Is 50 too old for a new career?

[peter.s]

Hi, I’m new here

I’ve been reading this forum and researching trade courses for some time now because I’m wanting to make a career change. I have not worked in the industry before, but I am multi-skilled and have no doubt that I have the capacity to make a good electrician… but the trouble is, I will be turning 50 in a few months.

At first I thought I could just do a C&G 2365 and then get a job and quickly qualify as an Electrician… But in reality I think it will be a lot more challenging to find work at my age. And if I did find a job, I would be working as an underling for several years before gaining my qualifications and upping my wage.

I’m keen to hear some honest opinions from the professionals. Would I be wasting my time and money to get trained up? And would any firm employ a fifty-year-old novice?

 

[mydigitalhome]

Go for it and dont let anyone put you off we all need new chalenges in life and keep those little grey cells working. If you are committed to apply yourself you can do anything. Far better is someone who wants to learn over a young person who really just wants to mess about and party hard. Later in life we know what we want and have the enthusiam & life experiences to make it a success. Hope it works out well for you. Suggest registering in the apprentice section of this site.

 

[FatAlan]

Come the revolution in March you’ll need all us 50 plus as all our friends from Eastern Europe will be leaving. Currently doing 2365 at college with 75 % of class from Poland, Czech Republic and Romania. Three or four other local lads in there who spend more time talking about s**ging and drugs. The Eastern European lads are working their socks off and way ahead of the others. I know who I’d employ? You just have to look at the number of posts on this forum from people desperate for knowledge and experience. There must be a viable business model that could utilise this demand.

 

[Rpa07]

Who wants to talk about singing and drugs? The young these days, I despair!

Come the revolution in March you’ll need all us 50 plus as all our friends from Eastern Europe will be leaving. Currently doing 2365 at college with 75 % of class from Poland, Czech Republic and Romania. Three or four other local lads in there who spend more time talking about s**ging and drugs. The Eastern European lads are working their socks off and way ahead of the others. I know who I’d employ? You just have to look at the number of posts on this forum from people desperate for knowledge and experience. There must be a viable business model that could utilise this demand.

 

[buzzlightyear]

I know who I’d employ

Three or four other local lads in there who spend more time talking about s**ging and drugs.

from the

Poland, Czech Republic and Romania

LOL.

 

[Sintra]

@Starjack you have now been banned from replying in this thread. Any more BS and your account will be banned.

 

[a-z electrics]

I am an ex engineer and did a Domestic installer course when I was 55.. self employed and haven't looked back.
Won't ever be a millionaire but love the work. It helps if you like helping people and be reasonably fit with decent eyesight.
Only regret I have is that I didn't do it sooner

 

[rapparee]

now steeplejack has that off his chest ,that is a good advertisement for him self and his company . he should ask the worzel Corbyn gummidge what he thinks of that.

Why are you bringing @MDJ into this

 

[rapparee]

@Starjack you have now been banned from replying in this thread. Any more BS and your account will be banned.

It was obviously just a bit of a wind-up

No point getting offended over it.

 

[Pete999]

Why are you bringing @MDJ into this

Crikey and I thought that was Westward 10 Joke before anyone takes offence.

 

[peter.s]

Thanks everyone for your input – and overall encouragement

For the record I am fit and healthy and rock-climb regularly. I work hard and have no issue with taking direction from youngsters… especially when it means I might learn something. The only baggage I bring with me is a loving wife and daughter and an interesting history of diverse careers from around the globe (SEA, Australia, Central Europe, etc.).
And believe it or not – I can juggle! Very well I might add as in my youth I was in a circus.

Perhaps doing a Domestic Installer course in the view to be self employed is the way to go. But after I finish the DI course, wouldn’t I still have to work for someone to gain experience and a qualifications?

 

[peter.s]

I am an ex engineer and did a Domestic installer course when I was 55.. self employed and haven't looked back.
Won't ever be a millionaire but love the work. It helps if you like helping people and be reasonably fit with decent eyesight.
Only regret I have is that I didn't do it sooner

Just curious. How long did it take you after your course to get up and running?

 

[rapparee]

Thanks everyone for your input – and overall encouragement

For the record I am fit and healthy and rock-climb regularly. I work hard and have no issue with taking direction from youngsters… especially when it means I might learn something. The only baggage I bring with me is a loving wife and daughter and an interesting history of diverse careers from around the globe (SEA, Australia, Central Europe, etc.).
And believe it or not – I can juggle! Very well I might add as in my youth I was in a circus.

Perhaps doing a Domestic Installer course in the view to be self employed is the way to go. But after I finish the DI course, wouldn’t I still have to work for someone to gain experience and a qualifications?

The DI route is saturated with people racing to the bottom on price.

Is there a shortage of sparks in your area?

It might be wiser to get into gas installation.

 

[buzzlightyear]

any jobs in Ireland ? when people say I'm going on to new pastures ,do they mean into a field like a cow .

 

[solarsavings]

It might be wiser to get into gas installation.

Which is also oversubscribed. There really is a shortage of radiographers though.

 

[rapparee]

any jobs in Ireland ? when people say I'm going on to new pastures ,do they mean into a field like a cow .

Plenty of work in Dublin

Which in turn is causing a brain drain effect so anyone who stays local has loads of work because everyone else is in Dublin

But supposedly we're all heading for a world wide recession at the end of the year so it will be interesting to see how that pans out