[Torres1105]

Electrical company offered me employment and have me two options to either gain my experience as an apprentice electrician or a junior estimator. Company is not union. I'm fairly new to the trade any advice will help. What position would be more beneficial?

 

[wildleg]

Not sure why you felt the need to ask this again, but I still think you should . . . join the Navy !

 

[cdslotz]

If you want to ultimately want to be an estimator, you should work the field for years first.
Just about every estimator I have worked with, were all Masters.
I'm surprised an owner would even consider this.

 

[CADPoint]

As a former office B i t c h, I'd say learn the office bidding.

Not many people will be offered what you have been offered! Beleive me!

Getting an estimator job in the future will be a laterial thing, being an
electrician is just that.

The biggest problem is you will not know the other side, onve you've made your descision.

 

[Jersey Shore]

Take the electrician's job. Before you start, come to an agreement with your employer that allows you to pursue your electrical license. Once you are able to achieve that goal, nobody can take it away from you. Unless you do something illegal or unethical. You don't have to go out on your own if that's not your thing but at least you're positioned right for YOUR future. If the employer is smart he'll encourage you to pursue your goal.

 

[99cents]

Become an electrician first. That ticket can lead to a lot of other things later - estimating, project management, manufacturer's rep, etc. if you don't want to stay on the tools.

There is a big difference between having a license you can hang on the wall and just having a job. If you take the estimating job and ever decide to work for someone else, you might have a hard time finding another job as an estimator without the field experience.

 

[CopperSlave]

I've been in this trade for 21 years...15 in the field and the last 6 years estimating. I can tell you, without a shadow of a doubt, I could not do my job now nearly as well, without my years of experience in the field. It has kept me in touch with the realities of the way things often go on a job.

People who start off in estimating positions, without doing time with their tools strapped on their ass, will often have unrealistic ideas, about the way things are in the field. This is just my .02 and, comes from first-hand experience.

 

[Nukie Poo]

Take the electrician's job. Before you start, come to an agreement with your employer that allows you to pursue your electrical license. Once you are able to achieve that goal, nobody can take it away from you. Unless you do something illegal or unethical. You don't have to go out on your own if that's not your thing but at least you're positioned right for YOUR future. If the employer is smart he'll encourage you to pursue your goal.

That's not always a good thing. Sure, get your license if you want, but some people will think twice about hiring you for fear that you could steal some clients and go out on your own.

Even if you were the most ethical person in the world, many potential employers may still be concerned that you won't be a long haul employee. Its called "being over-qualified". Sure, get your license, but keep it to yourself

 

[Jersey Shore]

That's a fear that a lot of shops have. It's ridiculous. There's so much more to running a business than just having your license. If you're worried about your people eating your lunch you are missing the bigger picture. Ill take the guy that wants a license over the guy just looking for 40 hrs work any day.

 

[chadw]

I wish our office had experience in the field at all....none of them have any and it should be required imo.

 

[Nukie Poo]

I wish our office had experience in the field at all....none of them have any and it should be required imo.

Yes, that does suck indeed. Also, you are only as good as your worst guy...

 

[dmxtothemax]

Once your trained as an electrician,
then you can become an estimator if you wish !
But other way around ?
Can you become an electrician from an estimator ?

 

[chadw]

Once your trained as an electrician,
then you can become an estimator if you wish !
But other way around ?
Can you become an electrician from an estimator ?

u will be far too lazy and your hands too soft at that point.

 

[2phase]

Well since you spelled junior estimator right and messed up electrician.

I say become a estimator.

 

[Bootss]

Do electrician and estimating learn them both at the same time. take night classes till you're blue in the face.