Good evening all
Just wanted to run a question past those who might have time to look at it
Basically, I have my NVQ level 2 and am gaining experience in the field at the moment, working as an electrician's mate (self employed/sole trader, effectively sub contracting) mainly in domestic. At this point I have approximately the equivalent of 6 months full time experience (constituted of a year of part time voluntary experience, and almost 3 months full time employment (as a subby)).
I have looked about to see what other vacancies are available, mainly to use as a negotiation tool when it comes to asking for better pay in my current position, but also I am interested to see what else is out there which I could possibly take up.
I notice that a number of vacancies on job sites for electrician's mate roles, require various combinations of some of the following: Experience, 18th edition, Part P, Inspection and Testing, and level 2 NVQ.
Of course there are many more which require level 3 NVQ (and loads more besides), but a lot don't, and some don't even mention the level 2.
Don't get me wrong, I want to get my level 3, but it would have to be via evening classes, and I have not been able to find a provider for this course on an evening class basis this year as I had hoped. I'm aware of the '8 week wonder' type courses which are available, but would much rather wait until I can find what I'd call a 'proper' provider (i.e. a college) which will offer this so that I can learn more and feel I've done it properly. Although I've looked for places offering the level 3 via remote learning (I had heard some places do, with a short residential component at the end to do the practical aspects of it) I've not yet been able to identify any which offer this, apart from the short 8WW type courses. Which is unfortunate from my perspective.
In the mean time though, I am thinking that given that a lot of the vacancies I see don't even mention level 3 NVQ, I might as well embark on my 18th edition (home study and remote invigilation), and then possibly took to also take remote/home study Part P and possibly Testing and Inspection as well, as this should in theory give me a better chance of being offered interviews for some of the electrician's mate vacancies I've seen online.
I just wondered what opinions others might have about this. I suppose I'm just surprised that level 3 is in so many cases not a prerequisite, and I don't want to go to the effort of applying for these roles, paying out for 18th, Part P and Testing & Inspection, only to find out later that these other three short courses were a bit of a waste of time/weren't going to get me any further without my level 3 NVQ anyway.
A qualified sparky has told me that the level 3 NVQ includes aspects of Part P and Testing and Inspection anyway. If this is true, does it make paying for and studying these two courses in their own right a bit pointless if I'm going to, hopefully at some point in the not too distant future, get my level 3 NVQ anyway?
Many thanks for reading
Just wanted to run a question past those who might have time to look at it
Basically, I have my NVQ level 2 and am gaining experience in the field at the moment, working as an electrician's mate (self employed/sole trader, effectively sub contracting) mainly in domestic. At this point I have approximately the equivalent of 6 months full time experience (constituted of a year of part time voluntary experience, and almost 3 months full time employment (as a subby)).
I have looked about to see what other vacancies are available, mainly to use as a negotiation tool when it comes to asking for better pay in my current position, but also I am interested to see what else is out there which I could possibly take up.
I notice that a number of vacancies on job sites for electrician's mate roles, require various combinations of some of the following: Experience, 18th edition, Part P, Inspection and Testing, and level 2 NVQ.
Of course there are many more which require level 3 NVQ (and loads more besides), but a lot don't, and some don't even mention the level 2.
Don't get me wrong, I want to get my level 3, but it would have to be via evening classes, and I have not been able to find a provider for this course on an evening class basis this year as I had hoped. I'm aware of the '8 week wonder' type courses which are available, but would much rather wait until I can find what I'd call a 'proper' provider (i.e. a college) which will offer this so that I can learn more and feel I've done it properly. Although I've looked for places offering the level 3 via remote learning (I had heard some places do, with a short residential component at the end to do the practical aspects of it) I've not yet been able to identify any which offer this, apart from the short 8WW type courses. Which is unfortunate from my perspective.
In the mean time though, I am thinking that given that a lot of the vacancies I see don't even mention level 3 NVQ, I might as well embark on my 18th edition (home study and remote invigilation), and then possibly took to also take remote/home study Part P and possibly Testing and Inspection as well, as this should in theory give me a better chance of being offered interviews for some of the electrician's mate vacancies I've seen online.
I just wondered what opinions others might have about this. I suppose I'm just surprised that level 3 is in so many cases not a prerequisite, and I don't want to go to the effort of applying for these roles, paying out for 18th, Part P and Testing & Inspection, only to find out later that these other three short courses were a bit of a waste of time/weren't going to get me any further without my level 3 NVQ anyway.
A qualified sparky has told me that the level 3 NVQ includes aspects of Part P and Testing and Inspection anyway. If this is true, does it make paying for and studying these two courses in their own right a bit pointless if I'm going to, hopefully at some point in the not too distant future, get my level 3 NVQ anyway?
Many thanks for reading
