Any PAT testers on here?

[V88Dicky]

Hi folks. I've been offered a job as a PAT tester with a large facilities management/maintenance company, and was hoping for some inside info on what the job is like, the pros and cons etc, before or if I accept.

It's piecework at 33-39pp item, mileage allowance but no company vehicle, £35 for overnight stays, £20 per month for personal phone, all test equipment and kit provided. What do you think?

Thanks in advance

[McHaggis]

Any guaranteed volume of work?

The overnight rate is very area dependent I guess - could be "just doable" or could be flea ridden B&B in the south.

[V88Dicky]

It's to cover the Northeast of England as they're very short, all your work is sent to you via PDA, and you have to do a minimum of 6 hours on site plus travel. It's minimum wage until the volume of tests override this.

The biggest downside for me is the lack of a company van. It means effectively changing my car as I currently have a 2.0 petrol.

[sjj84]

At 33-39p per item you won't be pat testing, you'll be putting stickers on items. To do the the job properly at that rate you won't be earning enough to live on. I take it you have no previous experience or training in pat testing?

[V88Dicky]

sjj84 said:

At 33-39p per item you won't be pat testing, you'll be putting stickers on items. To do the the job properly at that rate you won't be earning enough to live on. I take it you have no previous experience or training in pat testing?

Plenty of experience of PAT testing, just not in a commercial sense (ex-Navy electrician). Don't think I'll be taking this any further TBH, just too many vagueries and no steady wage. No company vehicle of any description either, and with the added cost of extra maintenance and business insurance on the car, I just can't get the sums to work.

Oh well.

[98elise]

V88Dicky said:

........ex-Navy electrician......

then you are far far to good for this job.

I'm ex RN WEA myself, and ran a PAT team when I left the RN. To do it properly you will do about 50-60 tests in a day on a normal day, 100 if you have a conveyor belt of stuff to test without having to climb under desks etc.

I assume you are an ex stoker? Apply for jobs on spec with the big FM companies, as a building services maintance electrician. Buildings are just like ships, but without the missles and engines.

I worked for one of the big FM companies for about 8 years after leaving the forces. About 50% of the middle management team were ex RN (no idea if they are now though).

Edited by 98elise on Tuesday 1st May 12:45

[V88Dicky]

98elise said:

then you are far far to good for this job.

I'm ex RN WEA myself, and ran a PAT team when I left the RN. To do it properly you will do about 50-60 tests in a day on a normal day, 100 if you have a conveyor belt of stuff to test without having to climb under desks etc.

I assume you are an ex stoker? Apply for jobs on spec with the big FM companies, as a building services maintance electrician. Buildings are just like ships, but without the missles and engines.

I worked for one of the big FM companies for about 8 years after leaving the forces. About 50% of the middle management team were ex RN (no idea if they are now though).

Edited by 98elise on Tuesday 1st May 12:45

Thanks for the advice mate, much appreciated

Ex WE actually (WEM/LWEM->LET(WE) and so on).

[sjj84]

98elise said:

V88Dicky said:

........ex-Navy electrician......

then you are far far to good for this job.

Definately too good for this particular role. They aren't looking for electricians, they want sticker appliers. As you will know from the pat testing you have done and your experience as an electrician, it would take far too long to do the job properly to be able to make any money from 33-39p per item. Companies that do the job properly, and many electricians that use pat testing to fill quiet times and get a foot in the door, charge far more in the region of £1.50-£2 per item. You'll also be bored senseless doing it day in day out.
Good luck in your job hunt, I hope you find something more suitable to your skills and experience.

[V88Dicky]

sjj84 said:

Definately too good for this particular role. They aren't looking for electricians, they want sticker appliers. As you will know from the pat testing you have done and your experience as an electrician, it would take far too long to do the job properly to be able to make any money from 33-39p per item. Companies that do the job properly, and many electricians that use pat testing to fill quiet times and get a foot in the door, charge far more in the region of £1.50-£2 per item. You'll also be bored senseless doing it day in day out.
Good luck in your job hunt, I hope you find something more suitable to your skills and experience.

Cheers for the kind words mate. As it happens, the day I declined the PAT Tester job, a nice lady phoned me and invited me to an Assessment Centre next Friday, for a job I really like the look of. It's hard physical work and long hours sometimes, but well rewarded. Can't wait!