fast course at trading centres, is it useless?

[Martin.h.lee]

Hi folks.
I came from S korea.
I just started my electrician training at private centre at Surrey, chessington.
I paid a lot of money for the course. This package includes 2330 level 2&3, 2382-20, 2392-20, NVQ 2356-31 level 3.
The NVQ L3 will be assessed at the workplace after I start to work as an electrician as soon as I finish 12 week intensive course.
They said they have high rate of exam pass and almost everyone who finish the training will get a job.
That sounds very good. So I enrolled the course.
the other reason why I choose this centre and this course rather than local college is that I can't stay UK for 2 or 3 years for the college course because of the VISA.
I need to get a job as soon as possible and need to extend my VISA with work permit by the company.

However, I joined this forum I found out that many people recommand local college course because it is cheapper and can learn more.
I really discouraged and disappointed about my choice.
Even though i get certifications after 12 weeks, will it be useless piece of paper which is really expensive?

Please give any advices for me to get best result from my choice though it is not the best one.
What can I do within in this situation?

 

[derek preece]

You can't learn all that is required to be an electrician in 12 weeks. The best route is still the traditional apprenticeship, the course you are doing is best for those who have been working in the trade for some time but don't have the qualifications. Having said that, if you are dedicated, you will learn enough to wire a basic house but I suspect you will struggle when you actually get out in the field working, particularly with fault finding and with regards to the vast array of products and methods. You will definitely need some work experience so my suggestion would be to find work as an electrician's mate a.s.a.p. that will help.

 

[piratebillybob]

if you cant get your money back, and do it at college I would try to find lots of past papers for the exams and dont sleep for the next 12 weeks. Whats done is done, but youll have to go down fighting with those exams and never give up even if you fail one or two. Once you get those exams, again youll have to again show perseverence to get a job. It took me 13 months to find an apprenticeship and i received all distinctions in my exams. Also quite a lot of our class doing the 17th regs had trouble with the style of writing used in the book and those guys were english. That exam will be tough if youre not fluent in english.

 

[mogga]

so What your realy trying to do is get work and a VISA on the pretence that you are training to be an electrician??

 

[Martin.h.lee]

pretence??? do you do something without reason? I do my training to be an electrician because I need a job and VISA. is that a problem? Did i misunderstand you or didn't i make myself clear?

 

[Martin.h.lee]

if you cant get your money back, and do it at college I would try to find lots of past papers for the exams and dont sleep for the next 12 weeks. Whats done is done, but youll have to go down fighting with those exams and never give up even if you fail one or two. Once you get those exams, again youll have to again show perseverence to get a job. It took me 13 months to find an apprenticeship and i received all distinctions in my exams. Also quite a lot of our class doing the 17th regs had trouble with the style of writing used in the book and those guys were english. That exam will be tough if youre not fluent in english.

Thanksfully I got credit and ditinction grade for 201 and 202 exam of 2330.
13 months even for english people..OMG

 

[piratebillybob]

13 months even for english people..OMG

thats if you get one at all. just because you have the qualifications doesnt mean you get an apprenticeship. However nearly all the people from 2330 level 3 who got an apprenticeship in a few months got one through having their dad know someone or having contacts. Those same people also were the ones getting passes and credits while the mature guys and girls who got distinctions didnt get an apprenticeship. what im trying to say is that there arent hard and fast rules as to getting an apprenticeship. You may get lucky and get one immediately, you may have to struggle and get one after a year looking or you may never get one at all

 

[dasa NE1]

