Approaching the end of highschool - should I become an electrician?

[yalcoung]

Long story short, I've decided that Uni probably isn't for me so I've taken this time to look at an alternative. I looked into the trades and the two things that really caught my eye were Electrician and Underwater Welding/Construction. I didn't take physics due to having a bad experience in S3, however, I have always been really into building and modifying things like quadcopters, computers etc. Frankly, I think the things that worries me the most is being somewhat financially insecure in later life for one reason or another. I'm 16 by the way. Would anyone be able to give me some advice regarding this career path? Sorry if this is in the wrong forum section, didn't really know what else this fits into.

Any advice is appreciated!
yalcoung

 

[KJF]

It's all well and good to say there are easier ways to earn money but personally if any young person has their mind set on going into a trade I wouldn't try and deter them. Just go for it. I know 21 year olds who are earning over £20 an hour on site (London) - even if they decide they want to do something else they're still at an age where they can and always have something to fall back on - not to mention in a position where they can fund it. I'm not saying it's any guarentee you are going to be regularly earning £20 an hour in your early 20s (or at any age for that matter), but if you can obtain your gold card at a young age you will be in a very good position.

And no disrespect to the guy saying "get out and enjoy being young", but you'll enjoy yourself a lot more if you're doing something with your life and earning money.

EDIT: It goes without saying that if you're in a position where you feel you can go down the route of becoming a lawyer or a dentist them you should probably go for that, but those doors aren't open for everyone.

 

[Des 56]

Yalcoung,listen carefully,I shall say this only once

I have been an electrician for over 50 years and still performing
I have performed over a wide and varied spectrum of the trade
It used to No 1 in the trades pecking order,however,electricians are no longer the respected trade it once enjoyed

All I can say is that I hated every minute of that time.its a boring, low paid,under appreciated occupation that requires study and continual learning, it also has paperwork with needless administrative nonsense that numbs your mind

Any youngster contemplating the occupation need to have their brain reprogrammed

By the way Electricians are also big story tellers,they tend to lie through the teeth about the job that gave them security,decent wages,interesting work and a occupation they love and maybe never wanted to change

 

[Redvanman]

Don’t post often but I would say go for it
Great oppunities are coming up with smart house electric vechicles etc
I’ve been a sparks for over 30 years and loved (almost) all of it
I have worked in or sorts of different environments from stately homes to prisons
I still think sparks are no. 1 trade on site and other trades look up to you for your knowledge levels
Money wise always depends on how hard you want work
The guys I hear moaning about not earning much on site normally leave at 4pm
Any way that’s my opinion
Good luck with what ever you decide

 

[Redvanman]

Don’t post often but I would say go for it
Great oppunities are coming up with smart house electric vechicles etc
I’ve been a sparks for over 30 years and loved (almost) all of it
I have worked in or sorts of different environments from stately homes to prisons
I still think sparks are no. 1 trade on site and other trades look up to you for your knowledge levels
Money wise always depends on how hard you want work
The guys I hear moaning about not earning much on site normally leave at 4pm
Any way that’s my opinion
Good luck with what ever you decide

 

[Tes369]

[QUOTE=" The last one I had couldn’t wire a click flow connector to any acceptable standard after 7 months of college and 4 with me, no matter how many times he was shown he just didn’t get it. But a decent wee lad.[/QUOTE]

They are pretty $hitty connectors mind never enough room.

 

[Pete999]

Long story short, I've decided that Uni probably isn't for me so I've taken this time to look at an alternative. I looked into the trades and the two things that really caught my eye were Electrician and Underwater Welding/Construction. I didn't take physics due to having a bad experience in S3, however, I have always been really into building and modifying things like quadcopters, computers etc. Frankly, I think the things that worries me the most is being somewhat financially insecure in later life for one reason or another. I'm 16 by the way. Would anyone be able to give me some advice regarding this career path? Sorry if this is in the wrong forum section, didn't really know what else this fits into.

Any advice is appreciated!
yalcoung

There are Apprenticeships, some good some not so good. When I worked for FCOServices in Milton keynes, the Technical branch of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the started running Apprenticeships for Electricians, this was near the end of my career.

I got to know several of the youngsters, and all of them were very pleased with how these Schemes were organised, blocke release couple with work experience, some of which was working on overseas projects, one Lad in particular, I was actually one of his mentors, has proved to me that a well organised and structured Apprenticeship can work, his career has now progressed into, being posted overseas for 2 or 3 years at a time, with his Family, I like to think I had some input into how well he has progressed.

The Salary is commensurate with private industry, and the rewards later are very good.

It's been a while since I retired, so I'm not sure, if they still run these Apprentice Schemes, they were very successful at the time, so I should think they are still active,

The Apprenticeships started in September, so you would still have time to apply I should think, if you Google FCOS Apprenticeships, or jobs with FCOServices you should be able to find out more information, well worth a try if you have your mind set on an Electricians role, good luck.

 

[Pete999]

Long story short, I've decided that Uni probably isn't for me so I've taken this time to look at an alternative. I looked into the trades and the two things that really caught my eye were Electrician and Underwater Welding/Construction. I didn't take physics due to having a bad experience in S3, however, I have always been really into building and modifying things like quadcopters, computers etc. Frankly, I think the things that worries me the most is being somewhat financially insecure in later life for one reason or another. I'm 16 by the way. Would anyone be able to give me some advice regarding this career path? Sorry if this is in the wrong forum section, didn't really know what else this fits into.

Any advice is appreciated!
yalcoung[/QUOTE
Deleted double post

 

[Phil Thompson]

[QUOTE=" The last one I had couldn’t wire a click flow connector to any acceptable standard after 7 months of college and 4 with me, no matter how many times he was shown he just didn’t get it. But a decent wee lad.

They are pretty $hitty connectors mind never enough room.[/QUOTE]

There was 1x 1mm2 3core flex in each plug. I’d equate that to being simpler than doing a 13amp plug tbh