Lab Activity: Job Market Research

Estimated Time: 30 minutes

Number of Team Members: one or more

Objectives:
• Find prospective cabling positions using a variety of resources.
• Organize potential positions into categories.
• Discover possible educational directions for future opportunities.

Overview:
In order to locate prospective job opportunities, the student must be familiar with
the different methods of locating cabling-related positions.
There are many different types of available cabling jobs from an entry-level
Cable Installation Technician to a Cabling Installation Project Manager. In
addition, there are a number of advancement positions such as cabling marketing
representatives, estimators, and design engineers to name a few. This lab gives
the student the skills to research available job positions, determine where their
experience and skill sets lie within the job market, and plan future opportunities
and goals around their education and interests.

Preparation:
To investigate Internet job boards, access to the Internet must first be gained
whether at school, home, or local library.

Tools and Resources:

• Internet job boards
• Local newspaper classified sections

Additional Materials:
• Telephone directory

URL:
http://www.uwsp.edu/career/InternetJobSearch.htm
http://www.uwsp.edu/career/JobSearchInfo.htm

Step 1 Find Potential Positions

Search through the job section of a newspaper by looking at categories such as
telecommunications, trades, technology development, and other related
categories. Additional resources that could be used to find cabling jobs are
temporary agencies that specialize in technical fields. A search engine can be
used to easily find such an agencies by using a search phrase such as “temporary
agency technical”. This phrase will return numerous results to choose from. Use
the Universal Resource Locator (URL) listed above to search Internet job boards

1 of 117 Lab Activity: Job Market Rearch Copyright  2004 Cisco Systems, Inc.
 for cabling positions. While searching, concentrate on keywords such as entry-
level, apprentice, trainee, and helper. Look for these keywords in combination
with job titles such as structured cabling, cable installer, and cabling technician.

Step 2 Take Notes

Read each job advertisement very carefully. Take note of any skill sets that are
desired by employers in the field including education, experience, and
certifications. Once experience has been gained in the field, further education
and certifications are goals toward which to work. These will help to advance a
career and find the best types of jobs that suit interests and future plans.

Step 3 Organize
Organize job openings into categories for easy reference using a word processing
or spreadsheet program of choice. For each entry, provide a description, job title,
skills required, contact phone number or address, and a detailed reference of the
source material. Source material can include the URL for the page on which it is
found, the name of the newspaper, date, job category, and page. Source material
can include job posting number or reference number.

Step 4 Occupational Planning

Choose two job openings.
What is the job title for the first opening? _______________________________
What is the job title for the second opening? _____________________________
What are the educational requirements or the certification requirements for the
first job?
_________________________________________________________________
What are the educational requirements or the certification requirements for the
second job?
_________________________________________________________________
What is most interesting about these two entries?
_________________________________________________________________
How do these jobs relate to future goals in the industry?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Based on these answers, list the steps needed to reach these goals, providing the
student is hired for one of these positions.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

2 of 117 Lab Activity: Job Market Rearch Copyright  2004 Cisco Systems, Inc.
 Lab Activity: Electrical Safety

Estimated Time: 10 minutes

Number of Team Members: Up to six

Objectives:
• Identify the parts of an AC outlet.
• Understand how current flows.
• Use a multimeter safely.

Overview:
This lab will explain the functions of each wire and the voltages present within
an AC outlet. The following figures depict the three most common AC outlets
found around the world. If your AC outlet does not match one of these, ask your
instructor to help with this lab.

AC outlets are typically connected to three wires: the ungrounded, the grounded,
and the grounding conductor.

