Goodwill of Greater Detroit’s Post

Switching careers at any time can be a little nerve-wracking, particularly if it’s a decision you’re making later in life. In this latest blog, we look at how to re-train as an electrician to start that new career. https://ow.ly/MWGi50THcBY

Skills gap, skills gap, skills gap (and the image of the sector). I know I talk about it all the time, but I think it's massively important, so I'm really pleased to have been invited to join the InstallerFUTURES advisory board, representing SLG Agency and Deconstruction. Can't wait to get together with the rest of the board next week and get stuck in! 💪 #ConstructionMarketing #ConstructionCareers #InstallerFutures

Isn't it about time you experienced "The Redwood Difference"? Setting Realistic Expectations – 🎯 We will never tell you we can do something that’s impossible. We aim to provide both our customers and our staff with realistic expectations, targets, and deadlines with each job, so we are all working from the same page. Attitude – 😊 We love what we do, and we let it show! We are enthusiastic about our work, and about developing our team of energetic, reliable, and honest electricians. Skills – 🔧 We strive to be the best electricians out there, with a focus on providing high levels of training for everyone on our team. With government-backed apprenticeship schemes and City and Guilds training, we can provide our staff with a wide variety of skills and certifications, so that they can deliver the highest quality service for you. Customer Relations – 🤝 Our customers are the most important thing to us. When you’re happy, we’re happy. Our team is always happy to offer advice or answer questions and respect our customer’s decisions. Punctuality – ⏰ We know that punctuality is an important factor when dealing with trades, and that’s why we’re dedicated to arriving on time and completing projects on schedule, every time. Performance – 🧹 We don’t like a mess, especially in your property! So not only do we do the job to a high standard, but we clean up after ourselves too, all while ensuring the work is completed to budget, and within current regulations. Presentation – 👔 All members of the Redwood Electrical team are provided with a uniform, so you know who we are and that we are professionals! This is just the start of our clean and tidy way of working.

The team at TJNZ works with trade businesses in regional Aotearoa, New Zealand daily. We hear businesses struggle to keep their heads above water with a downturn in workflow, others still need help finding quality, skilled staff to keep up with demand.  Such is the case for Steve Schladt - @Fiordland Electrical Contracting in Te Anau - such a breathtaking part of Aotearoa New Zealand and a paradise for the outdoors enthusiast. I'm so surprised not many people know where it is! (think Milford Track …and the Lotto wharf !) I can’t say I know all our clients who use our platform, but I’ve got to know Steve quite well as we’ve advertised and built his campaign, now reaching NZ-wide. His need is very real and not unique. Fiordland Electrical has developed into a diverse company due to Te Anau being located 150km from the closest major centre s ( Invercargill/ Queenstown)  this has allowed them to develop experience in the electrical, communication, mechanical services  and more. As a result staff need to be well rounded to solve any electrical problem as they provide such an important service for the local community and businesses.  The company continues to invest in staff. training, health and safety and bringing more people into the industry through electrical apprenticeships. A responsible and good employer.  Steve is faced with a common and very concerning problem,  a number of the staff are now reaching retirement age. As a result, they face a real need to fill in the 'gaps' with qualified and experienced electricians so the skill mix is still high. However, there is a huge skills shortage in the age group in New Zealand with this level of experience,  and accommodation in the region is an all-time shortage for anyone wanting to move into the area. The latter can be sorted as the community tends to pull together. If you are an experienced domestic or industrial electrician  … maybe a move to lotto country is  your next step. Check out his roles  https://lnkd.in/grevgJna

A class doesn't replace experience! Today with people in high demand and the average person that takes care of a building, or complex, or a facility, not staying more than 2-3 years before they move on to another job. No one ever gets enough experience to navigate the liabilities. HVAC equipment that is not maintained properly can be deadly. It is my opinion we are trying to buy our way out of liability with classrooms and not field experience which is irreplaceable. Too many apprentices are working as a field technician who do not have the experience needed to do the job. It takes years before a person who has gone through an apprenticeship before they are a technician that understand the liabilities involved the in the job. Do people forget that difference between a boiler and a bomb is basically the art of slow combustion and a few controls that must be maintained properly? I am amazed how many technicians work on a combustion appliance that do not have a combustion analyzer. If your not measuring your just guessing. Would you hire a school bus driver who just got their drivers license because he can technically drive a buss around the parking lot?

Our resident interviewer, Wayne Brogan, is at it again, interviewing Kim Coles and Labourer Forperson at one of our projects near Edmonton, Alberta. What is your trade? And what led you to this career? My husband and Wayne Crawley requested that I work with PCL Energy as a labourer foreperson, so I did. Are you interested in gaining a trade certification? Yes! I am currently applying for a Material Technician apprenticeship. What has a career in the trades done for you? My family has been able to live a more comfortable and less stressful life, enjoy more holidays, and spend more time with my family. That's why I do this; it's for me and my family. Do you have a mentor? Would you like to be a mentor? I don't have a mentor as of now, but I wouldn't mind mentoring anyone interested in the job. Okay, let's pivot to some more fun questions. What is your favourite thing right now? (song, food, podcast, activity)? I am remodelling a 1991 golf cart; I can't get enough of that project. Speaking of projects, is there a dream or favourite project to work on? Haha, yeah, I would like to finish my backyard projects. What is your favourite type of music, concert, or festival? The 80's and 90's. What did you want to be when you grew up? A marine biologist. Thanks again, Kim, for your time and hard work in helping us build our projects.

2024 is off to an electrifying start! We’ve digitally leveled up with the launch of our brand-new website. Our goal for the website redesign was to provide clearer direction on all the ways you can get involved with the Electrical Alliance. Since we support contractors, individual apprentices (and future apprentices), and the clients who hire contractors, we needed to pave a smooth path for all. Now, you can easily find: ⚡The different ways to benefit from the Electrical Alliance. Whether you’re interested in becoming an apprentice, you’re an existing contractor, or your a business owner who wants to hire a contractor, we can help. ⚡The 3 different training tracks for potential apprentices. The new website includes updated details on what differentiates each track, and how to start applying. Explore and share the website: https://lnkd.in/gCD3TJMt

6 Reasons to Consider a Trade School vs an Electrician Apprenticeship

What's an electrocution? Safety Director Jason Ham asks a batch of new apprentices in order to emphasize the most important procedure we follow here at Barts Electric: cut the power before you start on any project. #Electrician #Safety #ElectricalSafety #SafetyMeeting

The tragic loss of Wilson Price in Wellington is a somber reminder of the inherent risks faced by linemen and other workers in the electric power industry. Safety is always the top priority, and incidents like this highlight the importance of rigorous training for newer, less experienced workers and adherence to safety regulations and policies. OSHA’s guidelines for overhead line work provide essential safety standards that can help prevent accidents like these. https://lnkd.in/gEKNtX6z