Past it at 42.

bf03yvd · Mar 29, 2015

I've been re-traing as a sparkie for 12 months, and i'm 42. Would that be considered as being, "past it" to re-train ?

ruston · Mar 29, 2015

bf03yvd said:
I've been re-traing as a sparkie for 12 months, and i'm 42. Would that be considered as being, "past it" to re-train ?

Depends on your health and who you know to help you on your way, to be honest health can fail in any job , so why would you be "past it" ?

Paul.M · Mar 29, 2015

bf03yvd said:
I've been re-traing as a sparkie for 12 months, and i'm 42. Would that be considered as being, "past it" to re-train ?

NO, go for it.

telectrix · Mar 29, 2015

and your new avatar needs the text changing to CODFather.

rapparee · Mar 29, 2015

Well i know a fitter who started serving his time at 40 and was qualified at 44 although he wasn't kept on at our factory he got a job at a neighbouring factory. I also know a toolmaker who went to canada and retrained as a what they call a millwright. But i remember when i was 22 and looking around building sites for an apprenticeship i was told i was too old and luckily got my apprenticeship in a factory where my extra years were viewed as maturity.

So it all really depends on who you retrain with. If you go to a company that expects to pay its apprentices £60 a week and clip plastic conduit to wall chases all day everyday then yes you may be passed it. If you find a company willing to train mature workers who are more dedicated than an average 16 year old maybe your not.

GMES · Mar 29, 2015

telectrix said:
and your new avatar needs the text changing to CODFather.

What about that Tel

ruston · Mar 29, 2015

rapparee said:
Well i know a fitter who started serving his time at 40 and was qualified at 44 although he wasn't kept on at our factory he got a job at a neighbouring factory. I also know a toolmaker who went to canada and retrained as a what they call a millwright. But i remember when i was 22 and looking around building sites for an apprenticeship i was told i was too old and luckily got my apprenticeship in a factory where my extra years were viewed as maturity.

So it all really depends on who you retrain with. If you go to a company that expects to pay its apprentices £60 a week and clip plastic conduit to wall chases all day everyday then yes you may be passed it. If you find a company willing to train mature workers who are more dedicated than an average 16 year old maybe your not.

It's mainly the logistics, as you say it's the pay that you ca live on ,and the help you can expect to get your work authenticated for your NVQ, and help you get into the trade.

if you are just expecting to go straight in to good paying work; and there is not of it around, you may be disappointed.

Billythekid · Mar 29, 2015

I'd like to think that most employers have the presence of mind to understand the advantages and disadvantages of individual workers. Some 50-60yr olds are cantankerous morons, some 18-30yr olds are arrogant morons, some 16yr olds are morons, some 16yr olds restore your faith in humanity - luck of the draw really. I've worked with "jurassic sparks", and "nippers", both have their pros and cons - as do I. Our last "Jurassic spark" was an absolute gem, still worked with the "lads" until the day he retired.

Hope this helps

Billy

sparkee · Mar 29, 2015

bf03yvd said:
I've been re-traing as a sparkie for 12 months, and i'm 42. Would that be considered as being, "past it" to re-train ?

I have a guy working for me who is 44. He started with me nearly 2 years ago helping me out while he went to college 2 evenings a week. He has turned out to be a real assett and quite often takes away some of the day to day pressures.
We are both the same age so can generally moan about our aches and pains together.

Adam W · Mar 29, 2015

It's up to you if you're 'too old'.
I've worked with 'retrainees' who you wouldn't know hadn't been in the game their whole lives, and I've worked with 'retrainees' who spend the whole day telling you how much more highly skilled and highly paid their previous job was and how they were so much better than second fixing sockets and switches, which was a shame because that's what they were there for, and they weren't much good at it.

The latter type tended to have previously been electrical engineers or IT workers looking to take a 'step down' and had their heads so far up their own backsides they thought their previous job was so much better than being a humble electrician that they must already know everything they would need to know and more, and just needed to do some kind of 'bridging course' of 5 weeks or so...

Engineer54 · Mar 29, 2015

The latter type tended to have previously been electrical engineers or IT workers looking to take a 'step down'

And you belived that did you?? lol!!

Adam W · Mar 30, 2015

Engineer54 said:
And you belived that did you?? lol!!

It's difficult to know what to believe with those people - they give it the big 'I am' but it soon becomes clear they're not all that. They tell you how great they are at designing complicated systems and programming PLCs then you watch them struggle to get their head around wiring a light switch. They tell you how they were on a six figure salary jetting off around the world to work on big important projects, then reveal they're 3 months behind on their mortgage.

Do I believe they used to be an electrical engineer or computer programmer? Maybe. After all, I've read posts on here from engineers who want to 'take a step down' and 'slum it', but having seen their work it doesn't make me respect them as an electrician. If they were as good as they said, they'd either still be making money out of what they were doing, or be more competent at what they're doing now.
After a while whenever they open their mouth all I hear is a load of male bovine excrement.

Geordie Spark · Mar 30, 2015

GMES said:
What about that Tel

Codfather???

Codpiece more like it! :laugh:

Past it at 42.

bf03yvd

ruston

-

Paul.M

-

telectrix

-

rapparee

-

GMES

Attachments

ruston

-

Billythekid

-

sparkee

-

Adam W

Engineer54

Adam W

Geordie Spark

News and Offers from Sponsors

Similar threads

OFFICIAL SPONSORS

YOUR Unread Posts

Electrical Courses