How to become an Electrician as a second career, Darci

Darci's story is not only fantastic to  hear on this episode but to watch through Instagram as she juggles becoming an electrician, being a single mom and fights for a better future for her family.

Money, retirement & flexible schedule were all important when looking for a second career for Darci. Her story is very inspiring about how she found the apprenticeship , where she's at now and why she is advocating more women to join the trades.

Darci is another wonderful women in the trades from Canada! We discuss what its like to join the appreciate and what organizations she's found to help her on the way. 

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Transcript

Hey guys, could you turn it down a little? Kinda in the middle of a podcast? Oh, Here we go... Sorry about all that noise. Welcome to the podcast Doin Girly Things, a podcast focused on making construction, working the field, wearing a hard hat, a girly thing to do. Every other Monday, a new episode will be released. If you're interested in supporting the podcast, please see the show notes for how to get involved.

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Welcome to the podcast Doin Girly Things today on season three we have Darci, and I am super excited to talk to Darci. She is an electrician apprentice on her second term. She is based out of Canada, and today we're going to talk about what do electricians do, how Darcy made a career switch and the current projects that she's working on. So if you don't know her from online she is Sparks to Sparkles and she has a really cool Instagram. Today she posted about this vintage Milwaukee set, which I thought was super cute way to make your house look like you work in construction but also be trendy. And so this might be one of the career paths that I've actually dealt with a lot. And so I don't know exactly how to become an electrician, but working as a GC, I worked really closely with a lot of electricians. I'm excited, Darci, to start off the episode by talking about what was your first year of apprenticeship like because it sounds like you probably did it during the middle of the pandemic.

Darci

Yeah. So I actually started January 2020.

Megan

Oh, wow. 

Darci 

And I think one of the hardest things that I realize now is just not really having the meetings connecting with other people in the hall, other women. So that's kind of one of the downfalls. But we were able to do a women's conference just recently, which was awesome. But I think that's been the hardest. We kind of had been working through a lot of it. We shut down... There was two shutdowns, that were like a month long. But other than that, I'm pretty consistently working.

Megan

And so whenever you say that, do you mean that like the government shut you guys down or were your projects... you had like an outbreak and stuff?

Darci

First one was a government shutdown, and the second shutdown would have been an outbreak. It was a larger site, so a little bit inevitable.

Megan

So I actually have a quiz question for you, too, to start out with. Do you know what the highest paid apprenticeships are?

Darci

I am going to go with plumbing or elevator mechanic.

Megan

You're close. So electricians are ranked number four it goes mechanics, elevators, plumbing and then electricians. 

Darci 

Wow. 

Megan

Yeah. And so working construction. Whenever I found that elevator, I was like, what do you mean? But they are some of the highest paid. So part of how you found construction was it wasn't your first career path. So what was your career path before? And then how did you even find out what an apprenticeship program was?

Darci

I was always in more like marketing or studio settings, almost like a project management role where I would be a point person between like the accounts teams and the design team. And just like I would work in Toronto which is one of our bigger cities. And I just found it really hard to find work out of the city and it being super expensive to live there. So I was able to get a grant to go back to school. It's in Toronto, it's called Second Career, and they basically will pay for you to go back to school and what happened was I just kind of started researching everything. Like I never really had a chance to like sit down and actually really think about what I wanted to do. I always kind of just fell into my career path. And when I kind of had the time, I, I started out looking at some random stuff, like, I think a stenographer was one of them. But I was talking with my mom and she was talking about one of her friend's sons who was an electrician, and I thought I should just be an electrician. And then I kind of like in my head, that's when I started looking up women and trades and seeing so many stories of women in the trades and just how they went about it. And I was really inspired that way. I was looking at a lot of carpentry women that I had seen on Instagram, and then I went into a school that they did programs where it was kind of a little bit on each job, so there would be like electrical, carpentry... So he was like, Did you think about being an electrician? And that kind of started to spin the wheels a bit. I really enjoyed the program and I think it was just more so seeing other women in the trades, which I think is why I try and focus a lot on that, on my social media and why I'm really trying to be an advocate for, not only women, but all, like everybody, because I think if I had known about the trades when I was younger, I would have maybe put more thought into it in high school.

Megan

And I think one of the biggest things that frustrates me is whenever you hear people say, Oh, women just aren't interested in construction, and it's like, No, we really are. We just don't know about it. And I think it is frustrating to me because maybe they were like pink excavators and stuff like that, or like maybe if these toys were in the women's section, they would start using these types of toys and I just think that there's a missed opportunity, like you're saying, is that as soon as you found out about it, you were interested in it. And was it the type of work or was it the fact that like the money that really drove you to be interested in working in trades, like what was kind of like that, like, aha moment of, Yeah, I can actually do this.

