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Becoming an Electrician

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Kronor
Posts: 217 - Karma: 167
Alright, so I've been going to college for about a half a year and am realizing its just not really for me. I want to ski, I want to have freedoms of not working a 9-5 job for the rest of my life where I will online be able to ski weekends.

Does anyone know what it's like with skiing and being an electrician? I also want to know during my apprenticeship if I can ski a lot as well. I'm looking at places like Vancouver, Canada, Helena, Montana, and other ski areas. Also, what kind of electrician would you recommend? I see there is four types indoor, outdoor, telecom, and residential.

Come on NS, help a brother out! Any information would help.

Feb 12 2014 5:32PM
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Kronor
Posts: 217 - Karma: 167
I was also noticing it's a 5 year program, is it pretty open on getting to ski during the apprenticeship?
Feb 12 2014 7:13PM
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liftedresearcher
Posts: 1140 - Karma: 1,775
im a 4th year electrician apprentice living in Whistler and working up in northern Alberta on a 14/7 rotation. I am flown in and out of work by my company and get a week straight of skiing on my days off. which is nice because i get to ski weekdays when the crowds are less. it sucks being stuck in camp when the snow is coming but it also is nice making over 100K a year at 23 years old. plus taking one shift off, which is quite easy, gives you a full month off. I went to japan all january and didn't lose my position or anything, which would be quite tough to do in other lines of work.

my program is 4 years and each year is considered 1500 hours of on the job experience then i go to school for 2 months. so 4 cycles of that and then you are considered a journeyman.

Feb 12 2014 7:46PM
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liftedresearcher
Posts: 1140 - Karma: 1,775
and up in canada the 3 types of electricians are residential, commercial and industrial. telecom dudes are a separate trade.

residential pays the least and is the shittiest, commercial is alright for pay and safety and that shit, but industrial is where the big money is.
Feb 12 2014 7:49PM
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Kronor
Posts: 217 - Karma: 167
In industrial do you have the option of taking the winters off when you're done? I've heard that it's pretty easy to do but I'm not sure when working for a company.
Feb 12 2014 7:54PM
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Kronor
Posts: 217 - Karma: 167
Also, are you a Canadian citizen? I'm looking at the Salt Lake City one and I'm just wondering how hard it is to get into the program.
Feb 12 2014 7:56PM
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NorBeecePow
Posts: 8 - Karma: 11
I'm a second year apprentice and so far its been super chill balancing work and shredding. There's so much opportunity for work so many employers are okay with you leaving for months at a time as long as you come back haha and camp work allows for alot of that too. As far as what kind of work, i'm from Canada as well so we got the three categories, i do lots of commercial work and i think its pretty cool, varies everyday as to what work you're doing, but residential is commonly seen as the most boring/repetitive, but some people like it. Always good to try it all out if you have the chance. Electrical is a pretty chill trade/job though, goodluck man!
Feb 12 2014 8:16PM
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cope+
Posts: 763 - Karma: 870
Threads
Feb 12 2014 8:23PM
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liftedresearcher
Posts: 1140 - Karma: 1,775
i'm with the IBEW and i just work until december then ask for a layoff, or quit the job im on, ski all winter and then take another call in the spring time. its kind of delayed my apprenticeship program by a year but i get to ski alot. ill be a journeyman by the end of this year so im almost done. this year i've worked through the winter mostly because whistler has had such a shitty snow year.

alberta has tons of work right now so its not really an issue finding a new job to go to in the spring. there is lots of massive oilsands projects just getting started that will provide my union hall with plenty of work for the next 5 years at least.

and yes i'm an canadian citizen. you would need your work permit to work up on these projects.

Feb 12 2014 10:10PM
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ScuffDUFF
Posts: 2027 - Karma: 143
Get into the controls game unless you like pulling wire, bending conduit, and busting your ass.
Feb 12 2014 10:45PM
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Rusticles
Posts: 2180 - Karma: 1,337
You can easily take the winters off and still make a normal persons income in the 6-8 months you are working, I am now 30 and was able to ski a ton in the winters with out having to live on the cheap. Looking back though I would have taken every winter off.

There are also good jobs for when you want to settle down, I make 130-150k a year with a defined benefit pension and 7 weeks paid vacation, home every night by 4:30 and get every second friday off.

