Apprenticed Electrians -Whats it like?

Irish-trucker

Hi ,
I was just wondering could any first year electricians give me a low down of the job , what you do and just in general there opinions of the job .

thanks ,
John

noel123ie

wa thinking of doing the same


im over 30 though so have to give this some thought.

Id say for 1st two years at least you will have all the nasty jobs to do

Im also concerned if i get a trial period and electrician does not think your up to the mark then your in real trouble as no job and no apprenticeship.

Cheers
Noel

sparkyjo

i am a fully qualified electrician first year apprentise work is basically just clean carry and help pull in cables cause you are not supposed to be really wiring anything unless supervised

i was in college with a 32 year old in 2 phase of my apprentiship and most employers will not ask you to do a probation if you start that late go to a small company and you can say to them if they want a probation period you'll give them a month thats is plentty of time to see if you are lazy or if there is a problem with you
hope this can help

noel123ie

Cheers sparkiejo whats the earning potential like when you qualify?

Your post was helpful thanks

Noel

sparkyjo

it all depends on what you are willing to do and what type of work you are doing like the rates are arounds 600 euro qualified but you can earn a good bit more if you are good

noel123ie

I was thinking of doing a couple of months part time with an electrician to see whats involved and to put down on a cv.

Also I must get a safe pass

Anything else I could do to help my chances.

Would an electrician be willing in your opininion to take on a 32 year old?

Cheers
Noel

Flat

my mate started an apprenticeship at 25ish so depends on the fella hiring really... although I guess they prefer a young lad as the work would be pretty menial for the first couple of years

prob a case of convincing someone to take you on... FAS might have a database of sparkies or recommend one

charlie@w.d

noel123ie wrote:

I was thinking of doing a couple of months part time with an electrician to see whats involved and to put down on a cv.

Also I must get a safe pass

Anything else I could do to help my chances.

Would an electrician be willing in your opininion to take on a 32 year old?

Cheers
Noel

if i were u i would go to the yellow pages and look up electrical contractors from your area and cold call to their addresses with c.v's and then follow up with a phone call. they'll ask u obvious questions like are u prepared to take a big drop in wages, would u mind been bossed by guys that are 10 years older than u? will u be prepared to travel and work anywhere?
The work of a 1st year depends on what type of electrical work you'll be doing but from my experience the worst is making the tea, going to the shop for others, cuttting tie raps, pulling cables and tidying up and just been a general go for. but the money gets good and the job gets interesting its well worth it after the 4 years your qualified.
its a big step for a person in their 30's, apprentices generally have no say in where they are sent i.e. u could be sent to the other side of the country depends on the contractor, u have no say if u were told to work today from 8am- midnight you would have to do it if u said no u would probably be "left go" and told theres no more work for you.
Personally i think maybe u are a little too old to start off as a 1st year but these days contractors might think ok he has life experience and isnt going to be like an 18 year old who would be missing the fridays and the mondays. anyways if u want more info ask away i dont mind ive been thru the 4 years apprenticeship ill help if i can;)

noel123ie

Cheers Charlie I appreciate there will be a drop in wages and also will get all the crap jobs but would take this on board.

Also have a few pound put away so could take a drop in wages.

I would move/work as needed and I am from a farm so well used to long hours/ hard work . I would hope to move closer to home if I had to move away to get apprenticeship.

All i would be concerned about is electrician agrees to take me on gives me a probation period and decided Im not up to it or work he had lined up dries up.

At my age what could I do to help my chances of getting the apprenticeship?

Thanks
Noel

charlie@w.d

most 1st years starting off have no experience whatsoever, but there is a starter course in fas to do with apprenticeships but i think thats a waste of time at your age but would show that u are commited. have u got experience in the construction industry? any experiece at all is a bonus like if u were a labourer. tell them ure a farmers son that will help cause they'll no ure tough and stuff lol.
do a safe pass course and get ure safe pass card.
if i were u i would go for the big electrical contractors because u are more sure of a job in the future. call to their offices, send your c.v's to them. register your self with fas call to their offices they will help u alot. also check out their jobs on www.fas.ie they have loads of vacancies for apprentices. write a good cover letter and reiterate how commited u are and the sacrafices u are willing to take. sell your soul basically.
oh and visit here too they give u details on what u are entitled too its very very informative...
http://www.cidb.ie/live.nsf/0/802567ca003e043d80256f0000547af5?OpenDocument

Flat

http://www.nixers.com/ApplyForJob.aspx?Id=305149

plumber job

noel123ie

Cheers only worry is that they take me on for a month -on trial and then decide Im not up to it as I would have given up my current job

Im hoping that by doing dome work experience with an electrician might help this

Cheers
Noel

charlie@w.d

yeah i understand your worries, but thats the chance you must take if u really want it. Is there an electrician that will take you on for work experience? wont u be leaving a job to do the work experience and then in the mean time you will hope the electrician hires you full time as an apprentice. you really need to start calling to contractors offices or ringing them and asking and answering questions.

noel123ie

Will do thanks for your help

Noel

Duff_Man

btw the opw are holding intreviews at the moment. iv applied for electrician and carpenter aprentiships. the closin date of entry is the 22nd i think! mite be worth checking out!

noel123ie

bump