Darci

The funny thing is, is I feel like I'm actually having more of my aha moment, whereas when I started doing it, I think money was a big thing. Like I need to find a career where I can find work anywhere that I'm going to make a decent wage. I have like being in the union, I have my pension and retirement's taken care of. And so that was an important part of it. But then also on the other side, I think building things and seeing things that I've built with my own hands, like there's just so much of a feeling of pride in my work that I like. I would get that in my other careers, but not so much as often as I do now, especially during an apprenticeship where I came in totally not knowing the construction side.

But I hadn't been in school for about ten years, so I did a pre apprentice and I think it kind of was almost like a smack in the face. Like I was like, Oh, I'm going to go in. I'm going to be the best, I'm going to be so good. And then I'm like, What's this algebra? In high school I never did my like advanced math or anything like that. So it was hard coming out of a ten year stretch of no school, but just having a best friend in my life who was like, Darci, you can do this and pushed me through. Like, just where I'm at right now. I feel so good at my current job and just the ability that I can do it and knowing that I can. So I think that is one of the best feelings that I would try and convey to everyone who is looking into construction.

Megan

What advice would you give to somebody that's looking at apprenticeship programs? Are there different types of programs? It sounds like you were able to secure a scholarship. How does all of that work and what advice would you give to somebody that is listening to this episode and is like, you know, maybe I want to look at joining the trades.

Darci

I think just looking at any grants that are out in your area, you can look for construction grants, women, women in construction. I know a lot of like our government is putting a lot of money towards. So one, just looking at types of programs like there's I think we have one called WIST, which is like women in skilled trades where they touch on a lot of like plumbing, electrical, carpentry... So you can get a feel for what maybe you have an interest in. So that was a pre apprentice program that I did. I don't necessarily think a pre apprentice is a must, but because I hadn't done any construction, I wanted to just get a little bit more comfortable with like just some of the tools or names of things and so I wasn't coming on to the job site completely green is what we call it. So yeah, any grant programs pre Apprentice for me, I'm with the IBEW, so the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and even just going down to the hall to see I think the reason I would suggest a pre apprentice it would be for anyone kind of that hadn't been in school like that really helped me because I'm actually going to be going to my first block of school at the end of March. So I'm going to have to do my math stuff again if you haven't been in school. And that does kind of scare you a little bit. There are programs too, like you could do a night school course to brush up on your math and stuff like that. Also, a big thing would be to go to Instagram, looking up other people that are in the trades and reaching out. I feel like the trades community on Instagram is super positive. And everyone loves to talk about their jobs and is eager to educate on what their specialties are. So I think it's a good place to really start to if you have questions.

Megan

From what I'm starting to see, at least the start of this, you too, is like people really want people to ask questions. And there's a bigger focus of people showing like quality on trade. So like forget the Instagramer right now, but like she's lost her whole account to be about like how do you do like quality drywall? And so I think that there's a lot of knowledge that you can gain off social media by watching some of these people actually do their trade. And so one question I had about the pre apprenticeship is do you get to pick you said like night school. So did you do like a six month program or like how long is a pre apprentice considered for?

Darci

So the one that I did was, I think, I was February to July. 

Megan

OK. 

Darci 

Also kind of a hard thing with it is it was a super condensed class and I think that's why I found it so hard and why I think it's so important with an apprenticeship, like the fact that you're learning on the job and going to school, stuff that I had done in The Pre Apprentice now that I'm working in the trade, I see how everything works. So I am such a visual learner. So the way it goes, is we have three blocks of school, so it would be your basic, intermediate and advanced pre thing that I've already done. Pre Apprentice is what I'm going to be covering in my first two blocks of school. But it won't be as condensed. But now I have the visual of being at work and seeing how kind of things are put together. So I think as a little bit scared I am. I think I'm going to be OK. I'm going to surprise myself.

Megan

Are there grades or is it pass, fail an apprenticeship school?

Darci

You have to get I think it's a 60, 60 or 70. This kind of depends on which school you go to. I think some of them are different when it comes to writing your CFQ, which is my final exam before I'm licensed. That is a 70% is a pass.

Megan

It is cool to the to make you feel more comfortable that there are these pre apprenticeship programs because I do think sometimes it is scary to walk in there and not know anything. And so like in preparing with the pre apprenticeship program, it sounds like it's the same coursework which is condensed and then you basically you take your apprenticeship and it's the full course and there's three sections of it.

