Learning a new trade in your 30’s

[Kent_dan]

Hi all, has anybody retrained as a different trade or changed career in your 30’s? I’d like to become an electrician but am aware I won’t be taken on as an apprentice because of my age. I’m thinking if I pay for the qualifications myself and study at home what the chances of being taken in as a mate/improver? I’d be taking a pay cut but just fancy a change. Has anybody done anything similar?

[95JO]

My uncle became an electrician by taking the courses at a local college around shift work, got the necessary qualifications and started his own business doing electrical work around his full-time job, until he had enough work to stop his existing full-time job. He was early 40's when he started.

I'm not sure if that type of approach appeals to you but just sharing what I've seen first hand.

[Kent_dan]

95JO said:

My uncle became an electrician by taking the courses at a local college around shift work, got the necessary qualifications and started his own business doing electrical work around his full-time job, until he had enough work to stop his existing full-time job. He was early 40's when he started.

I'm not sure if that type of approach appeals to you but just sharing what I've seen first hand.

Thanks for the reply. That sounds like a good idea, and means not taking such a pay cut to begin with as I could still do my normal job whilst training.

[67Dino]

Not directly relevant but by way of inspiration, a close friend of mine always dreamt of flying, but ended up in an office job. In his 30s he finally decided he’d had enough, so over 7 years gradually trained his way from private pilots license up to commercial, and then quit his office job. 15 years on, he now flies 777s for British Airways, and has achieved his dreams.

He says if he hadn’t switched he’d have always regretted it. You only get one life, and 30 is still young to change direction. Good luck with it.

[R56Cooper]

Kent_dan said:

95JO said:

My uncle became an electrician by taking the courses at a local college around shift work, got the necessary qualifications and started his own business doing electrical work around his full-time job, until he had enough work to stop his existing full-time job. He was early 40's when he started.

I'm not sure if that type of approach appeals to you but just sharing what I've seen first hand.

Thanks for the reply. That sounds like a good idea, and means not taking such a pay cut to begin with as I could still do my normal job whilst training.

I always assumed you had to do a period of apprenticed / employed training before you were qualified but clearly not. I can see the benefit of that approach, particularly being a bit older you'd hopefully have the life experience / sense to deal with a wide range of customers.

[lyonspride]

Electrician is a good one, but there is a lot of competition and you need to keep up with the latest tax on working certifications.

Anything where your not self employed, is difficult because agencies and HR departments will drop you in a heart beat for having no experience.

[wobman]

I trained as a train driver in my 30's so it's a good age to make a career change, just ensure its a good career with a future.

[Kent_dan]

Thanks for all the replies. Electrician was an idea as I know a few so could get help with theory and could always go along on a job to see the practical side more. I’m already in a trade but just think I fancy something else. Train driver is a dream job for me and I’ve recently applied for a trainee position but don’t hold much hope for that as I’ve heard it’s not easy to get onto. Was even thinking about resitting some GCSEs if that would help me change career.

[Teddy Lop]

Kent_dan said:

Thanks for all the replies. Electrician was an idea as I know a few so could get help with theory and could always go along on a job to see the practical side more. I’m already in a trade but just think I fancy something else. Train driver is a dream job for me and I’ve recently applied for a trainee position but don’t hold much hope for that as I’ve heard it’s not easy to get onto. Was even thinking about resitting some GCSEs if that would help me change career.

I'd ask the sparks you know about the possibility/probability of some experience - I know for some they do the school then struggle to get the on job experience to put in the portfolio to the point they're asking to work for free. But most busy sparks need a help out sooner or later.

What's your plan once qualified?

[Rev Limit]

R56Cooper said:

I always assumed you had to do a period of apprenticed / employed training before you were qualified but clearly not. I can see the benefit of that approach, particularly being a bit older you'd hopefully have the life experience / sense to deal with a wide range of customers.

Yes for most of the trades you need to complete a workplace assessment/portfolio before you can complete the NVQ Level 2.

I’m in a similar position, early 30’s, working in IT but looking to pick up a trade, unfortunately there’s no quick and easy route, you need to get the qualifications and the workplace experience.

[Owensy1405]

Have you seen any courses you want to do? How thorough are the "night school/evening classes"?

I've been thinking of doing this too, im 34 and have always had office based jobs in plant hire and transport and frankly I'm sick of it and the money is pants.

I'm really interested in plumbing or electrics, I think there will always be a demand for a good plumber or sparky...

