We sat down with Haylee Williams, an Electrical Apprentice on our Grand Rapids team, to see what her experience has been working at FZ. Here's what she had to say!
What first made you interested in the trades? Why electrical?
I spent twelve years working in retail and one day it occurred to me that I didn't want to spend the next twelve years working in retail. Around that same time, I saw a news article about the national skilled trades shortage that said something like , "by 2030, millions of trades jobs would be open". That sparked something in me. I've always been a hands on person and thought, "Well, I might as well go for it."
Why electrical? I bought my house a few years back and needed to totally gut it and redo the electrical. I realized throughout that process that I really enjoyed it. Some of the contractors that were helping me, recommended that working for an industrial/commercial electrical contractor would be the best place to learn and gain a good foundation.
Is that where you learned about FZ?
That's actually a funny story. There's a house on a road near my house that always has an FZ Truck sitting out front. After seeing it day in and day out, I finally thought I should look it up. I looked up FZ and decided to apply.
Where are you currently working? What has been your experience?
I'm currently on a large construction project in Whitehall, MI. I started out my apprenticeship working on a healthcare project with FZ's low voltage team. Both experiences were different, but good in their own ways. On the low voltage project, I pulled a lot of wire and learned how to terminate. There were only a few of us so I got a lot of one-on-one instruction.
The construction project is obviously a lot bigger - at one point we had over 25 FZers working. I've been learning to bend conduit and have been pulling massive amounts of wire. It's been cool to see how different people do things. There's an old saying, "there's more than one way to skin a cat." That's been true in my experience. There are different techniques or ways of doing something right. Someone always has a tip or trick that they've learned and are eager to pass on. I've enjoyed being able to witness that and figure out how I want to do things.
What has been your biggest challenge in joining the trades?
It was quite a culture shock for me. After working in retail for so long, I didn't know what to expect. I didn't realize how much problem-solving and figuring out there would be. I always imagined construction projects as plug and chug, follow the plans to the tee. But there are customer changes and issues that arise that always keep you on your toes.
What has been your experience working as a female in this industry?
It's honestly been a lot better that I expected. I knew I was a female entering a male-dominated world, I did fear that I would be treated differently. It was daunting at first but then it became very clear that I was just one of the team. Everyone has been so friendly and willing to teach and help.
What would you say to a female who is interested in pursuing the trades?
Do it. Get out of your comfort zone. It is going to be hard work but it will be worth it.
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