@ 33 & 10+ years of various jobs with no end reward. Time to be a Sparky! Help please

[marvel marv]

So I just got let go from my job last week as operations manager was in the role for 6 months, previously I was a transport supervisor at different company for 1 year pay averaging at 25k lot of responsibilities zero recognition.

Now at 33 it’s kinda of daunting being out of work. Yes I’m considered as a mature worker, however with zero relevant qualifications in my current field, I’m in competition with 23-27 years olds, who are most likely fresh faced out of uni highly liked in recruitment, live at home with mum&dad or maybe have a 1 kid homes. Who I find from speaking to colleagues during work breaks or through general conversation are often happy to work and survive on 20-24k salaries to avoid paying off any student loans.

I want to be clear this not my testimony about all people in this age range nor do I mean to offend.

It Just My perception of the job front not saying all belows 30’s are like that I wasn’t my self when I was 23.

I got a woman, 4 kids, a dog, a car and a bike, meant to be looking into a mortgage soon Fat chance job hoping offices or manual labour jobs.


I have had enough my Mrs has had enough too tbf . Yes all industries are challenging and I have read in other forums of current sparkies saying the markets saturated with qualified Electricians, but I’m not deterred.

I tried many years ago when I was 23 but because I was unemployed, I had to sign on to get my rent, council tax & job seeker benefits.
The job centre said I wasn’t making my self available to actively seek work.
My college tutor who of no help said I was failing to attend my weekly tutorial on Monday as I had to sign on and attend job focused interviews randomly 2 times a week which made my attendance in sufficient.

So I had 2 choices,
1) do the course and hope to find work in 12-18 months & go with no money possibly lose my flat,
or
2) get a job, put food on the table for my 2 kids at the time, Say bye to Gov hand outs and fend for my self then hope I find a valuable carrer path.

Took option 2 but the carrer never became valuable, companies don’t want to give you industry qualifications only in house training.
I was in 1 job for 7 years went from a 0hr contract to a salary in the last 3 years. But because I got a conviction, it being non work related didn’t matter a crim conviction was classed as gross misconduct in my conract.
Even then I still wasn’t making close to what I would have if I chose option 1 and became a sparky at 23.


So that’s my long winded introduction I’m 33 jobless as of last week.
Joined the forum to find some answers as well as guidance on my journey from Novice-Trainee-to Spark.

Theres a lot of information online that can make it confusing to find a starting point.

Ive looked at those 6week - 6 month intense courses. Saw 1 that was £7,000 if I had 7k to throw at 6month course I shouldn’t be working really, I should be investing in stock and shares surely?

What price are considerd reasonable for these types of courses any advice ???

I’m just about to start today to look on some college based or part time course that allow me time off to work.

Any suggestion I’m based in South London
Course names ?
Colleges names ?


Kinda some one would read my thread sympathetic to my cause and offer some life line suggestions or any schemes that may be recruiting???


I would happily at present work the days in between with any sparky to get knowledge for £50 day rate is that too much ?

I’m Not desperate to be paid at all but 100% desperate to get in to a sustainable learning environment be it practical or theoretical



If you read that brain dump thank you for your time.
Any feed back would be highly appreciated

 

[cliffed]

See your a worker,it’s gonna be kinda hard,me personally if you become a spark,there really ain’t a lot of rewards out there,it’s hard graft,& the industry’s got worse ,but hey good luck.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Plastering, have you tried that?

It's harder work than electrics, but its unregulated, short training and you only need a bucket and a trowel......

 

[telectrix]

Plastering, have you tried that?

It's harder work than electrics, but its unregulated, short training and you only need a bucket and a trowel......

no good. the OP has a brain.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Aah. But, if I had my time again........

 

[marvel marv]

See your a worker,it’s gonna be kinda hard,me personally if you become a spark,there really ain’t a lot of rewards out there,it’s hard graft,& the industry’s got worse ,but hey good luck.

