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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Electrical Questions >> Training https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1098749669 Message started by John Davies on Oct 26^th, 2004, 1:14am

Title: Training
Post by John Davies on Oct 26^th, 2004, 1:14am

My 21 year old son is considering a career as an electrician and is wondering where to start - he is just too old to be an apprentice. Can anyone suggest the best way into the profession?

Is he best to get a job as a trainee and study part time, or could he stand a better chance by taking a crash course and then applying for a job? Can he remain in his present job and do an evening course? Any views or suggestions?

John Davies

Title: Re: Training
Post by HandyMac on Oct 26^th, 2004, 4:23am

Please take into consideration when reading the following that I am not an electrician. My father was, and I've done a fair amount of electrical work in my time. But that qualifies me for diddly squat in terms of representing the profession.

My view is that to become a competent electrician requires doing the job under the expert tuition of someone who is already qualified. It isn't something I would expect that can be learnt out of a book, so the evening class route alone doesn't sound very practical in this respect. I wouldn't expect a future employer to offer a job based upon academic qualifications only, and indeed I would think an employer might rank practical previous experience higher than any pieces of paper that might have been accumulated.

Sometimes when confronted with an electrical job there is more than one way of providing a solution - it's not always quite as simple as wiring a light switch. And it is that knowledge which can only be imparted by being with someone who can explain why something is done in a particular way for that particular job which is so important.

One avenue your son might like to explore is to have a chat with the guy that runs the courses at the local college (where the evening classes are run). Explain the situation to him and see what his views are. At the very least I would expect he would be reasonably knowledgeable about how people might get into the profession.

Finally, perhaps a lesson from my own personal experience may be of help. I'd made up my mind to become an electronics engineer, but didn't enter the apprenticeship arrangement. At age 20 I'd got the qualification (HNC Electronics), but didn't have the experience.

I worked for a large semiconductor manufacturer employing some 3,500 people at the time. So brazen as hell I went and knocked on the door of the plant manager who was responsible for the electronic maintenance department for the whole factory - he was like next to god in the management structure of the company, way too high for me to be talking to him but I hadn't actually learnt that at the time. I told him what I wanted to achieve, showed how determined I was by knocking on his door, and a month later he offered me the next job that became available.

Moral of the story: If your son is determined to get into the sparky trade then he won't do himself any harm knocking on doors that stand between him and what he wants to do. I did exactly that, I'm proud to have done that because I couldn't get to where I wanted in the career direction I was in at the time, but looking back I don't know how I ever managed to cobble together enough bravery to do it at the time.

Andrew

Title: Re: Training
Post by shed-u-like on Oct 26^th, 2004, 12:33pm

21 is not too old for an apprenticeship. The Modern Apprenticeship scheme has recently been extended to include people up to age 25. Do a search on Modern Apprenticeships to get more info.

Title: Re: Training
Post by tellondon on Oct 26^th, 2004, 4:32pm

http://www.jib.org.uk/home.htm
http://www.jtlimited.co.uk/mainPage.htm

These two sites should be usefull, i havnt read them fully but im sure they will help

Title: Re: Training
Post by John Davies on Oct 27^th, 2004, 1:13am

We'll check them out - thanks for all the advice.

John Davies

Title: Re: Training
Post by big_all on Oct 27^th, 2004, 1:18am

i wish you and you son luck j d i hope he finds his vocation in life ::) ::) ;)

Title: Re: Training
Post by sparkyjonny on Oct 27^th, 2004, 1:59am

Try: http://www.city-and-guilds.co.uk/pls/cg2/pkg_cg_qualfind.prc_main

Search for 2360 for all the basics, including the practical side, 2381 for familiarity with regs, and 2391 for inspection & testing.

Title: Re: Training
Post by HandyMac on Oct 27^th, 2004, 5:04am

I believe that 2360 is being phased out currently, and has been replaced by 2330?

My understanding (which may be incorrect) is that the only 2360 courses that are running are for those already subscribed.

Andrew

Title: Re: Training
Post by L.Spark on Oct 27^th, 2004, 5:07am

wrote on Oct 27^th, 2004, 1:18am:

i wish you and you son �luck j d i hope he finds �his vocation in life ::) ::) ;)

Out Out Out you devil! �;D

and handymac too, go on now..shooo! �:D

Quote:

Yes that would be correct, however with you can still get on a part one 2360, so not really somthing to worry about, BUT don't join 2360, no point when 2330 electotechnical courses are already operational (basicaly because there the same as 2360 rly ;))

Title: Re: Training
Post by shed-u-like on Oct 27^th, 2004, 9:38am

For info on modern apprenticships take a look at

http://www.iee.org/OnComms/Circuit/becomeanengineer/modapp.cfm

and

http://www.realworkrealpay.info