New member - fully qualified now what?

[ell107jb]

Hi guys, thought id sign up on here and ask a few questions.
Basically I'm fully qualified electrician (C&G 2330 to level 3) however i hold no 'on site' experience, which is holding me back big time! Since leaving college I've had to make do with working in catering.
Where do i go from now? i really don't want my qualifications to mean nothing and somewhat a waste.
I've helped relatives & friends change light fittings and some basic problem solving, but I'm not the most confident person in some aspects due to been out of college for so long & worried I'll f up because i don't have the experience. I've rung,e-mailed & sent letters around asking if anyone requires a helping hand and only 1 person got back to me but couldn't offer anything because they had nothing on.

A customer who comes into my work, had a mate who had a dodgy electrician around and inquired if i was up to the job (finishing some wiring off in a conservatory) so i got chatting to him on the phone and asked if i held a NICEIC card? I've heard of the things but college never really explained about these things. However this was a good 6 or so months ago so i doubt the jobs going BUT can i apply for a NICEIC card? what is one?
Is there anything else i can do get my feet on the ladder? I don't own any tools, equipment, but hold a full drivers license & I'm the young age of 21 :/ ?

Thanks guys

 

[Spudnik]

Welcome to electriciansforums.net. Stick around I'm sure you'll like the forum.

 

[Guest123]

Welcome along.:disguise:

 

[CRAGS]

Hi and welcome

 

[cbw]

Where are you? And Hello!

 

[dingledong]

i dont know what an nic card is . do you mean a j.i.b. card

 

[ell107jb]

Hi im over in west yorkshire. Think it's been NIC registered i think but also heard of the JIB cards aswell

 

[dingledong]

reread your post did any of the other guys at college work for firms ? keep in touch with them in case a vacancy comes up
put aside a small amount each week to buy tools cos no tools no work. there is electrical work advertized so keep your ears and eyes open looking for work.
maybe drop hints at work ,there is always some one looking out for a sparky

 

[dingledong]

you d have to join the nic to get a nic card ( but i've never heard of it ) and to join them you would have to show them work

 

[vernam616]

Hi and welcome

Have you completed the NVQ Level 3? if not JIB will not grade you as "Electrician"

All i noticed in your first post was C&G 2330 level 3

 

[Sintra]

Hi & welcome.

 

[apm electrical]

Hi im also in a simula position to the first member ,As in i have city & guilds 2330 level 3 and finding it hard to get a start in the industry due to lack of experience.
I was a slightly more mature student and feel age is against me as well (im 43)
The thing is i wanted to go self employed and register with nic or one of the bodies that allow self cert, At the time of starting my course i didn't realise the the red tape and the expense of it all.I would still register if i can raise the funds but not sure i can with just the qualifications i have (2330 level 3) i get conflicting stores and the nic,napit sites dont really seam to mention or recognise 2330 at all. I have also acquired 2382-10 17th edition in the hope this will aid me in finding a job ,but it seams to me all they want now is the 2391 ,when does it end i have no more funding for any other exams and am reluctant without seeing any return yet ..
On another note to register i believe you need to have completed work to show or be assessed on,,how is this possible if you cant legally work until your registered? catch 22 springs to mind lol .
If any of you old pros could in lighten a newbie on anything ive rattled on about it would be greatly appreciated many thanks in advance .....

 

[RWJ]

Hi

:welcome: to the forum

 

[MarkieSparkie]

Hi, welcome to the forum.

 

[telectrix]

On another note to register i believe you need to have completed work to show or be assessed on,,how is this possible if you cant legally work until your registered? catch 22 springs to mind lol .


if you get in touch with elecsa, you should find that you can do the job/s for assessment then notify through them once you are a member.

 

[Arnold Layne]

apm,
sorry to answer a question with a question but what are you trying to do? If you want to be self employed working on domestic properties that would require a different approach than if you wanted to work in the commercial sector for example. On the domestic front you would need to register for one of the Part P schemes, such as Elecsa, NICEIC or NAPIT. As far as I know ( domestic is not my thing) they would all require that you provided completed work that they could assess. You need to contact them and ask the specifics. The key issue is that you have to demonstrate that you are competent ( not qualified). City and Guilds provides the theoretical underpinning ( as in C&G 2330) but the other requirement to demonstrate competence is completed work. Your best hope is to find work alongside an electrician who is already registered, that will give you the work to show. If I were you I would ensure that you had this prior to embarking on the 2391. This is a Test and Inspection (essentially) qualification. Commercial work is a whole different situation and I won't go into it here because it is probably not what you want to do. So you need to find a work face and the best way to do that is to work alongside someone else. Good Luck and I would not let your age worry you but you do need experience.