Looking To Become An Electrician

newguy07

I am looking to become an electrician. I have been calling up companies to see if they would have a job and be interested in the apprenticeship program. A lot of them say they are not looking. I have been looking for a job for about 6 months now.


Please help. Am I doing this the wrong way?

mdshunk

Yeah, you need to show up in person.

(6 months? Holy cow.)

Celtic

Where are you located at, newguy?

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newguy07

I have been showing up in person. I also did union they can't hire me until january though..

I am thinking about signing up for trade school.


I really would like to go through a NON union apprenticeship since that is where 98% of the work is down here in florida.

newguy07

North tampa, florida

Celtic

ABC might be the only non-union apprenticeship in your area.

Have you sought out ABC contractors?

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newguy07

Yes, three or four of them. Only thing I went through the IEC. I think they are the same thing I am not sure. They both go out of the local college.

newguy07

What were to happen if I went union? Just to get me a job then if union wasn't for me could I switch or am I union forever?

I am curious.

mdshunk

It's not like a street gang. I was union then I was not.

newguy07

Yea? That is good. How is the union training? The one I want to sign up for is JATC IBEW..

JamesNLA

Well....I don't think that makes a whole lot of sense. Because of what you will have to invest with a union apprenticeship, meaning 3-4 years of work/schooling to simply say....i'm outta here. I think if you are lucky enough to get a union apprenticeship take advantage of it. I personally wouldn't mind going union if I had it to do over again.

6 months to get a helper position......are you a drug addict, or have DUI's or something like that? 6 months to get a helper position tells me there is something more to your story. But if you read alot of the other posts of others in your situation most here will tell you to go to school. Having formal education will help you in more ways other than "just getting a job". I think MD recently said no one has ever regreted getting a degree, but many have regreted not.

__________________
"....And then we all switch places when I ring the bell"
-Adrock

newguy07

No, I am not a drug addict or anything like that.

I have my A.A. in engineering. I held that for a year now. I don't know if they see me as over qualified.

Everybody I call and I ask for a job they all say they are not hiring now. I get that a lot.

If all else fails I will just sign up for a local trade school in the meantime.

mdshunk

Something's wrong with your pitch, and you really need to quit calling on the phone. You're not asking the "are you hiring" question, are you? I think we might be able to help you fine tune your approach, but it would be helpful if you could type out a quick blurb of what you say when you talk to people when you're looking for a job...

newguy07

HAH.. well usually I find the list of contractors off of the IEC website they have A LOT of contractors

Then I go from there

Hello, I was referred to you by the IEC website. I saw your company up on there and I am interested if your company is hiring for electrician job possible apprenticeship..

How is that?

newguy07

Also, on friday at 2pm I called up a company and they company said they were hiring with no experience. At first I thought I was the only one then I looked around in other rooms in the office and there was about 5 people taking the application/test.


There was one guy that needed help with his application because he couldn't understand it.. (spanish speaking only)

MSSI

Hello, I was referred to you by the IEC website. I saw your company up on there and I am interested if your company is hiring for electrician job possible apprenticeship..

How is that?[/QUOTE]

I would suggest trying to get past the gate-keeper by asking to leave a message for the shop foreman. That is less obtrusive than asking to speak with him. You have a better chance of not being asked who you are.. Or find out his name and call back later to ask for his voice mail or to speak to him directly..

Then.. My name is_____ I will be stopping by the shop to drop off a copy of my resume for your review, If there is a time you will be available to discuss my qualifications I could stop by at that time....I would love to discuss how I might be able to help you out with any apprentice positions you may be considering... feel free to give me a call at Bla Bla bla

Hows that sound?

newguy07

I would suggest trying to get past the gate-keeper by asking to leave a message for the shop foreman. That is less obtrusive than asking to speak with him. You have a better chance of not being asked who you are.. Or find out his name and call back later to ask for his voice mail or to speak to him directly..

Then.. My name is_____ I will be stopping by the shop to drop off a copy of my resume for your review, If there is a time you will be available to discuss my qualifications I could stop by at that time....I would love to discuss how I might be able to help you out with any apprentice positions you may be considering... feel free to give me a call at Bla Bla bla

Hows that sound?[/quote]


What resume? I don't have any experience... But other than that that sounds good..

JamesNLA

Dude....you have an AA in E.E. Which basically means you still know nothing. Now, your a year out of school, so I assume you still remember something. Brush up on Ohms Law, knowing it without the pie chart.....

Your looking for a HELPER'S position. No Contractor wants to take a green kid and invest ALOT of time and even more money into someone without knowing if they are worth a damn. As far as I'm concerned, you earn your apprenticeship AFTER you have proved to be a USEFUL helper. Your AA puts you at an advantage vs. the rest of the no experience crowd. There is no good reason that someone cannot get a job as a helper. You seem to be getting the same result time after time. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. The only thing holding you back is you. Change / do something different.

__________________
"....And then we all switch places when I ring the bell"
-Adrock

JamesNLA

Did you actually GET the A.A.? I thought one of the requirements was that you completed a resume or at lease know how to make one. Your education IS your resume.

__________________
"....And then we all switch places when I ring the bell"
-Adrock

newguy07

You really think an A.A. puts me to an advantage? I was afraid to tell them that at first they might thing I would be a permanent fixture..

So should I study ohms? I don't know anything to much about electricity.

Is there any only sites I could study? Just a crash course.