But like everybody said and especially the post before this, get into industrial, get your apprenticeship done and get into controls.
Feb 12 2014 11:08PM
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FLBP
Posts: 1794 - Karma: 310
Why would you want to live in helena?
Feb 12 2014 11:09PM
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KingGeedorah
Posts: 890 - Karma: 1,576
My Grandpa was an electrician. He wasn't a skier though. I also think he worked a ton, but that was just because he had three kids, but these other guys seem capable of taking plenty of time off. Unfortunately he died in his 60's by falling off of a huge ladder on the job. So people think I'm crazy when I say that I'm considering becoming an electrician. But it seems like a pretty good gig, be careful though.
Feb 12 2014 11:15PM
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cope+
Posts: 763 - Karma: 870
Helena sucks dick, not like thats the only program though...
Feb 12 2014 11:36PM
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Kronor
Posts: 217 - Karma: 167
So is what you're doing controls? And what is controls exactly?
Feb 13 2014 2:24AM
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Rusticles
Posts: 2180 - Karma: 1,337
I do work with a lot of controls, it's still electrical, I have my instrumentation as well which really helps. It would be something to focus on more after you get your Jman. Controls isn't really a technical designation, just kind of another aspect of the trade I guess, a very broad aspect. It's very interesting, but can be complex which can make a person very desirable in the workforce.

I'll try my best to explain simply. In the industrial world there are industrial computers that control complex processes to produce a product. These computers need many wires that interact with field devices some are simple transmitters, limit/level switches, motor contactors (switch that turns a motor on/off) and control valves, some more complex examples would be frequency drives, (precisely controls the speed of a motor) or analyzers. Basically your job would be to make sure all these devices are working properly and interacting properly with a DCS or PLC (industrial computer). In this instance you rarely cary anything heavier than a multimeter and a screw driver. If you are very intelligent you may end up developing the logic for the process within the computer, but that would be a long ways in the future. There are many spinoffs from these examples as well. Hopefully that was simple enough.

Personally I work with a lot of large frequency drives (controls speed of a motor) and PLC's (smaller more localized industrial computer) lot's of time spent staring at a laptop confused haha. I still really enjoy getting on the tools and getting a little exercise for a few days though.

My advice is get in anywhere you can, that can be one of the toughest steps, then as a first or second year apprentice get into industrial construction and see where it takes you. Industrial construction will give you the best shot at not working winters and will be the only industrial job you will get as an apprentice. The first few years will suck balls, you will have to work hard and do the shittiest jobs and it can be very physically demanding. As you get close to your ticket it gets easier and you may see that it was really worth it, just remember to ask lots of questions and work hard. You'll probably never send it to the moon in terms of income but you'll have a career that is ever evolving rarely gets boring and can have many facets to explore.





Feb 13 2014 3:20AM
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-benedetto
Posts: 5238 - Karma: 1,359
Great feedback
Feb 13 2014 7:57AM
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louie.mirags
Posts: 6015 - Karma: 5,029
I'm interning currently at Frontier communications and they are the definition of 9-5 work. I graduate school in May and just started there so I don't have much info to share..
Feb 13 2014 8:18AM
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gyarados
Posts: 1186 - Karma: 399
Being an electrician is a physically demanding job, if you can picture yourself doing that in your 50s and even your 60s(prob 70s too), then all the power to you
Feb 13 2014 11:32AM
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Rusticles
Posts: 2180 - Karma: 1,337
Depends what you're doing, my job is far from physically demanding and hasn't been since I was 25. As long as you're not in residential/commercial your whole life, it's a healthy amount of physical work.
Feb 13 2014 11:37AM
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gyarados
Posts: 1186 - Karma: 399
Word, I don't know shit about electrician other than when they've done work in my house. What else can they do besides residential/commercial?
Feb 13 2014 11:41AM
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Rusticles
Posts: 2180 - Karma: 1,337
There is residential, commercial and Industrial. Industrial is generally the highest paid and consists of big motors and distribution equipment.