Darci

Yeah. And then like each of the unions are a little bit different. So my union is local 105, which is Hamilton, Ontario. And then there's I'm working for a contractor right now who is part of Toronto. And just talking with the guys there, the Toronto local, you actually have to take a pre apprentice with them. So with Hamilton, I could have just started as an apprentice. I don't know the difference is, but I'm thinking the schooling is all going to be the same I'm not exactly sure what is covered in their pre apprentice, but we would all go and do the same schooling when it comes to basic, intermediate and advanced.

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Megan

So I want to switch a little bit more toward pay because like I mentioned in the beginning, electricians are the fourth highest paid career in the trades and so based off what you've experienced right now, would you agree with that statistic or what is your experience really been from on the inside and being in the program?

Darci

Just based on working in the industry, it is like a thing that's said, like I've talked about it with some of the guys at work just wondering like what the pay is like for other trades, like the elevator, plumbing, but I didn't know about mechanic, but for us with being in the union, it's all like a pay scale that everyone is paid this amount. The union is supposed to be paid higher, and we have two different types of jobs that we go out on. So there's there's kind of like so much background to it. But basically we have either a market recovery job or ICI job and the pay kind of works out a little bit the same because on a market recovery job, we're doing more hours. So we would work a full eight hour day Monday to Friday and then in an ICI job, we work Monday to Thursday, 8 hours, and then we do half day Friday. So it's kind of for me as an apprentice I'd rather have more hours to get through my next year faster. But it is kind of nice. Only working a half day Friday.

Megan

So what does your pay scale look like? So like Apprentice 1 is paid less than The Apprentice 2, but like on average, what percentage do you go up every time that you go up a level, I guess they're like, what do you guys call it?

Darci

A year. So I go first year, and then you go second year, third year, fourth year, fifth year, and then licensed from there. So it pretty much works out to be an extra hundred dollars per paycheck. Is it like from first year to second year? I was like, woohoo! But so we get paid a percentage based on the journeyman rate. So each year your percentage goes up but the way it kind of works out is, is like $100, per paycheck each year.

Megan

OK. And so then you go up other levels by hours that you worked on the job site to basically say that you had X amount of experience to be considered apprenticeship one complete. 

Darci

Yeah, nine thousand hours is what it works out to be. It should be a year if you're working consistently, you can pretty much do it in a year. But then with the industry, it's so hard sometimes like we do have our downtimes, but I'm hoping I can finish in at least the five or six years.

Megan

So out here in the United States specifically where I was just at in Portland, we were actually to a point where if the electrician showed up to work that day, they got a $50 bill because there is so many data centers that were being built across the area we were and that everyone else started doing it. We didn't do it but the other jobsites did. But yeah, if you showed up to work that day, you got a $50 bill or you're having like the same sort of labor issues in Canada. Or like, what are you seeing any incentives to keep you working during the pandemic?

Darci

There were some calls where people were getting an $80 just to show up extra like on their paycheck. I know some of the unions are having a hard time filling their calls. I was talking with one of the guys in the Why is it such a struggle to get people to come out? And it's like the pandemic, I guess. And so what happens is with the unions. So if a Toronto union is working in the Hamilton area, they have to hire a certain percentage of workers from Hamilton. So they put a call out to Hamilton, but if nobody fills it, then the call like spreads out farther. So it would go back to their hall or another hall that would be a bit farther away. So they just kind of reach out to the other locals to get people in. But some calls are having a hard time being filled in.

Megan

So what is your favorite project that you've worked on so far and not like favorite where maybe like it was the most fun, but like maybe also that you might have like learned the most?

Darci

I think right now. So I've done pretty much new construction. So I think my first job was building a school. From that one I was there from the beginning stages to the end. So I saw the whole project, which was really cool. My second job was on the hotel that was pretty much like I came in a little bit more finishing stage, but still some layout was happening. And I think just where I'm at right now, we're doing a warehouse expansion, so they've added in some office space. And I think just my understanding of things now and having a bit more responsibility, whereas like being on my first job and being a first year and like brand new, doing a lot of running for the guys, grabbing stuff, cleaning up, and and doing that. But like I did learn a lot, I would not have changed it. The amount of stuff that I learned about material and stuff, I learned a lot that way. But now just like being on my own and being given a task and understanding the task and being able to contribute a little bit more, I think I'm loving it so much like I've been a huge part of the lighting on this job. We had the days where we turned everything on and my foreman was like, You did this, I was like... oh my God.

Megan

It's lights!

Darci

Lights. Yeah. It's like that feeling of being like, I get this and like the fear of not getting it and struggling to now being like, OK, this is where your feed goes. We're going to go here. And just, like, getting my task and doing it, I just love it so much.

