Qualified but not much experience, what to do?

[Rampage]

I could do with some advice please
I am going to start looking for electrical work soon. I am qualified but lack experience.
I have the following qualifications:


2382 17th Edition
2391-10 Inspection & Testing
2391-20 Design & Verification (passed exam, just waiting for project to be marked)


Although I have done electrical work in my own home, I have never been employed in it. I am competent at DIY and have most tools (electrical related and other) required. I also have my own test equipment.
I am good at fault finding electrics as I started my electronics hobby at primary school (built a remote control car for a primary school project), started soldering and programming EEPROMS when I was 11/12. Although this was just a hobby, I have never been employed in electronics.
I would consider myself mechanically minded.


Also, before I did the courses above, I was going to do the 2330 level 3. When I found out you have to do level 2 first I changed my mind as it would have taken 3 years. I have read the level 2 &3 books (Heinemann), I knew a lot of the content of both books already, but after reading both of them I now believe there is nothing in them that I don't understand.


Please don't think I'm boasting about things I've done, I'm just trying to get across where I am with regards to ability.


So, where do you think I should start?! And what sort of wage would I be looking at?


Thanks very much,
Chris

 

[QSGAZ]

fat fingers late nights and the vibration of 36v hammer drill does not help when typing on a very small key board, but thank you for the correction of my spelling i will try harder in class.

 

[grommit2]

just go to the collage talk to them about your experience, I done part 2, for 3 nights a week and just sat the exam for part 1. that bit of paper says & proves your good enough to do the job.

 

[PaoloElectrical]

Hey Chris, I have equivalent of a UK Bachelor of Techology in electrical (3 year full time degree 'Operatore Elettrico' and plenty of experience in my dad's shop and for various domestic installations, but I've only just come back to the UK and don't know where to look for a job either! Any suggestions? Or maybe we could team up! Many thanks! Paolo ( Paolo [DOT] Electrical [AT] yahoo.co.uk )

 

[mhar]

For the 2330 do you need to do the course to take the exams? I joined part way through year 2, my eligibility to do year 3 was that I had to have passed the year 1 and 2 exams so I just took the year 1 exams.
This was all preceded by going along to my local college and having a chat with the head of year. I would have thought that a call to City & Guilds to determine if you are able to just take the exams and then have a chat with your college.

 

[Engineer54]

Unfortunately, you have seemed to skip the core electrical C&G 2330 qualification that all electricians should have.
You seemed to have gone for the add ons which are always much appreciated, but are not Core foundation qualifications. Not really sure how you come to have done this, maybe you've had some bad advice at the start of your training??

Unfortunately the HNC course will still not give you a Core foundation in electrical installation, but rather links electrical theory and electronic theory to give you an extended foundation over ONC in electrotechnology....
Maybe you should take the advice given by others here to visit your local technical collages and find out where you actually stand with your current qualifications. I'm pretty sure like others that you won't need to cover the full course, as so many of these qualifications are recognised as equivalents to other qualifications.

Been a hell of a long time since i did all these courses, and things seem to have changed, beyond all my recognition!! ...lol!!

 

[anyclean]

Shoot for the quals and try to get an apprenticeship. This year is looking to be good for new apprentices.

 

[piratebillybob]

the 2330 level 2 is one year full time and the 2330 level 3 is one year part time

 

[Chr!s]

I could do with some advice please
I am going to start looking for electrical work soon. I am qualified but lack experience.
I have the following qualifications:


2382 17th Edition
2391-10 Inspection & Testing
2391-20 Design & Verification (passed exam, just waiting for project to be marked)


Although I have done electrical work in my own home, I have never been employed in it. I am competent at DIY and have most tools (electrical related and other) required. I also have my own test equipment.
I am good at fault finding electrics as I started my electronics hobby at primary school (built a remote control car for a primary school project), started soldering and programming EEPROMS when I was 11/12. Although this was just a hobby, I have never been employed in electronics.
I would consider myself mechanically minded.


Also, before I did the courses above, I was going to do the 2330 level 3. When I found out you have to do level 2 first I changed my mind as it would have taken 3 years. I have read the level 2 &3 books (Heinemann), I knew a lot of the content of both books already, but after reading both of them I now believe there is nothing in them that I don't understand.


Please don't think I'm boasting about things I've done, I'm just trying to get across where I am with regards to ability.


