Retraining to be Electrician, any point?

[Newboy1996]

I have everything lined up at the college for training but think there may be little point?
There seems to be a huge amount of electrician vans where ever I look! One man bands, multi person companies, multi trade electrical companies!
If there are SO MANY what would be the future in this trade?

Do you find work ok to get (recession aside) with so many other people out there. There is also a huge DIY side to electrical work (not many people care about the rules).
People do say you don't make much from using your hands, better your head

 

[oharaf]

Do you want to be an electrician or not?????

That is the question you need to ask yourself.

 

[kevindgas]

think it all depends on the area you live
here in Southampton the prospects are crap, I do gas, electrical and solar. have been in the business 25years + and this is the worst year i have ever known. can't even pay the bills as work is so short.
maybe where you are it is better!

 

[Spark123]

If I remember you are somewhere on the M6 in Cumbria??
It is the same as most things up here - if you want the work you have to travel. Along the West Cumbria coast there is always jobs in the industrial sector providing you are willing to travel.

 

[Mummymoe]

When my son was at school, he didnt know what to do either, so I said get a trade behind you as most kids were going into IT then. He went through his training, passed, had several jobs, got made redundant at Christmas and was employed within 2 weeks as an Estimator and he is really enjoying it and earns really good wedges. He thanks me for making him take that route even though he found it hard coping with experienced sparkies at first. His friend who couldnt be bothered taking exams, started as as a swimming pool attendant and he still only earns peanuts.
Young blokes like my son and you will be in demand one day as everyone has to retire at some point - that's when your trade will be in your favour, until then, sit the exams, get a trade under your belt and I bet your be more in demand than most youngsters of your age in time.

 

[oharaf]

123 is correct, I'm about to start a job that involves 35min journey each way for about a fortnight.

I always wanted to be a sparks, spent 12 yrs wishing i had been, did something about it, now earning 1/3 of what i used to, struggling like hell but love the work to bits.

Times will get better, and believe me this is not as bad as it was in the early 80's.

Starting with a negative attitude will result in negative results.

 

[Spark123]

I hope newboy1996 is a little bit older than 13
Mid 40s iirc

 

[Newboy1996]

I hope newboy1996 is a little bit older than 13
Mid 40s iirc

Umm, thats true!
I guess most people think of "sparks" as a house bashing bloke with ladders. But the reality it very varied in the industrial sector.
Yes Cumbria a poor place for industry and travelling huge distances does not add to a quality lifestyle

Anyway Spark123, would like a crack at your job as you are always on here??

 

[RF Lighting]

123 is correct, I'm about to start a job that involves 35min journey each way for about a fortnight

Is that all? I've been commuting 45 - 50 mins each way every day for nearly 2 years now...

 

[ericmark]

What sort of Electrician?
I have worked in large factories and been responsible for designing and installing including writing the PLC program.
I have worked on heavy plant with 415v three phase and 24vdc all mixed together on one item a 250 ton lift an carry straddle carrier.
I have worked on batching plants.
I have also re-wired houses and worked on installation from petro-chemical to shipyards.
It is all different yet still part of the electrical trade. I was not very keen working on tunnel boring machine because of the dangers involved but in the main I have enjoyed my job.
I also enjoyed the travelling. Algeria, Falklands and Hong Kong plus various locations in the UK.
There are also many specialist branches refrigeration and instrumentation for example.
I have never stopped learning and my son has followed in my foot steps. My father ran a 800 mega watt power station and Father in Law was project director for large hospital board on the electrical system.
You could say it is in my blood! I will admit I have found the maths a little on hard side when one gets into calculus and some of the other complex bits but for many of the branches it is not required.
So with such a wide range if you want an interesting job then it is certainly that. However if all you want to do is make money then look elsewhere.

 

[VanSolo]

I have everything lined up at the college for training but think there may be little point?
There seems to be a huge amount of electrician vans where ever I look! One man bands, multi person companies, multi trade electrical companies!
If there are SO MANY what would be the future in this trade?

Do you find work ok to get (recession aside) with so many other people out there. There is also a huge DIY side to electrical work (not many people care about the rules).
People do say you don't make much from using your hands, better your head

I think you will need a more positive attitude to succeed in this trade or any other. The whole idea is to study hard, train hard and work hard to make yourself BETTER than all of the average Joes around the place. Then the work will come your way.

 

[Spark123]

I hope newboy1996 is a little bit older than 13
Mid 40s iirc

Umm, thats true!
I guess most people think of "sparks" as a house bashing bloke with ladders. But the reality it very varied in the industrial sector.
Yes Cumbria a poor place for industry and travelling huge distances does not add to a quality lifestyle

Anyway Spark123, would like a crack at your job as you are always on here??

Industrial work isn't that bad up here to be honest, there is a shortage of skilled persons where I am but paperwork and the money seems to kill a lot of peoples motivation!
I do instrument and electrical work, mostly instrument work nowadays which includes a lot of fault finding, PLCs/relay logic and getting the production line running again, responding to any safety issues etc. I travel about 50 miles a day to work and back, am working shifts so time off is a different to day working but I get a block of 10 included within the 5 week cycle.