We are kicking off the month of March with our latest "Career Connector," highlighting qualified candidates for employers in the solar industry. Emanuel Nelson successfully completed GRID Mid-Atlantic’s Solar Works DC training program and is ready to join the solar and construction workforce. We interviewed Emanuel to see what he had to say about the Solar Works DC Training program and his plans for the future. Scroll down to read all about it.
EMANUEL NELSON
What was your favorite part about the training you did with GRID?
I enjoyed doing the roof work. I felt comfortable working with my hands and enjoyed using power tools. I learned a lot and would like to follow through with it by becoming a solar installer.
What are your plans for the future and have they changed since GRID’s training program?
One day I want to start my own business. That’s what I’m studying and plan on doing.
What is your proudest moment as a trainee?
Putting solar on people’s homes. We were working on one house and it was very difficult to put the AC/DC connector on the wall because there was mud under where we were trying to place it. The box was very big, so it was hard to mount it up and make sure it was level and even because the mud was very slippery. We took our time — measured twice, drilled once.
What are your strengths as a worker?
Communication, taking my time to do the job right and asking for help if I need it.
What else do you want an employer to know about you?
I’m really interested in being a solar installer. I enjoy helping people, working with my hands, and believe clean energy is a great solution.
What was your favorite part about the training you did with GRID?
The experience, installation, and people. Looking back, I’ve always known that this was something I wanted to pursue. It was a learning experience and I had fun.
What does your dream job look like?
My next move will be to get the NABCEP examination out of my way and keep going. One of my biggest goals is to be a project manager.
What is your proudest moment as a trainee?
Going through the whole program, completing it, receiving a certificate from it. Some of the training that I received like the “CPR, First Aid, AED Certification” part are skills that I can use to save someone’s life one day.
What are your strengths as a worker?
I’m very good with people. I motivate others and I bring the best out of them. I’m a carpenter. In solar, I know how to do the layouts. I’m good at setting rails, pulling wires, dealing with rafters, basically everything. Wiring and junction box, bending conduit. I also have experience in some of this stuff in working in the construction field.
What else do you want an employer to know about you?
I’m a people person and I like to get tasks done. I like to learn new stuff and I’m always open to learning from others and have leadership abilities. I was a foreman-in-training at a construction site and I had four to five workers I was in charge of on a daily basis—handing out tasks, seeing the tasks completed, handling paperwork, calculating the hours, making sure all daily activities and work assigned to our crew was done for the day and the week.
Learn more about hiring our talented trainees by emailing solarworksdc@gridalternatives.org or visiting www.gridalternatives.org/get-training/hire-trainees.