Advice For Getting Back Into The Trade Please...

[stephenr]

Hi Guys, Im steve and just joined the forum.

At 23 I became a JIB qualified electrician after completing an apprenticeship and shortly after that I left the trade to do some work in Europe and to travel around.
I am now 31 and back in the UK. I now want to get back into the trade after an 8 year absence. I am finding it hard to get back into the trade, i have sent my cv to many companies and I have also been applying for electricians mates jobs but i am not getting no results. I have brought new tools and recently done my health and safety exam and now have a current Valid JIB card grade electrician.

I would real like some advice on how I can get back into the trade, i just need a foot in the door. I feel that my 8 years absence is not helping me as things have moved on. I have my 16th edition and will eventually do the 17th edition course once i am back in the trade.

Any advice will be very much appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[johnboy6083]

get ringing agencies mate. Things are quiet though, even for people with lots of contacts

 

[Sparky Ninja]

I would suggest you look to doing the 17th edition straight away.

Your application compared with anyone with the 17th will suffer straight away making it an easy refusal for a prospective employer.

 

[stephenr]

I did think about doing my 17th edition straight away, I think thats a good point and will give it more consideration.

The only worry I have is going back on site as an electrician as I have been out the trade for 8 years and I feal that I wont be up to scratch and I wont remember how to do stuff and make a fool out of myself, thats why I have been applying for electricians mates jobs to get some more experience and then apply for electricians jobs.

I have notice that alot of electricians mates and electricians jobs are through agencys and I have been applying to them but no luck yet.

 

[Des 56]

I did think about doing my 17th edition straight away, I think thats a good point and will give it more consideration.
I would say.a lot more consideration,in fact so much more consideration that applying for jobs becomes secondary to that essential regs update

 

[Swicade]

Without the 17th edition you'll struggle to get any form of electricians job (including mate)...these days it's probabley the most imported qaulification for getting work you need.

 

[stephenr]

Yes I agree the qualifications are priority, thanks for the advice and your time for replying.

 

[alarm man]

I did think about doing my 17th edition straight away, I think thats a good point and will give it more consideration.

The only worry I have is going back on site as an electrician as I have been out the trade for 8 years and I feal that I wont be up to scratch and I wont remember how to do stuff and make a fool out of myself, thats why I have been applying for electricians mates jobs to get some more experience and then apply for electricians jobs.

I have notice that alot of electricians mates and electricians jobs are through agencys and I have been applying to them but no luck yet.

like riding a bike mate,soon comes back from the depths,remember its not what you forgot its what you learned,if your jib dont look for mates jobs,your a spark,a quick geek round here will get it all flowing again,just look at the new breed and you'll be shaking your head..