Qualifications what next?

[RMAK]

Hello to all I was after some advice on what to do next
the qualifications and experience I currently hold are:

C&G 2330 Level 3
C&G 2382-10 17th Edition Wiring Regs
C&G 2391-10 Inspection & Testing
CSCS Card
2 Years experience (mainly house bashing)

I have applied to many places but no joy maybe its the lack of experience, setting up on my own is the long term goal, but I cant afford to do that now
as it costs a lot with joining a competent persons scheme,tools,van,insurance,calibrated testers etc and then theres no guarantee of getting the work in regularly

 

[ericmark]

Luck

I know I have got jobs because of my PLC experience, and also having worked on concrete and crushing plants. But in the beginning it was Luck.

I applied for a job in Algeria working on a 42 inch pipe line and got it. I never looked back. For some reason people think if you have worked abroad you must be good.

I hope I was good at my job. But I was never out of work for more than a week until my accident. Then I got a degree and have not worked since.

 

[RMAK]

Hi Ericmark thanks for the comment, my experience is limited so are there further quals that I need in order to look more attractive to a potential employer, or as you say just pure luck.
I am more than willing to work for minimum wage and make my way up, but at the moment I just cant seem to get my foot in the door so to speak.

 

[sparkticus]

Well done for what you have achieved so far.

Getting work in regularly as self employed if you do an excellent job will not be an issue especially in the domestic word of what you refer to as house bashing. It would be best not to call it house bashing. Times have moved on and you can make a name for yourself in the domestic world by practicing technical excellence, reliability, fair pricing and finding a bit of a niche such as intelligent lighting, home automation, solar PV/MCS etc. I'm not saying you spend 100% on the niche (there will not be enough business) but you posture yourself to take on such specialties and start to build it up. This is one way to differentiate yourself since not all domestic electricians can do the more technically challenging stuff.

So my best advice is set your long term goal as that of self employment but in the meantime you need more experience (I am assuming you are quite young) you do not want to make mistakes while being self employed because the book will stop with you and you may not have the experience to get out of the hole. You need a couple of years more experience while working for a company large enough to absorb your mistakes and provide on the job training especially inspection and testing.

1) Get yourself on an electronics course (C&G part III electronics servicing or BTEC) It will serve you well in your career and help you differentiate.
2) keep applying for jobs but with focus. Don't apply for everything and anything. Focus on a few strategic opportunities. Write an individual cover letter directly tailored towards what the job poster is asking for. Don't just send a generic cover letter. Don't say you will work for nothing because how long will that last? You deserve to get paid even if not much initially.
3) Find ways to network. Ways to meet local business leaders etc.
4) Set up a meeting with business link (its free) they won't help you find a job but tell them about your long term goals and they may be able to put you in contact with local businesses.

 

[RMAK]

Hello Sparkticus thankyou for your comments, I was not in any way looking down on domestic electrics, as that is where i got the taste for the trade and the motivation to go on to college to gain the above qualifications.
I am 31 years of age so not exactly a spring chicken but, I know I will put in 100% effort if ever i got the opportunity, I enjoy every aspect of the job lifting boards, chasing out and running cables in etc
You make some valid points, plenty for me to think about thankyou again

 

[sparkticus]

I was not in any way looking down on domestic electrics, as that is where i got the taste for the trade and the motivation to go on to college to gain the above qualifications.

I did not think you were looking down on domestic electrics. There is some amount of "house bashing" when doing a domestic rewire. There are some who simply throw in the cables, little to no inspection and somehow manage to fill out the EIC within 5 minutes. There are many who take great pride in craftmanship, properly secure cables, thorough job of inspection and put real numbers in the EIC after obtaining them through correct test procedures. Quite often performing the testing on the last day when they are not covered in dust and in the right frame of mind to do it professionally. There are some who have "extended knowledge" who can do the main rewire and also include features such as intelligent lighting, home automation, structured cable systems etc, etc. Quite often you can bump into three phase in a domestic property especially on converted farms and other larger properties. A surprising number of electricians/competent people will not work with 3 phase (despite the fact that is it often separated out into single phase anyway) so you will have some advantage with your 2391.

My main point: Domestic electrical is becoming more professional and more specialised. I try to avoid the phrase house bashing in an effort to promote the professionalism.

I am 31 years of age so not exactly a spring chicken but, I know I will put in 100% effort if ever i got the opportunity, I enjoy every aspect of the job lifting boards, chasing out and running cables in etc
You make some valid points, plenty for me to think about thankyou again

At 31 you may well have enough experience to start up on your own but only if you discipline yourself not to take on more than you can professionally handle. You might consider two days of the week working for a company and three days self employed. Take on small one day jobs initially such as electric shower installations (need a bit of plumbing experience too) additional lighting circuits, external PIR lights etc and consumer unit replacements (but always insist on completing a PIR first before quoting for the consumer unit replacement otherwise you will lose your shirt doing remedial work you did not quote for)

Make sure you certify everything and build up enough jobs over time where you can offer two of them for inspection by one of the registration bodies (NIC, ELECSA, BRE ETC)

Public liability insurance is not that expensive initially if you limit what you do.
Registration with one of the bodies is typically under £500

 

[RMAK]

Thanks again for the suggestions I will look in to things like intelligent lighting and home automation, as well as the electronics course however as I mentioned earlier i simply can not afford to register with a competent persons scheme, and with everything else thats involved due to the prohibitive costs.

