Electrician U Talks to Chad German and Matt Bergman About Electrical Education

The electrical trade isn’t just strictly wiring things for a living. There are many facets and levels to it. In the latest episode of Electrician U, Dustin speaks to Master Electrician Chad German from Utah and Residential Wireman Matt Bergman from Texas about the different directions an electrician can go in the trade and where their careers have taken them.

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Let’s face it. Electricians aren’t going to train themselves! Sure, there are pieces and parts one will excel at only by doing. But there are also many aspects of the trade that one must be shown how to do. As with many of us, Chad happened to be in the right place at the right time to step into training electricians. But honestly, Each and Every one of us who have been in the trade for any length of time, is at least a part time instructor. Whether its on the journey level (where you are showing the younger apprentices under you HOW things work and WHAT to do) to company/divisional leaders (where you may be showing seasoned trade veterans the nuances of higher-level leadership).
One of the things to remember when teaching others is that we are all different individuals. We take things in at different speeds and levels of complexity. So, our teaching style should account for those differences. In other words, we need to learn our crowd and teach to those levels. Some are perfectly fine with just doing the work, but there are MANY individuals out there that want to excel to the highest levels of the trade and must be challenged! Repetition is how the bulk of the learning and refining of skills should be taught. But more than just showing the apprentice HOW to do the task, we should let THEM do, with the guidance of a more seasoned veteran. If someone is just a gopher (hey, go get this or go get that), they are not able to put their hands on the tools/materials/processes to really learn. Nothing wrong with showing them once, twice, or several times HOW to do, but then they should be allowed to DO the task!
Licensing is another huge part of our beloved trade. By being able to demonstrate the skills you have learned at different stages of your career, and the ability to study and take an exam to prove it, is something that employers look for in their employees. It also shows that you are looking at the trade as a career, as opposed to just a job and willing to put the time and effort into yourself to become better. Whether it’s a residential wireman’s license, journeyman’s license, or a masters license, they are all steppingstones to bettering yourself! Having said that, licenses take time and aren’t handed out in some haphazard fashion. Each requires different time frames, but during that time you should keep your mind open, study hard, and listen to the veteran electrician’s advice and trade knowledge!
Another thing to keep in mind is that the electrical trade is MUCH more than just wiring receptacles and switches. There are MANY different avenues one can take within the trade itself. Maybe you have a knack for researching, quantifying, and being super-efficient. Then maybe estimation is the right place for you. Or maybe you are good with figuring out what jobs need what manpower and moving people/tools around like chess pieces to make several project schedules. Then maybe a superintendent is the right answer for you. Linemen, residential wiremen, service technicians, controls technicians; the list goes on and on. Our trade is so vast, there is certainly a spot for almost anyone; you just have to look for it and find out what is best for you!!
We hope this has been an insightful look into the different aspects of learning within the trade and where it can take you! Is there a topic you would like to see discussed on Electrician U? Leave a comment in the comment section and let us know. Pleas continue to follow Dustin and Electrician U as we are constantly updating our content to assist our followers in becoming the best electricians that they can be.