For individuals seeking employment, job prospects may appear slim, especially if you live on the Bishop Paiute Reservation in Bishop, California. Joseph Lent felt the pressure of finding stable employment in the highly competitive construction field, working on short-term projects such as pouring concrete. Despite searching non-stop for steady work, Joseph continually heard the same comments from prospective employers. \u201cWhen I applied for jobs, they would tell me I lacked the experience and certifications to get the job,\u201d Lent said.<\/p>\n
Joseph never really considered a solar installation career. However, through the Reservation\u2019s TERO (Tribal Employment Rights Ordinance) office, Joseph learned about GRID Alternatives. \u201cI was very unsure about GRID at first. I watched their video, which sparked my interest, but I didn\u2019t know if there was much demand for solar.\u201d Joseph continued, \u201cI was really looking for a career and after speaking with GRID\u2019s workforce development team, I recognized the true potential of installing solar systems.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the time, GRID\u2019s Inland Empire office was recruiting volunteers to install solar systems on Tribal land and Lent\u2019s persistence paid off. \u201cI really pushed to get on a volunteer team,\u201d Joseph declared. \u201cGRID was installing a good number of panels and I could see how solar could open my job opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n
The job training process for Lent was informal yet instructive throughout the five installations he completed. \u201cGRID\u2019s construction team had all the answers,\u201d Joseph said. \u201cI was impressed with their commitment to safety. Before volunteering I took safety for granted and never really appreciated the importance of being safe, especially around electricity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Joseph\u2019s hard work and commitment to learning everything he could from GRID\u2019s construction team eventually paid off. He landed a job with a local solar contractor and is ecstatic with his career choice. \u201cSolar kind of chose me,\u201d Joseph affirmed. \u201cNow I have no problem explaining solar systems to anyone who asks. People are really interested, especially when I start talking about money they could save on electric bills.\u201d<\/p>\n
Looking back on the decisions he made prior to being employed as a solar installer, Joseph has a few words of advice for those who want to pursue a career in solar. \u201cGRID Alternatives is an excellent resource for training. \u201cIf I could change one thing, I would have kept in closer contact with GRID and looked for more out-of-town experience,\u201d he said. \u201cEven now I would strongly consider doing more volunteer work for GRID because there is always room to learn more.\u201d<\/p>\n