Well, I've only been in the trade for a year, but I'm thinking about moving on to something else. I want to learn the trade, but that is hard to do when the people you work with are more interested in just making money, and getting the job done fast. It doesn't help too much with the learning process. I am thinking about trying something different, not sure about what I want to do yet though. I have already given my notice at my current job. I'm gonna look for work in another city...smaller city. If I can't find anything that catches my attention then I may try to hire on with an Electrical Contractor in that area, just to see if they are any different. Anyways, I've enjoyed reading the posts on this forum, and I've learned more here than at work, so thanks for what y'all do. I'll keep reading, I still want to learn what I can.

Thanks,
Justin

Justin, If your working residential in a highly competitive area, then yes, I've been there and can relate... Maybe making the shift to Industrial would give you more satisfaction. My short experience in Industrial was a great learning experience, and their main concern was safety, then code, then profit.

A change of area may be a good solution too, but you can find both types of contractors just about anywhere...

Sparky66,

It's not the residential. I can do that at a faster pace. It's the commercial, where I'm still learning alot, but I can't get any information from the foreman.

-Justin

Justin,
Don't throw in the towel so soon. Let your forman know of your interest in learning the trade and the owner of the company if he/she is available. I'll be honest the first few years are not all fun if all your doing is digging or moving material around. Did you let them know why you were leaving? Are you in a training program?
If you enjoy it keep the faith and knocking on doors eventualy you will find the right place it just takes time.
Wirewiz

If you haven't yet, you should definitely get involved in an electrical apprenticeship. You'll have an opportunity to learn the "book knowledge" you need in the trade--electrical theory, NEC, etc., as well as get exposure to a variety of hands on experience on the job. Plus the opportunity to earn more money as you advance in your skills.

Whenever I ask questions, the foreman just looks at me like I'm getting on his nerves. Sometimes he just makes smartalleck remarks. When I ask him how to do something his general reply is "however you want to do it." That doesn't work for me, I don't like that. So, whenever I do something, I don't ask him anything anymore. The people in the office know this guy is a loser. I think it would be better to look somewhere else. Anyways. I appreciate y'alls help.

-Justin

Justin,
i can appreciate your frustration, myself having spent part of my apprenticeship working for a dummy.

i made a game of it, to my advantage.....

i would reference anything we installed as to the violations and/or compliance.

to this day, i still run into his 'time bombs' ( one popped a poco primary last week..)

you can learn a lot from a dummy....

If you think you'd like Atlanta, give me a call/e-mail. I'm looking for a good lead man and you might not be ready yet, but it sounds like you might be the type of person I'm looking for. Good luck.

Sparky, I see what you mean, that would work out to be beneficial. I usually don't work with this guy a lot though. He gives me a project and just expects me to know what I'm doing, so in the end I have to keep going back and asking questions. Although, I quit asking questions a while back because I realized that I always got the same answer. Thanks for the advice though.

Electric Eagle, That's a generous offer. You're right too, I wouldn't be ready to be a leadman yet, . Even though Atlanta isn't that far away, it is not really a place I'd like to live....too big for this country boy. heh. I'm originally from North Louisiana, after I graduated High School I moved to TN and I'm living with some friends and their family. I work/worked in Knoxville, up until today. Thanks

I'm still debating about whether or not to get out or stick it out. Does anybody know of any Electrical Contractors in Crossville, TN?

