What job can I get with a City & Guilds Level 2 Qualification?

[Bridge-Burner]

Hi everybody,
I have just completed the level 2 C&G at college. I'm not doing the Level 3 because I am out of work and need a job, plus I found the level 2 quite difficult and tedious so the written exams in Level 3 will be horrible. I now have basic knowledge and want to move forward with that. Are there any jobs that will like me having the Level 2 and willing to take me on? I'm not fussed about being fully qualified, being so would be nice but I'm not interested in it enough. I find all the numbers, equations and regulations extremely boring.
I don't think my tutors like me either, I am shy and don't talk much but am considering doing a 17th edition or 2391 course if I can get it for free as I'm on benefits and can't find a job at this point in time.

Cheers

 

[Bridge-Burner]

Hi brucelee, thanks for your kinds words. Yeah an evening would be good so i can work and maybe not have to sign on and pay for it myself. Not sure if my college does that though. I do feel bad about getting it for free last year when others have paid for it themselves but i was signing on most of the time and doing part time work to pay the bills so why not take it if the opportunity is there eh? it's hard getting work to work around the days you're at college you see.
So have you not done the 2330 then? Thought you had to have that to do the third year?

 

[simpson93]

hi there,
depending on your age have you considerd the cost of doing it at a latter date?
also why would you want to take a year out to work and then go back and retrain?
the qualifications are changeing which will mean you wont be able to do level3 and be stuck with level2
do you really want to become an electrician really? if your not gunna put the work in and happy to just scrape by then you wont get anywhere.
good luck

 

[i=p/u]

and if you get a job the money will probably be poo so you may aswell dedicate that one day per week for hopefully bright future.. roll on l3 sept 9th 2011.. remember let the calculator do the number crunching even tho im quicker than a calculator

 

[Bridge-Burner]

Hi everybody,
I've done some thinking and have decided my only viable option is to attempt to get a placement through an electrical company on day release. I have about 20 CV's printed off now so am going to send them off tomorrow. If I'm unsuccessful I am going to cut my losses and just find another job as I can't be doing with signing on and not being able to work full-time. It's a catch 22 as if I'm signing on then I can't work full-time and pay bills but will get help with funding the course but if I don't then I'll have to fork out almost £2000 which I don't have.
I know they were going to change the whole structure this year but am I right in thinking that you will still be able to do it next year?
Come to think of it, I don't know anyone in my class who has paid the full amount, another student told me that if it's your first course then you get that for free anyway, without having to be on benefits. You just have to pay for exam fees etc.
Anyway I'll let you know how I get on.
Cheers people

 

[i=p/u]

50 quid a year for my course plus few other fees, why dont you post up your cv removing all details you dont want seen aand maybe someone can help you improve it if needs improved, not saying it does...

 

[Adam W]

If you can't get a company to employ you on the cards, try the agencies. The work is erratic but the way I see it if you impress them enough they might offer you a permanent job. Either way it's valuable experience.

 

[ebow72]

If I may, I would like to add to this thread....I have just finished the C&G 2330 Level 2 and found it pretty easy for our next venture we have the pleasure of doing the following....'Front end C&G 2330 level 3 between September 2011 - January 2012' (3 Passes needed) January Cross over exam for the C&G 2357 and continue C&G 2357 with the 'on site experience' done with a placement option. 4 examples of work needed for final certificate. AM2 is also needed for this exam. There are also a few lads who also don't want to do the Level 3, but who have applied for apprenticeships etc, which start in September, try applying for them Bridge Burner, seems like a good option to me, I am too old now (38) for that, and would rather continue down the domestic avenue...
But good luck in your venture and don't give up..

 

[Garythenab]

Ok thanks for the advice people apart from jolly old Gary. You are in a minority if you seriously enjoy reading regulations.

Sorry mate, not in a minority there. The job is based so heavily on them you need to be able to enjoy the regs to a certain extent.

You must have a well paid part-time job if you can afford it all and pay all the bills etc.

Not at all, I try and get every possible spare hour of work that is going. I can afford it through sacrifice. No nights out, no going to restaurants with friends etc. Every penny I could save went in the bank.

As it is I have no experience in thet trade which makes it all the more difficult as I see other students using terms and chatting about things I've never heard of and I get looked down upon.

When you do get experience you will realize just how important the regulations are. Once you understand them in a more practical term you might start enjoying them more. You will understand the attitude issue.

If you address that and do push yourself further then I wish you all the luck. In the long run it is worth it.

