Decided on electrician

[Get_Training]

So a while back I posted about what "trade" you would recommend. I've decided on electrician, with the end goal of running my own company one day. So here's my question. I am a firefighter currently, so my schedule is 24 hours on, 48 hours off. That unfortunately isn't negotiable. I was told by a friend about the IEC (I believe it's called), but i'm not sure that'd be shift friendly to join. Any suggestions? I think electricians will make pretty good money in the future, since it seems like most of my generation doesn't wanna do something like that as they'd rather not work at all. Any tips or ideas on how I can become an electrician? Anybody know of a flexible school that would let me go to school and be a firefighter too?

 

[Stringbender]

Lot of demand for HVAC / REFRIGERATION. Hard work, good pay. In my opinion it's best to get tech school basic foundation and work your way up through the ranks. You will have to learn electric and electronic theory as well. Starting pay kind of sucks but an experienced tech makes a GOOD living.

 

[bass222000]

bite the bullet and go Electrician full time. Join the IBEW, go through 5 year apprenticeship and then you can go anywhere in the Country and work as a Journeyman Wireman making GOOD money. I did it years back at an older than normal "starting" age and love it.

How old are you? And can you go a couple years making not so good money? If so go for it. Its an investment in your future and a GREAT investment at that. Great benefits/retirement and damn good pay once you put in a few years.

 

[wsbrown]

In my opinion its much easier to work for someone else, a good living with a lot less headaches. I did dual enrollment in highschool and finished the electrical program at tech school at 19. Because I had tech school, I got into the IBEW as an intermediate journeyman, got hired on with a permenant position at Southern Company within a year.

 

[Get_Training]

I'm 23 right now. I'm not really wanting to hurry and quit firefighting to do something else without having some sort of safety net. I really like firefighting and I want to do electrician jobs on my days off, I figure it could at least double my salary.

 

[chucklenut]

learn a skilled trade and you will always be able to find work somewhere

 

[Rolling_trip]

I went to trade school and took Industrial Electrical Technology and Automated Manufacturing Technology. Two suggestions, join VICA and pick up as many PLC and Robotic classes you can. Everything is automated everywhere, it's more than just terminating wires.

 

[cskiles]

I would recommend starting with some type of online "introduction to electrical theory", or something along those lines. You can also start buy purchasing a current National Electrical Code or and UGLY's HANDBOOK. I've been in the electrical field (commercial and industrial) since 1998, I've worked for/with IBEW trained as well as non-IBEW trained (both of these all over the country) and I can tell you this, there are a huge number of people in the electrical field that are sub-par electricians and do not have the applicational knowledge to be "good" technicians. A good portion of the work that I do now (as a business owner) is correcting or resolving issues that 'other' electricians failed at. I am not implying that I am a super technician, I merely take the time to study things like: NEC, new technology, troubleshooting techniques for specialized equipment, etc. on an ongoing basis...

I am in no way saying that you wouldn't benefit from joining an IBEW program but knowing what the job climate is, I would want to be absolutely positive about changing career paths, taking a significant loss, and starting over at the bottom (not to mention a significant loss in salary). Just my opinion, good luck with your choice...just keep in mind that hard work always prevails

 

[fast306stang]

I can tell you this, there is a huge number of people in the electrical field that are sub-par electricians and do not have the applicational knowledge to be "good" technicians. A good portion of the work that I do now (as a business owner) is correcting or resolving issues that 'other' electricians failed at.

This right here ain't nothin but the straight damn truth x1000

 

[cskiles]

This right here ain't nothin but the straight damn truth x1000

It's pretty sad, craftsmanship is a rarity nowadays. When I show up on the job and the "electrician/technician" is attempting to troubleshoot a motor-starter station or circuit issue in a large cabinet with a hot-stick or a wiggy tester, I automatically deduct IQ points and assume that they don't know what they are doing - more times than not, I'm correct (usually the same person that would immediately start ordering replacement parts before they even know what the problem is). Anybody can be a tradesman but an individual can be set apart as a trade "craftsman" by their knowledge and the quality of the work that they do, whether they are a mechanic, a woodworker, an electrician, a plumber, etc, etc., ....Just my opinion.