Could I do an Apprenticeship

thanlon2704

Hey,

I'm 24 years old and have worked a variety of jobs over the years, mostly retail. I tried college for a year and realized it wasn't for me. Biggest issue for me was that I was earning money before that and being broke all the time which was terrible. Also there was no courses I am truly interested in. So I've been spinning my wheels for years but few months ago I realized I'm getting older and need to start thinking of the future. For years friends have told me to do an apprenticeship as it's great trade to have and it's good money. My da was a metal fabricator for 13 odd years. He doesn't think I should do it as he's said it's a hard game and also doesn't think I'm capable of doing it. He's always been very pessimistic with me thinking I'm a complete dope. To be honest I've never really been a handy man, build ikea furniture and hang a few picture frames but that's about it. So that's about it, would someone who has never had experience in any trade be capable of learning it and doing it. I'm hoping to get advice from people who did apprenticeships and what made them do it and also what made you choose your trade?

Thank for anyone who replys

OMM 0000

There are loads of trades.

It's not too late.

You're definitely capable of doing one.

Have a look at this: http://www.apprenticeship.ie/en/apprentice/Pages/ApprenticeInfo.aspx

mycro2013

I've met a few lads in their late 30 thirties starting apprenticeships never too late

Your father is right about the metal fabrication trade focus or consider the trades of the future which are in demand.

1. Refrigeration
2. Electrical
3. E and I.
4. Mamf.

volono

Hi O.P.,
You are more than capable of taking up an apprenticeship , your still a young man (even if you don't think it) , my advice is to think about which trade you'd like to pursue i.e. carpentry , painting , plumbing , electrical etc. etc. . What is certainly going for you is that your now more mature than others that are taking them on i.e. alot of people go into it as 16/7/8/9 year olds not having one idea of what it really involves.
What I mean by that is the majority had never had a job before starting etc. . and are just completely out of their depth , completely clueless tbh, wanting to spend all day on the phone for one!!
Are you willing to work? and listen? , Have you some self initiative? How are you with authority? Can you listen to some abuse? Travel? ****#y wages?
Your father is certainly right as well - its a hard life , which includes long after your qualified - bad conditions , chasing money , constantly moving from one job/site to the next , dealing with people that quite frankly you wouldn't pi#s on , chasing work!! the list go's.
Those few cons can be a positive also at times to be fair , if you do take one up listen and learn ALL you can for the first year or so and truth be told you'll be a goffer for whoever your working for. At least then if your working for some really bad you can leave with some experience and move on to continue it somewhere else.
As for advising what to take up . its a personal preference but i know theres already countless electricians out there if thats any use.
Bear in mind that in the nature of any trade there will ALWAYS be ups and downs throughout your working life. ''Feast or a Famine'' was always an apt quote over the years but when its good it can be really good.
The way the economy is picking up atm you shouldn't have a problem getting and finishing one either. Best of luck

salmocab

24 is far from too old for an apprenticeship. The best apprentices in my experience are that bit older as they appreciate what they’re getting. If it’s not for you you will see that pretty quick and just move on.

thanlon2704

Hey thanks everyone for the great advice

I've widdled it down to an electrician. I researched long and hard on all the different types of trades but that one just kinda spoke to me. Been looking into what it holds, it looks difficult but then again what isn't. What I found amazing was the pay, even starting off as an apprentice it is fairly good compared to other trades. I think what really made me excited was what waits for you at the end of it which is skill you can do anywhere and you can be your own boss if you wanted to. What Volono said, it is not easy life and I know that. My da has gone into great detail about all the negatives. You've made me realise that this is the best time for me to do it. If I was younger I think I would of badly struggled but as I said of had a wide variety of jobs now, some good and some really bad. One's where I had to travel long distances daily, had crappy pay and been treated like s**t by managers. I have a feeling working on a site will be tougher than those but at least now I have the experience of what that is like now.


If I could ask one more question. What are the best ways to go about getting an apprenticeship. My da said he got his years ago at FAS but he said it's changed since then. I've researched online but none is exactly clear so I set up a meeting with a citizen information officer on my next day off. I'm going to go to my local job centre as well for help. I also applied for a few apprenticeships online at Indeed but unfortunately not having a safe pass I say is hindering me, had one a few years ago but I say it's expired by now. My da said to wait as some employers do pay for you to get one. I do have a manual handling cert and full license with my own car so I say that will be a leg up. How did any of you get your start?

