• Posted: April 27, 2026
• Day in the life of an electrician, Electrical apprenticeship training in Chicago, Electrician training programs in Chicago, Skilled electrical workforce in Chicago

 

In honor of National Apprenticeship Week, episode 22 of The Power of Better offers a closer look at the daily discipline and training that shape the next generation of electricians. It follows second-year apprentice LeShawn Sanders through a full day of preparation and hands-on learning.

The Day Begins Before Dawn

By the time Sanders arrives at the IBEW-NECA Technical Institute (IN-Tech) in Alsip, the day is already underway. Physical training begins at 7 a.m., not as a warm-up, but as a direct reflection of the demands electricians face in the field.

“It’s important to get that physical training in the morning, because that’s sincerely what the job consists of. As an electrician, it’s physical on your body,” said Sanders. “You’re doing hard manual labor, right? So having PT in the morning simulates, while you’re in school, that physicality of the job.”

After that, the day moves into motor control—one of the core skills electricians rely on in the field.

“Motor control is an essential part of our electrical work. So we do a lot of piping. And also with that piping, you have to put a wire in that pipe,” said Sanders. “Motor control is really just a fundamental skill on wiring up transformers, wiring up disconnects, just giving power to whatever circuit it is.”

Building on What Came Before

Training at the Institute builds year over year, with each stage adding new layers of complexity.

“The difference between first and second year is the amount of content that you’re receiving,” said Sanders. “Everything that you learn in the first year is just compacted in the second year, on top of new things that you have to learn.”

By midday, the focus shifts to code class, where precision and safety are reinforced through every detail of the work.

“My coding class aims to give us a solid foundation to know the inner workings of electrical work, and also to do it safely and efficiently,” said Sanders. “Code class gives us the foundation of every single thing regarding the installation and wiring of electrical work. It’s not only doing it right, but doing it safely.”

This level of technical understanding ensures electricians are prepared to meet the demands of complex systems while maintaining safety and accuracy on every project.

A Decision That Made Too Much Sense

Sanders was 16 years old when someone first explained what a union career could look like.

“You make a living wage. You’re part of an international brotherhood of electrical workers,” said Sanders. “And not only that, you have a skill that you can take with you anywhere in the world. You can’t beat it. It just made too much sense in my opinion. So it was a no-brainer when I decided to do this full-time.”

Over time, the weight of that decision became clearer.

“I knew that every single worry my mother had about my success, every time she worked late to pay the rent, it was worth it because I found myself in a place where I belong, and I’m becoming everything I was meant to be,” said Sanders.

The Day Doesn’t End at 3:30

When classes let out, Sanders heads to the library.

“What I love about coming to the library is the sense of peace that it gives me,” said Sanders. “ I’m able to really focus and hone in on whatever it is I’m trying to accomplish. I believe your environment is imperative to your success.”

He uses that time intentionally.

“I study circuitry. I study pipe bending. I study every single aspect of our field because I just want to be the absolute best electrician I can be,” said Sanders.

A Village, and a Purpose

After the library, it’s the gym. Then dinner. Then home.

“It’s important for me to go to the gym on a regular basis, because I believe that my body is a temple. I always want to make sure that I’m in tip-top condition to accomplish whatever task lies ahead for me,” said Sanders.

And through it all, family remains central.

“My family gives me all the support in the world,” said Sanders. “They mean the world to me. For my family to be able to constantly point to me mentally and tell me that I’m doing such a great job — that means all the difference, because it not only takes a village to raise a child, but it takes a village to raise a purpose.”

What This Means for Your Next Project

The quality of any project depends on the quality of the workforce behind it. Powering Chicago member electrical contractors in Chicago and the IBEW Local 134 electricians they employ are supported by a training system that prioritizes safety, technical depth, and continuous development. This training system begins with the apprenticeship programs at IN-Tech and continues through ongoing education and advanced training opportunities.

This approach produces electricians who understand both the theory and application behind complex systems, delivering stronger execution, greater reliability, and better long-term outcomes.

Give It a Go

Watch episode 22  of The Power of Better here, and check out Powering Chicago’s Industry Programs webpage to learn more about the apprenticeship program.

For those considering the trade, Sanders offers this:

“Sign up, give it a try, and see what I saw. Feel what I felt. The amount of security that you have in your future. The amount of security that you have in your life now. So to anyone who’s looking to sign up, anyone who’s looking to create something better for themselves, create something better for their lineage — come. Stand up. Come give it a go. There’s more than enough room for you.”

Subscribe to Powering Chicago’s YouTube channel so you don’t miss future episodes of The Power of Better. Are you looking to find a qualified electrical contractor who employs IBEW Local 134 electricians like Sanders for your next project? Use Powering Chicago’s Find a Contractor Tool as your go-to resource to find the right fit.