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What is YOUR favorite type of work in this trade?

8K views 82 replies 39 participants last post by  Majewski 
#1 ·
Hi : )

I'm looking at starting a career as an electrician and am curious what type of electrical work, as well as what aspects of the job, the experienced among us enjoy the most.


Thanks!
 
#2 ·
You are touching a forbidden topic.

The rule is: "Don't ask; don't tell."

Whenever my bosses ever figured out I really loved doing "X" -- I was immediately transferred to a different task.

They weren't having any fun -- why should I.

See the opening sequence "Joe versus the Volcano" as Dan Hedaya explains to Tom Hanks how rotten everything always is.

Tom has issues with the lousy lighting. It makes him feel "blotchy."

Heh.
 
#7 ·
Any kind of of work from pulling romex to bending EMT is satisfying
as long as it's on a small site. I have no fun on bigger sites.
Group mentality turns guys into jerks.
 
#17 ·
SmilingDylan said:
Hi : ) I'm looking at starting a career as an electrician and am curious what type of electrical work, as well as what aspects of the job, the experienced among us enjoy the most. Thanks!
After sampling the wide variety of electrical sub-genre treats, I like service work the best. Something new every day with fresh faces and new challenges. Not to mention the flexible hours and quick pay days...
 
#19 ·
I like the pay of residential service work but they aren't terribly flexible they never seem to want to wait till I have a free evening but that may just be because I don't do it as my day job. Have a couple really good customers though that pay well and let me come whenever I need to
 
#20 ·
SmilingDylan said:
What about service work allows flexible hours? - Sorry, completely new to this world!
as an employee there is no flexibility, but if you get your C10 contractors license, you will be self employed. When you're self employed and you do a lot of remodels or new construction, the construction schedule will dictate when you work and your pace. It can be stressful if the prime contractor is a hack. Service work offers flexible hours, as a self employed contractor, because you set your hours and take as many service calls as you wish.
 
#25 ·
I love all of it but not all the time.

Say I run conduit for 3 months straight. (And I love running pipe!) I'm gonna be sick of that crap and I'm ready to go pull wire or something. I like shaking it up every so often.

But I think pulling big wire would be my favorite. It's where team work on a big job is most necessary and apparent. Plus everybody thinks they can do what we do till they see us get that crap out.

What I HATE about electric work

Pulling branch wire in conduit someone else ran.
Tearing up any concrete
Babysitting people that claim to be electricians and consistently cannot install quality work.
Going back and fixing that hack work
Dealing with shady customers
 
#27 ·
I think troubleshooting a problem and getting a piece of equipment online is the most rewarding, especially if I am not the first guy on the problem.

Then again I love to be outside on a rooftop or working along the ocean or large body of water with little care what I am actually working on as long as i enjoy the environment and maybe the view.

When I started out I love working at heights (towers or lifts) back when I was in good shape for climbing anything.
 
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