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Hi. I'm probably speaking out of turn here but...
It's hard to say. If you are in a company already and they do industrial or commercial electrics then try to get them or via your own efforts, the city and guilds. Dont fall into the domestic electrics trap that so many people have. Don't go for one of these 3 weeks and you are a sparky type courses. Yes, go ahead and get your 17th edition etc but please dont think that makes you a sparky. I've met so many of these people. They cant even drill a hole but they have passed an exam.
I left the industry and as an older fart of 47 now happily press buttons for a living. Yes I miss it. I just dont miss the bull****. Anyone on this post that is real will know what I'm talking about.
It's a great career. The best blokes I've ever met and worked with, but there is also a massive level of bull**** you need to be able to accept. I could bore you with examples of people of A site that were supposed to be responsible and put the mains back alive when we were working on it. I can tell you another 101 stories. You will gather your own.
If there is one thing I can give you from my experience in life, it's this...
check, check check and check again. I dont care how well you get on with someone. If you go for a dump, make sure you check the the distribution board when you come out. Trust me and trust the great guys on this site and the wealth of experience they have.
I've been wiring an old school office area and went for a **** to come back to the radio on... could have carrried on working but oddly enough sparkies are smart like that. Needless to say young man DJ or whatever the **** he was better be good at that as he was let go the very next day. Simples!
Be smart - be safe - trust no 1 - keeps you alive
This isn't plumbing. You dont get wet. You die.
Other than that.... sparkies are hard as nails. The best guys you will ever meet.
Think about it. The building trade is full of people throwing up bricks and wacking plaster on a wall. Fair play to your plumbers but nowadays your sparky needs to know so much. The regs, the technical stuff etc etc but he still needs to be a man that can drill holes and do work in the most inhospitable places ever. I've seen, as have many on here, the oddest places in the world. No one but sparkies see this. Imagine 3 lofts in, 100 ft with a mask, one day then the next I'm just repairing a socket somewhere.
You canr beat it.
I have a 22 year old mate who I no longer work with. we are in touch weekly.
We had a young lad join us that could not even drill a hole with the right bit. He came and went!
If you want to be a sparky proper then learn to use a damn drill ha ha ;>)
Honestly ... learn the basics. You can easily pass exams but being practical and hands on will get you in touch with the blokes.
I will always remeber my mate having a moan at a new young lad and he shouting back 'you cant talk to me like that'
If you want to truly be a sparky than you are entering a life long career.
Don't think you can take this as an easy optiom. You either go for it totally or not at all.
You will meet the greatest blokes ever. Not just this site but reality.
To this day, even as an older fart (who still does abit here and there) I'm in touch with the guys I've worked with.
Salisbury hospital, in the loft, sweating our nads off, literally dripping down our faces.