2012paddy2012

thanlon2704 wrote: »

Hey thanks everyone for the great advice

I've widdled it down to an electrician. I researched long and hard on all the different types of trades but that one just kinda spoke to me. Been looking into what it holds, it looks difficult but then again what isn't. What I found amazing was the pay, even starting off as an apprentice it is fairly good compared to other trades. I think what really made me excited was what waits for you at the end of it which is skill you can do anywhere and you can be your own boss if you wanted to. What Volono said, it is not easy life and I know that. My da has gone into great detail about all the negatives. You've made me realise that this is the best time for me to do it. If I was younger I think I would of badly struggled but as I said of had a wide variety of jobs now, some good and some really bad. One's where I had to travel long distances daily, had crappy pay and been treated like s**t by managers. I have a feeling working on a site will be tougher than those but at least now I have the experience of what that is like now.


If I could ask one more question. What are the best ways to go about getting an apprenticeship. My da said he got his years ago at FAS but he said it's changed since then. I've researched online but none is exactly clear so I set up a meeting with a citizen information officer on my next day off. I'm going to go to my local job centre as well for help. I also applied for a few apprenticeships online at Indeed but unfortunately not having a safe pass I say is hindering me, had one a few years ago but I say it's expired by now. My da said to wait as some employers do pay for you to get one. I do have a manual handling cert and full license with my own car so I say that will be a leg up. How did any of you get your start?

You can do safe pass anywhere basic requirement. Silly not to have it done / cheap. You sound quite immature / forget about “ Da” go off and do it yourself .. ring around a few sparks ( lot of maths involved) get a trial , if your suitable for the apprenticeship they will register you with solas. You sound a bit laid back you’ll have to work very hard for over 4 years , all weathers. Best of luck

salmocab

Get the safe pass now, make contact with the big companies and keep an eye out for smaller companies advertising.

meeeeh

We had/have quite a few apprentices, some are better some worse. We usually take someone who calls us, pay from the beginning but some were sent packing after a few weeks and some discovered by themselves it's not for them (metal fabricators). Some also struggle with second college placement which seems to be a bit more demanding. We much prefer to employ people with some sort of education, if possible we take on the ones that came through the apprenticeship.

bucketybuck

Being a tradesman can be incredibly rewarding, and no you are not too old to get involved in a trade.

However, it is an occupation that requires a certain attitude. You need to have a strong work ethic, you need to be the type of person who gets off his ass without being told and gets stuck into things, you need to be the type of person who does high quality work because you want to do high quality work, not somebody who slacks off when you think nobody is watching.

You floated through retail for a while and spent all your money, went to college for a bit but there was nothing you were interested in, now you want to try a trade because you heard there was a bit of money in it. Correct?

I don't know you so I don't know if you are suited to a trade or not, but it is worth asking yourself the question if you seriously want to get up every morning and go out and work hard at a trade? Or if you would prefer a 9 to 5 job where you just do the work you are asked to do and go home at the end of the day with your wages?

thanlon2704

Thanks I'll book a safe pass course as soon as possible.

Meeeh what are things you saw that had blokes running and what are the good qualities that you noticed that made an apprentice stand out and strive in their trade?

thanlon2704

bucketybuck wrote: »

Being a tradesman can be incredibly rewarding, and no you are not too old to get involved in a trade.

However, it is an occupation that requires a certain attitude. You need to have a strong work ethic, you need to be the type of person who gets off his ass without being told and gets stuck into things, you need to be the type of person who does high quality work because you want to do high quality work, not somebody who slacks off when you think nobody is watching.

You floated through retail for a while and spent all your money, went to college for a bit but there was nothing you were interested in, now you want to try a trade because you heard there was a bit of money in it. Correct?

I don't know you so I don't know if you are suited to a trade or not, but it is worth asking yourself the question if you seriously want to get up every morning and go out and work hard at a trade? Or if you would prefer a 9 to 5 job where you just do the work you are asked to do and go home at the end of the day with your wages?

That strong work ethic has put into me since I was a child. I hate slackers in a job, if you're getting paid to do something then you should do it at and give it your all.

No quite the contrary actually. Left school early to start working so I could provide for myself and not rely on my parents. Only thing I rely on my parents is advice. Someone said in one of the post that I was immature to keep asking my dad but to me my dad is the person I come to when I need to make a major decision and in this field he's the expert at this. If that makes me immature in that regard than I guess I am.

I did try college but to be honest it wasn't for me, being broke all the time was terrible. I have quite bit money saved up for my future. To be honest with you buck I had really no idea tradesmen get paid so much. I knew engineer's did but other trades I didn't. Thought you just got paid a normal average pay a week unless you were up in managent in a company. I never really saw myself earning a lot of money, just a good wage packet to eventually save enough for a mortgage to get my own house which I think is a great goal in life. To have a roof over your head.