So, where do you think I should start?! And what sort of wage would I be looking at?


Thanks very much,
Chris

I wouldn't worry too much about the 2330, its not what its cracked up to be, easy to pass. You obviously have the technical knowledge, just lacking the practical. If you are practically minded you will be fine,the skill and speed comes with time 2330 or not. You can do what a lot of 2330 holders cant do! Design, Inspect and Test.

Get out and get work, try take on some commercial design, subcontract and work with the Electricians who are good at banging in systems, you get the best of both worlds then and the money

The NVQ3 might be good option, it will open other avenues.

Aside that, it depend's what you want to do, natural progression from the 2391 would be a Building Services HND.

Electrical Engineering HND is another good option, lots of variations on these courses so be careful, some focus more so on electronics others electrical.

Do you want to be self employed or employed, what industry is in your area, you need to target your skills.

HTH

 

[UNG]

I wouldn't worry too much about the 2330, its not what its cracked up to be, easy to pass. You obviously have the technical knowledge, just lacking the practical. If you are practically minded you will be fine,the skill and speed comes with time 2330 or not. You can do what a lot of 2330 holders cant do! Design, Inspect and Test.

Get out and get work, try take on some commercial design, subcontract and work with the Electricians who are good at banging in systems, you get the best of both worlds then and the money

The NVQ3 might be good option, it will open other avenues.

Aside that, it depend's what you want to do, natural progression from the 2391 would be a Building Services HND.

Electrical Engineering HND is another good option, lots of variations on these courses so be careful, some focus more so on electronics others electrical.

Do you want to be self employed or employed, what industry is in your area, you need to target your skills.

HTH

No exam is difficult to pass including the 2391-10 & 20 if you know what you are doing. As has been previously mentioned in other posts it appears now that a "qualified electrician" doesn't need any core electrical qualification all the peripheral ones will suffice. Unfortunately a lot the qualifications worth having are not the ones that can be achieved in weeks some of them do take years that's why they are worth having to dismiss the 2330 as not worth having is an insult to those who took the time to do it and pass it IMO.

I cannot understand how people are studying for a 2391 qualification when the City & Guilds website says:

Who are they for?

A Certificate in Inspection, Testing and Verification of Electrical Installations is for qualified electricians working in the industry. You may want to continue your professional development or update your knowledge of techniques and legislation.

surely this means no 2330 or equivalent means any 2391 certificate that's awarded has no validity or is this just more corruption in the industry and money is speaking louder than proper qualification, licensing and regulation of electricians

 

[urchy107]

if your looking to get registered with the jib which could be important depending on what work your looking to get. then they will send you a card that has trainee stamped all over it. if you have only a level 3 2330 your card will say qualified electrician, if you had your qualifications and a level 3 2330 you card would be stamped approved electrician and you qualify for a gold card which is a bonus and a good thing to have I think. hope this gives you an idea. as for expected wage I was on £8.50 an hour whylst I was completing my 2330 and I was doing my own jobs, but thats the case with these quals so best to get whats needed before you start looking for the big bucks. cheers Matt

 

[Chr!s]

No exam is difficult to pass including the 2391-10 & 20 if you know what you are doing. As has been previously mentioned in other posts it appears now that a "qualified electrician" doesn't need any core electrical qualification all the peripheral ones will suffice. Unfortunately a lot the qualifications worth having are not the ones that can be achieved in weeks some of them do take years that's why they are worth having to dismiss the 2330 as not worth having is an insult to those who took the time to do it and pass it IMO.

What level of skills does 2330 deliver? Why do so many students pass yet fail 2391-1, does the 2330 deliver the same skill level as the 2391-2, the answer is no, the 2330 course is to broad not enough depth. It gives some practical skill, but this can be gained without the 2330. As i said, he may as well get the NVQ3.

I cannot understand how people are studying for a 2391 qualification when the City & Guilds website says:

If they have the competance why not?

Who are they for?

A Certificate in Inspection, Testing and Verification of Electrical Installations is for qualified electricians working in the industry. You may want to continue your professional development or update your knowledge of techniques and legislation.

What is a qualified electrician? Where do we start and where do we stop?

surely this means no 2330 or equivalent means any 2391 certificate that's awarded has no validity or is this just more corruption in the industry and money is speaking louder than proper qualification, licensing and regulation of electricians

In my opinion the 2391 is the wrong way around, if you cant design how can you understand how to test properly.

