After some advice from any sparkys on here

[tab]

Evening all

Just after a bit of info/advice from you all

I'm 24 and wanting to change my career and become an electrician. I've seen these "train for trades" or similiar websites that claim to make you fully qualified within 3 months, now i dont want to knock it because i've not tried it, but i really cant see them being any good and doubt many employers will be too impressed by someone saying yeh i'm fully qualified but 3 months ago i was doing nothing related to this at all.

I've looked at my local college and they have evening courses which i think i am going to enroll on, c&g 2394, 2395 and 2382-12. My theory that is that if i complete these it will hopefully get me a foot in the door and become an electricians mate or something like that. They also run a level 3 diploma in electrotechnical technology (eal 1605) course which they claim will go towards making you fully qualified but thats not until september takes a year to complete but i'd like to make a start before then.

Any of you got any advice for me, where to start, what to ask etc. i'm grateful to have my job and i realise that its a tough industry at the moment and my age probably is not going to help but i want to do this now rather than another 5 years when i'm even older.

Any advice or information apprieciated

Tom

 

[wheresmejumper]

is getting an apprenticeship straight away an option?

 

[brightspark]

its a dificult one.ive trained a few lads who had been on courses and gave them the practical experience they needed to get permanent employment .the trouble is i could only employed them 3 days a week and payed them £120 . any more than that and id have to put them on the books and its not worth it i sometimes payed more in cash for extra days but cant claim that back .firms are only interested in making money so its a dificult one. one of the lads i had was getting 80 quid a day direct of me punters. and managed to get a job with powergen and 6 month training as a high voltage fitter

 

[rtbcomp]

........... I've seen these "train for trades" or similiar websites that claim to make you fully qualified within 3 months, now i dont want to knock it because i've not tried it, but i really cant see them being any good and doubt many employers will be too impressed by someone saying yeh i'm fully qualified but 3 months ago i was doing nothing related to this at all.

...........

Tom

You're right to be sceptical - this subject has been brought up a few times on this forum.

 

[madkayaker]

Three months training will only give you the very basic information and the bear min to apply to a commentary firm to become a part P installer. If that's the way you want to go then great but if you want to be employed as a sparky or work outside of houses then its a waste of time.


Problem with finding an apprentership is all the government funding it for school leavers so the college will be reluctant to offer you a place as they get less dosh but if you find an apprentership the college can't turn you away if you meet entry requirements (eu citizen, breathing not got a line of coke up your nose at time of interview etc).

The night classes you mentioned are not going to men anything with out the technical information and experience at the moment so weight to do those after you have some training (2382-10 can be taken without but its the regs so men's nothing on its own!)

 

[normspanners]

I found out the other day that if someone wants to learn, by going and HELPING ie not been paid, the firm he helps is breaking the law they are suppost to have to pay them !!!
Once again if a young lad wants to learn because he is interested in a particular job he is shot in the foot by this ridiculous system we have. To me that is an ideal way of learning and getting your foot in the door, if a job does become available in that company you are the obvious choice !!!
Message? No dont go and learn, stay in safety in your bedroom and 'play'.

 

[madkayaker]

It's the result of a education system that's only interested in teaching the soft easy to learn trades like how to flip burgers and ask would you like fries with that

 

[tab]

I rang my college this morning and they were really helpful, the short courses i mentioned are designed for the 3rd year of study, they're sending me the forms out to sign up for the course in september so unless i find someone willing to take me on as a mate with no experience i guess its wait until then. I'm going to start ringing round a few local companies see if i can get in anywhere, even if its just part time to begin with its still a foot in the door

 

[Epicyclic]

Long shot? Might be worth trying bigger companies that have their own maintenance department. They might let you start for a work experience type period.
Good luck.

 

[stuvy]

I'm going to start ringing round a few local companies see if i can get in anywhere, even if its just part time to begin with its still a foot in the door

Tab, thats the best thing you can do right there

As mentioned above about being part P registered, i used to drink with a lad that runs his own business subbing out to a massive electrical company. He used to do there CCTV and outside floodlight jobs and made a comfortable living doing it. Saying that he may have had an extra ticket to do these but im not 100% sure

Good luck with it either way

 

[brightspark]

I rang my college this morning and they were really helpful, the short courses i mentioned are designed for the 3rd year of study, they're sending me the forms out to sign up for the course in september so unless i find someone willing to take me on as a mate with no experience i guess its wait until then. I'm going to start ringing round a few local companies see if i can get in anywhere, even if its just part time to begin with its still a foot in the door

are u employed full time at the moment ? can u spare days during the week with minimum pay . if u can it would be worth going on the electricians site and asking there .the lad i had worked a few days a week for me and then got some part time work of a solar pannel installer. he also did the pat testing course and managed to get work doing that and that was from the electricians forum . try and get the experience 1st even if working for next to nothing and things will work out .

 

[tab]

I didnt think about maintainence departments of bigger companies so i'll give that some thought.

I am employed full time at the moment and with my current situation theres not really any way that i can get time off (one of my reasons for wanting to change). I'm lucky to not really have any financial commitments at the moment apart from usual car bits, fuel, insurance, tax etc so working for next to nothing for a while i would be happy to do if it benefits me in the long run.

I did look at doing a pat testing course as a little something on the side while i am still learning, hopefully bring in a bit more cash while i'd be working on apprentice wages.

 

[brightspark]

I didnt think about maintainence departments of bigger companies so i'll give that some thought.

I am employed full time at the moment and with my current situation theres not really any way that i can get time off (one of my reasons for wanting to change). I'm lucky to not really have any financial commitments at the moment apart from usual car bits, fuel, insurance, tax etc so working for next to nothing for a while i would be happy to do if it benefits me in the long run.

I did look at doing a pat testing course as a little something on the side while i am still learning, hopefully bring in a bit more cash while i'd be working on apprentice wages.

dont bother with the pat testing its worthless . everyman and his dog is doing it. ive just ditched doing it at a school i do a lot of work at. some idiot is going to do it for 50p an item theres 1600 items to test

 

[madkayaker]

also the HSE have issued new advice about condition and risk based PAT (the way decent firms where doing it) so there will be a long period of company thinking they don't need it doing any more and loads of "rogue" testers realising they need to charge peanuts as there business model of every thing every year has been shot down by the HSE

 

[Robotstar5]

Have a look at Electricians Forum they have a section for those wanting to learn.

Those doing the short course are known as 5 week wonders and not classed as electricians.

If you read through the threads you will see there is not a lot of work for electricians and there always people offering to work for free to get experience

 

[tab]

Thanks for the link, have been having a look through and found a few bits of useful information.

Another question for those that have said they have taken people on, did you advertise or did they get in touch with you? Any hints tips on what to say? Like what made you think "yes i want to give this guy a try", what made them stand out from the crowd?

Just trying to prepare myself with different scenarios that could happen to give myself the best chance.

 

[brightspark]

Thanks for the link, have been having a look through and found a few bits of useful information.

Another question for those that have said they have taken people on, did you advertise or did they get in touch with you? Any hints tips on what to say? Like what made you think "yes i want to give this guy a try", what made them stand out from the crowd?

Just trying to prepare myself with different scenarios that could happen to give myself the best chance.

word of mouth. ive got someone starting for me in a few weeks time. maybee a few days a week. my mate does kitchen and bathroom fitting. he might take him on a couple of days as well general labour .the lads pleasant and keen so we will see how it goes . we arent comitted to employ him so it suits us both and he seems happy with it