My main gripe is just getting my head round it, I find it all a bit baffling to be honest, my brain switches off at any sight of mathematics and my memory is like a sieve lol. I was being a bit of a brat few posts ago saying it's boring I guess, probably because I find it daunting and hard to understand.

It gets easier bud. Good luck


If you knew how hard I've fought to get to where I am and how much it has cost and still will you would understand why I found that first post so infuriating. Anyway winge over

 

[brucelee]

Hi brucelee, thanks for your kinds words. Yeah an evening would be good so i can work and maybe not have to sign on and pay for it myself. Not sure if my college does that though. I do feel bad about getting it for free last year when others have paid for it themselves but i was signing on most of the time and doing part time work to pay the bills so why not take it if the opportunity is there eh? it's hard getting work to work around the days you're at college you see.
So have you not done the 2330 then? Thought you had to have that to do the third year?

Himate no I dont have level 2 2330 wish i did been trying for yrs to get on the course but told to old or no help with getting training
I paid a fortune for the private course i did money we had saved from our working lives before my partner was left disabled after a private operation
and also from the benefits we do get

tried loads of times over the yrs
was going to do this level 3 last year after I did 2391 but the course was full
got on it march 31.3.11 last day i got a call from a college not so far saying they had a place if i could get there within half hour to register and pay £110 it was only when i got to the college i found out i could get the funding as it was the last day i could register after contacting every college within 1 hr or so drive
ringing and emailing C&G trying to get answers even that day and they kept saying it was ending then i enrolled and when i got home found out it after all that it had been

I had been told of a forum member that it was even though C&G was telling me it wasnt

the lv3 can be done as a stand alone qualification i was considering doing the lv2 also but then its wether it would cost me a fortune i no longer have through the private course and 2391 as well as buying books and tools etc as then i would have all the quals i needed but as its all messed up just have to be satisfied with lv3 only

if i could get on lv2 as well even at the same time i would mate as i have wanted to get fully qualified for over 25yrs after giving my apprenticeship up

stick with it mate good luck

 

[knasher]

You're an inspiration brucelee! If ever you decided to jack in the electrical work (which I can't imagine for a minute you would), you could always try your hand at motivational speaking. Good on ya

 

[ebow72]

We have a lad on our course, who has just passed his 206 practical exam and I mean 'just' passed. He's re-sat the 203 4 times now.
Now I don't wish to sound negative, but....he's 18 and I think having a trade appealed to him and maybe he thought after a few years of training he would be in the money. He's been asked to re think his options over the holidays, he has a re-sit for the 203 in June. If decides to continue on to Level 3, I personally feel it will be a waste of time, firstly will he able to grasp level 3 and secondly places are quite valuable, someone else could benefit from this course. Again I don't want to seem negative, but I come on here for advice, I might not like some of it, but as with everything you have to take the rough with the smooth.
If you are truly dedicated you will do it and succeed. But it if you're hearts not in it, then it won't happen. Bridge Burner I obviously don't know you, but get the impression you are quite young and maybe not 100% sure what you want to do. If you do continue on Level 3 C&G 2330, there isn't a work placement option, that is just for the C&G 2357. I am sending out my CV to all electricians and work related companies, offering to work for free for a few days a week. I have had a lot of NO's and 1 yes, which I am over the moon about. Start in a few weeks, once he's got his insurance sorted. To me it's the break I need as I will learn far more on-site than at college. There are several different options you can consider re college, full time, part time, evening. But like I say if you are dedicated you will succeed. I really do hope you carry on and good luck to you. And please don't take anything that's said to heart.

 

[chris N.I]

Just read your comment on nvq lv3 Brucelee,your advice is spot on.
Im currently going through an aukward time with my lv3.In early 04' I was finishing my lv3 and apprenticeship when my father was killed in a car accident.This had a detrimental effect on my work and studies.I only had 2 units left to finish in my portfolio,but ended up running out of time.
As you pointed out before,this meant that I didn't recieve a lv3 cert and therefore couldn't apply for my JIB card.I did however pay for and complete the AM2 at a later date.
My problem now though is that,iv'e been told by a course trainer at the ETT that i can't do my lv3 unless im in work for the duration of the course,and it would cost me £2000.This is more or less impossible as iv'e been trying for years to find work with any firm in the country,thus giving me the opurtunity to do my lv3.The trade in this country has been in decline since i left college.There were 250 app's took on when i started,this year there were just 50.
Does anyone know if you can do lv3 whilst out of work at that time?
I have been out of work for over 2 months now and was looking at work overseas maybe Afghanistan,but without that illusive MR JIB CARD im hammered.
So take it from me Bridge burner, don't burn your bridges with your NVQ LV3, you will only make life hard for yourself in years to come.
Also,I don't recieve diddly squat from benifits after paying taxes and nic's,as a self-employed spark(if i may call myself that),for the past 7 years, so do i qualify for any funding with regards to courses?
thats me im done,thanks lads.

