Learning a trade at 31

Minibiker

Minibiker

Minibiker

Soldato
Joined
27 Mar 2016
Posts
7,298
Location
Bristolian living in Swindon
Hi all

I'm really keen to learn a trade and perhaps have a career change, I'm pretty sure 31 years old is not to late to start learning as there is still plenty of time until my retirement :p

I was considering Electrician or plumbing, do we have any of the above workers on here that could perhaps shine some light on it for me?

Also where do I start, college course, self taught, apprenticeship etc?

Thank you for any information/help

Cheers
 
I can't speak from personal experience but a good friend of mine retrained (at college) in plumbing and electrics in his mid-late 20s. His vision was that having electrics as well as plumbing would give him more scope and also be able to do things like shower installations without needing a separate spark. However what he found was that in Wiltshire (admittedly during the late 00s financial crisis) there simply wasn't much lucrative work to go round, it wasn't like the big city lights where you'd turn up and change a tap for £100; little jobs you cleared not much at all and bigger jobs tended to need word of mouth recommendations. Working for a firm he either got paid a pittance (well below minimum wage) or it would just be very short term engagements, and in the end he retrained again as a nurse in his early 30s which has worked out a lot better.
 
In the south east those trades make a mint. They charge ridiculous amounts typically I find. And people happily pay. I say go for it.
 
Can I ask what's prompted this? Wasn't long ago you were getting your HGV licence?

You could look at part time courses/evening classes for both, that way you can still try to keep a FT job as I think an apprenticeship isn't very well paid, esp if you have commitments.
 
Go for it, if you can. It can be done. I got myself a trade at around the same age. Didn't want to work in retail all my days.

Quit my job and went to college for 2 years studying electronics. Spent another year after college trying to find an employer who was willing to take on a qualified electronics engineer with no real world experience. Found one eventually. I was like a pig in the proverbial. Doing a job I really loved. and they paid me for it:) 26 years later I'm still in that job.

Then again, I was single at the time. Footloose and fancy free. Your circumstances may be different.
 
@HangTime @jaybee @Baldbloke

Thanks for all the replies, I didn't think of going for both but that sounds like a decent idea, having plumbing and electrics would open up a big opportunity I think, I will ring up the local colleges and see if they offer night classes etc maybe I could get into it that way

@Josh You're correct there bud, I did eventually get my class 2 Hgv license and have been working over the last 6 months, first job was on the Cement mixer lorry, and currently doing tipper work, don't get me wrong the money is coushty for what I need to live but I just don't feel 100% happy at the job and seems like the office staff/transport planners treat you like ****, it may just be the workplace and there maybe better companies out there to work for but at the moment I'm annoyed with the industry
 
Minibiker said:
You're correct there bud, I did eventually get my class 2 Hgv license and have been working over the last 6 months, first job was on the Cement mixer lorry, and currently doing tipper work, don't get me wrong the money is coushty for what I need to live but I just don't feel 100% happy at the job and seems like the office staff/transport planners treat you like ****, it may just be the workplace and there maybe better companies out there to work for but at the moment I'm annoyed with the industry
Click to expand...

Fair enough, it's a tough industry but don't let a bad company ruin your career - seems a bit drastic to ditch a new career for another new career after only 6 months doing it.
 
One word of caution I have is the toll it will take on your body. I know a handful of sparkies who have been in the trade from 18 to their mid to late 30's and their bodies aren't in good knick. Spending long hours crawling around on knees, bending over, carrying gear around takes its toll. And they're not even half way to retirement.

They have done quite well financially though, but I'd personally rather a less physically demanding job even if it meant a lower salary.
 
Minibiker said:
@Josh You're correct there bud, I did eventually get my class 2 Hgv license and have been working over the last 6 months, first job was on the Cement mixer lorry, and currently doing tipper work, don't get me wrong the money is coushty for what I need to live but I just don't feel 100% happy at the job and seems like the office staff/transport planners treat you like ****, it may just be the workplace and there maybe better companies out there to work for but at the moment I'm annoyed with the industry
Click to expand...

I think as the saying goes, the grass isn't always greener on the other side. You might find those exact same attitudes and issues in a different industry. I would have thought if the money is good, and job security for drivers looks very secure for at least what looks to be the next 5 years, is there not more money on another class, or better things to transport.

Also need to consider that if it takes 3 years to train as a sparky, you'll pretty much be on min wage or maybe even less as an apprentice - i'm not sure what the rules are these days on 18+ being paid apprentice wage. So do you have enough savings / another earner in the house to keep up with mortgage/bills etc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom