Becoming an electrician?

[EtherealWidow]

Hey guys. May be an odd question to ask, but I need input, and you guys seem like a pretty tight-knit, family-style community. I know I haven't been here long, but I need your guys' help. I'm 23 years old, trying to pick a career and be a responsible family man. I would like a physical job that also involves a fair amount of thinking that is reliable (in terms of pay and stability). In your guys' life experience/friends you've talked to, would this be a good choice? I know it pays well, but is it stable enough? Would the job stability depend on the TYPE of electrician you are? (ex: High voltage, commercial, industrial, etc.) I need to know before I go to trade school and drop a bunch of money on tuition. Thanks for any knowledgeable input, you guys!

[LeftyStrat]

Hey guys. May be an odd question to ask, but I need input, and you guys seem like a pretty tight-knit, family-style community. I know I haven't been here long, but I need your guys' help. I'm 23 years old, trying to pick a career and be a responsible family man. I would like a physical job that also involves a fair amount of thinking that is reliable (in terms of pay and stability). In your guys' life experience/friends you've talked to, would this be a good choice? I know it pays well, but is it stable enough? Would the job stability depend on the TYPE of electrician you are? (ex: High voltage, commercial, industrial, etc.) I need to know before I go to trade school and drop a bunch of money on tuition. Thanks for any knowledgeable input, you guys!

In my estimation, the best thing a man can devote himself to is learning how to learn. Learn how to learn, and you'll never be long out of a job. I can't say this is the absolutely correct path, just one that has worked for me for many years.

[EtherealWidow]

You know, that's really wise advice. I would say that I've been fortunate enough to experience the benefits if this already at such a young age. What I'm really trying to ask is this: Is this field of work stable enough to reliably raise a family and plan for future goals? Is there anything I can do to make it more stable? Is it worth getting myself into more debt pursuing this career? I have no problem being willing to learn. I have a serious problem with spending over 10k on something that's not going to benefit me the way I need it to.

[LeftyStrat]

You know, that's really wise advice. I would say that I've been fortunate enough to experience the benefits if this already at such a young age. What I'm really trying to ask is this: Is this field of work stable enough to reliably raise a family and plan for future goals? Is there anything I can do to make it more stable? Is it worth getting myself into more debt pursuing this career? I have no problem being willing to learn. I have a serious problem with spending over 10k on something that's not going to benefit me the way I need it to.

No. Sales, marketing, and software development are the only fields of the future.

Of course I'm kidding. Learn some business management, and then find something people need, and provide it in a unique or cost-effective way.

[rp]

I do low voltage A/V and am around electricians. I thought they made much more than the do, most are on salary. It's a working class job like any other, you need to be in the union to do well, do what yu must and go in that direction. Otherwise you need to keep pushing and start your own company and become the one hiring the electricians. Stress w/ all that, I like being a worker bee but that means little dough in these times. The problem with working class jobs in modern America is the boom and busts bubbles every 10 years now. It can kill you. I think a solid white collar job is a better bet. Anyway, being an EC sure beats being a plumber.

[ToneMerc]

Is this field of work stable enough to reliably raise a family and plan for future goals? Is there anything I can do to make it more stable? Is it worth getting myself into more debt pursuing this career? I have no problem being willing to learn. I have a serious problem with spending over 10k on something that's not going to benefit me the way I need it to.

This is the situation with any field of pursuit.

I have a friend who owns a business and also another that's an electrician. Everyone uses electricity of course, but my impression of this trade is that incoming revenue is based on these three areas; new build/constructon, service upgrades and break/fix issues.

The first two are directly proportional to someone deciding to spend capital dollars which is beyond your control, the same with break fix issues. I see electrical work itself as permanent fixtures. For example, people eat everyday, buy gasoline maybe once, twice a week and maybe call an electrician once every 10-15 years.

When the construction boom was at it peak, most of my electrician friend's work was within a 30 min radius of his home and he was turning down small residential jobs. When the boom crashed, he would travel 90 mins to take any job he could get and has since traveled out of state for work.

It's possible that one could find cozy plant maintenance shift work at some inside facility, but more often than not the job and it's demands will be very dynamic.

TM

[cbass]

go into HVAC

[Reeltarded]

HVAC is a great idea.

Since 2000 I have gone out of business 4 times more often than gotten in. My income has fallen to 20% and less of what it once was when I was scraping by.

People will not tolerate extreme temperature, but they can always go without almost everything else.

If you want to be an electrician start at the bottom of someone's crew and bust your ass dragging wires while you learn. Keep your eyes on chances to learn automation and control systems. It's almost as easy as learning.. it's easier than building an amp I mean..

[cbass]

Go into HVAC

[Reeltarded]

Don't listen to that redneck. He is from Kentucky. I am from Georgia. Listen to me.

[cbass]

Kentucky? WTF More like MoArk Go eat a peach

[Reeltarded]

What's the difference?

[cbass]

Bout 3 teeth

[M Fowler]

My wife works in electrical distributing and the industry has been growing even in with the economy dumping.

Either electrician, Lineman, HVAC tech, waste management, or plumber.

Mark

[Reeltarded]

Backwoods dentistry.