Is 47 too old to retrain as an electrician

[nlp67]

Thanks for that Engineer54, just to let you know, yes I did post the same question 4 years ago and did take level 2 electrician course at my local college until my youngest daughter was taken seriously ill. Just last Monday she was given the all clear. So here I am again asking for advice as to what to do next.I'm happy to give you my address and a time you can speak to me if you want to continue with your sarcastic comments but I doubt your be doing anything about it.
For the rest of you Gents, Thank-you for your advice.

 

[nlp67]

Yes, I've been in the building game since school and can plumb, plaster and done a fair bit of re wiring and got my C&G in domestic plumbing but after 20 yrs of feast or famine became a train driver which is a decent job but brain numbing. At 47 I'm still strong and physically fit. I don't want to get into house bashing or anything like that, it's fault find and repairs that interests me, something a bit more challenging!
Thank you for your time.
Bill.

 

[Leesparkykent]

Yes, I've been in the building game since school and can plumb, plaster and done a fair bit of re wiring and got my C&G in domestic plumbing but after 20 yrs of feast or famine became a train driver which is a decent job but brain numbing. At 47 I'm still strong and physically fit. I don't want to get into house bashing or anything like that, it's fault find and repairs that interests me, something a bit more challenging!
Thank you for your time.
Bill.

that fair enough but to understand fault finding you have to have a good knowledge of electrical systems and without the experience of actually installing different type of systems you will struggle. And as you said you done your level 2 I take it you mean 2330 level 2? Why not just carry on the same route and go on to your level 3 and try gain some on site experience at the same time.

 

[nlp67]

Yes it was and thank you for your advice!

 

[trev]

Nip, why don't you post up your rough location? You never know, one of us will definitely be near you and might have a need for a pair of hands.
Best of luck to you for L3

 

[Leesparkykent]

I don't think the 2330 is still running but as you have level 2 you could go do your 2356 level 3 or do Nvq 2357, this is an all in one so same as doing level 2-level 3 and nvq3 plus am2 and as you already have level 2 some of the units on the 2357 you will already have done and you won't have to do them again.

 

[Engineer54]

Thanks for that Engineer54, just to let you know, yes I did post the same question 4 years ago and did take level 2 electrician course at my local college until my youngest daughter was taken seriously ill. Just last Monday she was given the all clear. So here I am again asking for advice as to what to do next.I'm happy to give you my address and a time you can speak to me if you want to continue with your sarcastic comments but I doubt your be doing anything about it.
For the rest of you Gents, Thank-you for your advice.

What do you think we are, bloody mind readers or something? Perhaps if you had given a damn sight more information on your present status in your OP and stayed online long enough to have answered the early replies, things may have been seen very differently!!

You're right, I have not the slightest reason or inclination to speak to you privately or otherwise, why would i ??...

 

[driverman]

I can't do what I done 20 30year ago, threading conduit, climb tower install back down, thread same again, house bashing same you have to get moving to earn the cash. It's for the younger man, I would not last 5mins now. lol

In same boat m8 lol and without the paddle!

 

[BES]

Good luck to you mate but id stick to driving trains the grass isn't always greener. I started to retrain in 2001 done the old 2360 1&2 2391 and 2381/2382 worked for nothing at weekends with a good spark why doing a full time job and going to college twice a week then got a job doing air con and hygiene intalls. Went on my own 4 yrs ago but had to pack it in now due to my back has gave in. Its hard work and unless you know some in the trade who will give you a chance but most companies wont want to know.

 

[gnuuser]

consider what you are going to have to learn and the time its going to take for it to be a profitable venture. is there enough work availeable to cover your expenditures?
on the other hand do you have the sufficient desire and the time to dedicate to the proper schooling?

that being said you are never too old to learn things but that's up to you.

 

[nlp67]

Thank you guys!
driving trains is a decent job but for me retraining is more of a challenge than anything else.
I do appreciate all your comments and advice, I will probably continue to level 3 and see how it goes.
I will stay in touch with the forum for future advice and guidance.
All the best Gents!!

 

[ferg]

I came back to the trade after a long break and rediscovered the meaning of sore knees, hard work, and finding a new niggle / twinge somewhere in my body on an almost weekly basis.

Add to that the hassle of relearning old skills and knowledge, plus everything I never knew in the first place.

Self employment is another kettle of fish. Long hours, do a days work and then look at jobs on the way home.

When you finally get home then it's paperwork time or organising the van again time or how the cluck do you do x again time.

Add to that the costs and hassle of building up your kit again.

Balancing books, ordering stock, taking phone calls from customers, organising and then reorganising your diary.

Changing your underpants when the mortgage is due and you have late payers.

AND you want to give up a 40K a year job to start from an even worse position than I did????????

Cluck that for a game of soldiers, do an open university degree or something matey

 

[ruston]

40k and a good pension is a lot to give up in this climate if you are looking at domestic. By all means study , but I would think more than twice about giving up your security while it is still there.
Good luck whatever you do .

 

[Adam W]

I spend all day every day answering calls about "faults"

 

[Adam W]

and going around fault finding;