Hello, I wanted to know what you guys would recommend I do. I just got done with high school and would like to start an electrical apprenticeship. Thing is, I already applied with my local union (11) and I've been told the process of getting hired there is generally 6 months or so. So, should I just job hunt for an apprenticeship with a company/contractor around my area or just wait the 6 months? Thanks.
Union vs Contractor/Company apprenticeship?
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If you like the idea of going union then you are the right age to make the move. The older you get the less sense it makes IMHO. I would recommend applying for the union route and taking classes at your local junior college in the mean time. While taking classes apply to non union shops, they will appreciate the fact you are young and taking classes.
Good luck.
Good luck.
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Yes!
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You might be waiting longer than 6 months if you wait for the union! Either way you should work non union so you know what it's like when the union doesn't have work work, and if you work non union for a couple years before going union you will have a huge advantage over those dogf*+Kers. The guys that start in the union make the worst electricians in my opinion, can't wait for every union opinion!
Thanks guys. I've decided to apply at an adult school (bassett adult school in la puente, ca). Apparently I can get certified within a year without a enormous loan debt, like going to a "prestigious" trade school. I should be done with the program just in time when I start working with the union. 
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)Go to work for whoever will hire you in the electrical industry! I'm union, and strongly recommend making yourself a force to contend with - however you can through training. In the same breath, don't get ripped off by some outfit claiming to "certify" you in a year! My recommendation? Do the Mike holt schooling, best bet in the industry! Now you're ready for the union.....
I think that if you work hard and want to learn you will find someone to take you union or not. Trade school can give you alot of bad habits. Maybe go to a community collage and take math classes, a few business classes, maybe an intro to estimating class to learn how to read prints.
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people will seem to care on this site and off if you're non-union. A few of the union guys I met seemed like shmucks, and a few seem cool. In the end all that matters is your own happiness, I'm a union pipe fitter at night and a non union residential electrician by day, I prefer on union but to each their own. bring the term union up you gotta pose another term to yourself, ambitious?
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I went to chaffey college's chino campus for my beginning school. That's about a 30 min drive from la Puente for you. The courses are great with professors that work or have retired from the field. Also the hands on lab work is second to none. Also, local non union companies like mine hire directly from there for apprenticeships. Hope this helps.Thanks guys. I've decided to apply at an adult school (bassett adult school in la puente, ca). Apparently I can get certified within a year without a enormous loan debt, like going to a "prestigious" trade school. I should be done with the program just in time when I start working with the union.
@TimGoon, yeah I've heard great things from that school. I'm going to an orientation next Wednesday to the bassett adult school. Apparently I can get financial aid and I think this school would be a better candidate because it's like 10-15 mins from where I live.
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