Looking to become a qualified electrician.

[keith2603]

Hi everyone this is my first time posting on this site, to get straight to the point i'm being made redundant at the beginning of September and am thinking of paying for a fast track course into becoming an electrician, could anyone give me any advice on what courses to do and the best routes to get started to be an electricians mate (what qualifacations would I need to get out there at minimum). Would be grateful for any advice.

 

[telectrix]

forget it. market is saturated with fast track wannabees, earnings are being driven down, earn more at mcdonalds.

 

[stuartcourt]

you cannot learn a trade in five minutes, but these courses will tell you otherwise. you need to to proper city & guilds and get a job as electricians mate. Do not waste your money on these courses and expect to be looked at in the same light as a guy/girl who has done 5 years apprenticeship and then the same again as improver. Good luck mate in whatever you do.

 

[7029 dave]

thank the government of the 80s for the abolition of apprentice schemes as I knew it= fast track 21st century Britain

 

[TommyM]

Hi everyone this is my first time posting on this site, to get straight to the point i'm being made redundant at the beginning of September and am thinking of paying for a fast track course into becoming an electrician, could anyone give me any advice on what courses to do and the best routes to get started to be an electricians mate (what qualifications would I need to get out there at minimum). Would be grateful for any advice.

I'm interested in becoming a fully qualified electrician and ive done my research.

I agree that there's no such thing as a fast track, you need experience.
Plus "fully qualified" means you have the certain qualifications, but im sure as other skilled electricians will tell you, that your always learning something new.

I am tacking a course with OLCI, but its for personnel use, and then hopefully after time and eperience i can use it to be employed self employed.

But this is a skill, and its called a skill for a reason. you cant just buy a football, kick it in the back garden for a week and then play for Man UTD.

My thread on qualifications http://www.electriciansforums.net/e...8-what-correct-qualifications.html#post790040

 

[derek preece]

Don't bother wasting your money on a fast track course, there are too many who have done that already and the market is flooded with inexperienced want to be sparks who are learning by doing unsafe work in the unsuspecting public's homes, with no one to tell them they have made an error until someone gets killed or injured from a fire or shock. Get yourself a job as a labourer/electrician's mate and go to evening college to learn the theory if you can't get an apprenticeship. If you seem sensible and keen you will get a chance to try your hand at practising new skills.

 

[guest119]

They will take your money off you keith And then you will be just another a hole on here thinking the trade owes you experience and money because you have shelled out wads of cash on courses.
You missed the boat when you were 16.
Sorry pal but thats the way it is.

Boydy

 

[TommyM]

They will take your money off you keith And then you will be just another a hole on here thinking the trade owes you experience and money because you have shelled out wads of cash on courses.
You missed the boat when you were 16.
Sorry pal but thats the way it is.

Boydy

i used to think that, missed the boat when i was 16. and in fact i wish i had learned the trade at college and in a apprenticeship . but it dosnt mean you still cant learn, and apply the trade.

Yes it does take alot of experience but it can be done, if you look hard for some one to take you on as a trainee. fortunately for me, i know someone who will allow me to work along side them, to learn the trade and get experience.

Moneys not great, but experience is invaluable.

 

[Essexboy7]

Hi everyone this is my first time posting on this site, to get straight to the point i'm being made redundant at the beginning of September and am thinking of paying for a fast track course into becoming an electrician, could anyone give me any advice on what courses to do and the best routes to get started to be an electricians mate (what qualifacations would I need to get out there at minimum). Would be grateful for any advice.

Think about it mate can you do a fasttrack course to become a Doctor/lawyer/accountant/architecht/mechanic/quantity surveyor/nurse/dentist?

Of course you cant because they are all highly skilled careers that involve learning vast amounts of knowledge and provide a service that if not done correctly can have serious adverse consequences for the person paying for them.The same goes for a spark.If these fasttrack courses were so good do you think anyone would bother doing a 3 year apprenticeship on low wages?

Sign up for nightschool and study proper electrical qualifications and sign up with agencies as a sparks mate or approach local electrical companies and see if you can get a start with them to get some experience but dont offer to work for free as thats not what our game is about.


If you dont want to follow the advice here be prepared to waste your money and not be able to get any work when you are "qualified" as a fasttrack spark

 

[human016834]

Think about it mate can you do a fasttrack course to become a Doctor/lawyer/accountant/architecht/mechanic/quantity surveyor/nurse/dentist?

