[sparkyforlife94]

I have been in this trade about 5+ years . My career launch after tech-school started in residential rough-ins , then advanced to commercial & industrial service . Today, I am the electrical power systems troubleshooting specialist & electrical project manager for my current employer(pretty much the Lead Electrician). Something that I learned the hard way at the beginning of my journey is that my general pace of existence is just slower than most workers in this trade...this has been the cause of discontent from most of my previous employers in this field.

Last week I asked my employer/supervisor if my production output is satisfactory . He said " what you deliver is methodical problem solving & it always gets done right the first time , we would take quality over quantity any day"
I said thank you sir and went about my current project. I feel blessed to have an employer that realizes the value of my work. I couldn't ask for more.

I am very curious, any other electricians out there that have lived a similar experience ? Please let me know...is slow a problem or not ?

Thanks,
-Sparkyforlife94

 

[MadSparky]

Slow is a subjective term and depends on the situation and job at hand. A fast worker who continually makes mistakes is worthless. Some people work faster than others.

I would be more interested in understanding why a particular employee was operating more slowly than the norm. If it's because he/she is consistently bullshitting with other workers or on their phone, then yeah slow is a problem. If it's because he/she is consistently identifying potential problems and diagnosing and repairing issues, then I consider that an immeasurable value. You have no idea how hard it is to find competent and technically knowledgeable electricians today.

Bottom line is there's a place for the speed demon grunts and the techy problem solvers.

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[MechanicalDVR]

I've never been known for speed any place I've worked, what I've been known for is no call backs.

I'm always neat and tidy with my work and I've always been customer friendly.

I've always had customers send thank you letters and emails to my employers.

 

[MadSparky]

I've never been known for speed any place I've worked, what I've been known for is no call backs.

I'm always neat and tidy with my work and I've always been customer friendly.

I've always had customers send thank you letters and emails to my employers.

That makes you an extremely valuable employee. I'd be glad to have you. Your employer's praise is all the validation you need. Doesn't matter what we aholes think.

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[Coppersmith]

When I was a 46 year old 1st year apprentice I was working on a school renovation project. I was walking by the office trailer in the hot Florida sun and the general foreman was watching me. He calls me over and says he's never seen anybody walk as slow as me. It was not a compliment. He didn't fire me and I went on about my business.

I got faster over the course of my apprenticeship as I transitioned from out-of-shape office worker to somewhat fitter electrician. It's 16 years later and I'm a lot older and more tired. I notice I'm moving super slow now. The Florida sun seems to have gotten hotter, even when I'm working indoors. I keep encouraging myself to get going and get the jobs done, but it's hard. Luckily I'm the boss now so nobody can fire me. At least I do a good job.

 

[MadSparky]

It really depends on the company. Some contractors are fast and sloppy and not customer oriented. They just want fast fast fast. But I don't think those are the ultimately successful ones. Also depends on the work. Is it residential new construction or high end remodeling work?

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[wiz1997]

I'll never forget some of the "old timers" I worked with when I started electrical work 45 years ago.
One " old timer" had a few sayings:

"When you hurry up you usually f-up".

With accuracy, comes speed, get it right the first time, then get it going.

 

[MadSparky]

I'll never forget some of the "old timers" I worked with when I started electrical work 45 years ago.
One " old timer" had a few sayings:

"When you hurry up you usually f-up".

With accuracy, comes speed, get it right the first time, then get it going.

The old timers are usually right. They're a dying breed.

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[460 Delta]

Old sayings that apply here- Slow is smooth and smooth is fast. Also, Faster by minutes and slower by hours. This is about the speed demons that blast through a job and tear up hob, and/or have a non-operational circuit/machine/whatever that someone else has to come behind and diagnose and repair.

 

[MechanicalDVR]

That makes you an extremely valuable employee. I'd be glad to have you. Your employer's praise is all the validation you need. Doesn't matter what we aholes think.

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It always paid off in perks and incentives.

 

[Quickservice]

I've never been known for speed any place I've worked, what I've been known for is no call backs.

I'm always neat and tidy with my work and I've always been customer friendly.

I've always had customers send thank you letters and emails to my employers.

Same here.... take my time and do it right. I have watched resi contractors consistently make glaring mistakes because their goal was to wire as many houses as fast as possible.

 

[oldsparky52]

With accuracy, comes speed, get it right the first time, then get it going.

When I moved into management, I preached to the men to get it right the 1st time, I don't care if it takes an extra day. Now, once you get used to doing it right, speed it up every chance you get but remember the correct always takes precedent over speed, always. When I left that job, one of the men in the field called me to complain about my replacement that he just wants it done fast and was not dedicated to quality.

In my youth I was FAST and didn't have callbacks, but that was wiring houses and apartments. I thought I was pretty hot stuff in that I could rough in and cut in a duplex (2 bdrm each side) in an 8 hour day (panel would be outside so it was just stub the HRs through the wall.

As I got older, my attitude changed.

 

[MikeFL]

Slow and safe trumps fast & dangerous every day of the week.

 

[oldsparky52]

Slow and safe trumps fast & dangerous every day of the week.

Agreed, but fast and safe is not an oxymoron, it trumps all.

 

[oldsparky52]

The first big marina I did, it was me and a helper. I took on the fuel work and the electrical work (crazy man). The owner told me they were concerned about me finishing because the other trades seemed to be moving along faster than I was. Well he learned at the end of the job that the other trades were doing the bulk easy stuff but leaving the finish work until later but I finished a task completely before moving on. At the end of the job, I was finished and they were still trying to tie up loose ends.

 

[99cents]

I have to admit having task hesitancy. Even for the smallest task, I look at it three times, measure it excessively, dry fit it twice, etc. It slows me down and I do waste time. Since I work mostly renos and commercial new builds, I put in more hours than I have to but it’s just the way I’m built. I would be fired almost immediately working for Speedy Electric.

 

[Wirenuting]

There is a time and place for speed and a time and place for slow.

Just ask the turtle that won the race.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

When I was in the field I was one of the fastest installers out there, however I was also the neatest. It is very hard to get both but being a type A personality with adhd helps...lol

 

[Coppersmith]

I have to admit having task hesitancy. Even for the smallest task, I look at it three times, measure it excessively, dry fit it twice, etc. It slows me down and I do waste time. Since I work mostly renos and commercial new builds, I put in more hours than I have to but it’s just the way I’m built. I would be fired almost immediately working for Speedy Electric.

Me too, unfortunately this is based on my experience of messing up stuff by not checking every possible thing that could go wrong first. I still cut holes in the drywall of nice homes, but now I rarely cut them on top of a stud or plumbing pipe.

 

[99cents]

When I was in the field I was one of the fastest installers out there, however I was also the neatest. It is very hard to get both but being a type A personality with adhd helps...lol

We aren’t attention deficit. We can be very focused on one thing and scattered with other things. I am a perfectionist on the job and drive a messy van.