Career Advice

Sparky Ben · Jan 28, 2011

Hi I'm new to the forums, I've just been browsing threads for a couple of days.

I'm a qualified electrician but have recently started looking at it as a career rather than just a job. I qualified through the NHS doing maintenance and minor installations, it was a 4 year apprenticship, NVQ level 3 with 17th edition. I'm 23 now, i qualified 2 years ago.

Since then I've simply moved to a different hospital doing the same job but i'm looking to get experience elsewhere. I've had very little interest from other jobs I've applied for so i've decided to get some more qualifications. I'm planning on getting some 2391 revision materials, swotting up then doing a 4 day course + test. Then maybe getting a JIB card? Also I'm in Scotland now, and some employers don't seem to recognise NVQ and want HNCs, but it seems like that'd take a lot of time/money?

Any advice appreciated

malcolmsanford · Jan 28, 2011

The 2391 courses are the natural way to go and if I were you I'd start with them. These course will either do 1 or 2 things. They will hopfully open the way for you to go onto designing and engineering installations and that could take you to a degree via HNC/HND

The other path will be I'm not into theory and all that it entails to do design, so I'll continue with the 2391-10 into a more hands on career.

Do the 2391 courses and see what it feels like.

Sparky Ninja · Jan 28, 2011

Welcome to the forums mate.

I think you really just need to gain more experience of a broader scope. You can find yourself getting 'institutionalised' in some positions, I did myself when I worked for a council. I really enjoyed my work, and I did a lot of testing (I had already done my 2391). Even the hours were great, but the take home was pretty dire. So I decided to leave and work elsewhere to gain more experience. I was nominated to become qualifying supervisor and then became operations manager.
After a couple of years I got itchy again and started to think about teaching, as I was wanting to sharpen up my technical knowledge. I'm now teaching in the evenings and doing consultancy work during the day. I have just been offered a full time teaching position of which I'm going to think about this weekend..

Have you had your CV reviewed? If you remove your personal info and submit it here we can gladly review it for you and give you are opinion. You may need to include more examples to demonstrable skills?

Your mindset of 2391 is spot on, this qualification is becoming a high commodity on many job descriptions these days, I would suggest you attack that first.

Sparky Ben · Jan 29, 2011

Ok thanks for the advice, i'll get my head down and try to get my 2391 asap. Won't post my CV just now, i'm not applying for jobs at the moment.

Just another quick question, I've gotten pretty handy at repairing commercial white goods (dishwashers, washing machines and tumble dryers), is this a path worth persuing, is there any money in it? From what I've seen there aren't many people who do it, and those that are are getting on in years.

Thanks

malcolmsanford · Jan 30, 2011

I think there are a few white goods repair operations going, but to be honest the majority are repairs done under warranty or the extended insurance scams.

With most white goods today they are built in throw away. Most pieces of equipment can be purchased for less than 300 pounds and in some cases half that price. I think it would be like PAT testing, it may be a good service to offer in conjunction with others.