In defence of the short course trainee

[Adam W]

Jimmy nobody here has a problem with trainees, the problem is with cowboy training centres offering a boil in the bag course for, say, 5 weeks and producing a cowboy electrician at the end of it who thinks because they had a different job before they can use those skills in lieu of training and inflict themselves on unsuspecting homeowners; do you think they would knowingly employ someone with only a few weeks training in a cowboy training centre, regardless of how many children the cowboy has?

 

[Jimmy M C]

Jimmy nobody here has a problem with trainees, the problem is with cowboy training centres offering a boil in the bag course for, say, 5 weeks and producing a cowboy electrician at the end of it who thinks because they had a different job before they can use those skills in lieu of training and inflict themselves on unsuspecting homeowners; do you think they would knowingly employ someone with only a few weeks training in a cowboy training centre, regardless of how many children the cowboy has?

Nope, which is why I will only be a mate, I aint daft to think I will be ready and able like some, that when I finish I could start up on my own. Im just using them as a start point.
To be honest Ive learnt more from reading the pages here, than I have with the course, and I will mention that next time Im there. But unfortunately the money has been paid and Im halfway through, so will see it till the end.

 

[Simonslimline]

To be honest the only reason these training centres exist is because people sign up for the courses.

Its unbelievable in my opinion.

 

[Adam W]

To be honest the only reason these training centres exist is because people sign up for the courses.

Its unbelievable in my opinion.

That's exactly why they exist - same as beggars, chuggers, internet scams and loan sharks. They offer the product because people are prepared to buy it, and people buy it because they assume if someone can get away with selling it it must be legitimate. People say things like 'don't hate the player hate the game', well the cowboy training centres seem to think as long as they are getting away with it and making money it must be OK - same as a cowboy tradesman. Maybe training centres need more regulation if they're unwilling to play by the unwritten rules the colleges play by.

 

[Simonslimline]

I nearly fell for it and when they rang me me and started trying to hardsell me the course I just put the phone down.

Doing the 2357 at college now. In my second year now and still got loads to learn. 5weeks to become a spark is utter madness.

The training centres dont care what they churn out as long as they make money. Money talks louder than sense unfortunately.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

why is this crap still runnin?:

[h=1]"In defence of the short course trainee"[/h]i mean who the hell thought you could defend such rubbish in the first place?

 

[Chrisuk]

Aye, that's what I meant ...

As explained I did want to go the local college route, but circumstances deemed this not possible (as explained above).
2365 is part of the rip off course as its replaced the old 2330. And yes I would be working towards NVQ level 3 2357 is one of the courses I will be taking once I start with him.
I kind of understand you not liking our sort, but for some its the only way in. And as stated before I am not using it as a fast-track method, just a more viable one. My mate has just as much distain for Billy "know it all" Bodger as you.

If you will be doing your nvq3 once you start work with your friend, why are you wasting money doing the short course?

Also why Is going to college doing evenings for 4 years doing the 2365 course a rip off course, just curious?
Do the nvq3 in the last year and you are on your way

 

[Jimmy M C]

If you will be doing your nvq3 once you start work with your friend, why are you wasting money doing the short course?

Also why Is going to college doing evenings for 4 years doing the 2365 course a rip off course, just curious?
Do the nvq3 in the last year and you are on your way

No. I meant the 2365 is part of the Electrical Trainee course.
And yes I now know, but at the time it seemed like the best option for me as there were lot of courses rolled into one, and Im not able to do them locally.
Im useless a getting things across correctly in print !!

 

[Engineer54]

No. I meant the 2365 is part of the Electrical Trainee course.
And yes I now know, but at the time it seemed like the best option for me as there were lot of courses rolled into one, and Im not able to do them locally.
Im useless a getting things across correctly in print !!

The C&G 2365 Completed and passed in 5 Weeks, that i've gotta see, they can just about manage an open book 2382 in 5 weeks!! I suppose now you're going to tell us that this 5 week course also includes the 2394/95 too???

If you're useless at getting things across in print, how do you think you get on with level 3 exams then, let's hope your math is at least up to GCSE C grade too!!!....

You got a link to this course you say that you're doing, i've just got to see what this training centre has/is promising it's students??

 

[Jimmy M C]

The C&G 2365 Completed and passed in 5 Weeks, that i've gotta see, they can just about manage an open book 2382 in 5 weeks!! I suppose now you're going to tell us that this 5 week course also includes the 2394/95 too???

If you're useless at getting things across in print, how do you think you get on with level 3 exams then, let's hope your math is at least up to GCSE C grade too!!!....

