Why didn't I do this earlier!!

mandinga1975 · Jan 8, 2009

Hello all

Just like to say 'why didn't I do this earlier' - get into the electrician's trade that is ...

As some of you may know I am an 'older' student after spending many years sat behind a desk.

I have been doing home study for my C&G 2330 Level 2 and although I have nearly completed all the theory for this certificate (which I have really enjoyed) - I was yet to do any practical work.

Well that has changed this week and after 2 days I have been able to complete both a radial and ring circuit (albiet basic ones). I was apprehensive when I was driving to the training centre but it's amazing how useful good study is - and I have really enjoyed doing it!

I have even been able to help other students which has given me an even bigger confidence boost especially as I wondered whether I was cut out for it when my head was mashed by study.

Anyway thought I'd share this, I know there is along way to go yet but if these first two practical days are anything to go by I can't wait.

Mandinga

pushrod · May 10, 2009

boatnik1 said:
SPARKY-TOM

Correct on that. I just have the horrors when theory people enter the game. I had the misfortune to be stuck with two graduates sent over to me from HQ (ASW. S. Wales) for practical experience.
The female one was terrified of electricity and refused point blank to go near an open Dist. Board and the male who wouldnt use hand tools in case he hurt himself. Both of them refused to use a ladder as they felt no one should be working from a ladder and that proper scaffold should be used. Neither of them would assemble scaffold as that was some one else's job. They quoted H&S about everything and invented it where it didn't exist. It wasn't part of their job to chase brickwork or to clip cables, that was a labourers job.
Practical people and theory people do not mix.

In many cases you might be right but be careful not to tar everyone with the same brush

. I have an hons degree and two post grad qualifications, but have spent donkeys years doing practical plumbing and electrical jobs for myself. Finally decided that being a properly qualified electrician might help keep the wolf from the door in my retirement . Even with my experience though, i decided that a six week course was not appropriate for me, and so am doing the two year full time C&G 2330 and then doing the wiring regs and inspection and testing. Would like to think that if i do eventually undertake work for someone else that i will be sufficiently qualified and experienced to do a good job.

boatnik1 · May 10, 2009

pushrod: I speak of those I know. Congrats on the Degree & Quals. You are clearly one of the practical breed who also excell in theory and wii fit in well as this is the combination achieved by most sparks. (No piont being able to swing a hammer if you don't know the effect)
Those of whom I speak are the theorists who with no practical experience yet feel they know the game wihtout having a clue about the practical nature of the job. Government offices are full of them. They write all the directives, rules and regs that are clearly the product of a University and not of practice. My brother in law is one of them and a more useless creature has not been put on this earth since the slug. His boss is equally dense as he sent the B i Law to Harvard in the States to study company law, at the tax payers expense, even though the US law has no relevance in the UK. Only when he returned did he realise that Harvard would not be tutoring in UK law. Isn't our Government wonderful.

Jono Pashley · May 11, 2009

I get the feeling if some people had their way wed soon be in a massive labour shortage across construction trades seeing ans the number of apprenticeships offered no where near meets labour market demand. Some people may do their courses and think they are king of the world but not everyone is the same, i dont know who people think they are to say that someone shouldnt be able to get out of a dead end career because they cant get apprenticeship training.