Learning a trade
Discussion
I am in my early 30's and getting bored in the IT world. I've always enjoyed DIY and thought I'd be good at it as a job, very hands-on a logical. It's got me thinking about sacking the job in, learning a trade and starting a business. Obviously not going to just jump in eyes closed, so thought I'd throw the question out there.
I've seen courses to train to be a sparky that runs 16 weeks, giving you C&G 2365 AM2, basically making you fully qualified, just without any experience! It's not cheap, but a quick way to get up to speed on the industry before finding work, or going at it alone.
Has anyone else made the jump? What were your experiences?
I fully expected to be berated!
I've seen courses to train to be a sparky that runs 16 weeks, giving you C&G 2365 AM2, basically making you fully qualified, just without any experience! It's not cheap, but a quick way to get up to speed on the industry before finding work, or going at it alone.
Has anyone else made the jump? What were your experiences?
I fully expected to be berated!
16 week course to make ya a spark.... well crack on bud....
4 year apprenticeship and years of working and Id still not say I know everything, What is it that you want to do ? House rewires and additions etc ? get stuck in that course you mentioned is like a crash driving licence course, get you past the test to let you loose on the roads so to speak.
if you have business experience and know how to price work and do all the other non core around the job then it may be a great avenue to explore, you may want to get in and learn the ropes with another company, get a couple of years in and then break out. would be a good job though and always interesting.
4 year apprenticeship and years of working and Id still not say I know everything, What is it that you want to do ? House rewires and additions etc ? get stuck in that course you mentioned is like a crash driving licence course, get you past the test to let you loose on the roads so to speak.
if you have business experience and know how to price work and do all the other non core around the job then it may be a great avenue to explore, you may want to get in and learn the ropes with another company, get a couple of years in and then break out. would be a good job though and always interesting.
Good luck.
I think some things to consider. Remember the last thing you enjoyed DIYing? Imagine doing that everyday for the next 2 months because you're working on a block of flats. How about that annoying customer who keeps changing their mind so you're redoing work even if they're paying for it?
I think some things to consider. Remember the last thing you enjoyed DIYing? Imagine doing that everyday for the next 2 months because you're working on a block of flats. How about that annoying customer who keeps changing their mind so you're redoing work even if they're paying for it?
illmonkey said:
I am in my early 30's and getting bored in the IT world. I've always enjoyed DIY and thought I'd be good at it as a job, very hands-on a logical. It's got me thinking about sacking the job in, learning a trade and starting a business. Obviously not going to just jump in eyes closed, so thought I'd throw the question out there.
I've seen courses to train to be a sparky that runs 16 weeks, giving you C&G 2365 AM2, basically making you fully qualified, just without any experience! It's not cheap, but a quick way to get up to speed on the industry before finding work, or going at it alone.
Has anyone else made the jump? What were your experiences?
I fully expected to be berated!
Had you thought about more niche skills (given you have IT knowledge) - networking or alarm systems? The advantage of both is that you can also add additional services to fill in your dead time (alarm inspection/testing, etc) I've seen courses to train to be a sparky that runs 16 weeks, giving you C&G 2365 AM2, basically making you fully qualified, just without any experience! It's not cheap, but a quick way to get up to speed on the industry before finding work, or going at it alone.
Has anyone else made the jump? What were your experiences?
I fully expected to be berated!
Vaud said:
illmonkey said:
I am in my early 30's and getting bored in the IT world. I've always enjoyed DIY and thought I'd be good at it as a job, very hands-on a logical. It's got me thinking about sacking the job in, learning a trade and starting a business. Obviously not going to just jump in eyes closed, so thought I'd throw the question out there.
I've seen courses to train to be a sparky that runs 16 weeks, giving you C&G 2365 AM2, basically making you fully qualified, just without any experience! It's not cheap, but a quick way to get up to speed on the industry before finding work, or going at it alone.
Has anyone else made the jump? What were your experiences?
I fully expected to be berated!
