Bryon Keim ⋅ Jacksonville, FL CSX Transportation ⋅ 21 years experience

Keil,
Search for opportunities with the CSX and NS Railroads, both operate in GA and I know the CSX operates in MD. Don't be discouraged if you don't see anything right away as it's a tough time in the industry right now but that will turn around. The railroad is a great career that many people overlook.

Doug Hill ⋅ Kearneysville, WV PC Construction ⋅ 20 years experience

Contact the local Electrician's Union. They will know and if it is like Missouri, you won't work as an Electrician without being a member of the Local Union. Good Luck!

Donald Marshall ⋅ Hingham, MA U.S.Treasury ⋅ 45 years experience

Keil,
Ibewlocal24.org/apprenticeship/
The site details their apprenticeship program in Baltimore.
Don

Rob Huey ⋅ Atlanta, GA NASCO, LLC ⋅ 14 years experience

Hi Keil -

My niece's husband is about 6 months away from his journeyman level at the local BEW here in Georgia. He started as an apprentice after many false starts in other areas (retail, college) and simply loves what he's doing. I don't have the details, but would be happy to put you in contact with him if you're interested. I know that he had zero background in the field when he started.

Rob Huey

Karina Figueira ⋅ Oxon Hill, MD Marriott International ⋅ 10 years experience

Keil, I would recommend you start at Local 26 in the MD area.

http://www.washdcjatc.org/

The website above is part of the L26 site and refers to Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) . Their contact info: 4371 Parliament Place. Suite A. Lanham, MD 20706-1807. Email: emailus@washdcjatc.org.
Also, The NECA / IBEW Local Union No. 26 registered apprenticeship are VA approved programs eligible for GI Bill benefits.

Entry level positions are hard to come by, but the Union require employers to hire people who have been or are part of their apprenticeship programs, so I imagine if you join the program above you will have the inside information on where those companies are and how to get a position.

In this area I have also noticed a lot of entry level jobs with cable companies such as Comcast or Verizon. You would get initial understanding of the trade, more on the telecom side. Those jobs will put on the road a lot and are not the most desirable jobs, so they are always open... and that make it a good way to get started.

Good Luck. Karina.

Michael Crowley ⋅ Andover, MA Schneider Electric ⋅ 30 years experience

Hi Kyle:

As Susana mentioned, unions do have good apprentice programs and they pay well if you can get in. I'm guessing there is more union work in MD than GA. I would also look to community colleges for programs on electrical technology. There are lot's of directions you can head in within the electrical/electronics field. For example solar is a hot field right now.
If college isn't in the cards, try seeing if you can start working for a local electrical firm, but be willing to start at the bottom. Driving trucks, pulling wire, there is a lot of labor that is needed in electrical work.
Do you have any military experience with electrical systems? That is where I started. If so, you might see how to leverage your military experience to launch a career. Feel free to email me if you have further questions.

Susana Moraga ⋅ Hayward, CA California State University East Bay ⋅ 20 years experience

Keil,
If you haven't contacted the local unions that's a good place to start.
States differ in CA there are unions, if either GA or MD is a right to work state and not union controlled then a licensing agency would be the next place to check.
Good luck,