Career Advice For Electrician Apprentice

[SouthyBCFC]

Hi, not a regular poster on here however I feel this would be a relevant platform to pick a few sparkies brains. My predicament currently is that in two weeks time my apprenticeship comes to an end having gained a full nvq level 3, bs7671 regs, 2394+2395. Having spent 4 years working for my local council carrying out mods, rewires, breakdowns etc my experience is limited to exactly that and there is no promise of a full time position due to local cut backs. My message to the reader is what area of work would you be looking at going into given my background and what would you say to a newly qualified 21 year old given the wealth of experience im certain is out there. Thanks for your time. Tom

 

[telectrix]

go for industrial work. it's far more rewarding than being on your knees on cat ---- soaked floorboards.

 

[Leesparkykent]

Hi, not a regular poster on here however I feel this would be a relevant platform to pick a few sparkies brains. My predicament currently is that in two weeks time my apprenticeship comes to an end having gained a full nvq level 3, bs7671 regs, 2394+2395. Having spent 4 years working for my local council carrying out mods, rewires, breakdowns etc my experience is limited to exactly that and there is no promise of a full time position due to local cut backs. My message to the reader is what area of work would you be looking at going into given my background and what would you say to a newly qualified 21 year old given the wealth of experience im certain is out there. Thanks for your time. Tom

I would try getting in with a firm which does domestic and commercial work so you can fly through the domestic stuff as that's what your experienced in and pick up some commercial experience at the same time. Other wise you will be limiting yourself to domestic stuff for many moons to come

 

[SouthyBCFC]

I do feel limited currently in the work I am doing ao i see this next step as a crucial one for the future. Oddly enough earlier i got asked for an interview with a company looking for an electrician that they could train as a HVAC engineer. Knowing absolutley nothing about HVAC could that be a rewarding career move?, the idea of the unknown interested me towards it i guess

 

[Leesparkykent]

I do feel limited currently in the work I am doing ao i see this next step as a crucial one for the future. Oddly enough earlier i got asked for an interview with a company looking for an electrician that they could train as a HVAC engineer. Knowing absolutley nothing about HVAC could that be a rewarding career move?, the idea of the unknown interested me towards it i guess

If I was you I would be going for the interview an experienced HVAC engineer can earn around £25-£30 an hour...A lot of domestic sparks struggle to get that money working for themselves.

 

[SouthyBCFC]

Nice one I just hope that the position is all what the advert cracks it up to be it sounded like a decent oppertunity thanks for your help.

 

[Dobes_88]

You've got your qualifications that you've gained to fall back on if you don't like the HVAC - what's the worst that can happen!

Time is very much on your side and I'd imagine you'd easily get snapped up by someone given your age and qualifications even a year down the line you realise you don't like it.

 

[Leesparkykent]

commercial customers are normally happy to pay a premium to have their heating/air con working.

 

[SouthyBCFC]

Hi guys just wanted to update you on my situation and a big thank's to the advice you gave me. I attended the interview and landed the position with the hvac company as a junior electrician starting on 12th August. Kinda excited to start the next chapter really. Once again cheers fellas

 

[Leesparkykent]

Well done mate and good luck

 

[Adam W]

That's great news, congratulations!

 

[7029 dave]

Well done to you.

 

[GMES]

Well done mate and congratulations on the new job.

 

[SouthyBCFC]

As this is new territory and keen to hit the ground running is there anyone out there coming from a hvac background already with any information you could give me regarding wage, career progression, the job itself, personal experiences. I guess im just excited and any more information would just be a bonus at this point in time. Cheers chaps