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How Does One Go About Becoming an Electricians Apprentice?

warwick.hoy

warwick.hoy

Aug 20, 2006
6,879
227
Spokane, WA.
Disclosures
Beta Tester: Source Audio.
#1
Update: I got an apprenticeship,...although it will be with a Luthier not an electrician outfit.

I've been working in the Food Service industry for 10 years and I'm getting tired of being underpaid and working for amateurs. I wan't to start working 40 hour weeks and making a decent wage,..at least one that will eventually match or exceed my wife's income.

I've considered getting an EE degree but that seems like an expensive investment and would interfere with some of my musical activities from which I derive a great deal of satisfaction. A fall back would be becoming an Electricians Apprentice and following that career path. I need to develop a skilled trade and I have a feeling that eventually Electricians will be in demand (if they aren't already).

At the risk of labeling myself I'm not ready to pass a urinalysis but I am prepared to make that sacrifice. I don't really fall into the blue collar/working man stereotype; have to get drunk with the boys after work, so I wonder how seriously my potential co-workers will take me,...but I'm prepared to work hard and get stuck with the **** jobs and pay my dues. I'm 31 so I'm hoping that my age, relative maturity level and work ethic will get me a little respect. I can invest in tools.

When the time comes (IE I can piss clean) should I just contact the local electricians union? Or should I just keep hounding an electrical contractor until they give me an apprenticeship?

Or is this just a pipe dream.
 
#3
You will be required to work and attend school as an apprentice. Usually it was night school, but sometimes it was during the day to where you would work for a few hours, then go to school for the rest of the day.

Hazing in the trades unions is rough. I know you said you're ready for the crap work, but you will seriously be doing all the work no one else wants to do. At 31, the other apprentices will be in their late teens to early 20's, so be prepared for that too.

Start with your local union, and they can give you a list of contractors to contact. If you know this other guy good enough, you can keep talking to him. Keep in mind, he can't hire you until you get legit with the union. Well, he can hire you, but to keep you on the payroll, you will need to sign up.

Are there any non-union electrical shops over there worth contacting?

-Mike
 
#6
I don't have any contacts yet.

There is a Union here,...I know of the IBEW which I think is mainly line workers. There is another one as well. I actually talked to the right union about 5 years ago but that was more of an afterthought in my youth. I'm more interested in it now than ever before because the food service industry just plain sucks. I don't want to be a cook for the rest of my life.

I'm prepared for investing in night classes and the band can take a back seat in the meantime. The investment in an apprenticeship is cheaper than an EE degree (last check 5 years ago was $700 for books and classes although I could be remembering incorrectly) and I realize that an electrician is not an electrical engineer.

The idea is not to be rich, but to do something I enjoy and derive satisfaction from.

I have a HS diploma,...that is all. I am prepared to work with and take orders from people who are younger than I as I understand the pay your dues aspect. I'm okay with crawling around in the mud and digging ditches if it will better my life in the long run.

I'd like to think that I am good with my hands, have a good understanding of math,...or at least can be taught. I have a vehicle that would suffice as a "work truck" that gets good gas mileage. Also a support network (my wife) that can help with the investment. The only roadblock is passing a pee test but it's not big deal for me to sacrifice the ganj.
 
#7
warwick.hoy said:
I've been working in the Food Service industry for 10 years and I'm getting tired of being underpaid and working for amateurs. I wan't to start working 40 hour weeks and making a decent wage,..at least one that will eventually match or exceed my wife's income.

I've considered getting an EE degree but that seems like an expensive investment and would interfere with some of my musical activities from which I derive a great deal of satisfaction. A fall back would be becoming an Electricians Apprentice and following that career path. I need to develop a skilled trade and I have a feeling that eventually Electricians will be in demand (if they aren't already).

At the risk of labeling myself I'm not ready to pass a urinalysis but I am prepared to make that sacrifice. I don't really fall into the blue collar/working man stereotype; have to get drunk with the boys after work, so I wonder how seriously my potential co-workers will take me,...but I'm prepared to work hard and get stuck with the **** jobs and pay my dues. I'm 31 so I'm hoping that my age, relative maturity level and work ethic will get me a little respect. I can invest in tools.

When the time comes (IE I can piss clean) should I just contact the local electricians union? Or should I just keep hounding an electrical contractor until they give me an apprenticeship?

Or is this just a pipe dream.
Click to expand...
continue making the rounds with the contractors....even a job as a laborer will get your foot in the door....just by being there with a reputation for showing up, being on on time,and working hard will definitely help get you going.........check with your local community college too...here apprenticeships are divided between school and on the job....not going for beers after work is no big deal.... you can always blame the old lady.....
 
