New Member wanting advice

[Bazabacon]

Hi folks, Bazabacon here

I have just joined this morning. I am currently working as an Electrician's Mate in the Bradford/Leeds area ( mainly doing data installing and house bashing). I have my Level 2 and 3 City and Guilds qualifications. I am 36 yrs old and have been working in the industry for just over a year.

What I have realised in my short time working is that apart from there being literally no chance of being taken on by a firm, the idea of going into work by myself in 5-7 yrs is not appealing. Chasing money all the time, chasing work, stress and the idea of the me "becoming" the job holds no real interest. I have 2 young kids and want to get a good work/life balance. I have previously worked as a chef and in an office. I have never really had a good beat on what I wanted to do with my life professionally. Right now this electrical lark seems like another dead end.

Sorry if this is a bit "War and Peace" - just want to come across as genuine and really want advice from folk more clued up in the industry about my options. I have been thinking recently about becoming an Electrical Assessor. Anyone with any ideas about possible alternatives within the industry ? I am not looking to make serious money, tbh I would be happy with anything in the 18-20k a year range.

Many Thanks

 

[Sintra]

Hi mate what do you mean by an electrical assessor?

 

[oldtimer]

Listen mate this trade is saturated and the Scheme providers are not helping add that together with the current economical situation and you could look at it as being lucky to be earning as for job stability well I have never had it in the past 38 years. Also Electrical Assessor sounds to me you dont want to get your hands dirty so a nice wee office job would suit only problem in this environment yea you and a million others some of who are over qualified.

Don't get me wrong this is not a put down but a reality check as in my view I don't think a lot of guys in this game thats quickly turning into a farce realise just how bad a state the trade not profession is in.

 

[Bazabacon]

my mrs told me about it the other day. Not sure myself to be honest. Think it's just a gig where you go out and assess trainee's and apprentice's. Really no idea, if there are many jobs like that going, just on for some advice on qualifications/experience I would need for such a role

 

[Bazabacon]

maybe there is something in that (me not wanting to get my hands dirty). Don't get me wrong I'm not afraid of hard work but the reality of me trying to start my own business in my late 40's just seems a bit hopeful. I am currently stuck in a situation where I am working for peanuts to gain experience (which is fine), but no real potential to get a job. I am also far too inexperienced to start on my own. As you say the trade is saturated at the moment. When I started college back in 2009 they had 4 classes of part-time students - more than they had ever had before. I paid for the courses myself, so I want to stick at it (mrs wants me too as well), but I just can't see where it is going right now. If truth be told - if someone offered me 17k to go and do something else I would probably do it right now

 

[oldtimer]

Yep not trying to shoot you down and I can tell you are being sensible I am 54 and specialise in repair and maintenance fault finding and it suits me cos it aint easy bashing houses plus the government is playing a trick that the green shoots are around the corner but back in 2007 you could tell that we aint coming out of this until 2020. So best of luck continue to gain knowledge I have for the past 38 years.

 

[MDJ]

. Think it's just a gig where you go out and assess trainee's and apprentice's.

Well then you won't be able to do that will you?

 

[Bazabacon]

Well then you won't be able to do that will you?

Probably not. Don't have the experience. My Mrs has a friend that works as an assessor in a different field and she reckons some training companies get you in and train you up. Experience is required, but not the be all and end all. I know with Electrical work it is probably a different kettle of fish, but just on here to see if anyone knew anymore

 

[Bazabacon]

Yep not trying to shoot you down and I can tell you are being sensible I am 54 and specialise in repair and maintenance fault finding and it suits me cos it aint easy bashing houses plus the government is playing a trick that the green shoots are around the corner but back in 2007 you could tell that we aint coming out of this until 2020. So best of luck continue to gain knowledge I have for the past 38 years.

I hear you. To be honest it was doing a lot of house bashing that made me think trying to go it alone at 45 is probably a bad idea. Got to be realistic - it's a young man's game. Most sparks at that age are thinking about getting a maintenance job. I am fit, able and healthy enough and as I said I don't shy away from it, but I've got to be realistic. The data installing is straight forward enough, you could do that till you were 70, but again it's highly unlikely I would get a start with a firm at my age. I will try, but you need to be very good or very lucky - unfortunately I'm neither. As my current employer has told me as well - a lot of firms are simply sub-contracting rather than employing folk. As he says they're still making money from that

 

[Adam W]

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[Bazabacon]

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lol...very good. Have thought about it, but tbh that is another profession that is completely saturated at the moment

 

[oldtimer]

The job I want is to pick 5 numbers and a bonus ball cos Im not greedy

 

[MarkieSparkie]

Hi, welcome to the forum.

 

[Bazabacon]

Hi, welcome to the forum.

Cheers - any words of advice or pearls of wisdom for someone in my position ? I am really torn at the moment with what to do. Currently I am working for £20-£40 a day depending on hours. The only route I see at the moment is continuing on this for the next 5-7 years until I have enough experience to go it alone (which having seen first hand - does not appeal to me so much). My other option is to just to find another line of work. Be honest if you reply, I don't need anything sugar-coated

 

[7029 dave]

Hi bazarbacon,have you considered going into metering,its easy money aint great . but with smart metering round the corner it mite be an option.All the best.

 

[Bazabacon]

Hi bazarbacon,have you considered going into metering,its easy money aint great . but with smart metering round the corner it mite be an option.All the best.

Cheers for that Dave, I have looked into it online but find it hard to get any real info on it. There was a guy on my course who worked as a meter reader and he said they were all getting laid off. Only the ones getting qualified had a chance of staying on(think it was MeterPlus he worked for). Do you know how much a year they are on roughly ?