Advice required for 'too old' trainee electrician. (I'm 29!!)

[Victorcrane]

Hello all, I do hope someone may be able to give me some advice.

I'm currently studying the C&G 2330, and am about to finish my second year. I decided to do the course full time in an effort to better my prospects, and after working as a mate for nine months I found the career an interesting and fulfilling one. Keep in mind I am the grand old age of 29.

The problem I have is that I am now looking to find work as of June and intended to work whilst doing my 3rd year of the 2330 which is only part time in the evenings, and every single contractor I have approached has turned me down on the basis that I'm too old!

I understand the governement provides funding for apprentices aged below 24 and this is attractive to companies. All the companies I spoke to said that because they won't get funding for me, they won't take me on. They will only consider an apprentice below 24 or a fully qualified spark.

I have pointed out that I have paid in full for myself to do the course and will continue to do so, but nobody wants to know. I have also pointed out that I have achieved a Distinction in every exam so far, and all of my practical assessments.

I'm very sad about this, as I'm now 2 grand down the line, more able and reliable than the other lads on the course, and yet they're grabbing apprenticeships left right and centre purely because they're young. Honestly, some of these lads still don't know how to select an appropriate cable and yet in three months they'll be running about in peoples homes.

So... what on earth do I do? Has anyone been in my position and can anyone tell me who I may approach. I just feel I have a lot to offer and nobody wants to give me a chance. It rather makes a mockery of all these 'change your career now' ads on tv!

Any advice greatly appreciated.

A very miserable Victor.

 

[alex]

alex , what type of work you into ,other than toilets? would you go the self employed route? and what about working away from home ?

im just trying the self employed route at the moment and im waiting for my utr ( unique tax referance number ). the only type of work ive really done is domestic on council houses. working away ................. i dont know if im keen or not really????

pretty limits really me dos'ent it.

 

[Victorcrane]

Hey people, thanks a lot for the advice. I think maybe a mate is indeed the way to go, I found an index of agencies supplying mates in and around essex whilst I was at college today so that's an option, but I'll try to get into somewhere permanent and as you guys say, prove my worth and work my way up.

I must say, I think it a bit poor that nobody tells you about these difficulties when you enrol. The guys I spoke to when I started college gave the impression I'd fly through with no problems whatsoever, but then they were collecting my hard earned cash at the time....

Ah well.

 

[singlerider]

I'm in the same boat mate.

Turning 29 on Tuesday and completing Level 3 in June. First time round I had a job finding anything, but I spoke to the bods at college and they ended up hooking me up with my first job.

It wasn't proper sparkying, but rather doing home automaton stuff, and it was £170 a week (flexible hours = 8 - whenever I finished). Needless to say it wasn't perfect, but it was what I needed to get my foot in the door.

Took the advice of someone on here and got my CV in order, wrote a decent covering letter, spent £40 on nice paper and envelopes with the window in so they looked all professional, and sent 90 odd out to every local firm/one man band I could find on t' interweb.

Got about 20 replies, 19 of which said "Thank you for your recent letter, but unfortunately we have no vacancies at the minute".

Luckily the first response I got was a winner, start my new job a week Tuesday.

It's worth trying through college, they might be able to hook you up, failing that you could try splashing the cash and trying to make your plea for a job look as slick as possible.

I found that even though I got 99% rejection, having made the effort to make the application look good, I did at least get a lot more response - even if it was to say no.

Good luck

 

[Burnt Fingers]

Victorcrane...I'm 46 and re-training. Ok - its not gonna be th emain part of my job - probably 12 spurs a year.....(some of them in a kitchen that's why), but its never to late and you aint too old.

I'm an employer - and sometimes I prefer older people - generally more settled - for some jobs so keep trying. Dont lose heart.

 

[WayneL]

Victorcrane may well have found a job by now - this thread is 2 1/2 years old.

That's the problem with searching old threads.

 

[jreid67]

blinkin heck old chap, thats some big money for a terraced house aint it!!

still, a mans got to do what a mans got to do

best of luck mate!!!

Could be worse, u could live in jersey and have to fork out £1200 a month for a small 2 bed flat! The joys of living on an island

 

[armbands0]

Hi, this won't help but at 51 I don't even get an interview.

I retrained, doing the 2330 L2 and L3 got good results but I have not received one reply from employers. I expected this though and so decided to go self employed. Not much work but covering my costs with freelance work with previous employer and a bit of PAT.

I would like to try renewables, seems nice to sell something to someone who would eventually get their money back.

Anyway enough of my problems good luck with your search and I sure alot of those lads at college behave differently at work.

 

[telectrix]

i would definitely look at the self employed route. start off with an ad in your local newsagent/corner shop. 50p a week, then perhaps local paper. approach friends and relatives for work, start small and build up.

 

[SDELEC]

Yep, Ive been there myself, FE colleges advertise electrical courses to 'older' students on the basis that you can change career. unfortunately they dont tell you you need an apprenticeship first, for the 'older' types its a no go as when youve got a mortgage and kids etc you cant work for peanuts and if you aint got a placement you cant go to FE college, its a vicious circle.
I went down the private training route in the end after taking redundancy and its an uphill struggle as ive now got a load of quals but no experience. keep looking for work but @ the same time try to get some of your own,you may find the self employed route will work.

 

[antix_v2]

I went down the private training route in the end after taking redundancy and its an uphill struggle as ive now got a load of quals but no experience. keep looking for work but @ the same time try to get some of your own,you may find the self employed route will work.

Out of interest SDELEC, what quals did you leave your training with? Where did you go from there in terms of doing your own thing?

 

[SDELEC]

Antix,
17th edition , vrq domestic installer and c&g 2392. Ive been doing property maintenance ( self employed) for 3 years but always wanted to do the electrical side more as my background is electricity board/ telecoms.
I have quite a big customer base and most of my work is local which is good. I am starting to advertise the electrical services but probably need to push it a bit more as I have only had a few calls and one job for electrical work.The local directory i have been advertising in for the last 3 years has become very popular and is now full of sparks so theres not a lot of work to go round !. The other work i do is ticking over but has gone quiet. last year i was 3months in advance with work now its only 2 weeks!.

 

[ejmoore]

It can get worse, try too old(34) and female. After numerous letters and cv's to companies no luck for me either.
Currently doing 2330 l3.... If i dont find employment as a trainee sometime this year then i guess i'll try self employment once i have my level 3, hopefully that will bring in a bit of cash to finance an HNC.

 

[armbands0]

There is a female electrician working the Norfolk area, can't remember her company name but I assumes she makes a living so don't give up. Also afriend of mine uses a female electrician for jobs going to single females or older folk who like a female electrician so there could be benefits if you get up and running

I do a little bit of freelancing in my previous proffession when I can which helps, I shall though see this through and work for myself.

 

[agroves06]

am 24 at the min and I am looking to do a private course with ET4U because of house bills and a child on the way, I am looking for work now as i think not better time to start looking so fingers cross for abit of work experiance. its good to keep old threads going tho as it keeps people talking on how they got there start.....

 

[Russell talbot]

Anyone know any good websites to look at. I live in the East London area, am 26 and half way through the first year - level 2, 2330.

Hoping to get into working in the field ASAP otherwise I'll pass and have no real experience