What is the reason to why next to nobody will employ new electricians?

[Mr Curnow]

Just wondering as I've been looking for employment in this trade for a long time, ever since I was on C&G level 2 I'd been looking for work, now I am on my way to becoming an electrical engineer, enrolled on a HNC at the moment, though I've sent out so many letters and so many emails, most people won't even reply but if they do it's always something like "I'm sorry, but we do not have any vacancies at the moment, we'll let you know when we do.", but they don't. And no matter how qualified you are, you will know some random idiot that has no qualifications and has a job simply because he knew someone, where as I have completed the qualifications and won't even be given a chance to prove myself, not that I'm expecting to be paid highly for what I'm going to be doing. I just want a career as an electrician/electrical engineer.

If it's "not what you know, but who you know" then I have lost hope for the world. Just putting peoples lives at risk if you don't have the qualifications.

 

[snowhead]

It's just the time we are in at the moment, employers in any field want people who will go flat out from the off.

My Son who was a Manager was looking for jobs related to his Degree for 2 years, 200 applications I believe, hardly any replies and only a couple of interviews.
He took an unskilled manual job somewhere where a Managers job may come up later, if things improve.

 

[Paul.M]

Boils down to supply and demand. The supply of out of work sparks is higher than the demand. Prices are being pushed down, conditions are getting worst and the time scale to do a job is reduced all for the sake of saving money.

 

[Mr Curnow]

What about electrical engineers? I've been searching for employment for this aswell but nobody is interested, I doubt the supply of electrical engineers is higher than the demand, electrical engineering isn't a common choice at university, I've heard they usually want people that have graduated but It'd be helpful If I were to have practice before I graduate, that would lead to more opportunities.

 

[Fin170]

In the same situation, only just scraping by doing odd jobs and working with a chap now and again. Lost count of the times I've lost opportunities on a 'who you know' basis

Call me pessimistic but I don't see the situation improving or a particular bright future in electrics, can't even look at the thousands it would cost to set up on my own + unworkable van insurance (£1500 for a y reg transit!).

 

[Amp David]

A chap on my street is a lecturer on Electrical Engineering at Manchester University.

Was chatting to him a few week ago about it, and his honest advice to anyone thinking to do a degree in it would be not to bother.

He summed it up as, you spend time and a small fortune doing the course, then you'll find there are no job for you.

Heres his website, if anyone interested Dave Southalls' Shed projects

 

[Silly Sausage]

Heres his website, if anyone interested Dave Southalls' Shed projects

What a lad! He's built a bar stool vehicle. Why can't I have neighbours like him.

bar stool racer

 

[Amp David]

Should of seen him whilst he was testing his one wheeled skate board.

He was up and down the street all weekend, it was hilarious:willy_nilly:

 

[frank3323]

If it's "not what you know, but who you know" then I have lost hope for the world. Just putting peoples lives at risk if you don't have the qualifications.

Mc Curnow - i dont see that happening to be honest, maybe housebashers? but i only see qualified sparks where i work, at the end of the day if i see a CV from 2 sparks, both qualified the same but one has been doing decent work for 10 years and one has not, i would always pick the one with the experience, as most people would, as for electrical engineering, i work for a massive company and the sparks with experience are paid higher than the engineers for that very reason. experience in doing the job. we have a saying here, the engineers can tell you what cable to put in. the sparks can tell you what cable to put in, put it in, test it, certify it and maintain it for a lifetime. its just the way of the world. i see young lads helping local company's for free to get a good reference and experience. i worked for 50 quid a week to start off.

 

[cobrauk]

You don't say if you have done on the job training or not but that would make a big difference to getting a job, we do have a lot of young lads who have put them selves through the course who are looking to get on the job training and we have taken them on in the past but only on first year money until they are able to do the job, we have a 26 year old working for us right now who had never done any electrical work other then on the course and he will tell you he didn't know nothing compared to what he needs to know to be able to do the job from just the course work, I will give him his due he is keen to learn and is picking things up very well.

 

[Octopus]

When times are difficult companies will always go for experience and cost. Why take somebody on who'll need a lot of training when you can have somebody who'll just need a small amount of "company" standards training.

 

[Mr Curnow]

Well I guess the problem is where you are located, I live in dorset and can find nothing but there are always advertisements for electrical engineering opportunities in the midlands, I also think maybe there will be more opportunity abroad, depends what country you live in. Maybe that is the case. I don't think you should simply give up on chasing a career you are interested in because there isn't much employment at the moment.

