I want to become an Electrician - but how do I start?

PSW

Hello everyone,

I wonder if there is anyone who can offer some advice?

After leaving school, I did what I'm guessing a lot of people do and started training in a job that I was good at (accountancy) instead of a job I had a passion for, or at the very least liked.

Although I was successful in my chosen profession and had a very good salary I absolutely hated it, looking back now I can't beleive I stuck it for so long. I was proud of the promotions, status and salary as I had worked hard to get to where I was, but the job itself was soul destroying that last year I had to quit as it was affecting my health badly.....now after almost a year out of work and although money is extremely tight as you can probably imagine, my health and happiness. My only regret is I didn't take action before my health made me.

Anyway back to my question, I'm now intent on getting back to work, however I will never work in accountancy again :T so it looks like I will need a change of career.

At the back of my mind I've always been keen on becoming an electrician as this is something that I would really like to get into, however as only having worked in finance I don't have any experience. I'm more then happy to start as an apprentice (although this may be impossible as I'm 34 now) or study full time. Not really interested in fast trak course as I don't ttrack this is the way to go.

So has any body got any general advice on changing careers in later life? and more specific advice in training to become an electrician, any links or contacts I should be contacting? I'm going to make an appointment with the jobcentre to discuss how they may be able to help with training or funding, any other ideas where to start.

Thanks for taking the time to read

InaPickle

Firstly, congratulations for having the guts to dump a career you hate: many people stick with it for a lifetime and hate themselves and their job as a result.

Secondly, do you have a careers advice service near you that you can contact? Check it out on the net. Also, check out the websites for local colleges and ring them up. See if you can see their careers advice people as a prospective student to check that you would be doing the right course for you, and see if you can get an appointment with the head of department to have a chat.

Funnily enough, the husband of a cousin of mine wanted to retrain as a plumber a year or two ago. He's in his mid 30s. I made a few enquiries at the local college for him and they said that it was sometimes harder to get apprenticeships as employers feel that they need to pay them more as they are likely to have families and mortgages etc. If you are currently unemployed then see if you can be a plumbers mate or something on work experience or something, and perhaps consider using your existing qualifications to support yourself in part-time capacity work while you retrain.

PSW

Thanks Pickle,

I've seen a Connexions in town but beleive that's for under 24. I'll search the web later today and see what I can find around. I am unemployed so seeing if I can get some work experience (even unpaid) is a good idea.

Thanks for the congratulations, not sure if I totaly deserve it as I wonder if I didn't get so ill would I still be doing but in hindsight even though I had to become ill it's the greatest thing I ever did, even if the road ahead is going to be difficult I'm looking forward to it

tom9980

https://nextstep.direct.gov.uk/Pages/Home.aspx

Next Step is where you need to go/talk to, when i went 3 years ago they were based in the Connexions offices.

InaPickle

PSW wrote: »

Thanks Pickle,

I've seen a Connexions in town but beleive that's for under 24. I'll search the web later today and see what I can find around. I am unemployed so seeing if I can get some work experience (even unpaid) is a good idea.

Thanks for the congratulations, not sure if I totaly deserve it as I wonder if I didn't get so ill would I still be doing but in hindsight even though I had to become ill it's the greatest thing I ever did, even if the road ahead is going to be difficult I'm looking forward to it

When you hit rock bottom, the only way is up!

Best of luck. Let us know how you get on.

DCFC79

Well done in making the change, good luck with it

Strider590

Not an easy path to take, career wise..... When I was made redundant in 2009, there were some 200 people made redundant with me. Of those something like 30 of them wanted to train as "sparkz".

To get work in that field, it takes experience.... It won't be easy at first, there's no magic bullet solution, but good luck!

Hammyman

The very first step is a colour blindness test. If you're at all colour blind then you can't be an electrician or electronics engineer. I remember having to do a colour blind test to enroll on my college course.

Gleeful

I've often considered retraining in a field like this. Not an electrician but perhaps a plumber. I'm female, do you think it's worth doing?

Strider590

Gleeful wrote: »

I've often considered retraining in a field like this. Not an electrician but perhaps a plumber. I'm female, do you think it's worth doing?

In a world with lots of single moms (the era of the broken home) afraid of being ripped off or of allowing a strange man into their house, you'd make a killing.

PSW

Strider590 wrote: »

Not an easy path to take, career wise..... When I was made redundant in 2009, there were some 200 people made redundant with me. Of those something like 30 of them wanted to train as "sparkz".

To get work in that field, it takes experience.... It won't be easy at first, there's no magic bullet solution, but good luck!

I know it's going to be tough, to be honest I don't think it should be any other way, that's why I'm not really a fan of those fast track course, although they could be good I just don't see how you could have the expereince needed. I really want to throw myself into this and I would happy even if it meant for the next 3 or 4 years I was studying / training on a low wage or just relying on student loans or what ever funding I could find.

Hammyman wrote: »

The very first step is a colour blindness test. If you're at all colour blind then you can't be an electrician or electronics engineer. I remember having to do a colour blind test to enroll on my college course.

I had a colour blindness test when I was younger which was fine, so I'm sure I should be ok (fingers crossed :cool2: ) lol

Gleeful wrote: »

I've often considered retraining in a field like this. Not an electrician but perhaps a plumber. I'm female, do you think it's worth doing?

I think it's a hard question for other people to answer for you, as you are the person who is going to live with your Decision.

If it's something that you really want I would consider it, working a job you hate is the worst feeling and when you think how much of your life you give to it, it's just crazy. I think the biggest question you need to ask yourself is could you take the possible change in lifestyle; less money; different working hours?.