electrician help please

[rayfrausto]

hi okay heres my question im young 18 years old just got done with school and im trying to find information about the elect. career.. i want to no pros and cons. average pay and i would like to compair it vs hvac? im considering both but im lookin more twards elect. right now as i always like messing with that kinda things.. thank you very much

 

[accordfire]

hi okay heres my question im young 18 years old just got done with school and im trying to find information about the elect. career.. i want to no pros and cons. average pay and i would like to compair it vs hvac? im considering both but im lookin more twards elect. right now as i always like messing with that kinda things.. thank you very much

Seriously - first bit of advice - learn to spell the words out properly, or use a spell checker.

Putting it all out there "text" fashion is not a good image to have when job hunting, trust me.

Average pay depends on what you end up doing, and who you do it with - but for a starter, you're probably looking at around £6-£7 and hour tops for most of your first year anyway - and that may depend on whereabouts in the country you're based too.

Careers Advisor would be your best bet - you can find one in the Job Centre, and you can look here too at Next Step

Both are demanding trades, with long qualifying times - expect to do two or three years before becoming fully qualified. You may find age limitations in HVAC until you hit 21, though you've passed the limitations in electrical fields.

Other than that, if you're fairly sure it is electrical work you want to do, base your careers information on that - put a CV together, even if it only lists your school achievements and your interests (and for God's sake get someone to check it for spelling, punctuation and grammar - seriously, and I mean that well, it isn't a dig - everyone should).

Ask questions (as you have here) - and take an interest - and most of all, once you've got your CV together, present it nicely, and start making contact with every electrical (or HVAC) company you can in your area, to see if they have any trainee openings. If you drive and have a car, don't forget to list that (*or a bike) - and do a bit of door knocking (in a shirt and tie!!!!) - hand your CV in over the counter, and ask politely if there may be any vacancies going for a new starter/school leaver. And be polite - thank them even if they say no.

Remember - it's all about image, and as much as anything, they will judge you through their customers' eyes the first time they meet you - and if they don't like what they see, you will never, ever get near their customers. Above all, any job interview/job request is a sales pitch - and YOU are what's for sale.

Do the very best you can - and as I say, don't forget to ask questions, however daft they might seem - nobody will bite your head off for a genuine question.

 

[rayfrausto]

thank you fo reply i no to check my spelling and the tex format is because im posting this with my phone and when im on my phone thats a habbit.. but thank you for your reply... cause i was thinkin for a starter to enroll in a trade school and take classes for electrical so im tryin to get info. on the trade

 

[Adam W]

Ask around family and friends and try to get an apprenticeship with a company, which is the best way to learn by far.
Failing that go through the yellow pages calling and/or writing to all the electrical contracors in your area and state your situation.
You'll then spend 3 - 4 years at college 1 day a week learning the theory behind it all, which your employer may or may not pay for.
I won't lie to you - what you'll get paid will be minimal, but once you've qualified you'll be able to transfer that to whichever company you want.
If you don't do it soon you'll find it much more difficult later in life.

 

[accordfire]

thank you fo reply i no to check my spelling and the tex format is because im posting this with my phone and when im on my phone thats a habbit.. but thank you for your reply... cause i was thinkin for a starter to enroll in a trade school and take classes for electrical so im tryin to get info. on the trade

I get that - and glad to hear it. The reason I mention it is that I get on average, 30 or so enquiries a week across my desk. And like many others, I want CVs, and requests that read easily. Badly written ones hit the bin. Harsh, maybe, but it is about perception of effort and commitment - if you don't put the effort into the sell (i.e. your CV) then you're not likely to put the effort in at work. It was intended as advice only.

I think your best bet, especially if you are still looking for information on the trade, and what it is all about, is to invest a day or two of your time. Ring round all the local electrical companies and ask if they will take you out for a day or two - so you can get a feel for the job, and see what it is all about, like a work experience. You'll make some very good contacts this way too, if you make a good impression.

You probably won't get paid, and to be honest, I'd offer my time for free, in your place - and I'd also set my story out simply, as you have here - that you want to find out more about the industry, you're prepared to work hard and get training, and that you want to find a career. Be inventive, and offer something all the other guys aren't.

And, you seem like a polite young lad - make sure that comes across - it counts far more than any training at this point.

 

[alarm man]

thank you fo reply i no to check my spelling and the tex format is because im posting this with my phone and when im on my phone thats a habbit.. but thank you for your reply... cause i was thinkin for a starter to enroll in a trade school and take classes for electrical so im tryin to get info. on the trade

as what accord says,get out there with your cv and ask to see the manager rather than just hand the cv over,the postie could do that,then hand him your cv tell him what you want to do,hopefully he'll ask for a chat and that will be better than just a cv and you have a foot in the door straight away,i mainly work on industrial estates and thats what peope are doing,fair play to them for doing it,but thats what your up against, times are tough you need to stand out,shirt and tie,decent haircut and be polite hand shakes,please/thank you's etc.also google the companies your aiming for,find out their history what work they do which big clients they do work for etc.from what ive seen mid afternoon is a good time to get seen.good luck

 

[Innocent man]

Best apprentice I ever had went to college to start his course for a year before he got a job, it showed he'd already committed himself to the trade and as soon as he started on the tools at the end of that year he hit the ground running (so to speak)........ honestly he really was the best apprentice I've seen for years.
My previous employer had seven apprentices directly from school in 6 years...... not one lasted 8 months before they decided it wasn't for them, my current trainee is 31yrs old, gets a grant for training etc and could accept the pay cut to train, so never give up trying....your chance will come.

Best of luck out there though !!

 

[rayfrausto]

thank you all for your helpfull post. so just another question is there any guidelines or tips off wat i should put on my cv im just trying to find out all the info. i can i also have a cousin who is a electrican and he is teachin me things n helping me with things im tryin to jump on the ball soon as possible sence im young and goin to have a baby! so thank you all for your friendly advice

 

[Paul.M]

Starting within the electrical industry is a marathon and not a Sprint. You will be very, very lucky to gain a reasonable wage by the time your child is born, good luck and congratulations. Take to heart the advise that has been given above, its the basic things like being well presented, yourself and your cv. Good luck in finding employment. Ps all my posts are from a phone as well. A little lesson, don't blame your tools, just learn how to use them better.