How's the course looking Adam, and does it look like you're going to get any mates jobs from it just yet? You need to get your face known locally to get the start. The first job's the hardest to find mate.
Question for Adam
- Thread starter scousespark
- Start date
Well I've just finsihed my second week (3 days a week btw) and apart from being a tad tiring because of the traveling involved (80 mins approx each way on the train - have to be at the station at 7am and arrive back there about 18:30) its going ok.
Not looked for any jobs etc yet, just settleing into college 3 days a week and working as clerk for a transport firm at weekends for now, when I'm a tad further throuh the course I'll start offering to work holidays,etc for free just to get a bit of experience for now, and I'll start looking for a 'proper' electrical job at the end of level 2 (end of this accedemic year) I think.
Thanks for taking the time to come back and ask
Not looked for any jobs etc yet, just settleing into college 3 days a week and working as clerk for a transport firm at weekends for now, when I'm a tad further throuh the course I'll start offering to work holidays,etc for free just to get a bit of experience for now, and I'll start looking for a 'proper' electrical job at the end of level 2 (end of this accedemic year) I think.
Thanks for taking the time to come back and ask
Sounds like a sensible way in there Adam. I take it that 3 days is 'full-time' so you'll be in with a load of others looking for the first start. What's the mix like (age and experience). I got ino he game after a career in IT and turned up on a day-release course with blokes between 18 and 50. That was a bit of an eye-opener.
newspark_paul said:
The college class it as full time, but at 15.5 hours, its part time according to the government (which means that those on DSS can carry on getting their handouts)
The mix,
A) well I now think I'm one of the youngest there, most are about early 20's I'd say. 16-18 year olds are in a different class, college love them because they bring in more govenment funding, lecturers hate them because they are more interested in EMA than learning
B)theres a couple of blacks, a chinese, an aussie, and the rest of us are british.
C) Experience ranges from those who have never put a plug on to those who have done a bit of electrics before, think one guy has a degree in electronic enginneeing (yeah I know it its not totally relevant, but is more so than so one in biology would be....)
Hi Adam,
Just had a break, so a bit late replying.
How's it going now. Are the lads on the course okay and how are the lecturers?
Just had a break, so a bit late replying.
How's it going now. Are the lads on the course okay and how are the lecturers?
Hi Adam - sounds like the C&G 2330 course you're on. I just completed the first year (level 2) and have started on the 1 day a week level 3 course.
Last year they divided us into under-19s and over-19s. The under 19s were universally (and a bit unfairly?) labelled as 'The Chavs' by the over 19s who comprised a fair age range (19-60) and ability (experienced sparks plus those who'd never wired a plug). Made for an interesting class - plenty of variety and different backgrounds. Also, the older group seemed more motivated as the youngsters were probably drafted in 'to learn a trade' after (probably) getting the boot from school (not all, of course). Most of them didn't make it into the second year, btw.
But what bugs me is that this year's intake is all under 19s. That means that all those more mature folk with a genuine interest in becoming quality sparks are not getting the chance this year, at least at one college. Is this a government initiative? What about equal opportunities for all ages?
Another thing is that on my current course, a supposedly 'advanced electrotechnical technology course', there are some students who seem to have learned nothing from last year and are complaining about people like me asking 'complex' questions of the teacher (concerning, say, vector addition of phasors in parallel ac circuits). They just ain't gonna make it at this level. They would be better suited to the traditional apprenticeship, with less emphasis on technology and maths (i.e. trigonometry), imo.
Anyway, Adam, enjoy your course (and go for that distinction!)
Last year they divided us into under-19s and over-19s. The under 19s were universally (and a bit unfairly?) labelled as 'The Chavs' by the over 19s who comprised a fair age range (19-60) and ability (experienced sparks plus those who'd never wired a plug). Made for an interesting class - plenty of variety and different backgrounds. Also, the older group seemed more motivated as the youngsters were probably drafted in 'to learn a trade' after (probably) getting the boot from school (not all, of course). Most of them didn't make it into the second year, btw.
But what bugs me is that this year's intake is all under 19s. That means that all those more mature folk with a genuine interest in becoming quality sparks are not getting the chance this year, at least at one college. Is this a government initiative? What about equal opportunities for all ages?
Another thing is that on my current course, a supposedly 'advanced electrotechnical technology course', there are some students who seem to have learned nothing from last year and are complaining about people like me asking 'complex' questions of the teacher (concerning, say, vector addition of phasors in parallel ac circuits). They just ain't gonna make it at this level. They would be better suited to the traditional apprenticeship, with less emphasis on technology and maths (i.e. trigonometry), imo.
Anyway, Adam, enjoy your course (and go for that distinction!)
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