hello everyone help for a new starter

[sam90]

Hi all.

Just joined the forum I'm 27 and a class 1 HGV driver and transport manager I'm looking for a career change and have decided to do the level 2 and 3 diploma
(9 month course) while still in my current job I will then look to get experience and move on to do the NVQ 3 and AM2 while lorry driving on the side to keep cash flow up then move away from the lorries when i have my jib card any advice is massively appreciated as this career change is a huge decision as i have a family and a house to run at the same time.. thank you everyone..

Sam

 

[Pete999]

Welcome Sam

 

[telectrix]

good luck with it, seems you are going the right way. it will be hard, but percy verence will take you through.

 

[Rpa07]

Welcome Sam. All the best with your training.
I admit that I’m in awe of those big lorry drivers on today’s roads. Hats off to you all Bdumm dumm King ‘o the road!

 

[sam90]

Thank You everyone .. my biggest fear is being able to get the work once I've passed the diploma to get the NVQ and AM2 do you think this is going to be a struggle ?

 

[Rpa07]

Best is to try, throughout the training, reaching out for an Electricians mate job to give you that experience to make sense of the theory you’ll be learning.
The practical experience goes with that and reading from books and reading archives on this forum. To be able to learn by reading of other sparks experiences of how they went about doing this or that is golden and can be read in the thousands of threads all the way back to 2008.
Get good at theory and be sure you are good with practical because you’ll need both equally.

 

[westward10]

Hello Sam, won't you miss the Yorkies if you give up trucking.

 

[sam90]

Thanks rpa07 I wish I could get experience while training but I work Monday to Friday and am training Saturday and Sunday so I'm 7 days a week now .. I could give up my job and go self employed again driving but I won't be earning the £35000 a year I'm used to I especially need the money while I'm paying for the course so I'm a bit stuck while I train I think I will end up leaving the job at the end of the course then going self employed driving while looking for sparky work if that makes sense?

 

[The Ghost]

Think you will find to complete the courses you envisage that you will have to complete a portfolio of work you have done to satisfy the various modules in the courses which is an opus magnum. You cannot get the portfolio done unless you have physically done the tasks in the portfolio. That will include installation of all type of wiring systems, conduit systems (metal, pvc) data cabling. Design testing and commissioning. H&S course. All of which require on the job stuff. I cannot imagine you could do AM2 without practical experience as well.
Bottom line you will have to find the time to work at the coal face somewhere in it all. And probably for free or next to nothing. Something has to give here!

 

[The Ghost]

Oh and as to, will I get the work? What would you say to me if I decided to change career to HGV from spark? Would I get the work. It is the same, unknowable. You feeling lucky?

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Hi Sam,

Good for you for making a change. You're clearly not content or perhaps happy or fulfilled being a lorry driver so why not make a change. So many people just carry on in jobs that they do not feel comfortable with and they do this for many years, if not a life time.

You can continue to contribute financially to your family whilst exploring something else. It'll cost quite a bit to 'give it a go', but you've got to do it haven't you! There's no yes or no answer as to whether it'll work, but if you've got the balls to give it a go then you're already standing a good chance.

Let us all know how it's going in a few years

 

[sam90]

Think you will find to complete the courses you envisage that you will have to complete a portfolio of work you have done to satisfy the various modules in the courses which is an opus magnum. You cannot get the portfolio done unless you have physically done the tasks in the portfolio. That will include installation of all type of wiring systems, conduit systems (metal, pvc) data cabling. Design testing and commissioning. H&S course. All of which require on the job stuff. I cannot imagine you could do AM2 without practical experience as well.
Bottom line you will have to find the time to work at the coal face somewhere in it all. And probably for free or next to nothing. Something has to give here!

Hi Vortigern
Thanks for the reply yea you are right in a sence I can complete the diploma 2 and 3 with no on site work (all classroom theory and practical) but to get that made into a NVQ 3 you need to complete the portfolio as you said and then do the AM2 but the NVQ and AM2 are add-ons I'm told that completing the diploma you are a qualified electrician

 

[WillWX]

As already said, get as much experience in as you can, it helps with the theory and the more chance you have of picking up work!

Good luck buddy

 

[PEG]

Good luck,and don't be misled that there are quick or easy routes,to your desired career.

Imagine,somebody asked you,how long it would take,from passing your category B test,to be earning a decent living,driving the rigs you do. You will get lots of similar analogies,along the way,some even ruder but - do not be disheartened.

This forum will be invaluable,if you intend to proceed,just be realistic,and take a consensus,regarding opinion,as no one person will know the answers.

If i could get my National CPC,you can get any qual you fancy,it's just a question of determination.

Why not tell us how long you have thought of this,any previous experience,or hobbies. Also,what type of work you envisage doing,and what you see as the interesting bits.

 

[sam90]

G

Good luck,and don't be misled that there are quick or easy routes,to your desired career.

Imagine,somebody asked you,how long it would take,from passing your category B test,to be earning a decent living,driving the rigs you do. You will get lots of similar analogies,along the way,some even ruder but - do not be disheartened.

This forum will be invaluable,if you intend to proceed,just be realistic,and take a consensus,regarding opinion,as no one person will know the answers.

If i could get my National CPC,you can get any qual you fancy,it's just a question of determination.

Why not tell us how long you have thought of this,any previous experience,or hobbies. Also,what type of work you envisage doing,and what you see as the interesting bits.

Great post thanks PEG and yes I like the cat B to C+E analogy that was spot on and like you said it's different for every person .. the reason for me going into the trade now is I've had to go into management to earn more money at work and I'm fed up of being stuck in a office to go back in the truck full time would mean a pay cut and/or working 12 - 15 hours a day again don't get me wrong I've earnt a good living from it and it's a great fall back option but I don't want all my eggs in one basket so to speak .. I was self employed for a few years driving and I enjoyed it so I think eventually I would like to go on my own and start my own business as for the type of work to start with general home / office installations then as I progress I will start to look at maybe going towards a specialised field what yet I'm not 100% I'm keeping my options open I think there will be more and more call for home automation over the next 10 years lets face it our phones control most things these days..

Previous experience I did my NVQ 2 in carpentry when I was 16.. around 11 years ago but when the recession hit that went up the shitter my brother is a plumber my mom's fella is a brickey my cousins husband is a sparky so lots of trades around me did some kitchen fitting for a few years and some landscape gardening and did my HGV licences about 6 - 7 years ago and here I am today I'm in a stable financial position and not getting any younger (27) and decided well if I'm going to do this it's now or never ..
As for hobbies own a race kart that I race just club level meetings as it's all I can afford to do the national series is out my price range lol and Im always going bits of DIY doing up a old caravan at the moment as well..
Owe and by the way I've enrolled on the course and payed for it I start tomorrow (Sunday) so no going back now should have my papers by OCT..