Most of us know Dustin as the witty, smart, and funny master electrician that shows us how things work in the electrical world. But what was Dustin like as an apprentice and how did he get his start. In the latest episode of Electrician U, Dustin talks about his early years as an electrician/apprentice.
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Like many of us, Dustin’s career did not start off in the trades. He actually was working in the corporate world, but it just didn’t seem like the right fit. He started doing odd jobs with his dad as a handyman and was working at one of his dad’s friend’s house who happened to be an electrician. Questions were asked and an interview conducted, and Dustin was on his way to being an electrician!
The same as this author, Dustin was intrigued by the enormity of the construction world and how raw it looked. Seeing huge homes and building sites and working in places that the normal population doesn’t really get to go into! And being paid to learn while you are working at something was a huge plus! He immediately fell in love with the trade and was hooked! His eager attitude to get things done showed up early, much to the chagrin of his journeymen, and he was forced to slow down and learn the way he was shown how to do the things he was being tasked with. Not in a bad way but just eager and full of gusto! Knowing Dustin, he is still full of gusto for the things that interest him!
The company he was working for also did a fair amount of light commercial work, and over time Dustin added those commercial wiring skills to his repertoire. As for tools, just like the rest of us, he started off with a humble set of tools and worked his way up. Putting aside a small amount of each check and buying the tools he needed when he had saved up enough! Honestly, this is a great way for all apprentices to get the tools needed to perform their jobs. It teaches respect for your tools as its YOUR money being poured out!
At some point he transitioned into commercial/light industrial service work. This is where Dustin really blossomed as an electrician. In lieu of showing up at a job site and pulling wire & making up boxes, this type of work actually forces one to use their brain and job knowledge. Most of service work is due to something not working when you are called out but must be working by the time you leave! You see many different ways of doing things because it could have been anyone who initially wired it! Electrical Code and Theory come into play as well to diagnose problems or plan for different situations. A person in the service end of the trade also must have a go getter type attitude as you generally are working alone (or in pairs at most) and must be willing to figure things out with minimal interaction from others.
If there was one thing Dustin could go back and tell himself to do different, it would be to slow down and play the long game! Not saying physically but learn the fine line between speed and quality of installation. No one is ever the best right at the start. But you can learn to be the best by focusing on doing things the correct way, but also be willing to shift gears if needed to suit the job. Some jobs require flat out speed, while others require a slow and steady but meticulous installation. Knowing when to apply each one will make one a solid electrician.
We hope this little jaunt down memory lane has been insightful into what it looks like to be an electrical apprentice and what it takes to be a great electrician. Is there a topic you would like to see discussed on Electrician U? Leave a comment in the comments section and let us know. Please 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.
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