Of course you cant because they are all highly skilled careers that involve learning vast amounts of knowledge and provide a service that if not done correctly can have serious adverse consequences for the person paying for them.The same goes for a spark.If these fasttrack courses were so good do you think anyone would bother doing a 3 year apprenticeship on low wages?

Sign up for nightschool and study proper electrical qualifications and sign up with agencies as a sparks mate or approach local electrical companies and see if you can get a start with them to get some experience but dont offer to work for free as thats not what our game is about.


If you dont want to follow the advice here be prepared to waste your money and not be able to get any work when you are "qualified" as a fasttrack spark

Can you explain what you mean by this?

I have worked in retail since I was 17 (25 now) and I've decided to try and make a career for myself in electrics. I've just finished Level 2 C&G 2365 and in my experience no one is willing to take a chance on someone without the practical experience... I've HAD to offer my time for free in order to get a foot in the door. Especially in this economic climate and the nature of jobs coming through that last maybe 2-3 weeks; electricians can't employ someone that they need to train as well, they want someone who they know can just come in and do the work..

Regards

 

[derek preece]

Can you explain what you mean by this?

I have worked in retail since I was 17 (25 now) and I've decided to try and make a career for myself in electrics. I've just finished Level 2 C&G 2365 and in my experience no one is willing to take a chance on someone without the practical experience... I've HAD to offer my time for free in order to get a foot in the door. Especially in this economic climate and the nature of jobs coming through that last maybe 2-3 weeks; electricians can't employ someone that they need to train as well, they want someone who they know can just come in and do the work..

Regards

By working for free you are contributing to the race to the bottom for prices with everyone undercutting each other because they are using free labour. Unfortunately many sparks are also equally guilty of this as they are using free labour to undercut their competitors but they are also adding to the problem of driving down prices and reducing profitability for electrical contracts. To work for free, I think, is devaluing yourself as even broom operatives get at least minimum wage on site and surely you are worth more than that?
If you don't have the contacts to get a job and you are constantly contacting companies offering your services (not for free) then as a last resort the agencies are worth a try (personally I see them as parasites but they are necessary sometimes) this will allow you to make contacts with sparks who might have contracts coming up and if you look like a grafter then they might offer a bit of work your way.

 

[guest119]

I have worked in retail since I was 17 (25 now) and I've decided to try and make a career for myself in electrics.


Herein lies the problem Human, that choice just shouldnt be there, you will never catch up on a lost 10 years and will never be anything near the real thing but in a few years you will probably think you are.
Someone of your age and appearance should have 5 years as a tradesman under his belt.
From a personal point of view I find the statement of I HAVE DECIDED TO MAKE A CAREER FOR MYSELF IN ELECTRICS to be arrogant, ignorant, patronising, misguided and offensive to the old hands like myself.
But thats just me.

Boydy

 

[human016834]

WHAT!? So we should all make a decision on the rest of our lives at 16 and then that's it... stick with it. Sorry but I don't accept that!

I don't mean to appear "arrogant" .. I just mean to change career basically. Also, not saying anyone can achieve success in electrics because I understand that it's difficult. I also think it's ridiculous to assume that someone such as myself cannot possibly be as good as those starting from 16... total generalisation there! How about some constructive comments??

Also, Derek, I appreciate what you're saying and I understand to some degree but it's not like I've not tried to get paid work first. I will try agency, thanks for that. I only work 1-2 days per week (only just started) and it will only be until the end of summer where I will use experience, contacts etc to gain paid employment.

Regards,

 

[keith2603]

Boydy your comments are out of order and so negative, so no one can change there career path from what they choose when they were 16 when lets be honest you don't know your a hole from your elbow. My mother trained to be a nurse after she was 35 and she done it while bringing up 4 kids , true she done 3 years of training on the job but what am thinking and please tell me if this wont happen but I was thinking if I can get a few of the qualifacations c+g 2330 level 2, c+g 2382, c+g 2377 and eal vrq then maybe someone would take me on as an electricians mate , ive got some funding which allows my employers to claim £3,000 for me if they keep me in employement for a year and they'll also give up to £1000 towards any further training my employer would need or want to give me after that. I'm not stupid and think al be on 30,000 a year there and then but i'd be happy to plod along for 4-5 years on £8 odd an hour and gather my experience.

