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Matlock · 01-08-2013, 01:05 PM

I was actually very lucky. After high school I had no interest in electrical. My dad is an electrician. In the beginning of 2005 he goes and says, "I got you a job". He helped me pick out my first set of shitty tools from Home Depot and I paid him back after my first pay cheque making only $12 an hour as a helper.

Dad really pushed me by saying that if I get my apprenticeship done, then I would always have a trade to fall back on. After I get it done I could do whatever else I want. Since I've been done, there's no way in hell I'm going to start from the beginning doing something else. Anyways it's a good trade. I work in the private (non-union) sector. Wages aren't great, but I enjoy the work and there's always lots more to learn everyday.

Working with parents can be very demanding, considering if they want their children to be better than them. He kicked my ass for sure.

We were working for very small company. Doing some high end to medium residential, some light commercial, and some lower end renos to fill the in betweens. The only workers were the owner, my dad, and me. After 5 years of tough work, things slowed down and we both got laid off and went out separate ways.

Dad went on his own trying to build his own little electrical company, but ran out of work after a while.

I went the other way working for a different company with about 30 employees, doing some super duper high end residential and some not as high end. Totally different work environment. The beginning of last year I got my dad to join up and now we both work for the same company, but different crews. So I get to see him once in a while.

Anyways, if you can manage to get hired as a helper. Make sure they send your hours in and get your first year of school done asap! Then it should be smooth sailing. Waiting lists at BCIT sure suck, but they are not as bad as they used to be.

01-08-2013, 01:05 PM	#16
Matlock My homepage has been set to RS Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Burnaby Posts: 2,025 Thanked 1,079 Times in 368 Posts Failed 95 Times in 35 Posts Member's Picture Albums	I was actually very lucky. After high school I had no interest in electrical. My dad is an electrician. In the beginning of 2005 he goes and says, "I got you a job". He helped me pick out my first set of shitty tools from Home Depot and I paid him back after my first pay cheque making only $12 an hour as a helper. Dad really pushed me by saying that if I get my apprenticeship done, then I would always have a trade to fall back on. After I get it done I could do whatever else I want. Since I've been done, there's no way in hell I'm going to start from the beginning doing something else. Anyways it's a good trade. I work in the private (non-union) sector. Wages aren't great, but I enjoy the work and there's always lots more to learn everyday. Working with parents can be very demanding, considering if they want their children to be better than them. He kicked my ass for sure. We were working for very small company. Doing some high end to medium residential, some light commercial, and some lower end renos to fill the in betweens. The only workers were the owner, my dad, and me. After 5 years of tough work, things slowed down and we both got laid off and went out separate ways. Dad went on his own trying to build his own little electrical company, but ran out of work after a while. I went the other way working for a different company with about 30 employees, doing some super duper high end residential and some not as high end. Totally different work environment. The beginning of last year I got my dad to join up and now we both work for the same company, but different crews. So I get to see him once in a while. Anyways, if you can manage to get hired as a helper. Make sure they send your hours in and get your first year of school done asap! Then it should be smooth sailing. Waiting lists at BCIT sure suck, but they are not as bad as they used to be. __________________ Electrician.