 

[Gavin A]

electrical engineers should probably be looking for work with the DNOs, as they're in the process of rebuilding the entire grid infrastructure of the country (well most of it), as well as being rushed off their feet with microgeneration applications, so there should be plenty of work there I'd have thought.

I know we just lost one of our team to go back to a former employer to run a team for them pulling cables in around the country for the undergrounding of the grid projects.

 

[Engineer54]

as for electrical engineering, i work for a massive company and the sparks with experience are paid higher than the engineers for that very reason. experience in doing the job. we have a saying here, the engineers can tell you what cable to put in. the sparks can tell you what cable to put in, put it in, test it, certify it and maintain it for a lifetime. its just the way of the world.

What are these Engineers, juniors that have only just graduated?? lol!!

Never heard such a load of old cods-wollop for years now!!! I take it your talking about an American company, I've worked with enough of the big names, to know their overseas pay/salary structure, and they doesn't bare any resemblance to what your reporting here!!

 

[frank3323]

u want me to send you my payslip and a couple of our chartered electrical engineers ones?? brit company. the graduates are paid lower than the tea boy! stick to sparking mate, more money, more work. like I said, best to get experience on a site, even for low pay.

Engineer 54, glad i gave u a laugh, but just saying how it is here.

 

[Engineer54]

u want me to send you my payslip and a couple of our chartered electrical engineers ones?? brit company. the graduates are paid lower than the tea boy! stick to sparking mate, more money, more work. like I said, best to get experience on a site, even for low pay.

Engineer 54, glad i gave u a laugh, but just saying how it is here.

Are there any ''Massive'' UK companies left these day's?? lol!!

Your actually trying to convince me an experienced spark is on a bigger salary than an Electrical Chartered Engineer....
The only way that's going to happen, is the spark working all the hours under the sun, along with all the other enhancement payments for hazardous working etc!! Whereas the CE salary will be working the standard contract daily/weekly work period, and that salary will be significantly more than any sparks basic salary!!

 

[frank3323]

im not trying to convince you of anything my friend, I honestly could not care less for your opinions, what you think or if you believe me or not, or anything else you have to say for that matter. I simply answered. and I work 8 till half 5, same as the engineers, but for more money i do it to buy stuff, they do it to pay off their student loan lol.

shock - one lone man does not know the inner workings of every company on earth, back in your box.

 

[Engineer54]

im not trying to convince you of anything my friend, I honestly could not care less for your opinions, what you think or if you believe me or not, or anything else you have to say for that matter. I simply answered. and I work 8 till half 5, same as the engineers, but for more money i do it to buy stuff, they do it to pay off their student loan lol.

shock - one lone man does not know the inner workings of every company on earth, back in your box.

Maybe, but I do KNOW your talking a load of cods-wallop!! ...And that's putting it mildly!!! lol!!!

 

[frank3323]

agree to disagree then eh!

Engineer 54 says stick with the engineering, i say stick with the sparking - tom-ey-tow / tom-ahh-tow

don't want to argue about wages all night, British bake off repeat is on in a min.

Mccurnow - good luck on the job front, its tough out there at the mo.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

companys wont take on the books now.....self employed electricians yes....
but not on the books....
on the books is death to a business at the mo`....
everything in this country is leaning towards the workers.....rights for this, entitlements for that....demands for`t other....
what happened to going to work ...and doin the job your paid for without either listening to....or participating in union ruslings about `how hard done by` we all are eh?
crow, prentice and mccluskey take note....

 

[Engineer54]

agree to disagree then eh!

Engineer 54 says stick with the engineering, i say stick with the sparking - tom-ey-tow / tom-ahh-tow

don't want to argue about wages all night, British bake off repeat is on in a min.

Mccurnow - good luck on the job front, its tough out there at the mo.

Excuse me, but haven't said or suggested anythng of the sort!! My post(s) were purely aimed at the crap your coming out with.

 

[PEG]

Come on,Eng 54,don't sit on the fence,tell us what you feel! :heart: Pay structures apart,lets hear it for engineering skills. After the apocalypse,it will be engineers who start to build the power stations so that electricians can earn a crust again!

 

[pmac10]

just to say something about post no 1, enrolling on an HNC doesn't make you an electrical engineer, secondly, completing an HNC also doesn't make you an electrical engineer, electrical technician perhaps, check with ECUK if you want further clarification,I've worked as an electrical engineering technician earning more than the graduate engineer, but earning more than a chartered engineer? i find that hard to believe.

