Originally posted by DIY Si
quote:
Originally posted by Confused but excited.
They may have a training scheme for mature employees.
Less of that, I'm only 23!!
Bit random for a Sunday, but I've been thinking about changing job. I currently change electricity meters, and have a good physics background
from school (which was 5 years ago). I find my job easy, and not technically demanding enough, but don't want to get stuck behind a desk, as I
quite like working outside/in random places.
Would training to become a sparky on the side be worthwhile? Are there any sparks on here who could tell me what there jobs entail, and what they are
like? Also, roughly what you earn, if you don't mind telling me?
Also, is there a recognised career path for sparks? IE a few years house bashing, then get into more technical/industrial stuff? Any
views/recommendations would be appreciated.
The normal route is an appreticeship of 4/5 years on crap money.
However times change.
Have a word with your human resources department. They may have a training scheme for mature employees, to enable you to make the transition. HTH.
I have been an Electrician for 23 years.
Everyone thinks that all we do is connect cables, but that is only 5% of the job.
In adition to good qualifications you will need to be able to fabricate conduit, trunking and cable tray as well as run cables. Some of this work is
very heavy and in poor conditions. Sometimes at heights too.
Working on muddy cold building sites in poor weather and getting wet is not much fun.
If none of this phases you, then go for it.
Average earnings are 25K or upwards of 34k if you do shift work in a maintenance enviroment.
If you get an ONC there are fewer jobs for this qualification but the pay can be better and it will open more doors.
I am self employed (ltd company) and earn more than the average, but I also work un-sociable hours and often 12 hr days.
quote:
Originally posted by Confused but excited.
They may have a training scheme for mature employees.
quote:
Originally posted by DIY Si
quote:
Originally posted by Confused but excited.
They may have a training scheme for mature employees.
Less of that, I'm only 23!!
Blimey, old at 23! 
I see what you mean about the network of blokes though. Would this make it inadvisable then? There's no way I could afford to be an apprentice,
as I have a mortgage to pay.
quote:
Originally posted by nitram38
Other Electricians will tend to look down on you if you did not go the apprenticeship route as they will consider you to be semi-skilled and "taking" one of their jobs.
Time served sparkies generally dont like people who do the short courses. 
quote:
Originally posted by DIY Si
Blimey, old at 23!
I see what you mean about the network of blokes though. Would this make it inadvisable then? There's no way I could afford to be an apprentice, as I have a mortgage to pay.
Depends upon what's considered low really.
Yep - I did my 16th edition last year which (apparantly) you need before you can do anything else.
It took me 12 monday evenings and fried my brain, but I passed.
Next step is either domestic installation or inspection and testing which you can once again do at night school, but take a bit longer and more brain
frying.
Then look for a job!
I've not got round to the domestic installation or inspection and testing bit yet, but have been offered a job as an apprentice on the merit of
some work I did for my sis from an electrician that came to change the consumer unit.
Can't help much further at the moment, sorry.
Pat...
That's great, all the info I can get helps. Feel free to tell me to go away, but do you have any idea what the wage will be as a partly qualified apprentice?
Electricians mates roughly £8-9 ph. Then you can go to night school for the rest
As above, labourers rates basically, maybe a pound or two more if you can drag yourself down to London. A friend of mine is just approaching the end of what you're thinking of, he started as an apprentice at about 22 (after finally realising that he's never going to be a rockstar and he can't sponge off his parents forever). He's been doing 4 years of making conduit and tray for peanuts on commercial sites, one day a week at college. He should be qualified in the next couple of months (providing he takes enough time out of being stoned to do some actual learning), after which he's got a job lined up assisting another sparky he's met at sites for a while before going it alone.
I could afford a year or two of those wages, but not 4! Can it be done any quicker at all, or is there a complusary time?