Re-training/change of career at 37 - Electrician
Discussion
I'm seriously considering going back to college to re-train as a sparky.
At 37, with two young kids though, I'm not sure how feasible this is.
I'm currently a design engineer and spend most of my days sat in-front of a screen smashing out CAD drawings. Although I enjoyed this at first and it doesn't pay too badly, after 12 years, I am bored and struggle to find motivation.
Any electricians out there who can offer advice on what courses to take for a complete novice? I understand I would have to take a few different courses year on year before I would be fully qualified.
I'd be looking at part time evening courses so I can obviously continue to pay the bills!
At 37, with two young kids though, I'm not sure how feasible this is.
I'm currently a design engineer and spend most of my days sat in-front of a screen smashing out CAD drawings. Although I enjoyed this at first and it doesn't pay too badly, after 12 years, I am bored and struggle to find motivation.
Any electricians out there who can offer advice on what courses to take for a complete novice? I understand I would have to take a few different courses year on year before I would be fully qualified.
I'd be looking at part time evening courses so I can obviously continue to pay the bills!
Hi,
You'll need 2360 level 2 and 3. You also need the new level 3 (which is the on going photo evidence of your experience). Finally an AM2 which is a practical assessment in a pod where you prove to an examiner you know what your doing)
Do all that then your a qualified electrician. From there you can do the testing course 2391.
Now the honest opinion, don't do it. I'm a spark and it's crap now, construction in general is political central. Arguing over invoices, customers wanting more for less money all the time.
It also extremely hard to get in the industry, you will need to go self employed and work for 2/3 years on £100 A day (take off travel to sites) while you build up your nvq portfolio.
It's so saturated now, it's a race to the bottom
You'll need 2360 level 2 and 3. You also need the new level 3 (which is the on going photo evidence of your experience). Finally an AM2 which is a practical assessment in a pod where you prove to an examiner you know what your doing)
Do all that then your a qualified electrician. From there you can do the testing course 2391.
Now the honest opinion, don't do it. I'm a spark and it's crap now, construction in general is political central. Arguing over invoices, customers wanting more for less money all the time.
It also extremely hard to get in the industry, you will need to go self employed and work for 2/3 years on £100 A day (take off travel to sites) while you build up your nvq portfolio.
It's so saturated now, it's a race to the bottom
How are your knees and back?
When I used to work as a telecoms engineer in my early 20s the constant kneeling, carrying, squeezing through eaves didnt bother me
Now in my 30s my knees would scream if I nealt on them like I used to!!! Obviously when you start out in a trade there is a lot of kneeling, swearing and carrying....not end of the world, but day in day out takes its toll
Have you done much electrical diy or similiar, why do you want to change?
When I used to work as a telecoms engineer in my early 20s the constant kneeling, carrying, squeezing through eaves didnt bother me
Now in my 30s my knees would scream if I nealt on them like I used to!!! Obviously when you start out in a trade there is a lot of kneeling, swearing and carrying....not end of the world, but day in day out takes its toll
Have you done much electrical diy or similiar, why do you want to change?
TwistingMyMelon said:
How are your knees and back?
When I used to work as a telecoms engineer in my early 20s the constant kneeling, carrying, squeezing through eaves didnt bother me
Now in my 30s my knees would scream if I nealt on them like I used to!!! Obviously when you start out in a trade there is a lot of kneeling, swearing and carrying....not end of the world, but day in day out takes its toll
Have you done much electrical diy or similiar, why do you want to change?
^very much thisWhen I used to work as a telecoms engineer in my early 20s the constant kneeling, carrying, squeezing through eaves didnt bother me
Now in my 30s my knees would scream if I nealt on them like I used to!!! Obviously when you start out in a trade there is a lot of kneeling, swearing and carrying....not end of the world, but day in day out takes its toll
Have you done much electrical diy or similiar, why do you want to change?
A lot of trades around this kind of age are looking to slow down, get out or have enough work to employ a lackey to do the grunt work (or several to boss around while they swan around in a crewcab pickup all day)
Royce44 said:
Hi
Now the honest opinion, don't do it. I'm a spark and it's crap now, construction in general is political central. Arguing over invoices, customers wanting more for less money all the time.
It's so saturated now, it's a race to the bottom
Same opinion here. Sparking used to be good but not anymore. Pay has stagnated in company’s bar the odd one who pays the correct rate. I wouldn’t recommend it. Now the honest opinion, don't do it. I'm a spark and it's crap now, construction in general is political central. Arguing over invoices, customers wanting more for less money all the time.
It's so saturated now, it's a race to the bottom
Gas engineers seem to be flavour of the time decent money etc.
What industry are you in?
I know guys in energy who are designers that did a master's part time and now earning big day rates.
It's a foregone conclusion of mine that all work eventually sucks balls but a big f
k off day rate will make it all the more easier to stomach and that masters will likely place you in some challenging roles/environments.
I know guys in energy who are designers that did a master's part time and now earning big day rates.
It's a foregone conclusion of mine that all work eventually sucks balls but a big f
k off day rate will make it all the more easier to stomach and that masters will likely place you in some challenging roles/environments.What kind of design work are you doing at the moment? Instrument/Electrical designers usually get a decent rate, just for knocking up fairly simple electrical drawings (£30-40 an hour??) how about trying to get more into that side of things? and doing it as a contractor? There's plenty of jobs for the engineering firms that would require you to travel to different sites, doing site surveys etc, making drawings from your own surveys rather than someone elses sketch on the back of a fag packet. the site working side of things would see you out of your office and out and about a lot more, and the contracting would working all over in different locations and offices.
The majority of sparks i know, and from when i was doing it myself, spend their days putting in cable tray, glanding cables, getting knocked out of the bait cabin the exact minute their break finishes, and basically treat like rubbish. You're easily replaceable, and that fact is made clear. Yeah some people make a good go of working for themselves, or commissioning, and make really good money and get treat well......the majority in my experience don't. unless you know someone that will look after you and get you on the right jobs it can be a pretty soul destroying job. It can probably be a great job too, but it wasn't for me.
I can see why after spending your life in an office you want to get out, but be careful what you wish for. If i were you i'd expand on your CAD to get into more of a real design or engineering role, where you're designing your own things....unless you're already doing that? in which case you just need a different job/industry rather than a career change in my opinion
The majority of sparks i know, and from when i was doing it myself, spend their days putting in cable tray, glanding cables, getting knocked out of the bait cabin the exact minute their break finishes, and basically treat like rubbish. You're easily replaceable, and that fact is made clear. Yeah some people make a good go of working for themselves, or commissioning, and make really good money and get treat well......the majority in my experience don't. unless you know someone that will look after you and get you on the right jobs it can be a pretty soul destroying job. It can probably be a great job too, but it wasn't for me.
I can see why after spending your life in an office you want to get out, but be careful what you wish for. If i were you i'd expand on your CAD to get into more of a real design or engineering role, where you're designing your own things....unless you're already doing that? in which case you just need a different job/industry rather than a career change in my opinion
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