How I became an Electrician?

[theskilledworker]

I'm glad you asked, Dear Reader.

I was working as a grocery clerk, union, benefits, pension, bored silly with looking at four walls every day. Depressed, until my mother-in-laws boyfriend's best buddy who ran a plumbing, electrical and heating shop needed an apprentice.

Quit to work for $2.75 CDN. minus local taxes, etc. Nearly didn't last; three weeks into the trade, I received a serious shock by being an overly eager apprentice and grabbing light ballast secondaries (750v) across my scrawny little chest, which i rubbed for several hours, I think. If I could have I would have gone back to filling grocery shelves and retired with a full pension years ago.

The trades can be gratifying, but I won't be hard-selling the trades. A career is a choice that shapes you. Do it carefully.

Your Pal
Dave

[Matt]

I always liked working with my hands. I guess I'd say it was my first love.

In high school I had a neighbor who was a mason. When ever he was working
outside at home, I would go over and watch him work, and before I knew it, he was teaching me his trade. At 16 I started working for him during the summers. Made a nice little chunk of change working for him, at least it seemed that way to a 16yr old. I worked with him all through high school and my two yrs in community college.

Then decided to join the NYPD. Not sure why, maybe if was the steady work, a steady pay check. I continued to do side jobs on my own for the next 25 years. When I retired, I was drawn back to my first love, working with my hands.

I love getting up and getting out there, getting sweaty and dirty. Starting a project and seeing it take shape. And knowing it may still be around long after I'm gone.

Matt

[theskilledworker]

Great Response, interesting path. We're all so varied in interests and careers, but yet also have a lot in common. Appreciate your post.

Dave

[AlbertaFarmGirl]

Dave, you shoulda put "How I became a..." as your topic. Too late for that though, I guess.

As for me? How I became a farmer? I guess I was born to it. Literally: my ancestors before me, before they immigrated to Canada were farmers, be it crops or livestock or both. So it's in the blood, or gene pool, whichever you want to call it.

[theskilledworker]

Dave, you shoulda put "How I became a..." as your topic. Too late for that though, I guess.

As for me? How I became a farmer? I guess I was born to it. Literally: my ancestors before me, before they immigrated to Canada were farmers, be it crops or livestock or both. So it's in the blood, or gene pool, whichever you want to call it.

Is it still feasible to keep farms in the family, pass them on in this day of corporate owned farms? Far more skills in farm operation that generally recognized, as you've shown us often in the past.

Dave

[AlbertaFarmGirl]

Is it still feasible to keep farms in the family, pass them on in this day of corporate owned farms? Far more skills in farm operation that generally recognized, as you've shown us often in the past.

Dave

Yes, despite the inheritance taxes that has to be payed. It's happening to this day with ranches that have been owned and operated for generations, and to farm families that are lucky to have sons and/or daughters that really want to continue to farm.

[theskilledworker]

Yes, despite the inheritance taxes that has to be payed. It's happening to this day with ranches that have been owned and operated for generations, and to farm families that are lucky to have sons and/or daughters that really want to continue to farm.

Staggering to remember that one hundred years ago 90% worked in ag related jobs. See you over in your new digs! congratulations!

[dirtysal]

Great stories. Thanks for sharing!

Sal

[AlbertaFarmGirl]

Staggering to remember that one hundred years ago 90% worked in ag related jobs. See you over in your new digs! congratulations!

Thank you!

[Belphegor]

Yeah, me too.

When I was a kid I worked part time for a private school doing handyman stuff. The guy I worked with was a retired Electrician. I asked him enough questions to make a sane man crazy, but since he wasn't sane he not only answered my questions, but put me to work. And I mean work.

On to college. The first summer I got a job at a factory working production. After two weeks a trucker's strike forced the layoff of all summer help except for Welders and Electricians. Since I knew everything there was to know about electricity, I took the test and aced it. Fortunately for me the foreman knew the difference between testing well and knowing anything. He needed the help, and hired me, and once again I worked!. I got put to work with an old guy installing an automated paint line, and to my shock an horror I discovered that I didn't know squat.. I bent and threaded miles of conduit, and pulled tens of miles of wire, and fell for every prank they could think of.. The fellow I worked with was quiet and patient, and once I got over myself I managed to learn a lot. The next summer was spent in Maintenance again, followed by a summer in Engineering. The business took a downturn just as was graduating, so the job I was expecting to be there when I graduated fell through, so it was off to work.

The next few years saw seven promotions, three mergers, and a firing - - mine. I had had my fill of trying to make a living as an Engineer, and there was a factory looking for an Electrician / Millwright, so I applied for the job. Once again got the nod based on the fact that I got the highest scores ever on the test. So I went to work, and once again discovered that I didn't know squat. I replaced a guy who had worked there for 30 years, and guy I was working with had been there 26 years. The electrical side of the business came back quickly, but the mechanical side was a long, hard slog. My mentor went on vacation 90 days after I started, and had the gall to go off and have a stroke. Yep. New guy, green as heck, and stuck on day shift. Sink or swim.

I started that job with every intention of working there for two or three years, and then moving up and on. 'Been there eighteen years now.

So, what's the moral of the story? Getting your toe in the door helps, but you've got to do the work, and learn the trade. Education has always been my way to get the attention of prospective employers. Others get noticed because they know someone influential who will stick their neck out. Others are just lucky souls, and others work their way up through the ranks.. However it happens, the end result is strictly up to you.