High voltage worker stories: Jordan Carroll

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Site Supervisor, Substation Construction

Prior roles: electrician
Location: Kamloops, British Columbia, canada

years in the trade: 22 years

@jorktank 
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Outsiders don't understand the dark sense of humour you get when constantly being so close to things that can kill you.

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Stories in the trade

This series hands the mic to the folks who keep the lights on—how they got in, what they’ve seen, and where the trade’s headed

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How did you first hear about the trade and how did you get into your first role? 

I first started with a kick in the ass from my parents. In Canada you have to go to trade school for most trades, so I just went into electrical when I was 18, total roll of the dice at trade school lol.

What’s one thing about this work that outsiders totally misunderstand?

Outsiders don't understand the dark sense of humour you get when constantly being so close to things that can kill you.
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Something I wish somebody told me on the first day on the job is don't be afraid to ask "why" more often.

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What’s your proudest moment on the job so far?

Proudest moment on the job so far is when my apprentices go to other jobs and I hear great feedback about them.

What’s the hardest part (physical/mental) of the job and how do you handle it?

Hardest part of my job is planning ahead and keeping cool under pressure (and in front of the guys) when I want to throw my hands up and walk away.

What’s the most high-pressure or intense situation you’ve had to handle?

High pressure situations are constant, total cortisol junkie here, but the "unplanned outages" top the list; not that I've had many.
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People who thrive in this line of work aren't afraid to do something they've never done before. People who don't thrive are obvious, and you can tell that they don't want to be there.

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What do you wish someone had told you when you first started on the job?

Something I wish somebody told me on the first day on the job is don't be afraid to ask "why" more often.

What kind of person thrives in this work? What kind of person doesn’t?

People who thrive in this line of work aren't afraid to do something they've never done before. People who don't thrive are obvious, and you can tell that they don't want to be there.

What advice would you give to someone who's just thinking about joining the trades?

Advice for people thinking about joining the trades is to get on a construction site as a labourer, you will see various trades on the job and say "I think I'd like to do that".
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Hardest part of my job is planning ahead and keeping cool under pressure (and in front of the guys) when I want to throw my hands up and walk away.

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Have you worked in both union and non-union environments? 

I have worked union and non-union. Definitely different vibes day to day, I love working union and seeing friends I haven't seen in years just show up. Non-union is worse in most aspects, but you will learn how to work hard.

What’s something that went wrong on the job but taught you something important?

Something that has gone wrong on the job that I learned from: Getting Quality paperwork signed off on and then the client finds something wrong post-project. Highly embarrassing and not the level of professionalism I go for. I had to go back to a project in -20 weather to re-torque bus bolts one time, something that I should've spotted months previous.

How do you handle stacking OT or traveling for the job while having a family?

Stacking OT and travel, technology helps a lot, facetime etc so I can see the family everyday, I find it harder to work in town, when I get home after 10-12 hours, it isn't easy to spend time with the family, I like my 2 weeks on, 1 week off type shifts.

What’s your career path look like (past, present, and future plans)?

Career path is, I started as a commercial electrician, then I joined IBEW 993, got dispatched to my first substation in 2006 and have done mostly utility work since. Started in supervision around 2011, then backed off to the tools, but the last few years I've been running brownfield construction jobs. In the future, I'm becoming more of a GC, lots of civil work involved and bigger and bigger jobs.

we’re opening the floor to the folks who do the work

⚡ Features of real workers in the trade 
⚡ Craft features 

⚡ Tips for the trade

Just real experiences, real lessons learned, and real advice from people who do this work every day.

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We're High Voltage Industries

High Voltage Industries started because the most dangerous and essential work in America is also the most invisible. You put your lives on the line every single day and people don't even know what you do. 

 

We're here to share your stories and honor the sacrifices you make so people can flip a switch every day. And we make gear for those who literally risk their lives to keep the world running.

This is your story

Working in conditions others won't face, taking risks others can’t even imagine, solving problems others can't understand, carrying responsibility others can't handle. The grid doesn't maintain itself.

 

We're telling that story.

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