Feeling Fed up with the trade

[Cadgey123]

I have been in the electrical trade since I was an apprentice, 12 years now and had a colourful amount of experience in the electrical trade.

I started doing domestic work again and have all of a sudden come to a point where I am actually hating it.
Apart from changing sectors, I am stumped! Does anyone else get like this?

Feel like hanging up the pliers and heading for a cushty office job!!

 

[cliffed]

It's all changed & for the worst,there ain't a lot who wants a days hard graft,it's got rougher,& those who are arrogant agessive & bullshitters.

 

[Leesparkykent]

I've been sparking for 18 years and still love the job...don't get me wrong I have bad days but couldn't really see myself doing anything else.

 

[Dozer 73]

Must be plenty of opertunities down the big smoke for a change in direction within the electrical world
Rail , underground , substations , tunnelling , cross rail

 

[Pete999]

I suppose, people, opinions all change, in my day you got an apprenticeship, did your 5-6 years, in the mean time you met your future Wife Partner whatever, you worked for the life you had planned. Jobs were easier in those days, perhaps you couldn't see further than the nose on your face, when jobs were easier to come by, I never once thought of a change, took the rough with the smooth, personally I had the Cuban crisis to worry about, changing jobs never entered my mind, my Old Man would have killed me.

Far to easy to take a course in this that or the other in order to swap careers, don't know if it's to easy, or people can't be bothered to stick at it, after all in some cases it only took 6 or 7 weeks to become qualified. I don't believe it's necessarily the individuals fault for this attitude, of I'm fed up with this lark, I need to change, it's the Governments fault in my opinion, for down grading the value of the honest Artisan, whether that be an Electrician, or whatever trade you are working in.

Sorry for the ramble folks.

 

[Dozer 73]

Must be plenty of opertunities down the big smoke for a change in direction within the electrical world
Rail , underground , substations , tunnelling , cross rail

I know what I have said is true because I have sparky mates working down there on the various things I have listed

 

[Rpa07]

That was me pressing the wrong button @Nigel Martin - changed as I agree.
OP - Once you have your papers extra courses can take take you wherever you want.
I personally would have a look at agency work for a while, it has opened up another chapter for me with new experiences everyday. The other thing is you can work as hard as you like, as neat and professional as you like and someone else does the invoicing. Use it as a holiday period, change sites if you feel inclined (I do feel some allegiance though).
Believe me, this is a good trade, @Pete999 used the word 'artisan' and I believe this is where you can show your artistic/ creative side and make something wonderful.
If you went into your apprenticeship from 16 or so, there has been no break. I had a number of jobs from school age and did each for 2 or 3 years so I never got fed up.

 

[Stspark]

Up skill diversify and move into a niche area? BMS, PLC, compex, hv, inspections, commissioning, design. All of these stem from electrical skills.

 

[Ian1981]

I like the job but at the moment I've been stuck on new builds for 2 months!!
A slight step up from rewires in the realm of domestic and that's it.
I'm proper sick!

 

[Squid]

I was bored with IT and took a year out to just chill out and thought about going back in to the trade but all the miserables gits on here moaning have made me rethink my options, I think I'd rather work in an office 9 to 5 eyeing up the hot totty in heels, stockings and short skirts at £250 per day.

 

[The Ghost]

Office jobs...had my share. Office politics stink usually there is a lot of back stabbing, snitching and jealousy. The grass may look greener on the other side, but it isn't and never usually is. Unless you are very fortunate. The other thing is a sedantry job is no good for your health even in the short term. Sitting about all day is dire and your health will suffer. Think carefully and take stock, rather than a blind impulsive move as stated above there are many other avenues, just not "cushty office job" purlease!

 

[Deleted member 9648]

I have been in the electrical trade since I was an apprentice, 12 years now and had a colourful amount of experience in the electrical trade.

I started doing domestic work again and have all of a sudden come to a point where I am actually hating it.
Apart from changing sectors, I am stumped! Does anyone else get like this?

Feel like hanging up the pliers and heading for a cushty office job!!

I've been like it a while now,like you I've come to hate the job. But there's still too many commitments to take a risky chance doing something else. At the moment it's just paying the bills, that's all I get out of it.
Sad to say it really, been in the trade nearly 40 years.

 

[Leader]

I've been like it a while now,like you I've come to hate the job. But there's still too many commitments to take a risky chance doing something else. At the moment it's just paying the bills, that's all I get out of it.
Sad to say it really, been in the trade nearly 40 years.

That is a real shame, you work for so much of your life to hate it so much. And when you get to the end what is there really? It would be a waste to spend your time being unhappy. I get the stability aspect and it wasn't until I was made redundant some years ago and got a contract job for a year that I really saw the value in being happier in my job. I now put that higher than the salary on offer.

 

[marconi]

I wonder if you are suffering from boredom and need to learn and apply something new? There are a great deal of new developments for an electrician to become au fait with.

Some ideas for you:

a. The Smart home/office/factory - see How to become a smart home installer - IET Electrical - http://electrical.------.org/wiring-matters/65/smart-homes/index.cfm

b. Modular wiring systems - Modular Wiring Systems – What You Need to Know - https://www.tradeskills4u.co.uk/posts/modular-wiring-systems

c. Become knowledgeable and skilled in special locations - electrical.------.org/wiring-matters/30/protective.cfm?type=pdf

d. Off grid electrical systems. - Off Grid - http://www.energy-solutions.co.uk/off-grid

e. Power quality - Power Quality - ADF Power Tuning – Comsys - https://adfpowertuning.com/technology/power-quality.html

f. Building Services Engineering - CIBSE - What is Building Services? - http://www.cibse.org/building-services/what-s-so-special-about-building-services-engineer

g. Commissioning and Maintenance- eg: London Underground, CrossRail,

h. Special projects - eg: Proposed refurbishment of the Palace of Westminster. BDP wins Palace of Westminster restoration job - https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/bdp-wins-palace-of-westminster-restoration-job/10021717.article

 

[PEG]

I wonder if you are suffering from boredom and need to learn and apply something new? There are a great deal of new developments for an electrician to become au fait with.

Some ideas for you:

a. The Smart home/office/factory - see How to become a smart home installer - IET Electrical - http://electrical.------.org/wiring-matters/65/smart-homes/index.cfm

b. Modular wiring systems - Modular Wiring Systems – What You Need to Know - https://www.tradeskills4u.co.uk/posts/modular-wiring-systems

c. Become knowledgeable and skilled in special locations - electrical.------.org/wiring-matters/30/protective.cfm?type=pdf

d. Off grid electrical systems. - Off Grid - http://www.energy-solutions.co.uk/off-grid

e. Power quality - Power Quality - ADF Power Tuning – Comsys - https://adfpowertuning.com/technology/power-quality.html

f. Building Services Engineering - CIBSE - What is Building Services? - http://www.cibse.org/building-services/what-s-so-special-about-building-services-engineer

g. Commissioning and Maintenance- eg: London Underground, CrossRail,

h. Special projects - eg: Proposed refurbishment of the Palace of Westminster. BDP wins Palace of Westminster restoration job - https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/bdp-wins-palace-of-westminster-restoration-job/10021717.article

...Finally,a bit of optimism

...I had just managed to jubilee the pipe on my exhaust,when this saved me...