Megan

And you're saying once you take responsibility, like for like the lighting system is kind of like one of those things where like the best example I have is like the meme where it's like if you drive around with anybody that works in construction, they're like, I built that, I built that, I built that I like. That is so me because you just like like it sounds like you're the same way. Like you just take so much pride in what you do. And some of that, I think is like kind of taught through the union is like taking pride in what you do because you're delivering something that people are going to be using for hopefully 20 years. Plus you're building to make stuff last and so I do think that that is a really important trait that like the unions do help to teach that I seen it as union versus nonunion is like the quality and like making sure you're taking pride.

Darci

And that was like one of the things that just like talking with the journeyman in the trailer and like hearing stories and just people that they've worked with that just don't care. And like any of the journeymen that I've worked with have been amazing and have really put emphasis on doing work, knowing all the steps like down the line. Like for me right now, I'm doing all the lighting in the offices in like ceiling tiles and one of the things a journeyman told me is like, don't have the wires hanging down. So when someone has to go work on something, they put their head up and they're like bashing into all these wires so I'm thinking like, OK, I'm going to keep it neat. So it's not like a rat's nest up here. And I think just those little things like taking that little bit of extra time for that someone down the line.

Megan

And labeling, labeling, labeling, like.

Darci

Labling. I love Sharpies, duct tape.

Megan

Because of what you're like with lighting. Have you started to do any at home projects? Because you're now you're like, Okay, well, I can do this now at work. What if I, you know, automate all of this because for me, that's like the temptation is to automate my house.

Darci

Yeah. Like I go home and like, I really want a project right now. Last year, I put one of those, it's almost like an occupancy sensor, lightswitches on the bathroom, but it annoys the crap out of me right now because it's like any time I walk past it, the light turns on, like, oh, I got to go turn it off. It's on for like 15 minutes. But that was an interesting one too, because I'm used to just fresh wire, like knowing where things are coming from. So it's like going into a box and just being like, What is all of this where is this going? So that's kind of where the troubleshooting and if I was to work on a service truck, that's where you kind of learn a bit more like going into people's houses and troubleshooting that way. But I do love projects.

Megan

There's like two different types of satisfaction. There's one from like you're saying, like troubleshooting and figuring out the problem. And then there's another satisfaction from like seeing it from the ground up and being like, I did all this, there was just nothing here. And so I think that it really between like service and like doing new construction, you get the satisfaction, but it's two totally different feelings.

Darci

Yeah, exactly.

Megan

So after I had technically a techie on podcast, I want to start asking people if they have any like women friendly brands, like are there any favorite pants, boots, safety gear that you have found out in the field that you prefer? Or even if they aren't just for women, anything that you prefer to use?

Darci

I've just actually got a pair of Helly Hansen overalls. They were a mens size, but they came in shorter leg length which I'm 5'3". They fit perfect. That's one that I wear regularly. I also have bad workwear. 

Megan

OK. 

Darci 

They started in Australia, but there's a North American store and they're pants. I find. I like a high fitted pant they fit me. I find like they're fine, like for working on receptacles low down. I did mention them to another girl who was like, I tried them and I didn't really like the like the high. They felt like they were too low. There is also I keep seeing everyone with Dovetail and I've been wanting to try them as well. And Tough Duck. I wore them out today when we went for a walk and I was super toasty. 

Megan

Yeah, you guys have this extreme cold temperature, especially with working in new construction. You're probably in the field and buildings that don't have any ventilation are heating and cooling. 

Darci 

Yeah, yeah. So this year I'm lucky that like we're at the stage where there is heat, but I did order those Tough Duck insulated overalls when I was at the school, and that would have been like January, February, March, and once I had those, it was perfect. As long as you have the proper workwear, I find I'm happy.

Megan

Perfect. What is your hope for the future of being an electrician? What will like what is your goal that you see for yourself? Do you want to start your own company? Do you want to stay in the union? Like, what would be your dream?

Darci 

I think one of the things that I love about the union... like I was able to go to the women's conference and that was amazing experience to be around other women who are in the trade. And those are the types of things that you can get through the union. I think being at a nonunion company, if you don't have other women that are there, like you can find it on. I think like social media, there are like other places that have like women's groups to connect in that way. But it was like a huge conference. And then there's another one in the States. So the one that I went to was just Canada, and then they have the U.S. one, and then the resources that I have through the union as well, like if I needed tutors for school, they have that for you. I think just staying with the union, I would maybe want my own company, but I don't know, like I enjoy not having to think about like you're out looking for work, all the paperwork that you're having to do, invoicing, like you're maybe not being able to much, but I don't know. Like as I get older, things may change, but I do love with the union also. Like I work with a lot of different people and I have the ability to like, I know there's always going to be work. I'll always be like, I'll go on the list. And then as the jobs come in and you can see different jobs and work with different contractors, so there's a lot of flexibility there, which I think also being a mom like I do have the ability of when Coulson and was home from school. Like if I needed to take that month off for the pandemic, I could stay home.

