I have decided... after a long time i want to become an Electrician

[EoinMcD]

I have been searching for a trade that I want to go into but I am always coming back to the same one... I am 20yr ½ from Northern Ireland wanting to become an electrician but by the time I can ask for an apprenticeship I will be 21yr. My real question is... am I to old to get into the field?

 

[Petej999]

i was 22 when i left home. just finished college and was on the princely income of £1.50/week > OK 1970, but £1.50 would just cover an evening at the local pub.

I got Married at 21 in 1971 mate, and bought me first house, £1.50 a week. what planet were you on?

 

[EoinMcD]

Minimum wage for a first year apprentice is £4.30 max regardless of age. An employer may choose to pay more, but under 25 that's unlikely.

No, I read up on the apprenticeship scheme I thought 19 plus was minimum wage, yous don't realise how much i thanks yous for the info.

I got Married at 21 in 1971 mate, £1.50 a week. what planet were you on?

I was born 2001, my dad was born 1978. I'm not getting married anytime soon un fortunately. XD

 

[EoinMcD]

Run a mile. The apprenticeship has to be done via your employer and they have to sign a contract between them and college stating the terms.

No reputable company would advise you to do that. Sounds like they want to put you through it and get the funding, but make you sort out all your own tax etc and they can also sack you whenever they choose.

Self employed would actually be better for you since you can claim for all your expenses pre tax but it's shady AF for them to suggest lying to your college and apprenticeship provider. These are government funded, if they got found out they'd be in it deep.

You can't be a self employed apprentice... i didnt want to risk it, i want to be 100% legit

 

[littlespark]

Haha…. I’m older than your dad! That makes me feel old again…

Although I’m sure tel and Pete are older than my dad

 

[EoinMcD]

Run a mile. The apprenticeship has to be done via your employer and they have to sign a contract between them and college stating the terms.

No reputable company would advise you to do that. Sounds like they want to put you through it and get the funding, but make you sort out all your own tax etc and they can also sack you whenever they choose.

Self employed would actually be better for you since you can claim for all your expenses pre tax but it's shady AF for them to suggest lying to your college and apprenticeship provider. These are government funded, if they got found out they'd be in it deep.

that's what I thought, the intake for this year is finished but I got out now as a sparks mate for a wage and experience, to hand out my cv is April 2022 to company's hoping they will take on apprentice with previous experience as an advantage.

 

[Electrics]

that's what I thought, the intake for this year is finished but I got out now as a sparks mate for a wage and experience, to hand out my cv is April 2022 to company's hoping they will take on apprentice with previous experience as an advantage.

You'll do fine mate, just keep on it. Be relentless and try everything. Someone will give you a shot. If not there's always college as a decent back up plan.

 

[EoinMcD]

You'll do fine mate, just keep on it. Be relentless and try everything. Someone will give you a shot. If not there's always college as a decent back up plan.

College over here in Northern Ireland only offer 1 way to become a spark... which is an apprenticeship level 3

 

[Electrics]

College over here in Northern Ireland only offer 1 way to become a spark... which is an apprenticeship level 3

Ah right. Then do everything in your power to get there. I also wouldn't wait til April - some firms might take you on now with a view to becoming an apprentice next year which means an extra year of experience under your belt by the time you qualify.

Top tips:

1. Picture on CV. Keep the CV simple and to the point - you need to use it to sell yourself.
2. Emphasise anything that proves you are not going to be like a bumbling 16 year old who's never picked up a screwdriver before. Most apprentices have to be nursed for the first 6 months as they don't know anything. If you can save them that hassle it's a great selling point; it's basically the only reason i've been taken on - because my boss knows i'm going to be doing a lot of the work the qualified men do, with minimal instruction and yet he's only paying me minimum wage not £16+ an hour.
3. Send emails, and follow up with phone calls. I sent around 35 and got two responses, but didn't have to make calls because one of the responses was an interview for the job i got.
4. Leave ads in wholesalers.
5. Speak to people in the trades, ask if they know anyone.
6. If you see electrical vans outside houses, try going directly to them.

 

[EoinMcD]

Ah right. Then do everything in your power to get there. I also wouldn't wait til April - some firms might take you on now with a view to becoming an apprentice next year which means an extra year of experience under your belt by the time you qualify.

Top tips:

1. Picture on CV. Keep the CV simple and to the point - you need to use it to sell yourself.
2. Emphasise anything that proves you are not going to be like a bumbling 16 year old who's never picked up a screwdriver before. Most apprentices have to be nursed for the first 6 months as they don't know anything. If you can save them that hassle it's a great selling point; it's basically the only reason i've been taken on - because my boss knows i'm going to be doing a lot of the work the qualified men do, with minimal instruction and yet he's only paying me minimum wage not £16+ an hour.
3. Send emails, and follow up with phone calls. I sent around 35 and got two responses, but didn't have to make calls because one of the responses was an interview for the job i got.
4. Leave ads in wholesalers.
5. Speak to people in the trades, ask if they know anyone.
6. If you see electrical vans outside houses, try going directly to them.

