/diy/ - Do It Yourself

Have fun getting electrocuted.

I'm gonna guess you're in your early 20's, OP? I'm in a similar situation to you, I've been looking for an apprenticeship for about the last 3.5 years with no luck. Basically what it comes down to is I've been out of education for years and have no relevant work experience, coupled with the fact that as a mature age apprentice I'm more costly to employ, other candidates are simply much more attractive to the average employer. Currently I'm studying what in my country is effectively the precursor to the qualification I'd complete as an electrical apprentice, which covers all the foundational theory, will get me relevant work experience and show to employers that I can put in the work and already have the groundwork necessary to be successful. One of the teachers' kid did this same qualification and the next year they started an apprenticeship with one of the largest energy providers in the country. I think you should go for that traineeship. If you want to get an apprenticeship then of course it'll take you a lot longer but you'll save yourself dozens of rejection and wasted years of your life. Hope this helps anon

Im an industrial electrician from Australia. I also have extra qualifications with instrumentation and PLCs and start night courses studying electrical engineering next week. AMA

1st year apprentice through the JATC myself, and I'm having a blast. Worked service industry and retail for the last 10 years, fucking around, and this is probably the best job I've ever had. I'll be sad when it's over, but hopefully my company will pick me up for the next job. I'd highly recommend going through the JATC, however, it's hard to do in major cities. Especially hard in non right to work states. You pretty much run into nepotism abound in that case, as in you have to know someone to get in. If you can save to support yourself for a year or so in a state like, say, Texas or a smaller state, that's about how long it'll take to move through the process to get interviews, accepted, and get a job. I'd recommend getting a part time job waiting tables or something for that as well until they can get you a job. School is hard just because of the work load, course work not so much, so be prepared to dedicate an hour or two nightly to doing homework. Also be prepared to work your ass off and get dirty at work. Hope things work out for you, anon.

>>1560948
Ever fuck a kangaroo?

>>1560948
What was the process you went through to being where you are today? As in training, schooling, situation, etc. Thanks

>>1560937
>>1560955
Thanks for the replies, I appreciate it. I think I'll go through with the trainee program as I feel lacking compared to the competition for getting an apprenticeship. I'm 22 and live in NorCal in the Silicon Valley so I figure there's lot of people who want in.

>>1560965
>NorCal
I work with a guy here in Houston who came from SoCal just to get into the jatc program because of how tough it is to get in there. Once you make journeyman through the 5 year program, you can go back and get work. CA journeymen make like 70/hr.

>>1560948
I don't suppose your place of work would be interested in taking somebody on for work experience?

>>1560929
Just get hired and let that company pay for your schooling. Thing is only about 2 out of 5 stick around for more than a year and of those that do stay maybe 1 in 3 actually stick around to get their license.

>>1560962
I did a 4 year (I finished early after 3.5 years), went to trade school (tafe) 1 day per week for the first 3 years. Started on shit money but got a pay rise each year.

>>1560978
Where are you located?

>>1561061
Is it true all electricians are homo?

>>1561074
only on tuesdays

>>1561061
Newcastle/Hunter Region. Could travel for work too tho

>>1560948
Have fun banging your head against the wall trying to figure out the math. Unless you’re some kind of autistic genius, or you really really really hate sleep, studying EE is a full time job

>>1560948
What school? Is it all online?

Forget the classes. The best education is on the job training. Get a job at a residential electrical contracting company that does new construction and service calls. After a few years, move on to a commercial electrical contracting company. If you show up on time, don't be a little whiny bitch, and learn from the electricians, you will set yourself up for a successful career.

FYI:
1) In order to have the title "Electrician", you have to have a state-issued license. Everyone else is just a helper.
2) Electricians normally have five characteristics: Male, White, athletic/tall, highly intelligent, mildly insane.

>>1561422
>Male, White, athletic/tall, highly intelligent, mildly insane.
I've met a few black and mexican, a few females, a few fatasses and manlets, and sometimes retarded mofos that somehow passed the test.

>>1561433
uh huh sure. cool story bro.

>>1560948
new construction apprentice sparky here. I'm a second year and I wanna start setting myself up to land an industrial gig. Should I start self teaching myself PLC and instrumentation?

>>1561128
Im the guy you replied to, thats the same area as me. Got anything I could contact you on, temp email or something?

>>1561670
What sort of new construction? If its domestic or commercial try and find some industrial construction. If youre in Australia, you should get the option in your third year to study either an intro to PLCs or a comms course, obviously choose PLCs (It may mean moving tafes if yours doesnt offer that elective)

>>1561719
I'm in canada, BC mate. For my fourth year I can branch off in to studying industrial but I want to get a head start.

>>1561959
I did the apprenticeship program in AB, they don't have a specialization it's all one electrical program. We did a week of PLC's in our third year and you learn almost nothing.

After I finished my ticket i went into the Electrical Engineering tech program and did a few semesters worth of PLC course, again it was more in depth but you cover some basics.

I've also received courses from the manufactures's at work for a few different brands that are a few days long each. They basically regurgitate the very basics but on their hardware.

If this is a path you want to go down the EEtech program is a better option. There are electricians that do some programming but not that many in my experience.

95% of the relevant knowledge your going to get is from hands on experience. My suggestion is to check Ebay. Pirated software from the major manufacturers exists, you can get old plc's on ebay for decent prices if you keep your eyes open. Another option is to but a cheap one like a Click from automation direct with free software and just start building stuff. A few working projects you can talk about with confidence in a job interview can go a long way.

>>1560929
JATC might be worth the wait. I didn't wait and joined ABC, and I am doing okay, but I probably would have succeeded in the union and would have been working on cooler jobs. The real question is what the electrician training program is. If it's not union, ABC, or IEC, I would seriously question it. Technical colleges try to give you job training in a labratory, whereas contractors are looking for on the job experience. The schooling in JATC, ABC, and IEC is meant to give you some theory, and more importantly teach you how to sift through the code book so you can pass a licensing exam.

>>1562325
thanks anon. I'll probably wait until I get my ticket before I decide to do an EEtech or go back to university for EE.

by the way, they changed the apprenticeship program in Canada so it's synchronized across all the provinces. You will be able to do specialization in 4th year and have consistent training in every province. I know you're past that, just letting you know the changes.

>>1562348
Ah I didn’t know that, I finished up in 2010 so it’s been a while