July 16, 2024 – Whether it goes well or poorly, taking on an apprentice in your electrical contracting business is a big commitment. What can you do to (hopefully) achieve a positive outcome, for both yourself and the apprentice?

In the June 2024 edition of Electrical Business Magazine, we asked a variety of industry professionals “What advice would you give to an electrical contractor when taking on an apprentice?”. They happily shared their advice and experiences with us which, collectively, make up our Apprenticeship Survival Guide.

Here is what Kevin Ritzmann had to share…

WHEN BRINGING ON an apprentice, ensure that they experience as many different aspects of the trade as possible throughout their apprenticeship to help them become a well-rounded, confident journeyman—which will be valuable to both the individual and your company.

Over the course of the apprenticeship, you should ensure the apprentice is given ample opportunities for additional training on different equipment, tools and technology, plus practical training on things such as fall arrest, lockout/tagout, testing, electrical supervision, and First Aid/CPR.

Instilling the importance of working safely—and looking out for the safety of those around you—is as critical as focusing on high-quality work and taking pride in the pursuit of excellence.

Pairing up apprentices with experienced journeymen and supervisors who are willing to train and mentor them—as well as stretch their abilities and provide opportunities for growth—is important for apprentices’ development.

Over the years, we have found that some of our most loyal and dedicated team members are those who have come up through their apprenticeships, learning internal systems, and have been given the opportunity to continually grow in their careers.

To this day, I really appreciate all of the support and opportunities that I received as an apprentice from the great field and office leaders with whom I had the privilege of working; those who took the time to push me to expand my technical and personal skill set.

You’ll find all Back Issues of Electrical Business Magazine in our Digital Archive.