Residential isn't too bad as long as it's new construction, but reno work sucks, it's pretty shitty in all of them actually.
Feb 13 2014 12:22PM
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Kronor
Posts: 217 - Karma: 167
Seriously, great feedback. +k
Also, do you know if there's the industrial programs in the US? All of the ones I'm looking at say indoor, outdoor, residential, and telecom. So i'm wondering what category that would fall under...
Feb 13 2014 12:58PM
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Kronor
Posts: 217 - Karma: 167
Also, I'm currently studying to get my AA at my local community college. Should I finish it out or does it really not matter?
Feb 13 2014 12:59PM
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Rusticles
Posts: 2180 - Karma: 1,337
Not sure what AA is? I'm sure there are industrial opportunities in the US, especially with the development of all the shale gas and what not. If there is an industrial plant in your area being built or already built then there will be jobs. From the what I've heard the US almost considers residential/commercial a different trade than industrial, but the first few years are probably interchangeable education wise as you're really just learning the basics. Some places to start would be your local union hall, or google industrial electric company's in your area, or others. Really getting your foot in the door anywhere is the first step, just remember that there are lots of different opportunities to do different things within the trade.

As for telecom, I'm not too sure how that works down there. Up here it falls more under electronics technician, however the experience probably wouldn't hurt as the industrial world is using more and more communication protocol's for their automation (fancy word for controls).
Feb 13 2014 1:43PM
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Rusticles
Posts: 2180 - Karma: 1,337
Just did a quick search, this might give you an idea of what it's like.


http://www.mici.jobs/ELECTRICIANS-NEEDED-Jobs-in-SEATTLE-wa/1590204?utm_source=Indeed&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=Indeed

I also noticed that the wages were about half of the bubble that is Alberta. You might have to move a little bit to get more money?
Feb 13 2014 1:55PM
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Kronor
Posts: 217 - Karma: 167
Also, I was wondering if you had to apply to your local area. I really want to move to be closer to good skiing. Like SLC or something.
Feb 14 2014 12:53PM
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Rusticles
Posts: 2180 - Karma: 1,337
I'm not too sure about the US, here it's really just a job with school every year for 2 months. So you could ideally move anywhere you can find work.

You might be able to get some temporary foreign work visa for up here. If everything goes according to plan we will be seriously short if trades people
Feb 14 2014 1:46PM
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howlongcanausern
Posts: 4982 - Karma: 1,737
never work on anything hot
Feb 14 2014 1:52PM
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Rusticles
Posts: 2180 - Karma: 1,337
Never wanna ride the lightning
Feb 14 2014 2:11PM
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thedanimal
Posts: 490 - Karma: 180
in ottawa, montreal and toronto there is a lack of people in the trades industry and you wouldn't have a problem finding work here however the skiing is that great
Feb 14 2014 6:00PM
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KrazyistKarl
Posts: 1725 - Karma: 599
OP, electrical is an awesome trade to get into. Every day can be something new. I stated in residential, then commercial, then industrial, then i got into underground mining. I was clearing 8k a month and my rotation was 2 weeks in 2 weeks off. I'm currently taking the winter off to ski. I'll go back to work for 3 months, then I'm going to take a few off to bike.
If sitting at a desk 9-5 after 4 years of school doesn't appeal to you, an apprenticeship is a great way to get in the job experience before committing a lot of time, and money on something you may end up really not liking.
Up in Canada our apprenticeships are basically 10 months of work then 2 months of school. In Saskatchewan(and I'm pretty sure every other province except maybe Quebec) schooling is next to nothing, for me it's 360 bucks AND you get employment insurance during that time. On top of that there are government grants of 1000 dollars for your first 2 years, and 2000 dollars after your 4th year and completion of interprovincial examination.

Feb 15 2014 12:29AM
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KrazyistKarl
Posts: 1725 - Karma: 599
Sorry, on mobile
Feb 15 2014 12:37AM
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Kronor
Posts: 217 - Karma: 167
I haven't been on NS for a few days but thanks for all of the advice. Ideally I'd be looking into going to Canada, it's just so hard to get a visa for work. I also have a possibility at getting an apprenticeship in Portland, OR (one hour from Mt. Hood=year round skiing) How is the applying process? I've heard that it's a lot of if you know someone which kind of sucks because I don't know many people in the trade.
Feb 17 2014 6:03PM
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howlongcanausern
Posts: 4982 - Karma: 1,737
i have been trying to secure a work permit inCanada for ~15 months (I am a systems engineer/network administrator) it's basically impossible UNLESS you get a company to sponsor you, and even then they would have to prove they couldn't find a Canadian to do the same job. so as an entry-level electrician, forget about it.