 

[telectrix]

it don't matter what age you are. the problem is that anyone over a certain age will get no help with courses, no paid apprenticeships, and, with having bills to pay etc. generally cannot afford to train the correct way, over some 3-4 years, but jumps at the chance of doing it all in 5 weeks. getting the pare qualifications this way is all well and good, but then at least 3-4 years as a mate, gaining practical experience , is required before anyone should be let loose on their own.

 

[Rockingit]

the fast track courses, in all their forms, paint a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow and how the industry is crying out for you to sign up as we're all retiring.

Neither of these is true.

Sure, career changes happen, nowt wrong with that and I applaud those with the commitment to do so. But there is no fast track option available here, that's why there's so many people on the jobs thread asking for a start as they have no experience. Anyone can go and sit most of the exams - ffs you get four minutes per question to look the answer up in the book on one of them - what counts is experience, and you only get that by starting out making the tea and sweeping the floor, no matter what age or background you are.

 

[keith2603]

So is my idea of getting these qualifications the quick way then going to a company with them receiving 3000 in funding to employ me for a year and then being happy to plod along on £8 odd an hour and gather 4 years experience or so as a electricians mate plausible.

 

[telectrix]

perfectly plausible. as long as you put in the effort and realise that the practical experience is necessary . and that by passing a few exams, you're not competent without that practical knowledge.

 

[Rockingit]

So is my idea of getting these qualifications the quick way then going to a company with them receiving 3000 in funding to employ me for a year and then being happy to plod along on £8 odd an hour and gather 4 years experience or so as a electricians mate plausible.

In fairness, yes it is. There is much to be said for having some 'life experience' and a mature attitude, and tbh if you were in my neck of the woods then you'd be welcome to at least knock on my door, just to see. What you have described is pretty close to an apprenticeship route in all but order. If only we could encourage everyone else to have the same attitude!

 

[guest119]

to plod along for 4-5 years on £8 odd an hour and gather my experience.

And put a real spark on the dole.

 

[human016834]

Glass half empty kind of guy..?

Why don't you suggest something Boydy instead of the constant negativity against people trying to better themselves.

 

[Rockingit]

Boydy.....what's the difference between starting at the bottom and working and learning for four years as an apprentice, and starting having done some learning then working from the bottom for four years??? Your argument lacks any logic in that respect.

 

[keith2603]

Boydys a muppet.
Go down that road at 16 "don't you ever come back, I don't wanna see your face again"
Lol.
Thanks for all the help guys ,seriously , am about to get made redundant so av got some good funding and am looking at lots of options.
Gunna use this as an oppertunity and not a negative.
Boydy don't ever change your career ........never,never,never.

 

[derek preece]

Seriously if you want to be a good spark with a solid understanding of electrical theory DO NOT DO THE FAST TRACK COURSE. You should be aiming for straight distinctions for your theory exams and you are not going to achieve that by cramming for exams in a short space of time.

 

[KAS1]

Go for it, as they say the cream always comes to the top, you must be able to at least compete with 50% of those who ask questions on here and use this forum as a step by step guide to your day to day problems lol

 

[odawire]

Boydys a muppet.
Go down that road at 16 "don't you ever come back, I don't wanna see your face again"
Lol.
Thanks for all the help guys ,seriously , am about to get made redundant so av got some good funding and am looking at lots of options.
Gunna use this as an oppertunity and not a negative.
Boydy don't ever change your career ........never,never,never.

Hi mate, I was about 24-25 when I got into the trade after years in catering, started one day a week in college off my own back, luckily got on with a half decent firm and did about 3 years with them before going out on my own (they worked me like a carthorse mind!) but everybody is right about the fast track courses, you simply cannot learn enough in that amount of time, and its mainly theory they teach you anyway with a bit of simulated practical work that doesn't really relate to things you come across in the real world, I can honestly say Ive never met an electrician on site or working for themselves that qualified using a fast track course, but if its what you wanna do, go for it mate.

 

[7029 dave]

YTS springs to mind that was another disaster:sad3:

 

[sparky1502]

To the op if you have done your research you will walk in to your local college and do it the respectable way. You came on here asking for advice so take it from lads who know stay away from the quick courses