Thanks,
Justin

jbn1611 I'm down in Tullahoma a bit south of you. You might try W&O contruction in Cookeville they build municiple water and sewer plants, they might need some help. If you were around here you could call S&W electrical in Murfreesboro they always need help. They don't pull much romex, mostly all pipe. They're commercial and industrial all the way. They're really pretty nice from the guys I've met, some good lead men, and some real butts, You can call Flor-Daniel they do a bunch of work around here too. Bridgestone in McMinnville always needs some engineering techs, takes a good test score to get in but it's fair money. Crossville isn't that big a town, so you might have to travel to live there and stay busy.
I work in a 45 mile radius of Tullahoma about 5 counties to stay as busy as I want to be. But you make alot of contacts that way. Residential is really hot down here, and you can pull all the romex you want. You've got to be quick to make any money, and the heat is murder here now, but Ain't nobody going hungry. There is some commercial going up and a spec industrial building every now and then. They keep adding on the Nissan engine plant in Decherd TN 12 miles east. It's a lot of rigid pipe there,
Send me an email at GaryKidd@webtv.net and ill see if I can get some phone numbers for you.

[This message has been edited by joeh20 (edited 08-06-2002).]

Justin,
We're in Columbus, Ohio. I can't say right now "we're hiring" - because we are so new. But we are getting busier and busier and probably will need some hands before long.

The real reason I decided to respond though is to say just because you work for a jackass don't let it tarnish your view of the industry.

My two business partners have been training me in the field and I can't be happier with what I have learned and in the short amount of time. They are great teachers and they are very patient. You'd love to learn from them. Let me know if you ever consider Ohio. We'll chat

Happi_Man,
From your post it sounds like you are a less-than-Journeyman-electrician in business with two experienced electricians. (I used the words "less-than-Journeyman-electrician" because it sounded to me to be the least derogatory way.) Without putting my nose where it doesn't belong, how does something like this happen and does it seem to be working well? If you do not reply to this, I will not be offended.

Gerald Powell

gpowellpec -

well here's the deal. My big brother is one of the electricians. He and our other partner have known each other since high school and have worked together in the electrical field for about 13 years. About 4 years ago they started wiring houses for a builder who was unhappy with his electrical contractor (which was the company that they worked for).

So for a long time they were just a couple of guys making some extra cash. Needless to say the builder was making more than extra cash from them because he was getting bare minimum prices (and he still does but now its more of a "thanks for all the bread and butter" kinda deal).

So yes you are right, I am a less-than-journeyman-electrician and at the same time they were less-than-college-educated-businessmen (and I only put it that way because its the least derogatory way to put it - not to imply that electricians aren't educated - these ones weren't). So that's where I came in - I was the "well read" little brother that wents to collidge and was able to track down, read and interpret all the legal mumbo jumbo of starting a business, getting licensed, liability insurance, acquiring bonds, pulling permits, keeping books, tracking expenses, putting together bids, making sales calls, ordering supplies, faxing this, faxing that, calling him, calling her, writing checks, depositing checks, finding a truck, buying a truck, licensing a truck AND working in the field as an advanced greenbean. Advanced as in I do way more than load and unload the truck and carry around tools - i.e. I usually box while the other guys are drilling & stringing and I tie in just about everything as they complete circuit by circuit (I still need help with particular switches every now and then). This weekend I tied in my first service - under very close supervision mind you - man 4/0 SEU is a bitch to work with. Anyway, all that is so that I can actually go to a builder and know what I am talking about.

So far it is working well. Its a lot of work on top of my other job which I just recently made part-time. I went in to this expecting not to work less than 8 days a week and not to make much money for awhile. The biggest problem is getting enough business in to support our finances but not too much to get our one full-time partner too bogged down (my brother is still working his full-time job).

Anyway - probably more of an answer than you were looking for but that's my story...

[This message has been edited by Happi_Man (edited 08-07-2002).]

Happi_Man,
Thanks for the answer. Sounds like a team to me. I figured you had non-electrical talents to offer to the mix.

Back a few years ago I tried to talk my big brother into working with me in an electrical business. He retired as a Chief Master Sergeant after 30 years in the Air Force. He had loads of supervisory and management experience. He said he didn't want anything to do with responsibililty and went to work for a water company. He just recently became the plant manager for a new treatment plant. Guess they made him an offer he couldn't refuse. I enjoy electrical work and dealing with customers, but the business of business is not my cup of tea.

Gerald Powell