Difficult gaining experience.....

[Notyetaspark]

Hello everyone,

Could really do with some advice on the best way to go about continuing my learning to become an electrician.

Currently working with a local spark for the last 4 months but he can only give me 2/3 days per week if that. When I'm with him I feel I'm definitely learning but I'm 34 years of age with a family to support and 2/3 days a week wage just isn't sustainable for much longer.
Before this I worked as a mate on more commercial sites for about a year but didn't even get to look at a wire or anything to do with electrics really apart from a ---- load of plastic conduiting.
Is this how it is when trying to gain experience working commercial?
Seems like everyone gets assigned their role and that's all they will really do for the most part. No real learning gained from it to be honest.

Got my level 2 and 17th edition and want to work towards my gold card eventually but just don't feel I'm going to get the opportunity working as a mate on commercial sites.

How did some of you who were adult learners with no time to waste get there and if you had to do it again or if you was in my situation what route would you take?

Appreciate any feedback

 

[uksrevivor]

Did you start as a mate and stay with one employer or bounce around job to job?
And was this all on commercial as well?

I started as a pat tester boring as feck and was promised to be trained as electrician which never happened so i self funded my quals with my redundancy money from previous trade and managed to get a reply from my now employer who has trained me up, not a lot of hours at first but he saw that i worked hard and wanted to achieve a goal of being fully qualified. I worked with a few pat testing firms in between but all were sticker crazy false testing firms. One thing my employer was pleased with is that i was not taking a 5 week so called wonder course to become an electrician i went along the city and guilds diploma route. My work ranged from industrial / commercial and domestic so a bit of everything but he always taught me a variety of installation work.
Im still working towards getting fully qualified but his influence has given me confidence and taught me what i know today.
I consider myself lucky to be honest good mentors are out there. Its been crap at times with little or no work but its now paying off and loyalty has seen me get where i am today.

 

[Alanuk]

Give the lad a break!!! He has come for some advice and guidance from people who have been there before and their experience, instead he gets smart arse and sarcastic replies..............

All he is saying that he feels like he isnt progressing like he should and how to go about the situation.

Well if it was me i would keep on applying for other company's and even the days your not working for money i would even do voluntary on the basis that I am getting some hands on work also and then with a bit of experience behind you you are more appealing to other company's, who know they might start paying you and want to take you on, Just keep networking and talking to the lads on site and someone will give you the break you want.

 

[uksrevivor]

Did you start as a mate and stay with one employer or bounce around job to job?
And was this all on commercial as well?

I started as a pat tester boring as feck and was promised to be trained as electrician which never happened so i self funded my quals with my redundancy money from previous trade and managed to get a reply from my now employer who has trained me up, not a lot of hours at first but he saw that i worked hard and wanted to achieve a goal of being fully qualified. I worked with a few pat testing firms in between but all were sticker crazy false testing firms. One thing my employer was pleased with is that i was not taking a 5 week so called wonder course to become an electrician i went along the city and guilds diploma route. My work ranged from industrial / commercial and domestic so a bit of everything but he always taught me a variety of installation work.
Im still working towards getting fully qualified but his influence has given me confidence and taught me what i know today.
I consider myself lucky to be honest good mentors are out there. Its been crap at times with little or no work but its now paying off and loyalty has seen me get where i am today.

 

[Alanuk]

Give the lad a break!!! He has come for some advice and guidance from people who have been there before and their experience, instead he gets smart arse and sarcastic replies..............

All he is saying that he feels like he isnt progressing like he should and how to go about the situation.

Well if it was me i would keep on applying for other company's and even the days your not working for money i would even do voluntary on the basis that I am getting some hands on work also and then with a bit of experience behind you you are more appealing to other company's, who know they might start paying you and want to take you on, Just keep networking and talking to the lads on site and someone will give you the break you want.

 

[buzzlightyear]

Give the lad a break!!! He has come for some advice and guidance from people who have been there before and their experience, instead he gets smart arse and sarcastic replies..............

out their in the real world it can be lonely & a lot sharks will take advantage of people
I know is was one of them .

 

[davesparks]

If you mean have I got public liability insurance then yes, I was a painter by trade before and still do privates here and there between being a mate.

You can purchase a public liability insurance policy for carrying out electrical work without any qualifications or experience. But the insurance will not be valid, and they won't pay out if you cannot prove competence.

It's the same as car insurance, you don't need a driving licence to buy it, but it sure as hell ain't valid without one!

 

[buzzlightyear]

My employers have got that covered mate

a company will only insure them self's and the jobs they
work on and do, their insurance company will not insure out side work eg: foreigners.
you need to get your own insurance .

 

[davesparks]

a company will only insure them self's and the jobs they
work on and do, their insurance company will not insure out side work eg: foreigners.
you need to get your own insurance .

Any insurance he buys for electrical work will not be valid unless he is qualified and can prove competence

 

[buzzlightyear]

some people think their insured from their company they do the work outside working
hours.

 

[Rpa07]

a company will only insure them self's and the jobs they
work on and do, their insurance company will not insure out side work eg: foreigners.
you need to get your own insurance .

He's talking about painting work on the side - calm down Buzz, have a Haribo!

 

[buzzlightyear]

gone through a pack of box smarties so far. reading all those posts.

 

[Notyetaspark]

gone through a pack of box smarties so far. reading all those posts.

Next time choke on them you muppet

 

[Notyetaspark]

Appreciate all the helpful advice on here so far.

Thanks people

 

[buzzlightyear]

Next time choke on them you muppet

 

[Rpa07]

Ok, Buzz - how did you take a selfie with 'no hands'!