Hi and help

[jono1987]

Hi all,

I am new to these boards so firstly hello to all !!

I am looking for some help if possible. I am 22 years old and currently work in Sales and as you might have guessed, looking for a career change.

I have always wanted to work in either plumbing or as an electrician and i figured I am still young enough to retrain now. What i need to know is what is the trade like at the moment ? i know plumbing is suffering and there is an overflow of people doing it. Is it the same for an electrician.

I have also been told that electricians apprentices get paid rather well, now although i am not money oriantated this would be benficial because i have a mortgage and 1 child. But again its not all about the money its about the outcome when qualified.

What do you do on a day to day basis as an electrician ? I mean, do you literally get called into holmes to change a light switch or is there more than meets the eye, im just trying toi gain an understanding of your bread and butter so to speak for e.g the other trade that interests me, plumbing, bathroom installs and leaks are bread and butter.

Thank you all in advance.

 

[johnboy6083]

the money seems to be going down at the mo mate, because of supply and demand. there is large supply of electricians, but not a great demand for us (in job market terms). Therefore, companies who want to employ electricians can get awaywith paying less, because they know that most of us will have no choice to accept the wages, because of lack of other oppurtunities for work.

With regards to bread and butter jobs, our trade is so diverse, that it is not easy to tell you what any of us can get involved in on a day to day basis. I am a contracting electrician, which means that i am self employed, and i am employed for the duration a of a contract (eg to build a shopping centre), and then i will move to another contract (eg a powerstation). Some of the lads on here are happy to specialise on one sector, eg domestic or industrial. All i would advise, is that if i were you, i would undertake a full electrical apprenticeship, so that when you qualify, you have all your options open, as to what work you can carry out. If you train as a domestic installer for example, then you would not be qualified to work in a factory, or a power station ect.

Hope this helps mate.

 

[jono1987]

Some of the lads on here are happy to specialise on one sector, eg domestic or industrial. All i would advise, is that if i were you, i would undertake a full electrical apprenticeship, so that when you qualify, you have all your options open, as to what work you can carry out. If you train as a domestic installer for example, then you would not be qualified to work in a factory, or a power station ect.

Hope this helps mate.

I thought the only way of getting into doing this would be a full apprenticeship ? are there other ways in and other quals then ?

 

[ezzzekiel]

yes you could do just 17th and seek employment, add 2391 to it and you would stand a better chance although experience is everything in this game it may help to get you a start as a mate and gain the experience.

do a fast track course for di cert (only really suitable if you are going self employed) means nothing on its own

or go to college for what is currently the:
2330 levels 1,2,3 will take 2-3 years then get nvq3 takes min 12 weeks and then you will be classed as fully qualified