Had you thought about more niche skills (given you have IT knowledge) - networking or alarm systems? The advantage of both is that you can also add additional services to fill in your dead time (alarm inspection/testing, etc) I've seen courses to train to be a sparky that runs 16 weeks, giving you C&G 2365 AM2, basically making you fully qualified, just without any experience! It's not cheap, but a quick way to get up to speed on the industry before finding work, or going at it alone.
Has anyone else made the jump? What were your experiences?
I fully expected to be berated!
You have lots of IT experience, so if it is at all possible – can you combine the electrician bit and the IT? Home server network? CAT 6 install? advanced AV setup stuff? clever lighting systems? novel CCTV/alarm functionality?
I think the proper integration of solar panels, solar hot water panels, and sensible integration into the electricity supply/central heating in the house is going to be big business shortly.
Just a thought….
bucksmanuk said:
This would be my line of advice, get a skill “everyone” else has, and you get the same pay/hassle “everyone” else does.
You have lots of IT experience, so if it is at all possible – can you combine the electrician bit and the IT? Home server network? CAT 6 install? advanced AV setup stuff? clever lighting systems? novel CCTV/alarm functionality?
I think the proper integration of solar panels, solar hot water panels, and sensible integration into the electricity supply/central heating in the house is going to be big business shortly.
Just a thought….
Agreed....You have lots of IT experience, so if it is at all possible – can you combine the electrician bit and the IT? Home server network? CAT 6 install? advanced AV setup stuff? clever lighting systems? novel CCTV/alarm functionality?
I think the proper integration of solar panels, solar hot water panels, and sensible integration into the electricity supply/central heating in the house is going to be big business shortly.
Just a thought….
Not all electricians can do cat 6, etc - or wifi (or know where to put them, etc). Being able to do Ubiquity / LAN / provide parental controls on wifi (?)
Connected home (though many people with an interest in connected home can probably do it).
Anything where people would see a higher value in the service and that you can sell to business and domestic.
Alarm systems always seem to be a good annuity as you can charge an annual fee for servicing (battery check, sensors, etc) and a good opportunity to sell your services as you are with the customer.
Following! Similar position ... Early 30’s and managing two networks on two separate sites, including line management of several IT Technicians. I handed in my notice last night.
I’m lucky enough to have no mortgage at present, and no dependancies. My wife is hugely supportive of the move too. I have 3 months of notice to work out, so considering either doing IT in a different sector, or something completely different altogether!
I’m lucky enough to have no mortgage at present, and no dependancies. My wife is hugely supportive of the move too. I have 3 months of notice to work out, so considering either doing IT in a different sector, or something completely different altogether!
I did a mechanical engineering apprenticeship when I hit 30, the other bloke who got on the scheme was 36. So age wasn’t an issue.
I love it as I’m on tools all day but in an industrial setting, I enjoy diy but I wouldn’t want to do a trade in that. Mainly because it seems to be so boring. Drilling joists all day and running cables can get old quickly!
I love it as I’m on tools all day but in an industrial setting, I enjoy diy but I wouldn’t want to do a trade in that. Mainly because it seems to be so boring. Drilling joists all day and running cables can get old quickly!
Just to add a little twist, I have been looking (only half hearted) for someone to train up in a trade and although I have had a few interested of different age range they don't or can't grasp the concept of not being paid top whack while training, they want it all and want it from the off!
Sparking like most trades is hard work, and at the age you are you'd be looking at being up to speed right at the point a lot of tradies are beginning to appreciate the toll the job takes on the body and ponder where the future lies. And TBF 16 weeks you won't learn jack, even time-served guys who've worked limited scope e.g. All new build try general sparking and find themselves severely lacking.
As said specialization, if you can get the clients, is perhaps where opportunity lies, people see and ask about home automation etc but most sparks don't want to know, or don't know how to go about it.
As said specialization, if you can get the clients, is perhaps where opportunity lies, people see and ask about home automation etc but most sparks don't want to know, or don't know how to go about it.
I made the side/backward step from IT into the factory maintenance at 33 (two years in now). As I looked at it as broadening my skill set and not just following the usual IT certification collecting.