[Kent_dan]

Owensy1405 said:

Have you seen any courses you want to do? How thorough are the "night school/evening classes"?

I've been thinking of doing this too, im 34 and have always had office based jobs in plant hire and transport and frankly I'm sick of it and the money is pants.

I'm really interested in plumbing or electrics, I think there will always be a demand for a good plumber or sparky...

Yes I’ve seen a course at a centre that’s local to me. You do a certain number of weeks studying at home and a number of weekends in the centre for the practical side of things and the price includes the exams.
I’m sure it would be easier to do the full time course that lasts for seven weeks but with work commitments that wouldn’t be possible for me.

[Nickbrapp]

Would you be eligible for the new government thing where anyone can retrain one a college course?

Being a electrican isn’t all that great, a lot of pulling in cables and being a general dogs body, also very few are directly employed and lots that are get dropped quickly as companies will pick up loads of work then none etc

I’m a fire alarm tech and it’s similar to being a electrican but if anything better as nearly all are full time employed and get all tools, a van etc included at average pays of £32-40k a year.

My company are doing customer connect operatives currently which is residential intruder, door access and cctv, no qualifications needed but the pay is only about 22k a year, could be a good way in.

[sam.rog]

I wouldn’t recommend being a house basher electrician without time spent on the job with a good sparky.
I did an apprenticeship then 7 years as site electrician in a power station. I wont touch domestic work as its stty dirty work most of the time and people expect things for free.

Get your c&g 2391 inspection and testing certs and go around signing off other people’s work. The pay is good and you don’t have all the hard graft of labouring.
The pass rate is low so demand is high.

[Filobimmer]

Nickbrapp said:

Would you be eligible for the new government thing where anyone can retrain one a college course?

Being a electrican isn’t all that great, a lot of pulling in cables and being a general dogs body, also very few are directly employed and lots that are get dropped quickly as companies will pick up loads of work then none etc

I’m a fire alarm tech and it’s similar to being a electrican but if anything better as nearly all are full time employed and get all tools, a van etc included at average pays of £32-40k a year.

My company are doing customer connect operatives currently which is residential intruder, door access and cctv, no qualifications needed but the pay is only about 22k a year, could be a good way in.

Hi Nick

I'm currently retraining and would be interested in the role you mentioned above.

Can I PM you some details?

Thanks.

[Nickbrapp]

Filobimmer said:

Hi Nick

I'm currently retraining and would be interested in the role you mentioned above.

Can I PM you some details?

Thanks.

Link here, this is for the Cardiff one but it’s my understanding that this is a new role across the UK so should be one https://johnsoncontrols.referrals.selectminds.com/...

[Hoofy]

Kent_dan said:

Hi all, has anybody retrained as a different trade or changed career in your 30’s? I’d like to become an electrician but am aware I won’t be taken on as an apprentice because of my age. I’m thinking if I pay for the qualifications myself and study at home what the chances of being taken in as a mate/improver? I’d be taking a pay cut but just fancy a change. Has anybody done anything similar?

Yes, marketing manager for B2B to therapist.

[Filobimmer]

Nickbrapp said:

Link here, this is for the Cardiff one but it’s my understanding that this is a new role across the UK so should be one https://johnsoncontrols.referrals.selectminds.com/...

Thanks , I'm based by Bridgend and I think they have closed this vacancy.

[Nickbrapp]

Filobimmer said:

Thanks , I'm based by Bridgend and I think they have closed this vacancy.

There’s one based in Cardiff which is still live on the Johnson controls website

Try this link

https://johnsoncontrols.referrals.selectminds.com/...

[_Mja_]

I have dreamt about picking up a trade for years - I'm 37 now. My barrier has always been finding work to supplement training. I'm a practical person - fitted kitchens, bathrooms, re-plumbed much of my house, basic electrics, maintain my cars currently learning welding... but for some reason I chose an office job and have hated it for years. It's been better working at home recently as there is something unnatural to me to spend 8 hours stuck in the company of people who also do office jobs.

My other challenge is although I hate the office job I get paid well enough so the pay plummet would be tough but manageable in the short term so I try not to let that put me off.

Fire Alarm tech sounds a good option for not having to solely relying on customers home jobs and potentially bigger companies around that can provide a route in with training etc? I'm based in Hertfordshire if anyone knows of any jobs.

The other option I was considering was learning to paint and properly fabricate metal work. Probably a pipe dream but wouldn't if be great working on classics everyday! Might take some of the pleasure out of my hobby however.