Category: Blog

David Arredondo graduated from John B. Connally High School in Austin in 2020 with plans to begin his collegiate career as a soccer player. Despite COVID-19 interfering with his playoff-bound high school soccer season, David impressed college coaches and was slated to join Schreiner University’s soccer team roster. Then David learned COVID-19 would also put an end to Schreiner’s season.

Now newly jobless and with finances a major consideration, attending university was no longer an immediate option for David.

“Tuition was a problem. And I didn’t want to go to college and not get a chance to even play soccer. That was the reason I really wanted to go to college,” David said. “I was more comfortable staying in Austin to learn a trade and earn money.”

David would eventually enroll and earn his electrical apprenticeship license with financial support from Workforce Solutions Capital Area — including a weekly $200 stipend — through a RE:WorkNOW training course at Skillpoint Alliance.

RE:WorkNOW is the no-cost rapid training program for City of Austin and Travis County residents, launched by Workforce Solutions Capital Area.

In response to the workforce crisis brought on by the pandemic, participating RE:WorkNOW training providers have expanded rapid training programs in both remote and hybrid formats. Courses can take as little as four weeks, are aligned with industry expectations, and will result in high-demand jobs at better wages.

Eligible enrollees in RE:WorkNOW courses may receive $200 weekly stipends while they train, along with career advising and placement. Childcare, transportation, and digital inclusion are also provided as needed and as funds are available.

Program graduates are connected to jobs in growing industries like IT, healthcare, skilled trades, and advanced manufacturing.

Starting a new life as an electrician

David first became interested in the electrician occupation while at Connally. Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) of Central Texas spoke to students in his geometry and construction class about the in-demand field. Two of his friends who had earned their pre-apprentice electrical certification at Skillpoint recommended he enroll.

David signed up for the four-week course beginning on October 5, 2020, at no cost and in a fully virtual format. Skillpoint provided course materials, tools, and laptops to the cohort before the class started. In the class, students learned about electrical safety, hand tools, and power tools, and received exposure to different career opportunities within the industry.

In the virtual training environment, Alan Wilson, a Skillpoint instructor, closely reviewed the trainee’s hands-on work wiring device boxes, bending conduit, and assembling raceways through webcam.

“Alan was an amazing instructor,” said David. “In the four weeks he had us, he taught us a lot.”

Students received individual “pods” to practice on, built for home use and similar to what they would typically work on in a training facility.

Support every step of the way

Shortly after enrollment, David was contacted by Hillary Silvas, a career counselor at Workforce Solutions Capital Area.

“Hillary told me how Workforce Solutions wanted to help me, how they can pay me for tools, and how they can pay me for gas money if I needed it to apply for jobs,” said David. “They wanted to see me employed and become an electrician.”

Before enrolling at Skillpoint, David had applied for jobless benefits but was told by the unemployment office that he wasn’t eligible. His reason for leaving was considered willful because he quit his job to attend college and not tied to the pandemic. David was thrilled to hear he qualified for $200 per week through RE:WorkNOW, just from being enrolled in the Skillpoint training.

“Before enrolling, I was asking my parents for money, doing chores for them, and mowing people’s lawns,” David said. “When I received the stipend, it felt like I got paid again. It helped me in that whole month.”

Hillary said Workforce Solutions’ team of career counselors daily hears the stories of many Austin and Travis County residents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The entire Workforce Solutions team wants to make sure that they know we hear them and want to help,” said Hillary. “The RE:WorkNOW program specializes in removing barriers to training and providing support along the way.”

“Workforce Solutions made it super easy. Hillary respected that I wasn’t necessarily familiar with what was going on or what I had to do because I felt like a kid still,” said David. “She made the transition to being an adult really easy.”

A recharged career

David graduated on October 31. He received his industry-recognized certifications, including the Texas apprenticeship license and OSHA 10 license, to begin working in the field.  He started his job of choice at Beckett Electrical in December, a commercial and construction contractor, earning $32K-$37K.

David said he felt like he had a “team that was helping me get hired,” with support from Workforce Solutions, IEC, and Skillpoint.

David hit the ground running and says he had proved his aptitude in the trade on day one. He credits the know-how to the training at Skillpoint and support from Workforce Solutions.

“I’m just glad I took that class because it really helped me,” said David.

Skillpoint executive director Kevin Brackmeyer gives all the praise back to students who were persistent in overcoming barriers brought on by the pandemic to complete their training.

“Despite 2020 being a challenging and difficult year, our students are committed to pursuing a new direction for their lives,” Kevin said. “Their persistence and commitment speak volumes to their work ethic and willingness to create a better life for themselves and their families.”

David offered this advice to others who may be in a similar situation: “If you really want to do something, you just have to put your mind to it and reach out for help. There are people that really want to see you succeed. I feel like I got in contact with the right people, and they helped me.”