So that really rules out me doing jobs on the side and building up a client base, I feel my only option at the minute is to find an employer, who would be willing to take me on this is why I mentioned working for minimum wage, to gain further experience especially with inspection and testing.

 

[sparkticus]

It is not mandatory to be registered to do a few domestic electrical jobs. This is not a chicken and egg situation.

There are many self employed electricians who are not registered for self certification for many reasons.

If you are not registered for self certification then you can still do electrical work for customers who are willing to have the work inspected by their LABC for a fee. In such cases your obligation is to provide a BS7671 EIC or minor works certificate as appropriate, to have public liability insurance and be a competent person (which you appear to be already)

Registered means registered for self certification under part P of the building regs. Obviously most customers will want you to self certify but there are some (many) cases such as electrical work as part of a bigger job which has planning permission (kitchen extension for example) where you could do the electrics and issue a model BS7671 EIC.

You can use these sorts of jobs as samples for inspection by the registering body (most want to see only two jobs completed within the past 12 months) You would invoice and be paid for these jobs which would pay the required registration fee.

I am not suggesting that you simply go self employed tomorrow. I am simply saying that your dream of self employment is WELL within your grasp. Yes you should try to get a job with an employer too but self employment needs self confidence. Go out tonight after dark, look up at the stars, realise that you, me, the rest of the planet, this forum, registrations fees and self employment are so insignificant compared to the vastness of the universe then realise that what you want can be achieved with a bit of planning, a lot of logic, a little philosophy and mostly the right frame of mind.

 

[Alan1234]

Hi , i have been self employed for many years and would say the following, agpply for a full time job underneath your qualification and expected pay. While picking up valuble experience with also the chance to progress.
2/ Contact all the local builders etc in local mags of which ther are many in every area and papers. Ring and talk to them, introduce your self and offer to give them qoutes etc on any work you feel capable of doing, They get to know you and will use you when needed, in return you point work for them when asked, this will not only mean evening and weekend work coupled with waiting for money etc, but will give you good experience , a local reputation, without risk, and seperate money to save for kit etc for the eventual goal and its set up cost, while still making a living, It is initally hard make no mistake ! but worth it. Good Luck Mate.

 

[RMAK]

Thankyou Sparkticus & Alan1234 I really appreciate the advice

 

[ericmark]

You need to specialise in something. My son got his job through me and that is common. I don't approve but drinking in right pub can also help.

 

[leeco]

Hello to all I was after some advice on what to do next
the qualifications and experience I currently hold are:

C&G 2330 Level 3
C&G 2382-10 17th Edition Wiring Regs
C&G 2391-10 Inspection & Testing
CSCS Card
2 Years experience (mainly house bashing)

I have applied to many places but no joy maybe its the lack of experience, setting up on my own is the long term goal, but I cant afford to do that now
as it costs a lot with joining a competent persons scheme,tools,van,insurance,calibrated testers etc and then theres no guarantee of getting the work in regularly

I have most of what you have except the 2391.

I was thinking of getting the 2391 but what is the point. I have gave up on trying to qualify myself more as nobody is intrested.

Its just 2 years of my life wasted (not wasted realy but it would be nice to get work in what I have learned for them 2 years)

If this guy can't find work then Im screwed.

 

[sparkticus]

Leeco, you are not screwed. That is a silly thing to say. Life is full of opportunities and often it is your frame of mind that allows you to tune into them or not! Have you ever seen the programs that show starving children or young people with terminal illness? Most of them do not think they are screwed so you should not either.

If you are young without work experience then I recognise your struggle at the moment but you are certainly not screwed. C&G 2391 is definitely worth going for and a positive frame of mind will bring you success in 2391 and getting a job.

 

[martinxxxxxx]

Hello to all I was after some advice on what to do next
the qualifications and experience I currently hold are:

C&G 2330 Level 3
C&G 2382-10 17th Edition Wiring Regs
C&G 2391-10 Inspection & Testing
CSCS Card
2 Years experience (mainly house bashing)

I have applied to many places but no joy maybe its the lack of experience, setting up on my own is the long term goal, but I cant afford to do that now
as it costs a lot with joining a competent persons scheme,tools,van,insurance,calibrated testers etc and then theres no guarantee of getting the work in regularly

I have most of what you have except the 2391.

I was thinking of getting the 2391 but what is the point. I have gave up on trying to qualify myself more as nobody is intrested.

Its just 2 years of my life wasted (not wasted realy but it would be nice to get work in what I have learned for them 2 years)

If this guy can't find work then Im screwed.

He has not tried yet, but have just done my 2391 & I would like to tell you that it is NOT a waste of time. It is challenging and rewarding, it removes the comfort blanket of most electrical exams and I think most people in the industry see the value of the qualification, plus it does give you the confidence to "know*" what you are doing without having to continually check the BRB. Due to the fact it is closed book you need to really study the subject in order to give yourself a chance of reaching the 75% plus supposed pass mark. I would recommend it to anyone charging for electrical work.

(* Of coarse you don't know the whole book but you do get to "know" what is in it and where to find it - and realise where the redlines that must not be crossed are)

Just my humble opinion. Not a dig in any way intended

 

[RMAK]

Leeco do not give up (I keep telling myself this) you cant make a decision like this based on one persons experience ie me, especially when the 2391 may help you reach your end goal for me that is being self employed and being my own boss
The 2391 is not easy having said that get your head down put the effort in and you will be rewarded, Its tough out there at the moment im not about to give up I simply cant