Advice needed, can anybody help?

[ihatevubuzelas]

I'm 24 and have been down the uni route, got my degree in Health and Fitness management, but realised I hate Health and Fitness. So I want to get into electrics as I am desperate to learn a "proper skill" and something I can make money out of in the future.

My expierience is limited, I have done a fair bit of property renovations with my dad, and worked on some exhibition installs abroad, but nothing much on electrics (like most people, I only know how to re-wire plugs and lamps)

I want to get my foot in the door and learn from the bottom upwards, but I just don't know the best way to do it. I see all these courses, and fast tracks, but if uni has taught me anything, it's that theoretical knowledge means jack in the real world.

My mum owns a letting and sales company and has branches across the South East, ideally, I'd like to do some sort of course that would get me qualified on paper to do "odd jobs" for her, I'm not talking any kind of re-wires, I'm talking replacing sockets, plugs, maybe extending a ring main, add an extra light? the very basics of domestic installing. I'd like to do this for a good while, and then in between these jobs, I'd like to study/ do more courses/ work/ buddy/ shadow a fully qualified domestical electrical installer in between, and build my knowledge and skills base slowly over time.

I'll stress I do not want to become an electrician, I don't want to work in industry or commercially, I purely want to work domestically.

I'd appreciate any advice on the matter, paticularly, what are the minimum qualifications I'd need to do odd jobs for my mums letting company? what courses, qualfications do I need in order to become a proper domestic electrical installer? just any advice for me at all really.

Money is not an issue, so I'm by no means trying to fast track my way into this profession, I want to do it slowly, build up my confidence and abilities, and learn, and continue to learn over many years. The key right now, is to somehow get the expierience, ability and more specifically, the qualification that will allow me to carry out this odd job work.

James.

 

[stef]

Hi mate,

I suggest to contact some local electricians and ask them for some work experience (even for free) and see
whether an electricians job suits you at all.

BTW: the times of big dosh in the electrical job marked are gone so it seems.

 

[ukpablo]

i firmly believe that knowledge is power, and although u say that u only want to be able to do small jobs etc, u still need an indepth understanding as to how it all works!Espeacilly if u come across problems??

My advice if anything would be to enroll onto either a full or part time course and do it right from the off.

In the mean time, do what stef suggested and get some experience. Having all the theory in your head does not solve some of the probs u will come across in the real world.

As they say, there is no pleasure without the pain!

good luck

 

[ezzzekiel]

but if uni has taught me anything, it's that theoretical knowledge means jack in the real world.

a lot of electrical theory you may think why am i learning this ill never need or use it, however it builds the foundation upon everything else you will learn and gives a greater understanding as opposed to fast track option where people often become stuck due to not having a real understanding of electrical theory.