You got a link to this course you say that you're doing, i've just got to see what this training centre has/is promising it's students??

You are aware that these courses are home study with 5-8 weeks in house, and not just 5 week start to finish ??

You come across as a rather angry person, I may be wrong but you've got a hell of a chip on your shoulder about something !!

ps B in Maths GCSE, don't belittle people just because they do things you don't like.

 

[dazza1981]

Im not fussed what route people take but from my own experience i can say after 8 years i still consider myself a novice and i did the full college route and nvq3 whilst working as a sparks !!
So my point is theres absolutely no way after 5 weeks or even 20 weeks you will have sufficient underpinning knowledge { NO CHANCE }.
Please dont take this as a pop at any of you doing these short courses but its just reality im afraid. I also understand we have all got to make a living but its not until you get on site and asked to work alone that you realise your 5 week course actually taught you jack s##t.
Infact since xmas 2 guys have turned up on site with there shiny new screwdrivers saying they were qualified after doing a short course and between them both it took 3 days to 1st fix a one bed flat and that was all a cock up.

 

[Engineer54]

You are aware that these courses are home study with 5-8 weeks in house, and not just 5 week start to finish ??

You come across as a rather angry person, I may be wrong but you've got a hell of a chip on your shoulder about something !!

ps B in Maths GCSE, don't belittle people just because they do things you don't like.

Angry, ....Yes i am, after 40 years in this once noble profession i now have to watch it go down the toilet!! So now it comes with home study, that makes all the difference then, ...Jesus it just gets bloody worse!!!

 

[ian.settle1]

At one time City & Guilds qualififcation where well respected around the world, the way it is going now they must be the laughing stock of the world when you are granted one after only a short time of studying.

 

[sparksburnout]

I can't resist it I am going to chuck my two-pence in, although I have not read all the replies cos I ain't got enough time. This subject does cause me great dismay, for many reasons. The general "dumming" down of the industry is just "welcome to the modern world" I am afraid. I come from both an electrical and telecomms background and have seen it in both, at the end of the day the country is run by accountants and in reality no one seems to give a ---- any more about doing things properly, in fact a lot of people now would not recognise or even know what doing something properly is. Everything is done for the bottom line price and to hell with everything else. Wages in general will continue to be driven down for the majority of all workers, while a few at the top get more and more wealthy. The only thing that will ever stop this is a return to proper values and trades union influence but it will never happen now, we have gone too far down the line. A lot of these "Electrical Trainee" as they are called are unfortunate guys who have been chucked on life's scrapheap and are trying to make a go of starting out again - of course they have no chance of following the best method, the time served apprenticeship, so they have no choice. At least they are trying, and some of them need encouragement not the berating they often get on here from experienced guys who should know better sometimes. I know you that going on one of these courses is a joke, but there are some guys who have the right practical background and previous electrical experience who can become a member of one of the "scams" and do a good job. Lets be honest, there is a difference between working in a domestic environment and in industry, in regards to the specific knowledge you need, not the overall awareness. Anyway, this is always assuming these guys will get any work - I have recently started advertising for domestic work and it is very hard starting up on your own, and even if you do get asked to quote you are up against people charging stupid money, again proof that this industry along with many others is contributing to the overall demise of the country as a whole. There, rant over - anyone got the number for Tesco? Might as well end my days shoving tins of beans on shelves. Oh - one more thing before I go, i have also placed many adverts, even on here once, for an experienced sparky to let me work with them even for free, and also contacted local ones, to try and get more experience, and guess what? No interest whatsoever, so you guys that just criticise might want to bear that in mind.

 

[chrisclose]

IMO there's no defense for some of the short course trainee sparks that are going around.. I've not long completed the 4 year apprenticeship with the final competence exam and during my time i came across a few of these guys on sites, out of three on sites i had a tad of respect for one as an electrician(as a person i respect everyone but capability wise..not at all) 2 guys just didn't know what they were doing i mean we paired two of them up with a second year apprentice to wire a flat and at one point i saw the apprentice correcting both of them on how to wire a RING MAIN CIRCUIT!! But the third guy, like the thread started had come to a loss and had been made redundant so looked for a new direction and done the course but from the minute he stepped onto site he never claimed he was a qualified spark, he simply said he'd done a course to give him a starting knowledge on some of the basics but was looking to further his knowledge working with professionals but said he would never go out and do jobs on his own he was just looking for a well paying job that he could spend some time learning at.. but for the guys who do the course and claim they're qualified... They're not. End of.