Career change; career as an electrician

T T

taleofbluehalves

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 Oct 2010
Messages
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ok so I’ve been thinking about a career change for 12 months or so. I’m well paid in the public sector and get good holidays but the hours I work are ridiculous. Stress is through the roof and I feel I need a change.

So I’m planning a career change. I reckon I’d gain 45-60 hrs a month plus 20-40 plus hours commuting depending on where I work. Weekends back etc. It’s worth earning less. To see more of my family and regain my life.

One thing that interests me is getting qualified as an electrician. Trying to get one where I live is hard work. There’s a ton on new housing and building projects etc., rentals and hotels and businesses that will need electrics checking.

There’s training providers such as http://www.options-skills.co.uk/
that offer courses. Although some people seem sniffy about these but the world is changing and training and fast track re-training seems to be more prevalent and popular. The benefit seems to be intense training
plus a mentor.

So have you recently re-trained and what have you done? Any advice?

Any electricians re-trained from something else?

Any electricians got any advice for going down this route for the next 20 plus years? Getting started and things to focus on.
Cheers
 
I did one of those courses. More for interest than anything although I was renovating a house at the time and thought it might come in handy. I qualified but wouldn't have dreamed of doing it as a job, there was too much I didn't know/hadn't experienced. I stripped most of the wiring from my house but didn't really feel confident in re-wiring myself.

Others in the course were a lot better than me though.
 
What sort of work are you looking to do as an electrician? House bashing is a young mans game if you ask me. Test & inspection is good money when you are properly qualified and have a paid membership with NICEIC or equivalent. Working as an "Low Voltage Authorised Person" can also be interesting, but requires a lot of experience. Electrical distribution networks / industrial or commercial could also be a specialism, as could alarm / security systems. I would advise you take the time to fully understand what is required and how the career path of each job goes.

Regardless of which career you wish to undertake, f you want to become a competent electrician, i would advise you to do an apprenticeship rather than one of these supposed "fast track courses". The problem you will have as a grown adult, is that it would mean spending around four years doing your time and being on an apprentice salary. Once qualified, you could specialise but without the underpinning knowledge a Technical College will give you, plus your time served on the tools, you will struggle to move onwards and upwards. Check out the City & Guilds website for more information. It really will pay to invest in yourself from the start.

Hope this helps.
 
moomba said:
I did one of those courses. More for interest than anything although I was renovating a house at the time and thought it might come in handy. I qualified but wouldn't have dreamed of doing it as a job, there was too much I didn't know/hadn't experienced. I stripped most of the wiring from my house but didn't really feel confident in re-wiring myself.

Others in the course were a lot better than me though.
Click to expand...
Ok thanks it certainly looks interesting.
 
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