UK What electricians should I look out for as an apprentice?

[yung_kio]

Does it really matter if they only do domestic work or commercial work?

Is it just the qualification that only matters since it's the same?

 

[Phill104]

Does it really matter if they only do domestic work or commercial work?

Is it just the qualification that only matters since it's the same?

You want to find someone who is honest, fun to work with and who cares about their work. It is so easy to end up in a toxic workplace and it drags you down too. If something doesn’t feel right then it probably isn’t. If you make a mistake, just own up to it. Don’t be a moaner but don’t let your boss moan at you. If they are a good teacher, they will not complain or get angry, but instead try and teach you in a constructive way. Don’t be afraid to find a new mentor if it isn’t working out and you are not happy. You should be enjoying your work and always wanting to be doing the best you can.

 

[yung_kio]

You want to find someone who is honest, fun to work with and who cares about their work. It is so easy to end up in a toxic workplace and it drags you down too. If something doesn’t feel right then it probably isn’t. If you make a mistake, just own up to it. Don’t be a moaner but don’t let your boss moan at you. If they are a good teacher, they will not complain or get angry, but instead try and teach you in a constructive way. Don’t be afraid to find a new mentor if it isn’t working out and you are not happy. You should be enjoying your work and always wanting to be doing the best you can.

Which would you say is better for the long term? Residential, Commercial or Industrial for apprenticeship?

 

[Phill104]

Which would you say is better for the long term? Residential, Commercial or Industrial for apprenticeship?

I haven’t worked in the game in a long time having switched to IT. I did industrial switchgear and battery back up systems so I cannot really comment on how the industry is today, or which route to go. There are plenty on her far more qualified than I to comment on that.

 

[diditrain]

Which would you say is better for the long term? Residential, Commercial or Industrial for apprenticeship?

If you can get into commercial/industrial that would be my choice.

 

[pirate]

Watch out for any electricians who use a neon screwdriver and claim to be kitchen fitters!

 

[MDJ]

Does it really matter if they only do domestic work or commercial work?

Is it just the qualification that only matters since it's the same?

depends on whether you want to become an electrician or a handyman, a domestic spark isnt a real electrician in my and many others opinion, just saying

 

[nicebutdim]

Which would you say is better for the long term? Residential, Commercial or Industrial for apprenticeship?

Much depends on what you want to do in the future, although it's difficult to know this before starting out.

It's unlikely you'll have a wide range of firms lining up to bid on you becoming their apprentice, so take what you can abd start from there. In an ideal world you'd find a firm who works across multiple sectors, although odds would be against this.

Some people serve their time doing only domestic work and go on to industrial work, then again there are industrial sparks who would really struggle with wiring a 3 bedroom house. Much depends on the individual, their abilitiy and their motivation. Some days I'd gladly never again work in an industrial environment, but other days I think it's the best job in the world. I might get the odd month on a commercial installation or a couple of weeks of domestic (and of course evenings provide plently of that), which makes a nice change, but I generally love industrial work. Other people love domestic work - like everything in life, it takes all sorts.

Get started and see how you go - installation might be your thing or maybe you'll find pulling huge cables to be fun. It could be that controls are your thing or then again measuring out sockets and downlights might suit best. It's a huge industry and none of us will ever get to experience every part of it.

 

[yung_kio]

If you can get into commercial/industrial that would be my choice.

The electricians I have an interview work with waitrose and John Lewis

 

[baldelectrician]

The electricians I have an interview work with waitrose and John Lewis

Look up their company info and see what they do, also check John Lewis and Waitrose sites

Drop nuggets you have gleaned from their site in the interview and have a couple of questions to ask- this shows an interest in the firm and their line of work

You could also ask if they do building automation as you find that interesting (bet nobody else asks that)

 

[nicebutdim]

You could also ask if they do building automation as you find that interesting (bet nobody else asks that)

Bet nobody else finds it interesting

 

[yung_kio]

Look up their company info and see what they do, also check John Lewis and Waitrose sites

Drop nuggets you have gleaned from their site in the interview and have a couple of questions to ask- this shows an interest in the firm and their line of work

You could also ask if they do building automation as you find that interesting (bet nobody else asks that)

Does building automation pay more?
I just go where ever the money is.

 

[nicebutdim]

Does building automation pay more?
I just go where ever the money is.

Any speciality can pay more if you have skills which are in demand and which few others have. The down side is that people see others earning money in specialised areas and quickly gain skills and qualifications needed to grab a slice of the action. Pretty soon supply exceeds demand and pay rates drop accordingly.

First step is to gain general experience and get basic qualifications, then decide where you'd like to go from there. People have stepped away from apprenticeships to jump at big wages, then found themselves unable to escape a daily grind of drudgery.

If money is your sole motivation, there are better paid trades to enter.

Edit: on the subject of building automation the big wages will be found in design, with some decent money earned by those commissioning systems. Installation isn't particularly skilled as it's just another form of cabling and connections.

 

[yung_kio]

Any speciality can pay more if you have skills which are in demand and which few others have. The down side is that people see others earning money in specialised areas and quickly gain skills and qualifications needed to grab a slice of the action. Pretty soon supply exceeds demand and pay rates drop accordingly.

First step is to gain general experience and get basic qualifications, then decide where you'd like to go from there. People have stepped away from apprenticeships to jump at big wages, then found themselves unable to escape a daily grind of drudgery.

If money is your sole motivation, there are better paid trades to enter.

Edit: on the subject of building automation the big wages will be found in design, with some decent money earned by those commissioning systems. Installation isn't particularly skilled as it's just another form of cabling and connections.

better paid trades like what? Are they as stable for the long term?

 

[nicebutdim]

better paid trades like what? Are they as stable for the long term?

Is anything stable for the long term? Next time the economy takes a hit, lots electrical contractors will go to the wall along with all other trades. Long term stability is more affected by the contracts a company has than the sector in which they operate. This is 2024 - if you want a job for life join the civil service as no trade offers long term job security.

As for better pay; plumbers and gas engineers would generally receive better remuneration than electricians. Specialist work is different, but as previously mentioned it relies on additional knowledge and qualifications. It's also not guaranteed to pay better in the long term.

I don't know what to tell you, but life doesn't generally hand anything to anyone on a plate. You'll have good days and bad days. You'll have windfalls and serious financial hits. It's not all sweetness and light - in fact it's probably as far removed from that as can be, with the exception of light - we can always arrange plenty of light.