Career/Life advice

[tommo]

Dramatic thread title huh?

Hi everyone i've been reading posts for a while and would really appreciate a little guidance.

I have been thinking about becoming an electrician for a quite a while, I'm 28 now. The subject has always been interesting to me and at the same time scare me, my only experience is that i'm generally handy and I have a basic grasp of electronics.

So....I have a Degree in Computer Science, HND in Networked Systems, A-levels blah blah and a whole load of specific computer qualifications plus 5 years experience...... so why the hell do I want to be an electrician??.... I love technology but I am just bored of being sat behind a desk all day, I like getting out and basically like getting stuck in more and more with hands-on work and also learning something new kinda excites me (i'm a bit of geek like that), my brother did exactly the same at my age but he chose carpentry.

I was thinking of doing one of the £4k courses that give you a whole host of city and guilds qualifications, I realise I wont be qualified fully before having a nvq3 but I thought that because I have the money I should invest in something like this. Any advice?

I feel very embarrassed to say this but... I am a smart guy, hard working and quite ambitious, I want to ultimately work for myself.... I currently own 4 houses on buy-to-let (but don't go thinking i'm super rich, this involved a lot of sacrifice and risk and is a long-term deal) which I bought in knackered states and did up with help of skilled trades of course. I LOVE doing this, and I ultimately want to be able to do this full time one day and thought that even if for some reason the electrician path did not work out being a decent sparky would at least mean I could save money on full re-wires etc etc.

Time is kinda the factor, I can't afford to do a year or two full time in a college, I am happy to take full time out for a couple months and do a hardcore intensive course and hit the books and even work for free for a neighbour that is an electrician. I am not a dreamer that thinks that in 2 months i'll know it all and be self employed charging high rates, i realise I will have to take a paycut but I am thinking of my long-term plan and job satisfaction more and more.


Thanks in advance, ideally a little advice on the best route I should take would be greatly appreciated.

 

[dodger]

Hi Tommo, it seems I took the route you’re contemplating. Paid for a short course that got me the G&G 2381, 2391 &2377 but with no experience still found it very difficult to get a job.

I was very lucky & managed to get on a fully funded apprenticeship scheme, I am now at college 2 evenings a week, just completed level 2 C&G 2330 & am working towards the NVQ level 3. Am now self employed & part P registered

It sounds as if your committed, prepared to work hard & under no elusions. I would suggest you spend your money with your local college on the C&G 2330 level 2&3. It would take 3 years but it does give you a good grounding.

If you still want to try the quick route I can recommend the training provider I used (click on the link).

All the best & what ever you decide I hope it works out for you.

Electrical Training | Electrical Courses | Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Courses

 

[tommo]

That looks good also, it's just location, i'm in the Southwest.

My local college is doing the lvl2 for under 500 which seems good.

One thing I would like a little clarification on...

From my understanding the most important qualifications to get/be recognised as a competent electrician are: 2330 lvl2, 2330 lvl3 and the NVQ lvl3 (to be achieved whilst working)..

so if that is the case isn't doing the other ones pointless?

 

[dodger]

That's very good £500. My local college charges £2600 for the level 2 & £1500 for the level 3

 

[tommo]

Somerset College - Somerset College of Arts and Technology
Somerset College - Somerset College of Arts and Technology

It does seem cheap here, that's in total around £1500 for 3 years.

 

[dodger]

Not all of them. C&G 2382 (wiring regs) is a must and C&G 2391 (Inspection & testing) is desirable but is a difficult exam.

 

[Noom]

Like anything if you want to do it properly it takes some years to learn as you know with your computer studies.
If someone could get me an Electrical Engineering degree cert in 3 months i'd rip his arm off.....saying that I saw a geezer selling some for £50 a while back

 

[dodger]

It seems like the same course i'm on but I have to attend 2 evenings a week.

 

[tommo]

Hehe.

I'm almost going to be full time at college if I do this evening course as i'm already doing a DIY intermediate course and was thinking of doing a painting and decorating course at another college, but they're just recreation which will be mickey mouse compared to the electrician course.

Thanks guy, great food for thought.

This may seem like a odd question but i've had 3 rewires done before in various places all by the same electrician as he was a good (dust free) worker, is a rewire something quite difficult to carry out? is it something that doing the 2330 will allow me to get the knowledge to be able to do?... I suppose that even if I could I would still need it signed off.

 

[dodger]

It would definitely need certificateing & notifying. With the C7G2330 & 2382 under your belt you should be capable. It would help if you had an experienced sparky to look over your shoulder every so often (As I did).

 

[tommo]

Yeah thanks again.

I actually have a friend that lives nearby who is semi-self employed and said if I start a course he'd help, so if he had weekend or evening jobs here and there I could go and look over his shoulder so to speak, I would think this would be almost invaluable experience.

 

[GrannySmiff]

I did mine with Able Skills, for me personally it would have been cheaper to do it long term but I think if your going to do it throw everything at it get it done in a year, I believe technically I have really learned allot and its all starting to sink in now and I can see how all the peices link together. Now its just to get a basic job for a year to get the "real life" experience.

Its all down to you.