I have no intention on a quick fix solution, I’m in it for the long run, I know many homeowners and property estates agents/property managers, but I know zero sparkies offering any form of training or apprentice work for people with zero knowledge so I know I got to get the ball rolling.

it’s February though and courses don’t start until September, if I go through college route.

I may put my 125cc bike back on the road and do some bike couring in the mean to get me through, or even join the Uber eats boom, so I have a form income as I’m sure between now and September any 26k plus job offer could be tempting for me to say yes to but I need to stay and remain focused.

Which is who I would be willing to work for any sparky as cheap labour on set day rate 2-3 times a week more days if possible obviously.
I would do my own home learning in the mean time, buy basic tools and practice basics at home and after 3 months could see my self becoming as asset to any one willing to mentor.

I believe this will give me a huge advantage in September keep me focused and invaluable experience already gained

 

[marvel marv]

Plastering, have you tried that?

It's harder work than electrics, but its unregulated, short training and you only need a bucket and a trowel......

You wouldn’t be the 1st to mention this, cropped up a few time in convo, that also plumbing or gas, however they are of no interest to me and I would be in the same position doing something I’m not fully passionate about.

Having said that plastering has always been something Ive in my home but not anyone else’s and I wasn’t bad but it’s, like you said it’s not regulated and I want qualifications. a technical skill, something that I can channel into different things.
not just a quick win trade

Thank you for your response

 

[marvel marv]

Aah. But, if I had my time again........

All I need is the tin man and some Dutch courage, and I’m ready the Emrald city of sparkies

 

[The Ghost]

Morris Services - Getting Started - https://www.morrisservices.co.uk/gettingstarted.asp
Look carefully at the above link it is a road map into being an electrician. No matter what anyone tells you there is only the above way to get in i.e. five routes. These criteria are set by the electrical industries guiding lights. So that is your first point to consider as to how or what you need to do. Next you will need C&G 2365 or EAL version then NVQ3 then AM2 then you can truly say you have begun to be an electrician. Suggest you put yourself about locally at electrical wholesalers with your info and what you are prepared to do. You will really have to have a zerg on blitzing any opportunities for an improver/mate. Do you have any tools? While waiting to do a course you can find a lot out on line about electrics and might do well to start utubing anything electrical. First and last is ohms law and its various transpositions it comes in everywhere master that and you will be well prepared to take a course.

 

[The Ghost]

https://electricalapprentice.co.uk/
For instance

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

not sure what the conviction is but you considered joining the TA? they are crying out for folks and give you some of the best training you will ever get and its highly respected. you get paid one weekend a month. it will open many doors for you. can be engineering or any of the many reserve units in London. Once trained in the reserves you will have received a tax free bonus of a couple grand too.!
Also after 6 months in the reserves the likes of ssafa, Royal British Legion will happily help fund you in training for other courses to get you in stable employment.
failing that you considered HGV driving? talking to a recruitment woman this week when replacing some lights, she said they are crying out for lorry drivers, they have given up on cheap eastern bloc ones as they are a danger to themselves and others, as the foreign tests aren't as robust as ours. companies dont like taking them on.
She said if i got my licence and wanted to give up this trade she could get me on £24k+ starting salary no problems. its also not too much to get the licence and loans available. An example she gave was a guy who just got out of prison for armed robbery and gbh, When in the open prison he got let out and got his HGV licence. They took him on within a week of getting out as they are both short of drivers and given he might otherwise struggle to get a job is unlikely to mess this opportunity up! so the opportunities are there.
If all else fails and you are sure you want to be an electrician then its a long route to the top, crap pay at times and lots of studying and courses, only then does the work begin to pay off.

 

[telectrix]

trhink gavin's post sums it up. as long as you don't get shot.