To be honest this is kinda my first retail job. I have worked as a general operative in a fruit and veg factory where I had to get up at 5 in the morning for. Then I was a door man where I was up till 5 in the morning. I never really saw myself having a steady career till I had a conversation with a friends mother who told me I should aim higher and get something that I can be proud of achieving.

I started this thread so I can get all the advice and get all the information of all the positives and negatives in this profession. So when I do have an interview with a potential interviewer I can talk with a bit more insight and knowledge than hey please let me play with electricity :woot: thanks for the advice I appreciate it :D

meeeeh

thanlon2704 wrote: »

Thanks I'll book a safe pass course as soon as possible.

Meeeh what are things you saw that had blokes running and what are the good qualities that you noticed that made an apprentice stand out and strive in their trade?

Someone who can work with others, shows some interest and can think on their feet. As it happens we need some who are precise and presentable around customers, some faster and less precise (some of our customers won't pay for things looking well), some like working overtime and some don't. People have different skills but a bit of self initative and thinking about what you are doing makes a difference.

IrishGrimReaper

Just throwing it out there.

https://www.earnandlearn.ie/insurance-apprenticeships

I've started the 2nd year of mine. There's a few vacancies with companies still.

You work 4 days a week with 1 online lecture day through Sligo IT and get paid a full wage.

Edit: I was 29 when I started it, and will have a level 8 degree from sligo when I finish.

Rubberchikken

As someone who has tried and failed many times to get an electrician tk do jobs in our home, id say.if youre interested, get a good apprentice position, work hard, ask questions, show initiative and when youre fully trained be dependable. With all of that, i think youd have a great future.

salmocab

Companies want someone reliable who’s interested, there is always something to do even if there is no one to tell you. Pick up a brush or tidy up the tradesman will be delighted.
Just on wages for a fully qualified spark 6 years out of his time the flat rate with no allowances or over time is about 48000 euro, hardly amazing money, there are however plenty of opportunities for electricians to move onwards with their skills.

mycro2013

Go down the electrical and instrumentation route, it's a more specialised trade but there is a major shortfall within industry.

I would try Jones Engineering, dornan or Kirby for an apprenticeship.

thanlon2704

The only real fear I have is I'll get stuck with a bad company for my first year.

Have heard the horror stories of 1st years apprentices being used for cheap labour and not being taught anything. I know you got to stay focus, show initiative and take everything in. Still read a lot of it online, I say some of you might of experienced it. Getting stuck with a weathered spark who has no intention of showing you anything and you are just a nuisance to him. I have heard small companies are better than big ones as they have more time to show you the ropes.

Would any of you know some places that do apprenticeships in north dublin that you would recommend?

ANDREWMUFC

What made you choose the electrian apprenticeship over something like plumbing just out of curiosity mate?

thanlon2704

I just researched a lot and that one just interested me. It was between that and plastering but I also asked advice from friends and family, they recommended it too.

salmocab

Small company over big company isn’t necessarily true, in a small company you could be indefinitely with the same tradesman, with a bigger crowd you have a decent chance of being moved between them.

Sinus pain

My son wanted to do an apprenticeship but wasn’t really sure how to get into it. DIT run an apprenticeship course it’s for 3 months as far as I remember and you get to try a good few trades - you also do safe pass etc. you then have to do work experiences in your chosen trade. The company he did it with took him on and he’s nearly finished his first year. As far as I know you need to approach the company. If there is any local employment offices in your area you should contact them and ask if they can help - a lot of them run free safe pass and manual handling courses as well

Avatar MIA

Coming from someone that went the education and professional route, apprenticeship is a great option. Make the most of the opportunity if you get one.

Would also recommend the plumbing /RGI option for consideration. And a bit like other professions, once you have the skill/piece of paper you have it for life. And the economy is going to need a lot of apprenticeships.

Good luck.

Peatys

I started my apprenticeship at 23. Best thing i ever did.

Check out e&i. Hanley's are looking for apprentices at the moment all over the country. It's mostly pharma, so clean and out of the weather.

salmocab

Peatys wrote: »

I started my apprenticeship at 23. Best thing i ever did.

Check out e&i. Hanley's are looking for apprentices at the moment all over the country. It's mostly pharma, so clean and out of the weather.

Actually E&I would be nice specialist work although you’d have to be prepared to be anywhere in Europe for them.

_Brian

I think metal fab is quite a restricted trade, for flex’s ility I’d recommend getting into an electrical apprenticeship if you can, it’s by far the one with the most employment opportunities at the end.