3 of 117 Lab Activity: Electrical Safety Copyright  2004 Cisco Systems, Inc.
 The black or red wire is the ungrounded, or hot, conductor. This is the conductor
that feeds power to an appliance.
The white wire is the grounded, or neutral, conductor. It is the electricity path
back to ground, which completes the circuit.
The green, or bare copper, wire is the grounding conductor. It is an extra safety
wire that provides an additional path to ground which is normally connected to
an appliance housing.
Current normally flows between the ungrounded conductor, or hot, and the
grounded conductor, or neutral. Current flows through the grounding conductor
in the event of a fault.
A multimeter is an electrical testing tool capable of detecting voltage levels,
resistance levels, and open or closed circuits. It can measure both Alternating
Current (AC) and Direct Current (DC) voltages. Opens and shorts are shown by
the amount of resistance for each circuit type. Opens are very high resistance and
shorts are very low resistance. This resistance is measured in ohms.
Direct Current is a voltage at a certain level that stays at that level flowing in one
direction. A battery produces DC voltage. One battery terminal is positive and
one is negative. When a load such as the light bulb in a flashlight is connected
between the terminals, electricity flows through the filament in the bulb causing
it to glow.
Alternating Current is a voltage that rapidly changes between positive and
negative. An example of AC is the common wall outlet. In most countries, this
outlet provides either 220-240V AC or 120V. Some appliances in the United
States and Canada like ovens or clothes dryers need a higher voltage of 220V.
Special AC outlets are provided to accommodate these appliances in these areas.
The majority of the outlets used throughout the world (more than 75%) use 220-
240V AC in all of the outlets.
Warning: All electrical outlets and wires should be treated as if they contain
electrical current, whether they have been turned off or not.

Preparation:
Find a working outlet in the lab room.

Tools and Resources:

• Multimeter

Additional Materials:
• Outlet drawings. If none of the drawings included with this lab match the
outlet in the classroom, the instructor can create a drawing on the board
and label it accordingly.
• Instructions provided with the multimeter

URLs:
http://www.fluke.com
http://www.multimeterwarehouse.com/usingamultimeter.htm

4 of 117 Lab Activity: Electrical Safety Copyright  2004 Cisco Systems, Inc.
 Step 1 Using a Multimeter

Note: There are many different types of multimeters available. The images
shown may be different and some functions may not be available. Ask the
instructor to explain the symbols and use of the multimeter being used in this lab.
It is very important to set the meter to the correct setting for the application.
Some meters can be damaged if they are not set correctly. Ask the instructor for
help to ensure no damage is being done to the multimeter.

Warning: Do not touch the bare metal parts of the probe.

• HOLD – This button is pressed to freeze the present reading on the

display.
• MIN MAX – This button stores minimum, maximum, and average input
values.
• RANGE – This button exits auto ranging and locks on the present range.
• Hz – This button is pressed to measure the frequency of a voltage or
current signal.
Set the meter to AC Volts. Insert the red probe into the ungrounded conductor
slot or hole, which is hot. Insert the black probe into the grounded conductor slot
or hole, which is neutral.
What is the reading on the meter?
_____________________________________________________________

5 of 117 Lab Activity: Electrical Safety Copyright  2004 Cisco Systems, Inc.
 Step 2 Turn the Probes Around
Remove the probes from the outlet. Insert the red probe in the grounded
conductor slot or hole and the black probe in the ungrounded conductor slot or
hole. What is the reading on the meter?
_____________________________________________________________
Is there a difference in the readings?
________________________________________________________________
If there is a difference, what could account for it?
________________________________________________________________

Step 3 Checking for Ground

If a grounding slot or hole is not available in the area, skip the first two
questions.
Leave the black probe in the ungrounded conductor slot or hole then remove the
red probe and insert it into the grounding conductor slot or hole in the outlet.
This is the safety ground.
What is the reading on the meter?
________________________________________________________________
Replace the red lead into the grounded conductor slot or hole. Remove the black
lead and insert it into the grounding slot or hole.
What is the reading on the meter?
________________________________________________________________
If a person were to touch the ungrounded conductor and a grounded part of the
building, would that person receive an electrical shock?
________________________________________________________________
If a person were to touch the grounded conductor and a grounded portion of the
building, would that person receive an electrical shock?
________________________________________________________________

6 of 117 Lab Activity: Electrical Safety Copyright  2004 Cisco Systems, Inc.
 Lab Activity: Ladder Safety

Estimated Time: 20 minutes

Number of Team Members: Up to five

Objectives:
• Properly handle ladders
• Identify the safe working height
• Identify the safe working load
• Find ladder safety resources

Overview:
Two stepladders are deployed in the lab. Working in small teams, examine one
of the stepladders and answer questions from the lab sheet regarding its
construction and safe use.

Preparation:
Place the stepladders in a clear area.

