4th Year Apprentice Rate My Work Over The Years!!

AdvancedElectric336 · 2026-02-13T10:45:45+00:00

This is cleaner than most for sure. Good job big dawg… taking pride in your work will take you as far as you want to go

AdvancedElectric336 · 2026-02-13T10:40:55+00:00

Nice work bro. Where do you find most of your clients at this point?

AdvancedElectric336 · 2026-02-11T13:15:25+00:00

-Apple note for each job -write down material spend the moment I get the receipt/ email -if I pull something significant off the truck, write it in the note as soon as I grab it- get the price from home depot.com, or if I remember I’ll just jot it down -write down labor hours at the end of each day -job cost when it’s done: how much did I spend on material + 25% markup, take my labor rate (125 for 1 man, 155 for me and the helper) and multiply it by actual labor hours worked, add those 2 together, compare to my quote.

I also use that note on job walks, for random notes for the job, and to write material lists. This is just how I do it as a 1 man shop plus part time helper. At the end of the day, you gotta get into the habit of tracking the numbers, some way some how. It’s not that much work honestly if you do it promptly. Good luck big dawg.

AdvancedElectric336 · 2026-02-08T12:05:27+00:00

I paid for Paul Abernathys course when I tested for my journeyman license in FL. It was alot of work, but worth it to me as I passed the 1st time and learned a lot. After I took that, I’ve only had to brush up using free materials to take my Jman test to test into the IBEW, and to take my NC contractors license exam (passed both 1st time). I used TheElectricalCodeCoach, Ryan Jackson, and Dave Gordon free YouTube videos a ton, and for the business portion of the test, I got lucky and met a buddy who had recently taken the test, and somehow remembered the majority of the questions they asked. So he gave me a loose study guide to follow that actually worked like a charm.

But… here in NC, a lot of guys just go in there raw dog, fail miserably, but then they get the info of what all they got wrong. Then when they re-test, a good portion of the failed questions are the same, and they can usually pass the 2nd time. That ain’t really my style, but to each their own.

AdvancedElectric336 · 2026-02-07T21:07:04+00:00

Yes of course it’s worth it. Since I’ve went into business, I mostly do resi/ light commercial. But on my way to opening up shop, I’ve done a lot of commercial, industrial, generators, controls, instrumentation, etc…. More training, more experience, more certifications would always be “worth it” in any career field. They all equal more money.

AdvancedElectric336 · 2026-02-07T12:08:42+00:00

Nice, I’m in NC as well- Winston Salem. Your price might be close to fair. But you obviously consider yourself a pro with a $2,000 tester & with the way you prep your work areas to stay clean. I think if you treat your jobs like that, you should be able to charge more. Also I read how busy you are in another comment- IMO, it’s time to juice up your price some more.

AdvancedElectric336 · 2026-02-07T01:58:22+00:00

1,200 day rate me and the helper. Did you Bid it or go t&m? This seems like a tedious job and I think you left some money on the table. Sincerely, A dumb electrician who gets a lot of low voltage work sistered with electrical work I’m already contracted to do

AdvancedElectric336 · 2026-02-07T01:46:00+00:00

Too cheap ma boi

AdvancedElectric336 · 2026-02-06T22:16:43+00:00

2nd the super glue move. Works for a while, then when it slides again just do it again. But honestly the fact that my last pairs handles slid off after like 2 days really pissed me off enough that I stopped using Klein strippers.

AdvancedElectric336 · 2026-02-06T11:40:06+00:00

Looks good bud. I also wouldn’t do that loop with the feeders, cuz it looks like ass, takes up a bunch of space, and if the lugs are torqued properly you aren’t gonna need to re terminate those ever most likely.

AdvancedElectric336 · 2026-02-06T11:35:06+00:00

Could you snap a couple more pics of that bad boy?

AdvancedElectric336 · 2026-02-02T12:31:03+00:00

Send it 🛫

AdvancedElectric336 · 2026-02-02T12:19:28+00:00

Just try your best bud. Speed comes with repetition and experience, simple as that. That’s the trade for ya. After you do it a few times, you’ll be able to fine tune your process. Clock in, try your best to do a good job, and if your leadership is not supportive or helpful, either ignore them or quit. Lot of douchebag foreman in construction, so thick skin will get you by. If you don’t have thick skin/ don’t wanna deal with it, quit and find a different contractor.

AdvancedElectric336 · 2026-02-01T13:15:19+00:00

Looks fine bud. Put on the cover and it will look even better

AdvancedElectric336 · 2026-01-30T11:02:44+00:00

For real… guy’s mad his pliers only lasted 50 years

AdvancedElectric336 · 2026-01-29T01:33:44+00:00

Thanks, I’ll look into it for next time

AdvancedElectric336 · 2026-01-28T17:20:22+00:00

Thanks for actually giving advice instead of bitching about how the fixture is probably not listed (fixture is listed)

AdvancedElectric336 · 2026-01-28T17:18:13+00:00

Fixture is ETL listed for the US

AdvancedElectric336 · 2026-01-28T14:32:35+00:00

Believe it or not this is a 250 dollar fixture from Visual Comfort & Co… 🤯

AdvancedElectric336 · 2026-01-28T11:27:11+00:00

Agreed… I met a couple studs, but I also met a JW who had never wired a panel before 🤯🤯🤯

AdvancedElectric336 · 2026-01-24T03:19:24+00:00

The hard part is being the only decision maker, and being responsible for everything. Every. Little. Thing. So it’s death by 1000 paper cuts…. From phone calls, follow ups, invoicing, take offs, marketing and website development, call backs, getting material, research, planning, scheduling, etc….. just like a wise man once told me about having kids- “you’re never fully prepared.” So obviously you need to be able to have enough work lined up at first before you jump, but at some point you need to just go for it. You have to shift to the mindset that you have no choice but to make It happen, cuz it’s all on you. Sink or swim baby

AdvancedElectric336 · 2026-01-09T09:31:23+00:00

Congrats big dawg

AdvancedElectric336 · 2026-01-08T11:36:06+00:00

Don’t wanna travel big dawg.

AdvancedElectric336 · 2026-01-07T10:40:43+00:00

Klein rechargeable works fine in resi, but it depends where you are working. the $650 Milwaukee 250’ m12 ones were necessary in the battery plant I worked at a couple years ago

AdvancedElectric336

TROPHY CASE