am i qualified enough?

[rossi1990]

just a quick question
am i qualified enough to do electrical work on my own
i have city and guilds 2330 level 3
level 3 in certificate for the inspection and testing of electrical equipment
level 2 in fundamental inspection testing and initial verification

 

[morph]

maybe yes maybe no
you need to be competent as stated in the EAWR

 

[Adam W]

According to the JIB no, you would need an NVQ3 to be considered 'competent' to complete final connections.

How long did it take you to do those qualifications and how long have you been working in the industry?

 

[rossi1990]

it took 3 years to get the qualifications and been in the industry for 4 years

 

[RISElectrical]

Usually the advice I give is.... If you have to ask then maybe your not quite there yet.
i didn't feel competant to design and do my own work until I had 10 years experience

 

[telectrix]

i would advise to do work that you yourself feel competent to do. anything you feel is beyond your level of competence, get someone more experienced to share the job. build up from what you know now.and good hunting. work ( at a decent price) is hard to come by these days.

 

[rossi1990]

just asking as people at work are saying i am qualified and some are saying that i am not
i just want a reliable answer as soon we will be made redundant and want a backup etc.

 

[RISElectrical]

JIB wouldn't give you a gold card, saying that the best sparks I know can't get one either.
as tele says start small and build up, shadowing or job sharing things with other sparks is an excellent way of gaining experience

 

[telectrix]

the key word is competent. someone can have all the paper quals. going, and still be useless at installation.

 

[DurhamSparky]

^^^^^ agreed.... just look at me!!

 

[vernam616]

^^^^^ agreed.... just look at me!!

Nothing like you, your useless at installing too :tongueincheeksmiley haha

 

[telectrix]

itg wasn't an iceberg that sank the titanic, either. it was a stray torpedo that fired after durham sparky had "serviced" it.

 

[DurhamSparky]

hand on my heart i never touched a torpedo!! apart from when i slept next to one and cuddled in to it as a trainee!!

most expensive girlfriend ever!! just shy of 1 million quid!!

 

[Knobhead]

Do you feel competent and confident to do the work? As has been said paper qualifications count for nothing if the competence isn’t there to back them up.
Also please don’t forget the overheads that go with the job. Your hourly rate isn’t going to be anything like your take home pay.

If you’re in a steady job at the moment stick at it until you feel you’ve built on your skills and knowledge to confidently take that crucial first step on your own.
The beauty of being an employee is you have people you can call on to give you advise. On you own, the buck stops with you.

Sorry to be a bit of a wet blanket, but you don’t want the rug pulled out from under you at the first step. Go in to business with your eye’s wide open, and don’t forget the help you can get from the government, local chamber of trade, banks, etc. It costs nothing to ask for advice.

 

[telectrix]

isn't there something called business link that gives free advice for starting up on your own?