Tools and Resources:

• Tape measure
• Stepladders

URL:
http://www.ladders-online.com/acatalog/ladder_safety.html

Additional Materials:
Regional-specific safety literature as required, instructor’s choice.

Step 1 Measuring the Ladder

In an open area, unfold a stepladder and lock the sidebars into place. Take note
of the positions of all labels. Measure the height of this ladder.
How tall is this ladder? Read the insignia and labels.
_______________
Using a tape measure, measure the height of the top platform perpendicular to the
ground. What is the measurement?
_______________

7 of 117 Lab Activity: Ladder Safety Copyright  2004, Cisco Systems, Inc.
 Why are these two measurements different?
_____________________________________________________________
How much weight can the ladder hold?
_____________________

Step 2 Ladder Construction

Of what material is this ladder made? ______________________________
What are some of the advantages or disadvantages of this construction?
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Is this ladder likely to conduct electricity? _________
If the ladder is likely to conduct electricity, name at least two places where it
should not be placed.
_________________________________________________________________

Step 3 Ladder Use

Inspect one of the stepladders, and read the attached markings.
Which of the rungs is the highest one that workers can safely stand on?
________________________________________________________
What makes this an easy or hard decision to make?
________________________________________________________
What must be extended and locked before it is safe to climb this ladder?
________________________________________________________
Where can up-to-date, accurate information about ladder safety be found?
__________________________________________________________
What keeps this ladder from moving?
__________________________________________________________
If the ground beneath the ladder is uneven, should a brick be placed under one
leg of the ladder, or should the ladder be moved until stable footing can be
found?
__________________________________________________________
What can happen if the ladder steps are used as shelves to hold tools and other
things?
__________________________________________________________

8 of 117 Lab Activity: Ladder Safety Copyright  2004, Cisco Systems, Inc.
 What can happen if a student tries to move a ladder a few feet to one side or the
other by jumping while on it instead of dismounting and moving it?
__________________________________________________________
How many people can be on a ladder at the same time?
________________
What insignias or markers exist on the ladder to let a person know that the ladder
was constructed to comply with any standards or electrical codes?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________

9 of 117 Lab Activity: Ladder Safety Copyright  2004, Cisco Systems, Inc.
 Lab Activity: Fire Safety
Estimated Time: 5 minutes
Number of Team Members: Up to four

Objectives:
• Identify the different types of fires.
• Learn how to use a fire extinguisher.
• Determine if a fire extinguisher is charged.

Overview:

Trash, liquid, and electrical fires may require a different suppressant to

extinguish them. Not all fire extinguishers can extinguish all types of fires.
In order for a fire extinguisher to properly extinguish a fire, it must be fully
charged with fire suppressant.
Examining a fire extinguisher tells the installer what type of fire it can extinguish
and if the fire extinguisher is fully charged. The images here represent some of
the major color and letter codes used on fire extinguishers around the globe. If
the one in the classroom does not correspond with these color or letter codes, ask
your instructor to explain any local codes used in the area.

10 of 117 Lab Activity: Fire Safety Copyright  2004, Cisco Systems, Inc.
 Tools and Resources:
• Fire extinguisher

URL:
http://www.hanford.gov/fire/safety/extingrs.htm

Safety:
Important: Do not pull the pin on the fire extinguisher during this lab
exercise.

Step 1
A good acronym to remember is:
P A S S – Pull, Aim, Squeeze, and Sweep
Pull the pin that keeps the handle from being accidentally pressed.
Aim the nozzle toward the base of the fire.
Squeeze the handle to discharge the extinguisher. Releasing the handle will stop
the discharge.
Sweep the nozzle back and forth at the base of the fire.

Step 2
Examine the fire extinguisher and answer the following questions:
For what types of fires is the extinguisher approved?
_________________________________________________________________
What is a type A fire?
_________________________________________________________________
What is a type B fire?
_________________________________________________________________
What is a type C fire?
_________________________________________________________________
Is the extinguisher fully charged?
_________________________________________________________________
At what pressure is it charged?
_________________________________________________________________
Fire extinguisher size is rated in pounds. What size extinguisher is being
examined?
_________________________________________________________________
There is a small plastic ring securing the pin called the tamper ring. What is its
purpose?
_________________________________________________________________

11 of 117 Lab Activity: Fire Safety Copyright  2004, Cisco Systems, Inc.