Is it always stressful!

[Welsh_sparky_21]

Does it get easier after a few years of being a journey man spark? Not long passed and it’s very stressful at times lol!

 

[Mike Johnson]

Sorry I don't know what a "journey man spark" is, but what are you finding stressful?

 

[Intoelectrics]

As mike says ^^ give us some more detail and background.

 

[Welsh_sparky_21]

As mike says ^^ give us some more detail and background.

Like a jobbing spark. Going around houses, shops etc doing smaller sized jobs. Part that I find stressful is fault finding etc, and trying to do the job neat tidy etc but also trying to be quick. Feel like I’m chasing my tail a lot of the time

 

[Mike Johnson]

If you are trying to do a good job and be quick you are putting too much stress on yourself, relax and take the jobs as they come and complete them at a speed that is at your convenience, I think when we all started work we thought that fast meant efficient, that is not always the case, especially if you miss something obvious that rears its head later.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Further to the above: Fault Finding can be a challenge or a fun activity, it requires a methodical approach, only do one test at a time on the circuit in question and don't get side tracked or try to be too clever, when you have enough experience under your belt then you can act the SA and do many tests at the same time but until you learn how to intemperate the readings on your MFT, keep it simple and single.

 

[Pete999]

Sorry I don't know what a "journey man spark" is, but what are you finding stressful?

I think from my time in the US and Canada, a JOURNEYMAN ELECTRICIAN is akin to our Electrician and an APPROVED electrician, the US Master Electrician is I would say an Approved Sparks , although I'm sure someone like Megawatt will put me right, something to do with what licence the individual holds, Megawatt is a Master so he would know the SP on this issue.

 

[Mike Johnson]

This guy is in Glasgow.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Stress comes when you under estimate how long a job will take and not allow enough time for paperwork , trips to the wholesalers etc

plan your week , allow time for admin and allow time to organise materials etc

 

[Pete999]

Stress comes when you under estimate how long a job will take and not allow enough time for paperwork , trips to the wholesalers etc

plan your week , allow time for admin and allow time to organise materials etc

Stress come to different people in many different guises Mate, trust me I know from years of past experiences, to try and describe stress n 1.5 sentences is so crass is nearly stupid.

 

[Pete999]

Stress come to different people in many different guises Mate, trust me I know from years of past experiences, to try and describe stress n 1.5 sentences is so crass is nearly stupid.

I'd love a debate on this subject! share some past stressful experiences with you I have many, I could share, but if you don't want to I'll understand.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

That's just you making it stressful because of your character and the pressures you choose to put upon yourself. You don't have to be quick. I was sooooo slow to start with, I've speeded up, but I'm still slow. I get loads of work though because I do a thorough job. Has any customer actually complained about you being slow? Probably not, but you still choose to worry ?.

I used to sometimes pre-warn customers I would take a while. I didn't tell them I was slow, I just said I am 'meticulous' (good word) as It needs to be done properly, and that takes time.

It's one big race towards 'the end', so I don't intend to rush towards it. I'll move at my own pace and try and enjoy the moment ?

 

[Deleted account]

It will come with experience. Agree with above, allow time for jobs. Don’t get bogged down with a quote.

if you don’t know how long it will take be honest with customer and say you don’t know, this is my hourly rate. or over estimate. Take it or leave it.


You being stressed reminds me of a one of my first jobs was a fault find. that was stressful due to impatient customer And Big house.

I explained to customer faults can be a bit tricky to find and need a methodical search. i could find it in 10 minutes or it may take a few hours so I cannot give a price. I charge £30 per hour.

Long story cut short. It took 2 hours to narrow down the search to one of 3 circuits on one of the properties boards.

the customer decided he no longer wanted to pay me any more. I explained I was close as there was just 3 circuits left to try. He wanted to know how long. I said I don’t know. He said he didn’t want to pay any more.

that was fine I billed him £60 went on my way.

got a call next day saying he had another spark find the fault within an hour. He wasn’t happy with me and wanted his money back.

I started explaining that it took him under an hour because I had spent 2 hours narrowing it down. I gave up and just gave him his money back.


That really stressed me out. I was new to it. I thought I’d done something wrong.

To this day it annoys me. But looking back I did everything right.

The place was a mess, circuits crossing over each other from different boards.
Looking back I know I was right. Maybe if I had started at a different point I would have found it quicker. But I’m not phsycic.

It will get better. Just chill. The job doesn’t get easier, you get better at the job and will be able to chill on a tricky job.

 

[Pete999]

That's just you making it stressful because of your character and the pressures you choose to put upon yourself. You don't have to be quick. I was sooooo slow to start with, I've speeded up, but I'm still slow. I get loads of work though because I do a thorough job. Has any customer actually complained about you being slow? Probably not, but you still choose to worry ?.

I used to sometimes pre-warn customers I would take a while. I didn't tell them I was slow, I just said I am 'meticulous' (good word) as It needs to be done properly, and that takes time.

It's one big race towards 'the end', so I don't intend to rush towards it. I'll move at my own pace and try and enjoy the moment ?

Sorry Buzz have to disagree with your response on this one, I never chose to put pressure on myself, needs must in many cases, not sure of your age or experiences, but believe me filling forms and going to Wholesalers, would have been a pleasure I longed for. Just thankful for a dutiful wife and family to help me , Stress youngsters today don'know the meaning of stress, I could elaborate but nobody seems interested , a sad reflection in my experience.

 

[Pete999]

Sorry Buzz have to disagree with your response on this one, I never chose to put pressure on myself, needs must in many cases, not sure of your age or experiences, but believe me filling forms and going to Wholesalers, would have been a pleasure I longed for. Just thankful for a dutiful wife and family to help me , Stress youngsters today don'know the meaning of stress, I could elaborate but nobody seems interested , a sad reflection in my experience.

Sorry I'm out of this one

 

[electric al]

Sorry I'm out of this one

Sounds to me like this convo is stressing you up pete ?

 

[Pete999]

Sounds to me like this convo is stressing you up pete ?

Not at all just wondering if the other participant's know what Real stress is that's all, aft ,we all stress is an individual problem, I Can switch off if it become d to stressful for me

 

[Pete999]

Sounds to me like this convo is stressing you up pete ?

Sounds like STRESS is the new COVID get a life Lads Grow some and stop feeling sorry for yourselves

 

[mattg4321]

Got a lot of time for the old hands such as Pete, but you're wide of the mark here mate.

The current time is almost without question the most stressful time for most people in this country since the war

 

[electric al]

I think we all handle stress differently and to some degree stress can be relative. I see some people becoming agitated or stressed over what I consider to be trivial and equally some people are very calm under the most difficult circumstances.i then wonder how they can be so
Contained .