work. You have to be careful and safety is Job 1....:eyebrows:
An industrial electrician means you will work in a factory. If you get your construction electrical license you can then work for contractors that service and install equipment in many different locations. I don't believe an industrial electrician can work for a contractor at different sites. But always better to ask someone in the know.
I've been in a trade for the last 10 years. Refrigeration to be specific. I was 29 when I changed careers and entered this trade. There were guys in my trade school classes that were mid 40's.
The best way to get into the trade is to apply through the union. They will sponsor you as an apprentice, and help you with any additional training. If you want to do ICI (industrial, commercial, institutional) work, this is really the only way.
If I had to start all over again as a first year apprentice, I'd be a stone mason. Seriously. No shortage of work, as there is a severe shortage of skilled masons in this country. As buildings get older and older, there will be so much stone and brick work to repair and rebuild.
I think this is a bad time to become an electrician or plumber. Construction is really slowing down, and those guys get laid off all the time.
The best way to get into the trade is to apply through the union. They will sponsor you as an apprentice, and help you with any additional training. If you want to do ICI (industrial, commercial, institutional) work, this is really the only way.
If I had to start all over again as a first year apprentice, I'd be a stone mason. Seriously. No shortage of work, as there is a severe shortage of skilled masons in this country. As buildings get older and older, there will be so much stone and brick work to repair and rebuild.
I think this is a bad time to become an electrician or plumber. Construction is really slowing down, and those guys get laid off all the time.
They way I see it, the people that go into the trade that are not too smart do OK and make good wages. The ones that are smart that go into the trade make the good bucks and more if the combine their entrepreneurial skills with their trade.
My ex-boyfriend was an electrician ~ it took him 7 years to complete his 5-year apprenticeship. He was in the union. He made great money after the first few years (considering how young we were) and now that he's a journeyman, his income is great.
The bad in working for a union is the lay-offs. He was part of a big local (don't know if that's the correct term for the branch) in the IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers). He got laid off often (even though his father used to be an important member of the union... there are a lot of politics unfortunately) ~ when he did, he either looked for work as outside of the local union or he moped (um - the reason why we broke up lol).
There were times when he worked out of town night shifts because there was no work in his local. It was stressful - he wanted to go back to university and get out of the trade. I got into the industry because I didn't want to deal with him being unhappy at work and I wanted to help but had just started university myself. The phase passed though - last I chatted with him, he was very happy.
There were also times when he was working outside in the cold or worked nights which can be difficult. His training was difficult ~ I used to help him with his homework and studying but he did well.
I tend to be attracted to blue collar types for whatever reason, so perhaps I'm biased but I agree ~ the trades can be very lucrative. I have friends who are electricians, sheet metal workers, a drywall taper and a stone mason ~ they all do well and all are working in steady positions. The apprenticeship grant program is awesome now ~ $1000 after you finish your first course, $2000 after year 2 and $3000 after you get your ticket (..I may be slightly off but I'm pretty-sure that's how it goes).
I have also heard that the Stone Mason trade is a very solid trade to get into...
The bad in working for a union is the lay-offs. He was part of a big local (don't know if that's the correct term for the branch) in the IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers). He got laid off often (even though his father used to be an important member of the union... there are a lot of politics unfortunately) ~ when he did, he either looked for work as outside of the local union or he moped (um - the reason why we broke up lol).
There were times when he worked out of town night shifts because there was no work in his local. It was stressful - he wanted to go back to university and get out of the trade. I got into the industry because I didn't want to deal with him being unhappy at work and I wanted to help but had just started university myself. The phase passed though - last I chatted with him, he was very happy.
There were also times when he was working outside in the cold or worked nights which can be difficult. His training was difficult ~ I used to help him with his homework and studying but he did well.
I tend to be attracted to blue collar types for whatever reason, so perhaps I'm biased but I agree ~ the trades can be very lucrative. I have friends who are electricians, sheet metal workers, a drywall taper and a stone mason ~ they all do well and all are working in steady positions. The apprenticeship grant program is awesome now ~ $1000 after you finish your first course, $2000 after year 2 and $3000 after you get your ticket (..I may be slightly off but I'm pretty-sure that's how it goes).
I have also heard that the Stone Mason trade is a very solid trade to get into...
My brother is an electrician, as is one of my good friends. Both of them now work for the city and also do quite well through side jobs. I think the apprenticeship part is fairly tough, but once over the money is good. It seems to me that there is always a good demand for electricians, certainly if I had to do it over again and went down the path of getting a trade it would be an electrician - no question.
Residential work is usually done after everything is closed in - i.e. you are not working totally outside freezing your hands off like some of the other trades. It is fairly clean work as trades go - for example plumbers often have to deal with toilet issues - which is pretty shitty work (pun intended).
It is my understanding that electrians get paid better than most other trades, I could be wrong on that though.
good luck!
Residential work is usually done after everything is closed in - i.e. you are not working totally outside freezing your hands off like some of the other trades. It is fairly clean work as trades go - for example plumbers often have to deal with toilet issues - which is pretty shitty work (pun intended).
It is my understanding that electrians get paid better than most other trades, I could be wrong on that though.
good luck!
In the trade myself, at your age it will be hard to find anyone who will sign you on to an apprenticeship. I cringe when I see 30+ aged guys starting an apprenticeship, most are completely fucking useless. As for Jennifer, your bf was probably useless, that's why he didn't get work, their first excuse is the politics crap.
A tonne of dog fuckers in the trades.
A tonne of dog fuckers in the trades.
George Brown College and many of the other colleges offer a few trade programs for heating and eletrician and also on there is http://www.apprenticesearch.com and http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/employmentontario/training/
I dunno - he's my ex for a reason.... but at the same time, I know he cared about his work and I know the Hamilton local was a busy one and there were a lot of guys on the list whenever they were looking for work and on that list..... I think working for the union involves a lot of politics - I've seen it in other trades too....
The 'dog fuckers' are the reason why I got into this industry in the first place..... I wanted to help and knew he wasn't happy.....
This is the reference if you're doing work in Canada:
http://shop.csa.ca/en/canada/landing-pages/c221-12-canadian-electrical-code/page/cecode/
hence I asked for a book recommendation. I wouldn't do it otherwise. I don't think its rocket science and we're humans, capable of learning
