Advice: Unemployed Plumber wants to retrain as Mechanical maintenance technician

TheTinbot

Hi, first time posting!

Basically I'm a unemployed plumber for the last 6 months.
I've been applying for jobs with no avail.
I was thinking of retraining as a mechanical maintenance technician
just want opinions on this from plumbers and fitters
is the course I'm thinking of doing worth it?
here's the link:

http://www.wit.ie/courses/school/education/education_life_long_learning/mechanical_engineer_technician_city_guilds

QBE

it can only benifit you in the long run.

but IMO at present work is plentiful in the plumbing and heating sector. What kind of experience have you got as a plumber? you may need to do additional courses to upskill in areas.


work wont knock on your door . theres plenty of work at present. advertise for small jobs on the web. you can make a good living out of them.

TheTinbot

Ive just finished my apprenticeship. Waiting on my papers I've worked with 8 companies ranging from big industrial to small domestic
housing estates and big factories
have a few welding courses done.
mewp licence
might go down the rgi and oftec route or offshore

QBE

TheTinbot wrote: »

might go down the rgi and oftec route

thats not a bad idea. if your on dole you can do them courses 4 free with fas.

DGOBS

Only problem there is the waiting list is usually pretty long, you could try writing a business plan and approaching your local enterprise board to get some funding to privately do the courses (have even seen some lads get something towards required tools too!!)

Ging Ging

Hi Tinbot, I like your original idea about retraining in a slightly different but related field. I was in a similar position a few years ago and I did my GID a few other certs solar, heat pump, others too. I did FAS oil burner but not OFTEC. I found work on and off but it didn't last last as the company I was with basially let everyone go and then rehired then let go again as they got contacts or not. I got fairly pissed off with the whole thing and decided to bite the bullet and do a degree.
I'm not saying you need to do that, but the course you identified would give you a slightly diffent skillset to most guys our competing against at the moment. I don't know if your background is industrial or not, if not it could give you an insight and a better chance of getting into this side of things either in plumbing or other mechanical work.

TheTinbot

I have done both 2years domestic and 3 years industrial. I have a job lined up with mercury if intel ever starts! What i like about this course is its in the evenings and i could still look for work! Thanks for the replys everyone giving me a good insight.

gifted

TheTinbot wrote: »

I have done both 2years domestic and 3 years industrial. I have a job lined up with mercury if intel ever starts! What i like about this course is its in the evenings and i could still look for work! Thanks for the replys everyone giving me a good insight.

Will you be working directly with Mercury or is it with a subbie ( man in a van and ****e hourly rate ), cos the last I heard, they are taking on no one unless your an engineer.

TheTinbot

I have a friend who got a phone call from them looking for pipefitters... He didnt take it as he
is working for Radlys at the moment on a very good rate. Have another friend who is a foreman there and
said they will be taking on lads when the work comes in if it does at all. Its kinda strange doh they do rely on
subbies alot. Hard to know really