Participants of the IEK Electricians Championship 2024 Roman Deribin and Alexey Polomoshnov head the Unions of Electricians, each in their region. Roman – in St. Petersburg, Alexey – in Yekaterinburg. At our request, they told what these organizations are and for what purposes they were created, and also shared their experience in building a successful career.
"The Union of Electricians is not a trade union in the classical sense of the word, rather, a community of interests," says Roman Deribin. "We see our task as uniting professionals in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region. Through the Union, information about new technologies and materials, thematic exhibitions and master classes can be easily and quickly conveyed to colleagues."
Electricians of St. Petersburg created a group on social networks and messengers, which any electrician can join. Here, every day – communication, cooperation and exchange of experience.
Roman, as the group administrator and Union curator, gathers information about what is happening in the industry in the region: about novelties in electrical engineering, thematic events, dealer discounts. Through him, you can find orders, rent, buy or sell tools and surplus materials, get practical advice, find partners for joint work. Also, using a special table filled out by the electricians themselves, Roman monitors pricing for their services in the region and sees minimum, average and maximum prices.
Alexey Polomoshnov calls the Union of Electricians an ecosystem: getting into it, a specialist of any level of training receives support and help for development.
"The Union of Electricians is a non-commercial association of people with common tasks and interests. In 2025, it will be six years since its creation, in the future, we plan to register it as a non-commercial organization. Finding orders, buying, selling and renting tools, practical advice – all this can be obtained in the Union," he says. "Over the past years, much has changed: it's interesting to watch our people grow. For example, guys were engaged in socket relocations, and now they have large companies."
Over the existence of the Union, Alexey Polomoshnov and colleagues managed to unite a strong community of like-minded people. Now it unites 360 specialists who not only discuss work issues but also gladly organize corporate meetings and participate together in various events.
Roman and Alexey urge electricians not yet connected to the Unions to join them. Relying on their own experience, they believe it is a good aid in work, especially for those starting their professional path.
For example, Roman Deribin recalls how he worked practically at a loss for the first few years – online platforms for finding orders were not yet so developed, he literally had to glue advertisements on the street. Now clients can be found, among other ways, with the help of colleagues from the Union.
By the way, Roman now has his own firm, and he started as a low-voltage systems installer. He worked for some time in an electrical installation company, gained experience and went into "free swimming."
"It's simple here: if you want stability and not burden your head, go for hire – they'll provide orders, tools, you don't need to do related work, but the salary is mediocre," reasons Roman Deribin. "If you work for yourself – there are more difficulties: electrical part project, routing, installation plan, marking, supply, estimate, contract... But the income in the end will be higher!"
However, Roman warns: if you decide to work "for yourself," be prepared that at first, until a client base and reputation as a competent electrician are built up, it will be hard.
Alexey Polomoshnov, before taking up electrical installation, worked as a sales department manager, although he had an electrical engineering education. But the money wasn't enough, Alexey began to look for a way to increase income. He remembered his electrician diploma.
"I took a few orders and ended up earning more in a week than in a month at my main job," says Alexey.
Now Alexey also has his own firm. Before returning to the profession, he prepared thoroughly, and now recommends beginners first carefully study the regulatory documents on electrical installation. Safety – your own and the customers' – is above all. And in a team, a young employee who knows the legal framework will be treated differently than a completely "green" newcomer.
Roman Deribin urges colleagues to get more involved in the work of the Electricians Unions. Today you shared experience and useful information, helped someone – tomorrow you were given advice or "thrown" an order. Through the Unions, you can also learn about what thematic events are taking place in a particular region. For example, about the IEK Electricians Championship.
"Electrical engineering companies, such as IEK GROUP, have a significant influence on the formation of the professional community," says Alexey Polomoshnov. "It turns out to be a good symbiosis: we help manufacturers, give feedback on equipment, materials, and companies hold competitions, events where we get to know each other, exchange experience and thus become stronger. Because chatting in a chat is one thing, but joint participation in events makes our Unions stronger."