Luke’s always been interested in electronics. “From about 12 and 13 [years old], I started building little fans and all that.” He says. “My dad actually worked at a Rice Mill. I thought I’d start out with him, [but] he pointed out how much work and money there was for electricians … and it sort of went from there.”

Luke plans his workdays from the night before. “I plan what I’m doing the next day In the morning I’ll organise the gear I’ll need for the day,” he says, “then I’ll head off to the job, talk to the customer.” He then has a look around, assess what he’s going to do – to see what’s easiest and quickest to get the job done. Then, “[I just] get the tools and get in and get the job done.”

As the majority of electricians are sole traders, or small business owners, Luke has experienced first hand setting up an Electrical business. The challenges facing Luke mainly included start up capital. “Just having the money to get vans, vehicles, stock for the shed and clientele started up. Now I’ve got an apprentice on, I’ve gotta find work for two people!”

“[My daily tasks] varies a lot – I do a lot of house domestic work crawling around in rooves, underneath houses, wiring houses, the new computerised electronic stuff in houses.” Luke says, outlining the industry. “Then you go into industries like wineries and factories, using bigger cables and switch gear. You’re using your brain a lot more than physically.” But, Luke warns, you need to be pretty fit to crawl around in rooves – and some rooves are pretty, tight, I wouldn’t recommend a bigger guy to do it!

Heights is something which budding electricians need to keep in mind – crawling in rooves isn’t the highest electricians go. “Yeah you work with heights - I’m actually sitting on a roof now! “ Luke laughs. “You could be up in a scissor lift twelve meters high! Or on a two storey house, or I’ve been on top of silos! But you always have your harness and safety gear.”

But Luke says that one crucial part of getting into the industry is being really passionate about the industry. “At TAFE, we started with 20 people in the course. Within 6 months, we were down to 14. People didn’t care what they did when they started an apprenticeship, when they realised how hard it was, but didn’t want to put in the effort.” Luke recalls. “[Apprentices starting out] need to be committed. It needs to be what you want to do, you need to really want to do it, and when it gets a bit hard, knuckle down to make it all worthwhile in end.”

And for Luke, he did knuckle down, and has reaped the benefits. “I achieved a lot at TAFE, just all the awards I’ve won throughout TAFE.” According to Riverina TAFE, Luke was awarded numerous awards during his apprenticeship: the Country Energy Achievement Award, the Rexel Australia Achievement Award, the Clipsal Achievement Award, the Skilled TAFE NSW Apprentice of the Year and the 2006 Riverina Institute Outstanding Student of the Year.
“Getting out and starting my own business feels pretty good.” He says. “My main goal was to buy and house and start me own business. And I’ve done that.”

The best part of the job?
You get to meet new people every day – it’s just – if you are good at it, you don’t need to work so hard, but use brain skills and knowledge to get you where you want to go. I don’t know why I like it – I just do!

What personal qualities are needed for the job?
Good people skills, good communications skills cause you’re always talking to people – and always on the phone - my phone rings about 100 times a day. You gotta be it to do it.
You gotta be pretty good at maths, TAFE is pretty hard. Good at maths and science.

Advice?
You gotta be it to do it. [You] need to be committed. It needs to be what you want to do, you need to really want to do it. Try and keep up with technology, [like C-BUS and PLCs]. And all the rules, wiring rules, are always changing.