Why should you compete in WireOff?

All students have the opportunity to compete in WireOff at the end of each school year. This year, WireOff will be held towards the beginning of May. On Friday evening, competitors take a 100-question exam, and on Saturday, competitors take part in conduit bending, a timed productivity challenge, drawing a line diagram, and finally, a project build. Competitors are grouped by their experience levels, and there is a 1st year, 2nd year, 3rd year, and 4th year winner. The 4th year winner goes on to compete in the IEC National Apprentice of the Year (AoY) Competition with top performers from other IEC Chapters. The IEC National AoY Competition is held in a different city across the U.S. each year, and has been called "the opportunity of a lifetime" by IEC Southern Colorado's 2014 competitor, Collins Howard. But why should students who are in their 1st, 2nd, or 3rd year of school compete in the WireOff? We asked former WireOff participants and WireOff volunteers what their answer to that question is.

Justin Robinson competed in WireOff during all four years of school, and won every year. After winning the WireOff Competition as a 4th year student, he competed at the IEC National AoY event in 2020. He said "Who's even got time for the WireOff, right?" Mark Roche, a 1st year instructor at IEC says "At the end of the day, you get a lot of free stuff, probably more than you would working a Saturday." Justin goes on to say "All you've really gotta do is show up, do your job. If you're good, maybe you'll get some tools, maybe Kathy will give you an oversized check onstage at the graduation. But first and foremost, just sign up. Have fun."

Justin Robinson noticed during WireOff that "you look around and realize that it's all about the students. I don't think I've had a group of people go that far out of their way just to provide an experience like that."

Alex Mateos, a 2nd year instructor at IEC, competed in WireOff during two years of his time as a student. He says "Both times were an absolute blast... There's something about seeing other guys from other companies with other training methods, and different Journeymen, different experiences, and seeing how they work. Really comparing yourself to them crystallizes exactly how good you are. It's by comparison that you know that either your cockiness is justified or if your ego is overinflated."

Mark, who competed in WireOff during all four years as a student, "was super excited that it was even offered." He says "You learn something new - more times than not, you're doing something that you haven't even gotten to do" in the field. "I know in second year when we were doing the transformer hookups, that was very fun and very interesting, and I learned that day how to do it."

Tony Gutierrez, a WireOff Volunteer, says the best part of WireOff is "the discomfort, the frustration, because when you're experiencing discomfort and frustration, you're growing. Everyone that I've talked to that has participated in it... They've learned so much from mistakes that they made. They are a better electrician when it's over than when they began."

Frank Grindinger, a third year instructor at IEC says "It's a great opportunity to showcase your skills: what you've learned at the school, and to show everyone what you're capable of electrically. So go for it. Do it. It's worth it. And good luck."

Collins, who competed in the 2014 IEC National AoY Competition, says "It's something that I can take with me the rest of my career. I have that on my resume... Don't let it be like one of those things that 'I wonder what would have happened if I had competed,' seize the opportunity of a lifetime while the opportunity is there."

"Every now and then, life gives you an opportunity to level up. WireOff is one of those opportunities. Step out of your comfort zone and put your skills to the test. Experience growth in yourself, your skills, and your confidence." You don't have to be the best electrician in any one portion of the competition. "Show up and do your best in each category, that's usually the person that wins." -Tony Gutierrez