 

[brucelee]

Mate I have enrolled for lv3 and I am not in work you dont even need a lv2 to do one as its a stand alone qualification as this is exactly what i am doing

As for the NVQ why dont you do it online and go self employed and its all completed online in a e portfolio there are two i know
One is called VQ training the other is DELTA training i would put link up but cant now as the mods have changed it I think just google them mate

As for work I know what you mean its hard to get anything offer to work for free or as little as possible to cover your costs to get enough evidence for the NVQ just have to take pics and if you dont have 2330 lv3 then you will have to possibly do a under pinning Knowledge assesment with delta the cost of this would be about £900ish if you had lv3 it would be £600ish and no knowledge assesment
At Vq they have 3 price structures i think one for people with lv3 2330 or apprentice trained or older qual cant think of C&G number think its 261 pt1 and 2with VQ there
price is little less than Delta and there is a second option £780 if you have 2330 lv2 I will send you some PDFs from VQ training with costs and outline or pm me your email

Mate as far as funding college may give you funding if on Jobseekers or Employment support allowance
up until 31st march if you was on housing benefit, council tax benefit , Income support ,Jobseekers etc you would have only have to paid £120 for exam fees for lv3
now its just JSA and ESA i think but speak to your college

also somewhere on here a forum member posted that if on JSA for 6 months then I think you can get funding for upto £3500 wether this is true or apply to you i would check with Jobcentre

as i am a carer i havnt been able to get any help up until now as they dont class me as unemployed and they say i am exempt from work so i have paid almost £6k over last few yrs trying to get Quals to set up self employed and work from home so i can be here if needed But the governmnet agencies are not very helpful towards carers
maybe you will have more luck mate

Its taken me yrs to get a course like the 2330 and thought i was going to pay full up until i went to enrol after i got a call last day of registration I had 30 mins to get to college enrol register then found out i only would have to pay £ 120
then when i got home C&G extended and my course was then cancelled until sept and would lose the funding so i went and sorted it with college and somehow i start june 9th now and still for £120 RESULT for the 2330 lv3 I dont have lv2 been trying to get on both for yrs and yrs so i have to take the opportunity of the lv3 alone
I already have 2382-10,2377-200 2391-10, 2393-100 and a logicElectrical LV A Full scope and defined scopes B,C the only one worth the paper is probably the 2391-10 which i did at bury college even though not working and passed first time I studied every day for 4+ months this should have cost £540 got some funding of college and a local skills shop after I contacted everyone I could It took me 6 months of emails and phone calls to get a appointment just to see someone at Jobcentre to see what funding there wasnt and what benefits i would lose |I had to give up my carers and NI contribution for the 6 weeks I did the private course which cost £4+K

I went to the jobcentre the other day again to make a appointment just to see if anything has changed under the torys and I have a appointment next thursday to discuss everything and there may be some change i will let you know
GOOD LUCK MATE ITS NOT EASY

I gave up my apprenticeship and regretted ever since I have been involved with Electrics on and off for over 25yrs but never had the Quals
I decided to chnge this when working in my last job which was very low pay for a lot of work doing maintanance including the Electrics for peanuts
I made my mind up in 2006 and started looking at the options then in 2007 my DAD past away and this was a devastating time to say the least and still is but this made me more determined than ever so i kept looking and eventually a place opened called REACTFAST training now RF training and it was local to me so was good as I needed to be close to the MRSwho is disabled after a private Op in 2005the options as a Adult were limited and left me with the private courses for large fee for very little

IF the jobcentre had been a little more helpful with info i would have found out i could have got funding to do LV2 and 3 2330 for just the exam fees
which is what i will be telling them when i go lol

 

[tuckermot]

Bridge burner
The college wants every one to pass ask the tutour for extra help with the maths thats what i did i had one to one 1 evening a week ( free ) as i did my college on a saturday !! this really helps. loose the attitude though mate you only get out what you put in if your strugling with level2 forget 2391 !!!! you have got to know your stuff having level 3 is amust as its class roomed based i did 10 hrs every saturday my brain hurt like hell but i passed

 

[ebow72]

Blimey Bruce, when you reply, you reply. It's good though, as it helps those who aren't 100% in what they are doing. Just a pity the lad who started the post hasn't been back on, to see what's been said.