#9
Dude, seriously, no S**T, as a guy who's spent his life as an electrician and is pretty darn good at it, STAY OUT OF THE TRADES. It ain't what it used to be. The days of "you'll never get rich but you'll never go hungry" are O-V-E-R.

That's the advice I'd give my son. Stay out of the trades. If you have to go into the trades, stay out of electricity. It's the highest learning curve for the lowest wage. I know concrete workers that make way more than I ever did. All they need is a pair of boots and a trowel and they couldn't even find the word concrete in the dictionary let alone actually spell it.
 
#10
Basshappi said:
Go to your local IBEW hall and talk to some people down there.
Click to expand...

That was the plan from the start,...I was just wondering if there were other options.

I'd like to consider myself a late bloomer and growing up time is now (I've been saying that for years; taking action OTOH not so much).

I'd consider being a plumber but that job seems disgusting in comparison,...and I'm not too attached to loot. Just want to make enough to put food on the table,...pay for medical care,...get out of what little debt I'm in; save up for a trip to Europe and be able to buy up musical gear without having to sacrifice the rest. (what's this; goals? never had any of those before.)

EDIT: I'm a little too weak for masonry work :)
 
#11
I've been considering training as an electrician as well. I was in the Army for 15 years and my "training" doesn't translate to the civilian sector very well.

Steve, you say stay away from the trades.... how would you consider HVAC certification over a EE degree?
 
#12
Yeah,...Steve's "stay away from the trades" post has me concerned,...any one care to corroborate his sentiment?

FWIW,...my family situation is double income no kids and will likely be that way for a while,...seeing as I've recently gotten a vasectomy (not shy about adopting if the conversation goes in that direction).
 
#13
Arriving to the job site early enough to be working when your shift starts will keep you around longer than some guys. When I was in the union, I let more guys go for being late all the time than anything else.

I don't have any connections over on your side of the mountain, but I know some Sparky's over here.

-Mike
 
#14
warwick.hoy said:
Yeah,...Steve's "stay away from the trades" post has me concerned,...any one care to corroborate his sentiment?
Click to expand...

Me. I was going to go that way from the start, but you seemed intent on giving the sparky career a whirl.

My son went into land surveying, which is kind of the trades I guess, but he does non construction work as well. He did follow me into drywall finishing, but got out while he still could. I am glad for that.

-Mike
 
#15
Once I get past the roadblock I'd be interested in contacts. I'm really interested in a profession and something has got to be better than pissed off overworked underpaid cook.

I'm not worried about work ethic and understand the 10 minutes early is on time,...on time is late and late is fired mentality. I'm also prepared for long drives to the job site. Got a well maintained Accord station wagon that gets good gas mileage.

I've hung drywall in the past but made little money and it all went into the gas tank of a gas guzzling S-10 Blazer 4x4 after a 45 minute one way commute. This was in the traffic clusterflub of Va Beach, Norfolk, Hampton Roads area though....
 
#17
Steve said:
Dude, seriously, no S**T, as a guy who's spent his life as an electrician and is pretty darn good at it, STAY OUT OF THE TRADES. It ain't what it used to be. The days of "you'll never get rich but you'll never go hungry" are O-V-E-R.

That's the advice I'd give my son. Stay out of the trades. If you have to go into the trades, stay out of electricity. It's the highest learning curve for the lowest wage. I know concrete workers that make way more than I ever did. All they need is a pair of boots and a trowel and they couldn't even find the word concrete in the dictionary let alone actually spell it.
Click to expand...

Certainly isn't the way it is over here!

IMO the OP would struggle to get an apprenticeship because of his age. They tend to like younger people who'll put up with being treated like ****.

If I could turn back the clock, I would have gotten a trade.

Just keep trying local firms, persistance does work!
 
#18
Do some research on your local IBEW unions. The ones near me have many more unemployed than employed. Times are tough.

I was in the sheet metal union near me for a while. Got out because I sensed a decline in work. Now the majority of my hall is sitting at home collecting unemployment.
 
#19
Lublin said:
Do some research on your local IBEW unions. The ones near me have many more unemployed than employed. Times are tough.

I was in the sheet metal union near me for a while. Got out because I sensed a decline in work. Now the majority of my hall is sitting at home collecting unemployment.
Click to expand...

I sense that times won't be tough forever, but I'm an optimist.
 

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