Career Change Advice

[panelman]

Hi All,
I'm sure the question has been asked before- but this forum is huge so not found the answer yet!!

I'm 32yrs old looking to change career but wanting advice on the route to take.

Option A) Apprentaship route. Leave current job, then earn £150 a week for first year, slightly more next, but 2-3yrs to get qualified, but in with well know companies.

Option B) Remain in current role (earning £25+K), and attend a 45 day (every Friday) courses to complete my EAL Level 3, but costing £5K ish, then an extra £1k for C&G 2382 17th Edition Wiring Regulations and C&G 2392 Fundamental Inspection & Testing course.

Whats the pro's and con's of each route, and if qualified via route B, would I find work or will I struggle due to lack of experience?

Thanks in advance all!

 

[Leesparkykent]

Hi All,
I'm sure the question has been asked before- but this forum is huge so not found the answer yet!!

I'm 32yrs old looking to change career but wanting advice on the route to take.

Option A) Apprentaship route. Leave current job, then earn £150 a week for first year, slightly more next, but 2-3yrs to get qualified, but in with well know companies.

Option B) Remain in current role (earning £25+K), and attend a 45 day (every Friday) courses to complete my EAL Level 3, but costing £5K ish, then an extra £1k for C&G 2382 17th Edition Wiring Regulations and C&G 2392 Fundamental Inspection & Testing course.

Whats the pro's and con's of each route, and if qualified via route B, would I find work or will I struggle due to lack of experience?

Thanks in advance all!

Option A every time if you can afford to do it. A lot of employers frown upon short courses plus you won't gain any experience like you would doing an apprenticeship.

 

[DuaneMHunt1976]

Think you hit it was A meaning you will be poor at the start, (from a good job to a low paying) and if you have your foot in the door and they take you.. go for it...

Not sure on your reasons for a change, at 32.


As you said with Route B, experience,experience,experience dam important, its very hard to learn from YOUTUBE and Text books.

 

[telectrix]

option C. keep present job. do the course 2 evenings a week at college ( 2-3 years). once you have the core qual. then go for hands-on in the real world and get nvq3.

 

[panelman]

Thanks for the replies all.

Reason for a careers change- at the top of the industry I work in, so will never make much more money in this line of work.
Work / live in areas where I ultimatly dont want to live- near major cities etc. Work 0700-2100 during my busy periods, every weekend etc.

Want to be able to live back down by the coast, better work / life balance.

Hadn't actually thought of option C. How does that differ from option A, except that it takes longer?

 

[Simonslimline]

telectrix idea is the best in my opinion. Also i would not bother doing the 2392. If you want to get a recognised inspection & testing qualification i would wait until you have more experience then sit the 2394/5 course.

It is actually worth the paper it's printed on.

 

[telectrix]

option A.low earnings for 3 years, and firms want apprentices < 21 so the wages are even less. option B.. electrical trainee course. not recognised by industry. only recognised by the scam sharks who want you to pay them £500/year to do house bashing, self employed.

 

[Loki]

Option A
Yes you get a low wage for the first year but then it goes up to your minimum wage for your age after that first year.
Plus you get practical experience also

Im 40 & this is the route im taking & im 6 months in now.


michael