David plans to continue his education through IEC to become a journeyman. Next, he wants to pursue a career in real estate, where he says his experience as an electrician will help him in the long run.

With financial backing from the City of Austin and Travis County, Phase 1 of RE:WorkNOW will provide 260 scholarships to jobless residents for no-cost, rapid, and safe job training. Space is limited, and enrollment into approved courses is handled first-come, first-served. 

To learn more and apply, visit reworknow.org/austin.

Electrician is an occupation growing in demand in Austin, with an average entry level hourly wage of $16.55. To help connect residents interested in the skilled trades, we joined Lone Star Construction Trades Training (Lone Star) to host a five-day, 40-hour pre-apprenticeship class from November 30 to December 4 at the Austin Electrical Training Alliance!

Students first learn about safety, basic tools and circuity. Hands-on tasks include installing receptacle switches and lights. Next they learn about ground fault interrupters (GFI), three-way switches and split receptacles. Finally, the students tackle more complex installations like four-way switches, dimmers and lighted receptacles.

Lone Star CTT is a 501(c)3 organization owned and operated by Darci Brennan and Rebecca Young. They are both Journeymen electricians with over 48 years of experience in the electrical trade. Lone Star is dedicated to providing no-cost hands-on training for women seeking a career in the construction trades.

Spectra Stewart learned about the class from a friend. She decided to apply so she could use the electrical knowledge for personal projects, and joined the class with her friend, Amy Jordan.

“I am building a tiny house and I want to stand with the electricians and know what they are talking about,” Spectra said. “I want to have more knowledge. My mom is in an old house and the wiring in dangerous and I want to fix that.”

For Spectra, learning electrical theory and installation is like learning a new language: “There is a lot of terminology, and if you are not familiar with it, it’s like a new language. Like P equals power, or black wire doesn’t do the same thing as white wire. It’s so fun and rewarding when you can make a light bulb come on.”

She added, “We are learning so much, so quickly. My brain is full at the end of every day. But we go over everything and it’s starting to stick. Every day is more fun.”

“For five years, I worked with a contractor and learned a little bit about the trades except for electric. I would absolutely recommend this, especially for women,” Spectra said.

“These ladies are the best. They are patient, knowledgeable and I am elated that I came across this. I signed up one of my friends and would do this again in a heartbeat. I would it again just to solidify the knowledge. This is something anybody can use, all the time, daily,” she said.

Graduates earn a certificate from Lone Star, as well as their Texas apprenticeship license and their OSHA 10 license (paid for by Lone Star). For a graduation gift, the students receive bags of tools, making them ready to begin working.

Amy Jordan is currently working as a restaurant manager but seeking a new career path. “My friend Spectra posted this training on Facebook, and I was like, I totally want to do this! I build stuff but have no experience with electrical. I thought, ‘I already know a little bit about it, so I am totally taking up this opportunity,’” she said.

“The most challenging thing about the class is looking at the blueprints and thinking how this will look like in real life. I am not used to this language yet. It’s a whole new language—every receptacle, every outlet, every light has a different language,” said Amy.

For Amy, the weeklong class has been a positive learning experience: “It doesn’t feel like work, it feels like playing, like we’re making things and building stuff. It’s a fun and supportive environment, and that is the most rewarding part for me,” Amy said.

“They want me to be here and I feel like my time here is valuable. I took a week off work and I don’t have to pay out of pocket. It’s important that Workforce Solutions wants to fund this training and it’s such an honor to do this,” said Amy.

“I’m thinking that going into this will be a great opportunity for the long term. I love building—I build greenhouses for friends and do handyman work for them. Now I can add electrical to that. This looks like an actual, awesome job prospect for the future,” Amy said

“Everyone will always need electricity. I like that I can go in, do my job and make everyone happy,” Amy said.

Rebecca Young is the Director and Electrical Instructor at Lone Star CTT.

“You go through your apprenticeship and become a journeyman. From there you have all these different paths to take—you can become a foreman, an instructor, an inspector,” Rebecca said. “When I started, I was the foreman, I drove the service van, and I was an inspector for a while. Now I am an electrical instructor. That journeyman license can take you anywhere.

“I’ve been doing this for 29 years. It was the best decision I ever made my entire life. I’ve made so much money and had so much fun doing it,” she said.

“I can guarantee there are tough times, but it is so rewarding. When you have your electrical license, you can go anywhere. You have that freedom and skills that no one can take away from you. Women can do this, and it is an amazing trade to be in,” said Rebecca.

Lone Star will host another class in Austin from January 25 – 29, 2021. Austinites interested in applying can begin on Lone Star’s website.

View more photos of the training on our Facebook page!