 

[marvel marv]

Morris Services - Getting Started - https://www.morrisservices.co.uk/gettingstarted.asp
Look carefully at the above link it is a road map into being an electrician. No matter what anyone tells you there is only the above way to get in i.e. five routes. These criteria are set by the electrical industries guiding lights. So that is your first point to consider as to how or what you need to do. Next you will need C&G 2365 or EAL version then NVQ3 then AM2 then you can truly say you have begun to be an electrician. Suggest you put yourself about locally at electrical wholesalers with your info and what you are prepared to do. You will really have to have a zerg on blitzing any opportunities for an improver/mate. Do you have any tools? While waiting to do a course you can find a lot out on line about electrics and might do well to start utubing anything electrical. First and last is ohms law and its various transpositions it comes in everywhere master that and you will be well prepared to take a course.

When you say tools, yes I have a shed with various bits that A rustic, but I couldn’t say I have a got to tool kit at present.
I’m currently on 30 days gardem Leave so 3 weeks off before terminate my contract and I will receive full months pay.

I will happily spend couple hundred on tools and practice gear once I’ve YouTubed a bit a got idea of the most common used toll pliers screwdriver wire strippers I’m guessing are the basics thank you will read the link a bit later after sorted the dinner no rest even for the jobless I tell ya,

Thank you for your response and the link really appreciate you taking the time out for me

 

[marvel marv]

not sure what the conviction is but you considered joining the TA? they are crying out for folks and give you some of the best training you will ever get and its highly respected. you get paid one weekend a month. it will open many doors for you. can be engineering or any of the many reserve units in London. Once trained in the reserves you will have received a tax free bonus of a couple grand too.!
Also after 6 months in the reserves the likes of ssafa, Royal British Legion will happily help fund you in training for other courses to get you in stable employment.
failing that you considered HGV driving? talking to a recruitment woman this week when replacing some lights, she said they are crying out for lorry drivers, they have given up on cheap eastern bloc ones as they are a danger to themselves and others, as the foreign tests aren't as robust as ours. companies dont like taking them on.
She said if i got my licence and wanted to give up this trade she could get me on £24k+ starting salary no problems. its also not too much to get the licence and loans available. An example she gave was a guy who just got out of prison for armed robbery and gbh, When in the open prison he got let out and got his HGV licence. They took him on within a week of getting out as they are both short of drivers and given he might otherwise struggle to get a job is unlikely to mess this opportunity up! so the opportunities are there.
If all else fails and you are sure you want to be an electrician then its a long route to the top, crap pay at times and lots of studying and courses, only then does the work begin to pay off.

HGV considered but coming from a transport bank ground and being a family man, Driving at work, will make my leisure driving less enjoyable, ive seen drivers be replaced like nothing just as quick as they hire them.

Not ruling it out completely it most certainly and option on my list and viable one too. I would recommend anybody to get a licence in HGV if all else fails that would be something I may do.

Ta almost joined wen I was 30 due wanting a new direction, didn’t as I think the Army is a extreme choice for someone like me. If had lil yo no ideas of carrer aspects then yes who has as they will mould you into a specialist but it’s the Duty dude weekends away and with Brexit round the corner I’d rather not cross that bridge

Thank you for your thoughts tho both very good options

 

[plugsandsparks]

Minimum wage rises in April to £8.21/hr, so for a 8 hour day , 1/2 lunch, get paid 7.5hrs its £61.58/day

If i was in your shoes with your situation i would try and get into a electrical firm that requires labouring. These tend to be commercial/industrial where you would be doing cable monkey work and containment. The reason i say this as its the only way i can think of to both get into the industry and earn sufficient hrs to pay the bills.

Also many comm/ind firms have out of hours work, often difficult to resource, this might help keep the income going when at college.

I for one, have most of my weekends booked for shutdown/ out of hours work that has to be done when everyone goes home.

Some of this needs basic "passionate" labourers to speed up the job.

Its like any job, once you are known to be good, reliable and fun to be with, prospects magically appear.