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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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 ?
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 ?
Do electrician and estimating learn them both at the same time. take night classes till you're blue in the face.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Electrician Talk
2.3M posts
93.1K members
Since 2007
A forum community dedicated to professional electricians, contractors, and apprentices for residential and commercial work. Come join the discussion about trade knowledge, tools, certifications, wiring, builds, scales, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!