the one way you can get a work permit in Canada is you or a spouse being accepted into a school in Canada. then, you will get a 1 year work permit which will help tremendously in securing long-term work

unfortunately Canada knows how good they have it and don't just let people in :(
Feb 17 2014 6:07PM
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Kronor
Posts: 217 - Karma: 167
Also could one of you awesome Canadian people in this thread link me to good apprenticeships in Canada?
Feb 17 2014 6:07PM
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howlongcanausern
Posts: 4982 - Karma: 1,737
oh, or work for an international company in the US and then get transferred to Canada but again, this will be difficult to do beginning your career
Feb 17 2014 6:08PM
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mski
Posts: 4791 - Karma: 3,803
Dude, OP your an idiot.

Your going to have to become formally educated on that too. And it will be a 9 to 5
Feb 17 2014 6:12PM
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Kronor
Posts: 217 - Karma: 167
Yeah, I was having a feeling it would be extremely difficult to get a work visa in Canada. I'm pretty set on getting a apprenticeship in Portland and skiing mt. Hood for a while. I have a feeling it will give me more oppurtunity in the future to go to canada
Feb 17 2014 8:49PM
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liftedresearcher
Posts: 1140 - Karma: 1,775
http://tradesecrets.alberta.ca/

this is the website i use for all the info i need for my alberta apprenticeship.
Feb 17 2014 10:13PM
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Kronor
Posts: 217 - Karma: 167
Thanks man, hopefully this all works out. +k
Feb 18 2014 2:45AM
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Byron_tha_gr8
Posts: 4573 - Karma: 14,299
anyone have a website for American apprenticeships? How do you get started, who should I talk to?
Feb 18 2014 2:51AM
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Kronor
Posts: 217 - Karma: 167
Here's a link to a bunch of different apprenticeships across the US:

http://www.njatc.org/training/find.aspx
Feb 18 2014 3:02AM
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ScuffDUFF
Posts: 2027 - Karma: 143
It looks like you are from washington. Ever heard of Perry Technical Institute in Yakima. Thats where I went, got a solid job with an integrator down here in CA/NV. http://perrytech.edu/ Check out the instrumentation program.
Feb 24 2014 1:09AM
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deleted5
Posts: 14507 - Karma: 13,507
IT TAKES 5 YEARS TO BECOME AN ELECTRICIAN? Shows what i know I just thought you guys had to connect wires.
Feb 24 2014 1:14AM
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louie.mirags
Posts: 6015 - Karma: 5,029
Different types of electricians.. I'm in a 2 year telecom degree..
Feb 24 2014 7:13AM
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liftedresearcher
Posts: 1140 - Karma: 1,775
you gotta remember that electricity is pretty dangerous. if you get a bunch of unexperienced yahoos out there wiring houses or whatever, it can lead to fires, people can get shocked, or the electrician can fuck himself up.

it doesnt seem like there is much to it, but I learnt quickly that the trade is pretty complex and you really need to know your shit.
Feb 24 2014 12:23PM
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Kronor
Posts: 217 - Karma: 167
I'll check it out, I'm really trying to stay near skiing areas though. So that may be a stretch.
Feb 26 2014 2:27AM
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Rusticles
Posts: 2180 - Karma: 1,337
Instrumentation is a great trade as well, probably the least "blue collar" of all trades. Will need to be good at math, physics and chemistry. Might not be quite as good as electrical to be able to make a years salary in 6 months though. Lots of great opportunities in the future though
Feb 27 2014 11:00AM
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Williboss
Posts: 6 - Karma: 15
I understood that when I finish school, I will become an electrician but I didn't want to go to another state to learn this because I love to ski at the weekends and I want to be near to my old parents. I am in searching for some months and I find 3 schools, but one of my father's friends advised me to choose electricianclasses.com because his sons learned there and now they have a company in this domain and they are the best at it.

**This post was edited on Apr 9th 2020 at 5:36:02am
Apr 6 2020 12:48PM
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arnie_grape
Posts: 3451 - Karma: 11,683
WillibossThis year I finish my college and I want to make the same thing to ski in the weekends and to work as electrician


first post first post

Apr 6 2020 4:16PM
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