By John Griffin
Electrical apprenticeship chairman
NEFBA’s apprenticeship program offers training in four construction trades: electrical, plumbing, carpentry and heating/air-conditioning.
As an electrician, I am biased perhaps, but I believe the electrical system is the most important part of a building. This quick test will help you understand why I believe that.
When you go home, turn off the main circuit breaker in your electrical panel (remember when it was a fuse box?). Leave it off a couple of days. How well did you function without electricity?
I’ve been involved with the electrical apprentice program at NEFBA for many years. Training to become an electrician is hard work, and it demands certain characteristics and aptitudes. Finding good candidates for the electrical field is a challenge.
The ideal candidate for this training and this career path needs these aptitudes:
• Mechanical
• Mathematical
• Reading
• Ability and commitment to follow rules.
• Self-starter, self-motivated
The industry needs electricians, and we need your help in finding and training them. If you employ or know someone with these qualities and capabilities who wants to be a career electrician, invest in that person’s future and the construction industry by paying tuition and salary.
Apprentice training is cheap compared to other educational paths. The apprentice also earns his or her way during the four years of training that includes on-the-job experience and classroom instruction.
On behalf of those individuals you will help by being a path to their career goals, thank you.
And, on behalf of a construction trade in need of well-trained, experienced men and women, thank you.