Hi Guys, this is my first post and I apologise if I have done anything wrong.
I am severely in need of help and reassurance on the pathway I am aiming to go through to train to be an electrician.
From the rest of your post you seem to have done a lot of research on some parts but not others as for deciding your pathway into the industry only you can make that decision
The current chronological pathway I am looking to follow is:
-fast track C&G 2365 level 2 and 3 via Tradeskills4u link:
C&G 2365 Level 2&3 Diploma Course Package | Tradeskills4u - https://www.tradeskills4u.co.uk/courses/2365-course
- become a mate, then become an improver (become an improver as soon as possible, if possible avoid the mate step)
- become gold card member through completion of NVQ3 followed by AM2 exam through a work based portfolio while working as an improver.
The route you are looking at would suggest more of a commercial / industrial bias in gaining experience and on the job knowledge as you don't get many if any mates jobs in the domestic sector as for improver jobs it is whether you are allowed the time and help to pick up the experience, on site knowledge and speed to keep you in work
I really need help from people in the industry as I have key questions:
- from your experience in the industry, is it likely I will be able to get mate and improver employment following my fast track 2365 level 2 and 3 qualifications.
- are there better providers for fast track 2365 courses in the south east? Tradeskills4u has mixed feedback
- through this pathway, am I restricting myself to domestic electronics? In the long run I would like to do industrial following some time in domestic
- importantly, does it make sense to do it this way!
As someone who has been in the industry since leaving school I have seen many changes in the training over the last 40 odd years, the fast track system is not a new idea it was around in the 70's and 80's with the government skillcentres that trained unemployed people to become electricians in 6 months and it is fair to say that some were good and got to be pretty good electricians while others would never make the grade, at the time the more seasoned guy's did treat them with some contempt on site and would not give them the chance or time to improve on their limited skills
Background: I have studied a degree in biological sciences and found that the type of employment I will get through graduate jobs just don't pay well, graduate jobs are near impossible to find, as well as the fact I feel the working environment for most of these jobs does not match me. I am looking to be an electrician due to an interest in electronics and wanting to work in an environment with problem solving on a daily basis, a well as a good outlook for long term growth in the sector.
If your looking for problem solving on a daily basis then you might be disappointed something that may be considered a problem early on in your career soon becomes just another bread and butter job and you look forward to a challenging fault find there is a sense of achievement when you report a fault to the DNO and they dig up half the street to fix it
The reason I would like to pay money to fast track the 2365 courses is that, being 25, I want to have a career as soon as possible. While I understand college is cheaper, as far as I understand, it will still take a couple of years just to get the 2365 level 2 and 3. Will this route speed things up for me?
So how do you see the timeline progressing from the fast track training into a fully fledged electrician, a fast track course will not get you a top wage straight out of the course as the training centre will not equip you fully for what you will find on site and it could take a couple of years or more to get there.
The fast track training these days IMO sets you up to pass an exam or 2 which does not necessarily set you up to be an electrician immediately, reading the course sylabus it would good if it was blended with some site experience and some post course support during the first few months of employment to fill in any knowledge gaps
I really appreciate any feedback you can give me. My family is not a trade family, I have no contacts around me who I can ask for help with this so I feel quite overwhelmed - especially in light of the investment that fast tracking the first two courses entails. End note: I understand that the fast track will be very full on but I am good at studying.
While not being from a trade family what if any practical experience do you have with tools and powertools, the selection and use of fixings and all the other engineering skills that the fast track course will not teach you it could be the longer route into the industry may be more beneficial to gain these skills while attending college
Whichever route you choose I hope it works out for you
