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.
Personally cutting in panels and led retrofits because I tend to be able to run it my way start to finish, more complex piping only if I have free reign. Even if my boss read this we have a full summer involving all three
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.
Tackling a mind breaking trouble shooting issue in residential and coming out the hero....many many hours later. But also, when the home owner makes me awesome food and sends me home with cookies err.... or booze. win win!
Working on large complex machines with hundreds of parts while dozens of people are standing around hoping I cant fix it so they can go home early. A little different kind of hero.
Working on large complex machines with hundreds of parts while dozens of people are standing around hoping I can't fix it so they can go home early. A little different kind of hero.
I really like troubleshooting. Gives the brain a work out and get to think outside the box. The trade has such a wide spectrum of work. You can be anywhere from consultant,inspector to glorified installer ditch digger.
Living the dream one nightmare at a time[emoji769]
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...
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
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.
Service upgrades are my favorite. And collecting the cash or check after. Our company just does service calls and service upgrades. New service installs. New construction is not for me.
1. Industrial construction, big jobs with lots of 4" rigid. (as a young man)
2. High tech consulting work, show up at site, evaluate situation, give answer, go home. (as an old guy)
hint...I no longer do #1
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
Lights on, had to pull another neutral in someone's half inch yesterday. There were not more than 5 conductors there but it was nearly impossible to get that stupid tape down all his nasty bends
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.
Had to rappel into 4 ornate columns so that we could run cabling for tvs mounted down below. That was pretty awesome but about one of the tightest spots I've been in
My favorite work is repairing electronics but there is no real money in that. My favorite that is actually in the trade is troubleshooting motors and sensors.
Residential service. I love the hunt and troubleshooting of a thousand hacks and homeowners weird wiring. My favorite line is "Well it's always worked before." lol
Turning a crap ton of lights on after being wired, like in a store or big open office.
That's how I get my jollies.
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