Where do I start?

[doug the rug]

Hello folks,

I'm currently approaching the end of my contract in RAF working as an Avionics Technician, and so decided it would be good to transfer skills across to domestic electrical work and pursue that as a career path when i exit service life.

I've just completed EAL DEI incorporating Part P and ECS Health & Safety - JIB. I've got my 17th Edition course soon for City & Guilds 2382–10, followed by a course for C&G 2391.

Given that I've not had a 'normal' job for the last 9 years, how do I go about getting experience in that line of work, as I do intend this to be my career when i leave RAF.

Thanks!

 

[doug the rug]

Any help would be appreciated guys

 

[robsparky1975]

hi doug the rug,welcome to the forum,try checking out the business related topical threads on here,as it is a topic covered quite often,i am in the process of doing setting up on my own,and some of the free info on here is very helpful,also have a look on business link to help you,goodluck

 

[ezzzekiel]

experience is the key, try local firms starting as a labourer

 

[doug the rug]

experience is the key, try local firms starting as a labourer

Thanks ezzzekiel, i suppose you're right, i could do all the courses in the world, but at the end of the day it's knowledge + experience = competency.

It's a pity though, I'm not unskilled, i'm time served as an Avionics Technician and have a lot of experience in electrical fault diagnosis, isolation and rectification, incorporating 3 phase generation and supply, transformer/rectifiers,stepdowns, cable routing, fibre optic repair etc etc.

It'd be a real step backwards to be the tea boy and cable puller from being a qualified engineer.

Would firms maybe take my past experience into account and maybe give me that bit more leeway to actually be more involved and hands-on?

 

[ian.settle1]

Thanks ezzzekiel, i suppose you're right, i could do all the courses in the world, but at the end of the day it's knowledge + experience = competency.

It's a pity though, I'm not unskilled, i'm time served as an Avionics Technician and have a lot of experience in electrical fault diagnosis, isolation and rectification, incorporating 3 phase generation and supply, transformer/rectifiers,stepdowns, cable routing, fibre optic repair etc etc.

It'd be a real step backwards to be the tea boy and cable puller from being a qualified engineer.

Would firms maybe take my past experience into account and maybe give me that bit more leeway to actually be more involved and hands-on?

Thing is you are going into house bashing which you haven't done before, it's the old story you have to start at the bottom.

 

[doug the rug]

Thing is you are going into house bashing which you haven't done before, it's the old story you have to start at the bottom.

That is true i suppose. Almost like all the hard work I've put in for nearly the last 10 years is irrelevant lol.
I've got a fair bit of time before i exit the RAF, so i could try contacting registered electricians near me to see if they could take me on, i'd make myself available at weekends or through the day some weeks, and i'd work for free cos i'd still be getting paid by RAF, hopefully that'd get me started.

This might sound daft but if how do i approach a company with a view to working with them? It's not something i've had to do really!

 

[Graeme Harrold]

Hi Doug, left the Army last year having probable completed the same courses as you in Aldershot. The training is way ahead that of other providers and given your background, you have no probs understanding the theory and putting it into practice. The steep learning curve is moving of of the clean rigs and entering domestic properties. Every one is different and picking up the skills for working in this environemnt takes time. The other difficulty you will encounter is product knowledge as there is a hell of a lot of stuff on the market you need to be aware of that wasnt covered in great depth e.g. smoke and heat detectors, cabling other than MIC, SWA and T&E.......

You basically have two options.....

1....Go and work with someone else and get your head round what is out there as its not all nice fluffy 17th edition installations with neatly dressed boards..............there are plenty of old installations with VIR (Black rubber) cable, bakalite sockets, un-earthed lighting etc

2....Bite the bullett and dive in, start with small alterations and work up as your confidence grows....

The 2391 course is amazing and will give you tons of confidence in testing your own installs, but it will take time for you to confidently carry out PIR's etc on properties.

All the best with your future employment, and its only as good as you make it. My business is built on word of mouth, and I take pride in doing the job right. If you need any insight into the next two courses and beyond feel free to PM me.

 

[doug the rug]

Hi Doug, left the Army last year having probable completed the same courses as you in Aldershot. The training is way ahead that of other providers and given your background, you have no probs understanding the theory and putting it into practice. The steep learning curve is moving of of the clean rigs and entering domestic properties. Every one is different and picking up the skills for working in this environemnt takes time. The other difficulty you will encounter is product knowledge as there is a hell of a lot of stuff on the market you need to be aware of that wasnt covered in great depth e.g. smoke and heat detectors, cabling other than MIC, SWA and T&E.......

You basically have two options.....

1....Go and work with someone else and get your head round what is out there as its not all nice fluffy 17th edition installations with neatly dressed boards..............there are plenty of old installations with VIR (Black rubber) cable, bakalite sockets, un-earthed lighting etc

2....Bite the bullett and dive in, start with small alterations and work up as your confidence grows....

The 2391 course is amazing and will give you tons of confidence in testing your own installs, but it will take time for you to confidently carry out PIR's etc on properties.

All the best with your future employment, and its only as good as you make it. My business is built on word of mouth, and I take pride in doing the job right. If you need any insight into the next two courses and beyond feel free to PM me.

Yep Graeme that's the very same courses at CTP in Aldershot. Although I'm experienced as an Aircraft sparky I still had to hit the ground running on DEI, not much time to stand around scratching my head or my ****! I can see how working on installation boards with all that space is far far easier than actually looking at cables that disappear into the wall and into the unknown!

I reckon I'll approach local companies and explain the situation, the fact that they get an extra pair of hands for free might work in my favour.

 

[ezzzekiel]

at least you may get away with 6 month or so as a labourer then move on from there

 

[kevyn]

Thanks ezzzekiel, i suppose you're right, i could do all the courses in the world, but at the end of the day it's knowledge + experience = competency.

It's a pity though, I'm not unskilled, i'm time served as an Avionics Technician and have a lot of experience in electrical fault diagnosis, isolation and rectification, incorporating 3 phase generation and supply, transformer/rectifiers,stepdowns, cable routing, fibre optic repair etc etc.

It'd be a real step backwards to be the tea boy and cable puller from being a qualified engineer.

Would firms maybe take my past experience into account and maybe give me that bit more leeway to actually be more involved and hands-on?

It sounds like you would be suited to being an industrial electrician. A lot of sparks I know wouldn't know what fibre optic cable looks like never mind use it. If the house bashing fails then maybe this would be the way to go?

 

[doug the rug]

Anyone looking for someone as a labourer in Lincs area gimme a shout, experienced Aircraft Leckie, just needing that helping hand from someone to get into Domestic Electrical.

 

[pmac10]

doug, i also did the 9 year raf thing and what the guys are telling you is correct, if you aint done house bashin youre startin at the bottom. i went into industrial maintenance where your skills are highly transferrable. complex fault diagnosis etc should be your forte (even as a fairy and i know you might miss your black box replacement strategy(if you aint guessed im an ex rigger), but you will go in at a high level and it doesnt take long to find your feet. i worked with an ex fairy for a couple of weeks before he was head hunted by a rival firm for a maintenance supervisor position. food for thought if nothing else.

 

[spamwize2]

good luck

 

[ezzzekiel]

Anyone looking for someone as a labourer in Lincs area gimme a shout, experienced Aircraft Leckie,

unfortunately i dont do much work in the way of planes