I am currently out with the guy that offered me to go out with him as a self employed spark apprentice... i turned him down and said i'd mate with him for a year (I'm not going to but experience is what i need) I will quote what he said when i said an an apprentice needs to be employed by the company: (He said: Any apprentice i take on will have to be self employed. Im not paying national insurance, holiday pay or pension. If ur self employed u get a higher wage and about £2000 at end of tax year which more than covers holiday pay) I have to get some experience with a spark before i can contact any other company because i am finding without experience and being 20yr old nobody wants me really... I have called up NEARLY ever firm around me and the intake this year is full, i need to ride the wave with this guy for abit then start making moves to other company that will take an apprentice. thought?

 

[Electrics]

I am currently out with the guy that offered me to go out with him as a self employed spark apprentice... i turned him down and said i'd mate with him for a year (I'm not going to but experience is what i need) I will quote what he said when i said an an apprentice needs to be employed by the company: (He said: Any apprentice i take on will have to be self employed. Im not paying national insurance, holiday pay or pension. If ur self employed u get a higher wage and about £2000 at end of tax year which more than covers holiday pay) I have to get some experience with a spark before i can contact any other company because i am finding without experience and being 20yr old nobody wants me really... I have called up NEARLY ever firm around me and the intake this year is full, i need to ride the wave with this guy for abit then start making moves to other company that will take an apprentice. thought?

Sounds like a plan.

The guy you're working for may well be good experience but in terms of what he's saying, in England anyway (NI might be different) you cannot be an 'apprentice' unless you're with a company cards-in. Since a proper apprenticeship is the only way in in your country i'm going to assume that you would never be seen as fully qualified if you did it his way. Maybe ring up the people who deal with registration in your country and run it by them?

Maybe ring up colleges and tell them your situation - sometimes they get firms contact them and they can put you forward as a potential apprentice.

With already working with a firm i think you'll be fine, but i would start putting out CV's right now. The fact you're already in work as a spark's mate is a huge bonus. Put in your CV what you can do or have experience with - something like:

Experience in installing:

• Plastic PVC conduit installation
• Fused spurs
• 2.5mm ring mains and radials
• CU wiring
• Downlighters
• Shower installation, both wiring and mounting
• Basic plumbing, carpentry, flooring, demolition
• 2 and 3-plate wiring methods for lighting
• SWA

 

[telectrix]

I got Married at 21 in 1971 mate, and bought me first house, £1.50 a week. what planet were you on?

that was my education grant for college. 1966 -1970, for the college time. the work placement periods paid about £7/week. then i got taken on at £22/week in 1970.

Sounds like a plan.

The guy you're working for may well be good experience but in terms of what he's saying, in England anyway (NI might be different) you cannot be an 'apprentice' unless you're with a company cards-in. Since a proper apprenticeship is the only way in in your country i'm going to assume that you would never be seen as fully qualified if you did it his way. Maybe ring up the people who deal with registration in your country and run it by them?

Maybe ring up colleges and tell them your situation - sometimes they get firms contact them and they can put you forward as a potential apprentice.

With already working with a firm i think you'll be fine, but i would start putting out CV's right now. The fact you're already in work as a spark's mate is a huge bonus. Put in your CV what you can do or have experience with - something like:

Experience in installing:

• Plastic PVC conduit installation
• Fused spurs
• 2.5mm ring finals and radials
• CU wiring
• Downlighters
• Shower installation, both wiring and mounting
• Basic plumbing, carpentry, flooring, demolition
• 2 and 3-plate wiring methods for lighting
• SWA

corrected that for you. no charge this time.

 

[Electrics]

corrected that for you. no charge this time.

I bet you call T+E 'PVC PVC TWIN AND CPC' don't you?

 

[telectrix]

nope. i call it twin and skin. sometimes twist and extend.

 

[Electrics]

nope. i call it twin and skin. sometimes twist and extend.

?

 

[EoinMcD]

I bet you call T+E 'PVC PVC TWIN AND CPC' don't you?

I have been learning the methods, through a good channel an electrical tutor in England (GHS electrical) great channel... I will be still handing out my CV and I am trying to get an apprenticeship... they only take apprentices in on September of every year... deadline past. I am working my hardest at learning everthing I can give me an edge and show an employer that I'm work the apprenticeship. Btw I can do more than basic plumbing, my grandad, dad and brother are plumbers i was brought up in the field basically, (more like dragged through it ?) I have contact all my local spark and a wee bit further afield and they aren't taking anybody on im going to keep looking and asking... would need to update my cv with your good idea's though.