Megan

Oh yeah. Because your insurance works then too, through the union as long as you're a member on it. So there's not the same. I guess your insurance isn't the same as in Canada is what we deal with in the United States.

Darci

When I get laid off from a job, I go on EI, until I get my next job because I'm not being fired, I'm just being laid off and I'm not a full time employee. So I get EI for that. And then when I go to school, I also can go on EI. I want to do more, I think keynote speaking or just like advocating for the trades. I think I want to continue doing that as I do my apprenticeship and like even like mentoring.

Megan

Yeah, that's one thing that I've been looking into is like finding somewhere to volunteer and stuff to do the mentorship because I've found a lot of these programs and now that I am not working 80 hours a week, I am looking at joining one of them, it sounds like for yourself, like the mentorship is where I get a lot of gratification is like seeing somebody else get it and like seeing somebody else, like get the same excitement out of stuff that's like normally not considered girly because like I grew up in a life where like I was called weird every single day. Everyone always called me weird and it was because like, I just wasn't like other girls. And instead of people saying, you know, like, oh, like you have skills, you can see processes. There's a lot of this stuff that, like, it isn't weird that you like to do, it's just different. And so I like the idea like you're saying, too, is like being that mentorship because like, representation really matters. And it's so important for young girls to see you doing what you're doing. And that's all they ever see is like, men, they're not going to want to go to that job site. 

Like, right before I left my company, they wanted to send me to a new job site, and I was like, You want me to show up? Be the only female on that job site? And like, also, it's like people don't want to go if there's not other women there sometimes because it's like it is hard showing up and being the only one. Well, I'm so happy for all the work that you're doing, and I really do hope that you do get to some speaking events and both of us manifest some mentorship.

So last questions are the best self. I pick two categories self awareness or life lessons?

Darci

Life lesson.

Megan

OK, what's the best mistake you've ever made and why?

Darci

OK, let me see which one... ok, so I had one where, I have two. I have two, but well, probably this one. 

So I was working with my journeyman and we were pulling all these feeds for a stage at the school and there was probably maybe three or four circuits and he comes out at the end and he's like, OK, so just like cut the wires, clean up. And like I didn't hear the probably the most important message that he was trying to give me, but so I'm like cutting the wires, cleaning up. So excited that I was he's going to be so proud that did the so fast. Then he was like you labeled the wires... and I'm like, mmmmmmm, pardon me? Uughhh, no I didn't hear that instruction. He's like, you're joking, right? I'm like, no, I did not label them at all. So just seeing that like he was he obviously wasn't mad. He was disappointed that we had to now do some extra work to figure out which circuits were which. But I think having that mistake, obviously now I'm like, I am very aware of labeling and why it's important, and what's involved if it's not. But I think the lesson that I've learned a lot is to slow down a little bit. And that has always stuck out in my mind after that point. And I mean, he was like, everyone's done it once. Like don't worry about it. Just doing it. I definitely will try not to do it again. But I think as I've been going through this apprenticeship, it's really to stop and think and really think through before, like take that extra 2 minutes to think about it before you actually do it because it could save you time.

Megan

I think that's a super important lesson, especially in construction, because when I think about all the mistakes I've made, it's usually because I'm rushing or you know, I don't think that there's enough time to think this through all the way or, you know, I'm just gonna go ahead and send this email. I'm not going to proofread it. It's like you missed a key word and you might be so proud that you got done fast but you didn't do it right.

Darci

Exactly. And I think anyone who's trying to rush you to do something like some journeyman that like, I've worked with such great guys that, that have that mentality, he's like, I'd rather you do it. Like, be slow, but learn the, like, the basics and speed will come with experience and the time that it's taking in, like, labor to fix something. It's probably not worth it, if you just take that time.

Megan

Well, thank you so much for coming on the podcast. It was so wonderful to speak with you and learn about the apprenticeship. And yeah, I really do hope the best for you and your family as you guys go through this.

Darci

Yeah.

Megan

So lastly, where can we find you?

Darci

So I am very active on Instagram as Sparks to Sparkles, I do post a lot on LinkedIn as well under Darcy Spattery and then I have started TikTok. It's probably easiest to my Instagram and then also this link from there.

Megan

Awesome. Well, I will link everything below and thank you for joining us and doing girly things.

Darci

Thank you.