From Electrical Apprentice to Electrical Salesman

Dec 17, 2018

By Brandon Somchanh

I can still remember August 5, 2014 like it was yesterday. This date marks my first day as a full-time employee in the electrical distribution industry, and even though I didn’t know at the time, it would mark the first day of my growing professional career.

I graduated high school earlier that year in hopes of becoming an electrical apprentice that summer. After making many calls, sending multiple emails and leaving dozens of voicemails to electrical contractors in the area, I could not find an electrical contractor who would take me on as an apprentice.

Determined to get a job as an electrical apprentice, I decided to apply tor an electrical distributor in the area. One question in the interview process really stands out to me now. The district manager asked me, “You were an electrical apprentice before, how do we know you won’t leave us in a few months to become an apprentice?” at the time I answered “It’s not so much that I want to become an electrician, I am interested in the electrical industry as a whole.” During the interview I had answered the question knowing that my response was what he wanted to hear but was not completely honest. Looking back now, it’s completely accurate.

It has now been four years since my first day in the industry and I have gained an abundance of knowledge and information, met thousands of people, and learned how to be a professional. Earlier this year I took the biggest leap of my professional career to expand on the knowledge I have gained thus far, to connect with even more people than I ever have, and to put my professionalism to work. I took on the role of account manager with a large, reputable and rapidly growing electrical distributor, City Electric Supply.

Taking this on is one of the best things that has happened to me. I’ve had to grow as a person and learn how to step out of my comfort zone in order to get in front of the right people and prove to them that building a professional relationship with myself and City Electric Supply can only be beneficial to their business and product. To be beneficial to our customers, I recognize we have to be professional, accurate, on time and most importantly customer oriented. 

If you have been in this industry you know that it is almost impossible to be accurate and on time in every instance, but we can always be customer oriented. When a problem arises, there is always a solution; when you feel you have exhausted all potential solutions is when you must go outside the box and really find a solution. Once you find it, you really feel the sense of accomplishment and contribution your team and organization. I love this feeling and whenever I get a chance to prove to my customers that I am willing to step outside the box, I jump on the opportunity.

What if during the summer of 2014 one of the contractors had called me back to take me on as an apprentice? Would I have gained the abundance on knowledge I gained through the supply industry? Would I be so interested in the future of automation, lighting and technology? Would I have connected with the thousands of people I have connected with? Would I consider myself professional? Would I ever have to step out of my comfort zone that has helped grow as a person outside of work? But most importantly, would I have the same passion, energy and sense of accomplishment I currently have every morning when I drive to work and every night when I drive back home. There is only one way to find out and that won’t happen until I achieve all the goals I have set in place for myself in my career.

Brandon Somchanh is Sales Representative (Account Manager) for City Electric Supply; Brandon.Somchanh@cityelectricsupply.com; 905-955-0748.