training to become an electrician when mature?

My brother has just started a sparky course. It's 3 years long and he's looking for an apprentice position at the moment. I think it's just a fact, you have to do the apprenticeship wage and take a pay cut. He's got big debts but going bankrupt and by the end of the 3 years his bankruptcy will be cleared anyway so it won't affect him.

Apart from the apprenticeship he's basically going to be working part time at a supermarket or bar to bring the rest of the money in. He's 26.
 
cleanbluesky said:
Does anyone like working in an office?

It used to be prestiguous, it now seems to be overtaken in status and pay by blue collar.
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I got into IT because I liked computers. Within 6 months, I hated the things.

The IT bubble burst a while back - few jobs, many applicants, thousands of new graduates each year...And you're pretty limited as to what you can do.

Plus, I'm bored of sitting at a desk - I want to get off my arse and use my hands to do something.

*n
 
Join the club Penski but unfortunately the fun jobs making stuff pay rubbish. Worked in special effects - fantastic fun but terrible pay. Love to build hotrods for a living as I have the skillzz but the pay is too low to get by on. I'm just going to face the fact that my career from now on is going to be dull as **** but I can offset that by having a mad garage full of fun stuff.

What I make will have to be for meeeeeee :D
 
hehe Johnny, I've been the same. been racing motorbikes the last 5 years, and i've run out of money to do it. numerous wins and a championship (possibly 2 in 2 weeks time) to show for it though. :D

i can rebuild motorbikes from bare frames but no qualifications so the pays crap for me.

now i need to grow up and get a career. :(
 
helpimcrap said:
i can rebuild motorbikes from bare frames but no qualifications so the pays crap for me.

now i need to grow up and get a career. :(
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Why not start your own business then? perhaps working at weekends at first then growing, theres always loads of people who don't want to pay exhorbitant main dealer rates.
 
penski said:
I'm bored of sitting at a desk - I want to get off my arse and use my hands to do something.

*n
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Pocket poker? :p


I am also planning on doing the same, if after uni i cant find a job alongside what im studied.
 
I'm in the same dilema guys, I.T is the most boring industry to work in, I wish I could get a refund for my degree, £12,000 in debt to be overqualified for a lot of I.T jobs here in N.Ireland and lack the 4-5yrs experience everyone else wants. I've been looking at going back to college and doing Plumbing, or training to be an Electrician or Plasterer.
 
If people are interested in the railway and are young and never done a degree but would like to, this is a very good course, with a guaranteed job


http://www.shu.ac.uk/courses/rail/

It's only 2 years, around 5k paid work in the summer and tuition fees paid for you. So also cheaper than a normal degree, you can then, if you work hard and you managers like you, go on to do the bsc(hons) part time, with the option of carrying on to do you full chartaship.

Note- unless you are already in the rail industry you can't do the part time version.
 
Al-Ectrician said:
Ive managed it in the plumbing field.

3 year adult apprentice, visits to college for first year.

Youre never too old dude, Im over 30 :p
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Cool :) What level did you start at? Was it hard getting the apprenticeship?
 
My friend is 26 and has been training/working to become a plumber & electrician for the past two years. He's got a 2:1 degree but isn't really an office type person.

His current pay is appalling but if you want it badly enough and willing to work hard in the short term it can pay off in the end.
 
Linoge said:
Cool :) What level did you start at? Was it hard getting the apprenticeship?
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I done 1 year full time college course (NVQ2), this helped to get a start.
I had plenty of no responses to listing plumbing companies and firing off a covering letter and CV.
I happened to be in the right place at the right time, companies will approach the college and ask for lecturers opinions of students.
My company are massive employing about 3,500 people in Electrics/plumbing across the UK, they just cant get releiable people who will not quit after a few weeks or be late every day.
Have you tried phoning companies that you would like to work for, expect lots of rejections, but you might get someone saying can you come in on a trial period ?.
The building boom up here is totally crazy and the need for staff is huge.

HTH
Al
 
cleanbluesky said:
Does anyone like working in an office?

It used to be prestiguous, it now seems to be overtaken in status and pay by blue collar.
Click to expand...
Ooh ooh me me me :p

Not that I do IT of course, that's for crazy people :D
 
Al-Ectrician said:
I had plenty of no responses to listing plumbing companies and firing off a covering letter and CV.
I happened to be in the right place at the right time, companies will approach the college and ask for lecturers opinions of students.
My company are massive employing about 3,500 people in Electrics/plumbing across the UK, they just cant get releiable people who will not quit after a few weeks or be late every day.
Have you tried phoning companies that you would like to work for, expect lots of rejections, but you might get someone saying can you come in on a trial period ?.
The building boom up here is totally crazy and the need for staff is huge.

HTH
Al
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I'm sending 10 C'V'S and covering letters every week to local electrical companys for an apprenticeship and havn't had a single offer.
It's really frustrating all I want is some experiance I would even work for free just to learn. I hate hearing storys of people that "quit after a few weeks or be late every day." I'm very happy to read this thread, I thought I made a huge mistake by not going into the IT industry as I just love working with computers and have always been good at IT, but i'm glad now my mum pushed me to get a trade. :D
 
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Rich_L said:
Ooh ooh me me me :p

Not that I do IT of course, that's for crazy people :D
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I've heard similar from someone else who does as you do... from what you've said before I think that you may have prospects to move into law from your job... I'm sure that helps.

Oh, and where the **** have you been? :p
 
MadMacs said:
I'm sending 10 C'V'S and covering letters every month to local electrical companys for an apprenticeship and havn't had a single offer.
It's really frustrating all I want is some experiance I would even work for free just to learn. I hate hearing storys of people that "quit after a few weeks or be late every day." I'm very happy to read this thread, I thought I made a huge mistake by not going into the IT industry as I just love working with computers and have always been good at IT, but i'm glad now my mum pushed me to get a trade. :D
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Youre doing the right thing im convinced of that.
Ten companies a month, try ten companies a week, and even if you get a "thanks but no thanks" phone them up and pester them, you've got nout to lose.
After you have made a few phone calls you will gain confidence with rejection, keep pestering them.
I worked in IT for ten years and glad of the change.

Al
 
woops I meant a week, lol :D
I've had a couple "we will keep you on our records" letters! :o

I only go to college 1 day a week and am working in "Primark" untill I can find some electrical work, The problem seems to be a lot of small companys and not enough work for them to take on someone like myself.
 
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cleanbluesky said:
I've heard similar from someone else who does as you do... from what you've said before I think that you may have prospects to move into law from your job... I'm sure that helps.

Oh, and where the **** have you been? :p
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Aye true, helps as well that its a small company that seems to be going places as well which avoids the feeling of stagnating which I think I'd hate..!

And have been in Mexico for a fortnight soaking up some sun :) Pretty good time actually, went to visit a few Mayan ruins which was dead interesting and also did a lot of partaying, much fun :D
 
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