pyroracing85

Does it matter what you do when first getting into the field? Does it matter if you do service or new construction.

Which one is better to learn? New construction or service work?

Please help

randomkiller

IMHO you learn more in service than install.

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JohnJ0906

Granted, but I think install is a better place to learn the basics.

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MDShunk

You need to walk (install) before you can run (service).

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pyroracing85

Well don't forget I will be going to apprenticeship school.

Joe Momma

Wouldn't it be nice if you could just read a book on how to do something and you're no longer a novice.

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pyroracing85

Yes, I wish it was like that.

220/221

You should START trimming out residential, move to rough residential, move to commercial THEN to service.

You have to know how **** works if ya wanna fix it/add to it.

Joe Momma

My point was that your school training compares in no way to your hands on training. You should do construction if want to learn practice and procedure of an electrical installation. If you aim to be a maintenance electrician then take the service route.

Avoid residential if you can. I feel that anyone new to the field that does research and finds an electrician forum to ask questions has much more ambition than a residential electrician(even if he thinks classroom training subtitutes for OJT)

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pyroracing85

Do you guys think I should turn down a service job just to find a new construction job?

My goal would be to be a well rounded electrician. Possible own my own business one day.

That is my goal.

brian john

AS a green apprentice that seems to have a problem finding a job, just get into the field.

I do not believe it matters where you start, unless you can work for a supply house for 6 months. I had an apprentice that started at a supply house, he knew his material.

BUT DO NOT STAY where you start, move around if possible. Learn all aspects. In our Local the apprentices stay 1-year with their initial employer then transfer every 6-months thereafter.

wirenuts

it never hurts to work with a few to learn how everyone else installs if you are new the best place to learn is in commercial you will learn alot of different ways let alone pipe bending, run M/C cable, dig trenches, install lights easy and hard

I can teach a commercial electrician to do resi work in a day or 2 but I can not teach a resi electrician how to do commercial work way to may applications of installation in commercial work to know and use

Resi work is basically the same all the time run romex install box or light land romex and staple drill a couple holes and know how to count to 10 or 13 for your loads on most circuits, now don't get me wrong sometimes things can be tricky but for 90% of the time resi work is real easy and simple

now as for service work it is the best way to learn you will never do the same thing or be at the same place long if you can land a job with a smaller contractor or for that matter a larger one. Now this will only work though if you are working with someone good, the areas of learning are endless not only will you learn commercial aspects of things but resi stuff the other will be learning how to trouble shoot and see why things are messed up (from poor installation to poor maintance to plain old worn out) the bad part is if you land a service job with someone that only does resi then that would only teach that end. if you go this route don't be afraid to ask questions for that matter always ask questions it showes your interest and ability to learn and retain things

best of luck and welcome to the best known trade there is once you start learning you will never stop in our trade no one here or in the trade knows it all

randomkiller

I have only been in large shops, some of the guys I have worked with have never installed more than a j box or a motor starter. They have spent all their time during apprenticeship and after working with service guys. And now as journeymen they are often lost on an install. Then again I have come across other guys that have been bending and hanging conduit for the last 20 years. That can bearly change a light bulb.

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A Veteran - whether active duty, retired, guard or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America," for an amount of "up to and including my life."

"One Nation Under God"