Should i become an Electrician?

[jwsblackburn]

I am a 17 year old boy currently at college i get decent grades (B's and C's) however i am struggeling at college and have been offered to become an apprentice with one of my dads mates. my dad is something to do with the electrical buissness but has worked his way up the ladder now he working somewhere in Heathrow on alot of money. i would love to be taking the amounts he does (100,000 p/y) but its obvious he is very lucky to be in that situation. i have read a few topics and alot of you are saying that if you had the chance you wouldnt have become an electrition due to poor wages, long hours and certain people working for peanuts. im quite worried on what to do - do i carry on with college work hard try and get a degree ( which will be costing me (9,000 a year!) or should i get an apprenticeship. once i am fully qualified my dad thinks he will be able to get me a job with around £15p/h i think i would quite enjoy the electrical work however i just want some opinions whether you lot think i should go into the buissness or not, how much money is involved and how many jobs will be availiable.
cheers james.

 

[pushrod]

Cheers guys, this has been so helpful! - your all much nicer than the people on the Newcastle united forums aha. Im still deciding what to do but i am sure that i will end up doing it - its just whether i finish my A levels first.

That's because some of us are S'land supporters

If it was 5 years ago i would have said definitely go for the degree first. However with tuition fees likely to be £6-£9K and accomodation to pay for there is no doubt that you would be very lucky to finish without a huge amount of debt. On the other hand a tremendous number of jobs are graduate entry only or at least the fast track to a well paid career in it is. Are there other specific careers that you have in mind - the chances are that you will change career several times during your working life. Getting a degree is like a badge saying i can learn new skills and if you do want/need to change career at some point a degree in anything will be a help. I also suspect that the numbers of people going to university is set to fall over the next few years - this will mean that young graduates will then be more scarce and their opportunities will be better.

The other thing to consider is are you secretly thinking i don't want to take these exams i might fail -everybody thinks like that sometimes. You mention you are struggling is this because the work is just too hard, not interesting enough or you are not putting in the hours because social life/ whatever gets in the way.
My view would be, at least, finish the courses you are on. Discuss things with your parents and and discuss it at college with a tutor/career advisor at college. Good luck

 

[malcolmsanford]

All I can add to Phil's (pushrod) post is I would go for the degree if you have the aptitude, to be honest with the advent of the 5 week wonder course jobbing sparks are not a rarity on the ground, and though as an apprentice you will be getting a far superior start in the industry, that is IMO, You will still be in an industry that is flooded.

I have 2 daughters and one just going to University and they have never regretted it and though the eldest as put her career on hold for a family, the other is doing very nicely and far exceeding 15ph.

 

[Anonomoose]

I did ok at GCSEs and was pushed into a levels by everyone despite it not being for me. I ploughed on for 2 years doing two a levels I hated then on to college. After this I worked in offices doing IT stuff as it was the current trend. I was on good Money especially for my age but I didn't really enjoy it that much. I eventually quit and got my truck licence and drove for a Bit while I decided what I wanted to do. Now been a sparks for 5 years. It's one of my preferred jobs but like any it has it's ups and downs. Benefit is you're young and you can always do something different if you fancy in the future. Best of luck

 

[Knobhead]

As kung suggested try to get some time with your dad’s mate and give it a try.

I enjoyed my apprenticeship and enjoyed 30 wonderful year of adventure afterwards. I was in heavy engineering, no two days were ever the same.

 

[jwsblackburn]

Ahhhh, looks like the apprenticeship isnt going to go through - i think the guy wants someone with a little experience. just as i decided to do it. Does anyone know of anyone that could offer me an apprenticeship in or around Surrey. cheers guys

 

[baldsparkies]

All I can say is the trade once belonged to the privileged few, Nowadays every third van is a sparkies.
The cake is being cut into smaller and smaller slices, so be aware, competition is high.

 

[SPARTYKUS]

the worst thing ever is getting up and going to a job you hate,no matter how much you get paid,getting up and looking forward to going in is worth thousands,be it the job,the lads,the craic,do what makes you happy

So true. You may find yourself wandering around the garden at two am mumbling, rubbing your head and spilling your stella. I'm not being flippant this time it happened. So I jacked that life in (along time ago)

I enjoy being an electrician but there are hard times at the moment

 

[FatBob]

Take the apprenticeship. I was hungry for Uni at your age, but if you are only drifting there, then it might not be for you. An apprenticeship is not to be declined lightly.

 

[SMB]

Ive read this thread a few times now.

Spose what I would suggest is take the apprenticeship, complete it and then decide if you like the job and it suits you.

Its only 4 years, thats a short part of your life (although, im sure it feels daunting). You will learn skills which will help you in life whether you continue to do the job or not. You will not have to get the 'yellow pages' out and call for a sparky because your lights have gone out, you will already have the knowledge yourself to repair them. 4 years well spent I reckon.

I didn't go to university till I was 29.


All the best.

 

[deca321]

hey kid! take the apprenticeship l would if l was you, l know people who went to uni and did all kinds of exams and now they are either unemployed or working in asda, l am also looking for one

 

[jwsblackburn]

Alright guys, been doing some work exp for some guy who lives near me and i think he may offer me an apprenticeship over the summer, had my first day today and although i only hammered in a few things fed cables round, i really enjoyed doing it - he has a great set up and theres only 3 of us working so i got to do alot of things.

 

[Freshstart2]

I think you should go for it.
If at the end of the apprenticeship you dont want to be an electrician you still have a valuable trade behind you and arent 50 k in debt like with uni.
Good luck.