The 2330 is by no means the end all, be all that people make out, it depends upon what direction you want to take.

That of course is just my opinion

 

[AP Electrical]

That of course is just my opinion

Fair piont chr!s, think the general consensus is changing though even the ' bodies (niceic etc) are talking about the new 2357 ( equiv 2330 l3 +nvq ) as being the only approved route to be " qualified ", then 2391 etc as add-on.

p.s dont shoot the messenger.

AP

 

[UNG]

Originally Posted by UNG

No exam is difficult to pass including the 2391-10 & 20 if you know what you are doing. As has been previously mentioned in other posts it appears now that a "qualified electrician" doesn't need any core electrical qualification all the peripheral ones will suffice. Unfortunately a lot the qualifications worth having are not the ones that can be achieved in weeks some of them do take years that's why they are worth having to dismiss the 2330 as not worth having is an insult to those who took the time to do it and pass it IMO.

What level of skills does 2330 deliver? Why do so many students pass yet fail 2391-1, does the 2330 deliver the same skill level as the 2391-2, the answer is no, the 2330 course is to broad not enough depth. It gives some practical skill, but this can be gained without the 2330. As i said, he may as well get the NVQ3.

What level of skill does any certificate prove City & Guilds killed the old C certificate course because the pass rate fell through the floor I think a few on here will agree that was the gold standard for an installation spark

I cannot understand how people are studying for a 2391 qualification when the City & Guilds website says:

If they have the competance why not?

What electrical competance have they proved prior to taking the 2391 course

Who are they for?

A Certificate in Inspection, Testing and Verification of Electrical Installations is for qualified electricians working in the industry. You may want to continue your professional development or update your knowledge of techniques and legislation.

What is a qualified electrician? Where do we start and where do we stop?

It appears to be an on going debate I believe as to what is a qualified electrician but like it or lump it no core electrical qualification means not qualified in my book whether you can pass the 2391 or not. Having been in this industry for 35 years I haven't stopped learning yet as there is always something new out there


surely this means no 2330 or equivalent means any 2391 certificate that's awarded has no validity or is this just more corruption in the industry and money is speaking louder than proper qualification, licensing and regulation of electricians

In my opinion the 2391 is the wrong way around, if you cant design how can you understand how to test properly.

The 2330 is by no means the end all, be all that people make out, it depends upon what direction you want to take.

I agree the 2391 is the wrong way round you should not be able to complete the 2391 or the 2382 without the 2330 or it's older equivalents

The 2391 in all it's parts is a small part of a properly qualified electricians qualifications and was taught as part of the old A, B & C certificates before some one saw the earning potential of spinning it and a few other bits into specialist courses that people would pay more money for.

While you take the view that the 2330 is not the be all and end all it is still a core electrical qualification and in my opinion the peripheral courses and certificates should have no validity without it

That of course is just my opinion

I have responded to your comments above

My view is that your opinion supports people who masquerade as "qualified electricians" while not having "all" the qualifications to support the title or role

 

[Dave 85]

I havn't read this thread but just thought I'd add my 2 cents. Wether you need 2330 entirely depends on what you plan to do as a job. If you're looking to work for a large company or do big site work, then I'd say yes. If you want to be self employed and take on your own (mainly domestic) jobs then no.
Personally, having done it myself, I think the 2330 teaches you very little that is relevant to domestic electrical work. I will admit that people who are incapable of passing 2330 should probably not be doing any type of electrical work but you seem to have your head screwed on and Im sure you would have no difficulty passing it if it came to it.

What annoyed me at college was that I was forced to learn at the same rate as the least acedemic guy in the class which can be very frustrating and mind numbing.

 

[silbo]

I dont know how you were allowed to take the exams you have without the core electrical qualifications, but thats another story.
If you did study for a HNC or a BTEC in my opinion it would be better. I trained at a factory and 99% of craft apprentices studied BTEC and it covered no practical or installation knowledge. It was all theory. Also I think they might let you skip a year in HNC or BTEC. They let me start on year 2 because of I had good O level grades, but being a lazy cocky so and so ended up doing City and Guilds which was virtually unheard of where I worked. I was like an outcast.
You sound like an academic kind of person and if I had my time again I would have done the BTEC or HNC every time. I'm 45 now and just started a science degree at OU. 25 years too late.

Hope this helps.