Son having a rough time (employees, applying, degree, employer)

[Unsworth]

My son is looking for an apprenticeship job as an electrician. He went to the community college and received his Associates of Science degree for the electrician field. He had an almost perfect 4.0 GPA. He is very sharp. He also worked while going to school. He isn't getting anywhere in the state we live in (Michigan) and so he is looking out of state.

He has no real world experience as an electrician but he is applying for jobs that specifically state no experience is required. Is the job market really as good as they say it is?

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by Unsworth

My son is looking for an apprenticeship job as an electrician.
He isn't getting anywhere in the state we live in (Michigan) and so he is looking out of state.

Most of Michigan is strongly union; especially so regarding registered apprenticeships (and ABC).
https://www.ibewmichigan.com/apprenticeships
https://www.abcsemi.org/training

He has no real world experience as an electrician...

And of those who do ... rather few will ever have any CC AA degree's.
The education is what the apprenticeship is all about.

Who has been advising you on the approach you've taken?

[Unsworth]

Nobody has actually been advising us. Nobody in our family are electricians. Are you saying we have this backwards?

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by Unsworth

Nobody has actually been advising us. Nobody in our family are electricians.

When these Q's came up before .. you asked college people for input about the matters.
Did you really not also seek other input from anyone in the trades?

FiX that. Start by talking to your own electrician. Or your neighbor/friends electrician.
Ask about how things are done in YOUR county and their input on what I wrote below.

Are you saying we have this backwards?

In a word, yes. Most of the effort and costs since he got out of school was wasted.

For most, the first step is to find the electrical contractors near you who are hiring and then to
convince at least one of them that you're a worthwhile prospect to be hired.

From their end that means they'll begin to teach you about the work.
That starts with the LABORER and helper level tasks related.
Then they'll begin the OJT ... teaching some wiring.
(Some will pass through this stage in two days. Some will never pass through.)

It's spring. There should be some houses being built out there. Find some.
The contractors doing that work will hire new people regularly. Most will quit.

Tough it out. Learn. Do. Be serious. Don't quit. Don't get fired.
Then ... ask to sign up with the next class of organized ABC or IBEW programs.

[Unsworth]

Originally Posted by MrRational

When these Q's came up before .. you asked college people for input about the matters.
Did you really not also seek other input from anyone in the trades?

FiX that. Start by talking to your own electrician. Or your neighbor/friends electrician.
Ask about how things are done in YOUR county and their input on what I wrote below.

In a word, yes. Most of the effort and costs since he got out of school was wasted.

For most, the first step is to find the electrical contractors near you who are hiring and then to
convince at least one of them that you're a worthwhile prospect to be hired.

From their end that means they'll begin to teach you about the work.
That starts with the LABORER and helper level tasks related.
Then they'll begin the OJT ... teaching some wiring.
(Some will pass through this stage in two days. Some will never pass through.)

It's spring. There should be some houses being built out there. Find some.
The contractors doing that work will hire new people regularly. Most will quit.

Tough it out. Learn. Do. Be serious. Don't quit. Don't get fired.
Then ... ask to sign up with the next class of organized ABC or IBEW programs.

We don't have an electrician but I can try to drum up someone to talk to. He applied with a local IBEW program but was not accepted. Apparently, there are a lot of applicants and relatively few get in. There are a couple more IBEW apprenticeship programs in the area that that he can apply for.

It's really a shame if this eventually doesn't work out. My son is honest, hard working, no drugs, no drinking, completely level headed. He had a job while going to school. He was well liked by both his employer and the other employees and I know he put in the extra mile. It has to be discouraging to him. He told me the other day that if nothing happens he will go out and get some type of work.

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by Unsworth

He applied with a local IBEW program but was not accepted.
Apparently, there are a lot of applicants and relatively few get in.

Of those who do get in by that door... how many are complete virgins?
vs how many have a summer of real experience under their belt?
(ask your local contact)

[Hollytree]

Have you contacted the CC's career services and placement office? All colleges, especially cc's, have internship and placement programs for their graduates.

[AnOrdinaryCitizen]

What I'm going to say may not be realistic or what you and your son want to hear because the job may be beneath what your son studied. You and he may think the job is tedious, the pay is low. But most new grads have to start from somewhere with the entry level, except the ones who know the insiders of some companies.

How about to apply with:

. Some vending machines companies like Pepsi, Coke companies regarding job related electrical repairing, or vending machine manufacture, etc... All those machines have something to do with electrical things. I used to have a vending business. Every time I had problems with the machines, I had to pay $70/hr for someone to come to fix them. That was many years ago. Now it must be more.
. Schools, hospitals, care centres as maintenance. This position sounds low to your son, but he needs to earn some experience first. I knew a man who was an electrical engineer from some other country. He came here, worked as a maintenance man at a care centre where I work. Later he found a job related to what he studied.
. Some construction companies (building houses) regarding electrical lining/setup (whatever they call it - I'm not in this field, so I don't know what to say)

... whatever else you can think of.

Everything takes time. When you have a job, it's easier to find another job. When you don't have a job, it seems to take forever to find one.

[joe from dayton]

I am surprised the the CC does not have a placement system for their trade program grads.

Tradesmen are in demand in my area. I would start by contacting every electrical business and construction contractor in my area and surrounding counties.

[Durpie22]

I wouldn't think it would be that hard right now because there are shortages in every field. He should apply to the union or try to get a job in a warehouse or truck driver for a IBEW contractor and then the contractor can refer him.