 

[gdr7671]

just to say something about post no 1, enrolling on an HNC doesn't make you an electrical engineer, secondly, completing an HNC also doesn't make you an electrical engineer, electrical technician perhaps, check with ECUK if you want further clarification,I've worked as an electrical engineering technician earning more than the graduate engineer, but earning more than a chartered engineer? i find that hard to believe.

O Wow is me! I am Chartered and you talk most disgusting to an enthusiastic young man trying to improve his prospects. Wake up and get real!! The man who sweeps the floor at the end of the day is just as important as me. A project can only be completed by team work if it is to be completed on budget and time. Stop being so pig headed and live in the real world. Give him encouragement not disheartenment. You are so like so many arrogant people like architects i meet. Think they know it all but know nothing. Go back into your self inflicted shell and die.

 

[High Tower]

Ok enough of the insults or I will close the thread!

 

[Engineer54]

O Wow is me! I am Chartered and you talk most disgusting to an enthusiastic young man trying to improve his prospects. Wake up and get real!! The man who sweeps the floor at the end of the day is just as important as me. A project can only be completed by team work if it is to be completed on budget and time. Stop being so pig headed and live in the real world. Give him encouragement not disheartenment. You are so like so many arrogant people like architects i meet. Think they know it all but know nothing. Go back into your self inflicted shell and die.

I don't think anyone is trying to discourage the OP gdr, certainly not me. Anyone that puts himself out to gain a higher education to better his future prospects, is to be commended in my book!! Also depending on the company, you can well be taken on as a junior Engineer with a good HNC result (distinctions, commendations etc). But as you say normally you would need a minimum of an HND to be classed as a junior Engineer in most UK companies. Not sure about now, but you could also become a Chartered Engineer with an HND and several years experience in both design and management in the field. I would encourage him to continue his higher education, and go for the HND, which is also as far as i remember, like the HNC, a once/twice a week evening course for most!! One thing is for sure, your employment prospects in the future, especially for overseas work, will be far greater than without that higher education. On a final note, i think that Malcolm in Saudi, has a good HNC, and is employed at a Senior Engineer level, but correct me if i'm wrong!! lol!!!

I wouldn't take too much notice of anyone telling you that a spark has a higher salary grade than an a qualified Engineer, Chartered or otherwise, it just ain't going to happen, anywhere in the world!!!

 

[imago]

After the apocalypse,it will be engineers who start to build the power stations so that electricians can earn a crust again!

Not the ones I've met! They'd be too busy having a 'milestone review meeting' or 'deep diving the blue sky thinking' to actually build anything. Unless the apocalypse had knocked out all the coffee machines, in which case they wouldn't even have the meetings.

 

[Marvo]

You guys are missing the point. Money aside, it's a well known fact that chicks dig engineers more than they dig sparkys....always have and always will, even after the apocalypse the engineer's always going to get the girl

Seriously, please keep the retaliation comments general and non-personal. Thanks.

 

[Amp David]

CLOSE IT! CLOSE IT! CLOSE IT!:carolers:

 

[shagbite]

You guys are missing the point. Money aside, it's a well known fact that chicks dig engineers more than they dig sparkys....always have and always will, even after the apocalypse the engineer's always going to get the girl

Seriously, please keep the retaliation comments general and non-personal. Thanks.

what a load of old tripe. that's like saying stephen hawking gets more grumble than terry mcCann.

 

[pmac10]

O Wow is me! I am Chartered and you talk most disgusting to an enthusiastic young man trying to improve his prospects. Wake up and get real!! The man who sweeps the floor at the end of the day is just as important as me. A project can only be completed by team work if it is to be completed on budget and time. Stop being so pig headed and live in the real world. Give him encouragement not disheartenment. You are so like so many arrogant people like architects i meet. Think they know it all but know nothing. Go back into your self inflicted shell and die.

i've done my fair share of helping and encouraging people on here over the last 3 years gdr,
ironic though that its pricks like you being the reason i rarely use this forum any more,
thanks for the reminder though.
just gotta find a self inflicted shell now.

 

[grantr37]

An HNC is a good place to start, will get you into UNI and will mean that you will be used to it when you go there.....after a few years on the job experience you can apply for Ceng, even shorter if you do a masters course...

 

[grantr37]

stop all the arguin...............:frown2:

 

[High Tower]

Right enough is enough

Thread closed!!

Thanks to all that offered some sensible input!