Currently just finished my level 2 c&g night course at college. Which is hard work holding down a full time job and the another 3 hours learning twice a week. I looked at doing an intensive course and glad I didn’t go down that route. There’s lots to learn.
To be honest i’m finding it hard being down the bottom of the pile again and people looking at you as not having a clue and giving you a chance to show your skills as at the end of the day you’re the apprentice and they like to make you know that. Even my IT skills aren’t being utilised. As they wouldn’t want me showing them up. It’s getting boring and i’ve looked at going back into network administration as my skills will be appreciated once again. And then self funding the rest of the c&g course.
There are lots of ways you can use your IT skills Along side being a fully qualified sparky. It’ll set you out from the rest. I’ve had to show the fully qualified electrician at work how to terminate cat cables.
Currently just finished my level 2 c&g night course at college. Which is hard work holding down a full time job and the another 3 hours learning twice a week. I looked at doing an intensive course and glad I didn’t go down that route. There’s lots to learn.
To be honest i’m finding it hard being down the bottom of the pile again and people looking at you as not having a clue and giving you a chance to show your skills as at the end of the day you’re the apprentice and they like to make you know that. Even my IT skills aren’t being utilised. As they wouldn’t want me showing them up. It’s getting boring and i’ve looked at going back into network administration as my skills will be appreciated once again. And then self funding the rest of the c&g course.
There are lots of ways you can use your IT skills Along side being a fully qualified sparky. It’ll set you out from the rest. I’ve had to show the fully qualified electrician at work how to terminate cat cables.
Edited by TVR Tommy on Monday 26th August 19:58
illmonkey said:
I am in my early 30's and getting bored in the IT world. I've always enjoyed DIY and thought I'd be good at it as a job, very hands-on a logical. It's got me thinking about sacking the job in, learning a trade and starting a business. Obviously not going to just jump in eyes closed, so thought I'd throw the question out there.
I've seen courses to train to be a sparky that runs 16 weeks, giving you C&G 2365 AM2, basically making you fully qualified, just without any experience! It's not cheap, but a quick way to get up to speed on the industry before finding work, or going at it alone.
Has anyone else made the jump? What were your experiences?
I fully expected to be berated!
I looked at similar TBH then thought nah. Courses were massively expensive then I thought would I get a job with an MCSA or CCNA cert and no experience - probably not. Experience counts just as much as the certification.I've seen courses to train to be a sparky that runs 16 weeks, giving you C&G 2365 AM2, basically making you fully qualified, just without any experience! It's not cheap, but a quick way to get up to speed on the industry before finding work, or going at it alone.
Has anyone else made the jump? What were your experiences?
I fully expected to be berated!
Not wanting to put a dampner on things by the way. I'm in the exact same position - early 30's, 10 years in IT and f
king hate it. By the end of xmas I'll have left. Been saying this for half a decade but this time it's happening. Will pull pints or drive a private hire then re-evaluate. I'll be earning alot less but can live with that for not having to put up with this nonsense. I'll retrain once i've finally decided what i want to do in life at the age of 31. Being in Scotland i can goto college then uni and it won't cost me a penny so that helps massively.Good luck!
moles said:
What’s the rules in Scotland then free education for all ages?, I’m similar looking to retrain from gas/plumbing to something else.
Free further education yeah. 4 years I think you are entitled for a diploma or degree via college and university. Certification's are excluded.Hi illmonkey,
What do you do within the IT world? Is there a possibility you could stick with the IT side of things but move into a different industry all together. For example I work within the gas industry and we use Ladder Logic to operate machinery. Is this something that you may be able to move your skills over to easier?
If you did want to change completely, there always seems to be work within our industry, on all trades (elec/mech/instrument).
Happy to discuss further either direction if required.
Charlesberg.
What do you do within the IT world? Is there a possibility you could stick with the IT side of things but move into a different industry all together. For example I work within the gas industry and we use Ladder Logic to operate machinery. Is this something that you may be able to move your skills over to easier?
If you did want to change completely, there always seems to be work within our industry, on all trades (elec/mech/instrument).
Happy to discuss further either direction if required.
Charlesberg.
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