Hi Martin , The best way forward in my opinion is what I told you yesterday to find a local spark either someone you know or by standing outside local electrical suppliers and hand out leaflets to every spark who gets out of van . Tell them you will work for free at weekends after college or work. Times are hard at the moment no companies are taking on trainees at the moment and the ones who are use JTL or similar set ups to bring apprentices through. The domestic sparks are fighting to make money against cowboys , cheap oversees farmers and teachers etc coming over and working as sparks mates for dodgy firms charging peanuts for jobs and cutting every corner they can. So although it sounds bleak there will be some domestic sparks who will look at it as good investment some free labor for their knowledge. This my friend cannot be bought there are some brilliant sparks out there who can teach you more than any college, book or course ever will. There is not and never will be a substitute for a good teacher the best people to teach you are the guys who have done it since they were 15 years old when there was no training academy’s or quick 6 , 12 or 24 week courses . To be a good competent spark it takes years not weeks. Theory is important you need to understand the fundamentals of electrical safety and all its principles but it means nothing without a good spark taking you under his wing and teaching you all he knows. You have committed to your course both financially and in study use it as the first step to your career not the only step .Don’t be second guessing it now it’s done . The qualifications you will get are industry standard now so every job you apply for in the future will ask for them. So invest as much of your time as you can spare with a spark as this is the best investment you will ever make in your career. It’s worked for dozens of people I know and everyone wins.
Good luck my friend and always look for the opportunity there is always an avenue.
Hope this helps

Kind Regards Das

 

[alarm man]

pretence??? do you do something without reason? I do my training to be an electrician because I need a job and VISA. is that a problem? Did i misunderstand you or didn't i make myself clear?

direct hit on nerve..

 

[piratebillybob]

i believe (and please correct me if im wrong because im interested in emmigrating somewhere) that all youll be qualified to do after the nvq level 3 is electrics in this country. if you then went to another country yould have to retrain to their standards and qualifications. I think anyone who chooses to better themselves is fantastic, however you may find friction in the construction industry because you are coming to this country specifically to live and take one of the very few apprenticeships out there. Its a lot different than a country that is crying out for people to fill the trades (i think/hope canada and australia are.) The uk has a huge amount of people to do the jobs but not enough work and not enough jobs to give those people a living. So i hope you can appreciate why you may encounter some hostility to your actions. Or an unusually higher amount of rejection when trying to find an apprenticeship I really hope it works out for you, youll just have to remain positive throughout any adversity. Nothing that matters is ever easy.

 

[fuzzydunlop]

You'll never get a visa/work permit on the basis of passing an electrical course.

 

[Martin.h.lee]

i believe (and please correct me if im wrong because im interested in emmigrating somewhere) that all youll be qualified to do after the nvq level 3 is electrics in this country. if you then went to another country yould have to retrain to their standards and qualifications. I think anyone who chooses to better themselves is fantastic, however you may find friction in the construction industry because you are coming to this country specifically to live and take one of the very few apprenticeships out there. Its a lot different than a country that is crying out for people to fill the trades (i think/hope canada and australia are.) The uk has a huge amount of people to do the jobs but not enough work and not enough jobs to give those people a living. So i hope you can appreciate why you may encounter some hostility to your actions. Or an unusually higher amount of rejection when trying to find an apprenticeship I really hope it works out for you, youll just have to remain positive throughout any adversity. Nothing that matters is ever easy.

Yes, I guess you are right. I know that no matter how long I live here and even get citizenship of UK, I will never be one of them. I am just a unwelcomed foreigner...

Thanks for your fair advice.

 

[derek preece]

"One of them" it means nothing in this day and age! The U.K. is as diverse in terms of ethnicity as any other country on the planet. If you are determined to get somewhere then you will. You will do your utmost to overcome any challenges that stand in your way. The simple fact is that this country has a large number of unemployed people chasing a smallish number of jobs so therefore the competition has increased. I have seen many of my friends lose their jobs, I've kept mine because I work hard and I do my job to a high standard. You just need to convince a potential employer that you have what it takes to earn them a profit from your hard work.

 

[piratebillybob]

I know that no matter how long I live here and even get citizenship of UK, I will never be one of them. I am just a unwelcomed foreigner...

Its a shame you think like that. I worked with a pakistani who currently works in a supermarket while he was working towards a masters. And hes accepted as one of the guys and everyone likes him. if youve paid for your courses then youve got nothing to lose by trying. At the end of the day the only person whos going to stop you bettering yourself is you.

 

[Martin.h.lee]

You'll never get a visa/work permit on the basis of passing an electrical course.

My unclear english make you misunderstand my intention. I don't expect get visa and work permit by passing the course.
What I want to is getting a job after finish the course and hopely the company can support my visa extension. Currently I can stay UK legally for about 1 year more.