Apprenticeship Cant Decide

Luke774

Hi have work in loads of different jobs the last few years I never went to college. I'm currently working in the security industry now but cant see myself doing it for the rest of my life .looking to start an apprenticeship, i have always been good with my hands and doing DIY jobs around the house awell as most jobs on my car. I just cant decide what to do between

Electrician
Alarm engineer
Fire & security engineer
Data cable technician

I worked as a trainee alarm engineer for a small company awhile ago but left as wasnt much work on. I enjoyed it but I think I would be better getting a qualification behind me.

Thanks for the help.

ewc78

You’ll never be without work if you are a Electrician.
(I’ve been one for 24 years)

carrollsno1

Go for it. Only started one last year myself, im.a bit late to the party but i have absolutely no regrets so far. Havent met one fella i know that was sorry for doing one.

arccosh

Electrician.... best one with the best fall back.... you can branch into Alarm engineer, Fire & security engineer, Data cable technician and lots of other similar roots from being a sparks (depending on the company, you'll probably be doing some of that work anyway)

blindsider

Definitely electrician!

Possibly the cleanest of the trades, and always in demand. You could always progress afterwards, or make a decent living doing the basic stuff most ordinary folks can't/shouldn't do.

You can also travel...if that's your thing...

One small piece of advice, if you do go that route.....get in to the whole 'smart home' thing....it's definitely a growth area!

shane b

Luke774 wrote: »

Electrician
Alarm engineer
Fire & security engineer
Data cable technician
.

Are you sure these are actual apprenticeships or just jobs you want to get into?
Out of the 4 roles that you mentioned, an Electrician is the only one that has an apprenticeship. The other 3 roles seem to be related to specific training courses rather than apprenticeships, although there is an Electronic Security Systems apprenticeship which would be similiar to the alarm Engineer role

dreamers75

shane b wrote: »

Are you sure these are actual apprenticeships or just jobs you want to get into?
Out of the 4 roles that you mentioned, an Electrician is the only one that has an apprenticeship. The other 3 roles seem to be related to specific training courses rather than apprenticeships, although there is an Electronic Security Systems apprenticeship which would be similiar to the alarm Engineer role

https://apprenticeship.ie/career-seekers/get-started/discover

All basically apprenticeships now.

Altho all on hold due to covid, OP factor that in. Our Security Engineer apprentice is stuck in limbo between phase 3 and 4.

Luke774

dreamers75 wrote: »

https://apprenticeship.ie/career-seekers/get-started/discover

All basically apprenticeships now.

Altho all on hold due to covid, OP factor that in. Our Security Engineer apprentice is stuck in limbo between phase 3 and 4.

Yeah they are apprenticeships now, I'm still seeing alot of jobs going for electrician apprenticeships .
Would he be doing the same college phases as a electrician dont see alot of apprenticeships for those jobs . Would he still be finished in 4 years that's my main worry as I dont want to be stuck on phase 1 salary for 2 years. Just trying to remind myself of the longer goal

dreamers75

Luke774 wrote: »

Yeah they are apprenticeships now, I'm still seeing alot of jobs going for electrician apprenticeships .
Would he be doing the same college phases as a electrician dont see alot of apprenticeships for those jobs . Would he still be finished in 4 years that's my main worry as I dont want to be stuck on phase 1 salary for 2 years. Just trying to remind myself of the longer goal

Have his phase breakdown in work, will post it morrow.

Replied to your PM with more info.

Also I wouldnt bother with Data Cable as you will be doing that anyway if installing CCTV or Fire/Intruder from that course.

For security systems you must work for PSA registered company.

For fire you have standards to adhere too and hoo boy they are a full time job in itself if you doing suppression.

carrollsno1

Luke774 wrote: »

Yeah they are apprenticeships now, I'm still seeing alot of jobs going for electrician apprenticeships .
Would he be doing the same college phases as a electrician dont see alot of apprenticeships for those jobs . Would he still be finished in 4 years that's my main worry as I dont want to be stuck on phase 1 salary for 2 years. Just trying to remind myself of the longer goal

As far as i know if Solas cant accomadate off the job training within the usual timeframe you still get youre rates adjusted as time passes.

quietsailor

Have you looked into Electrical and Instrumentation OP? It would be working on sensors and electronics in factories/refineries/pharmaceutical plants

Luke774

carrollsno1 wrote: »

As far as i know if Solas cant accomadate off the job training within the usual timeframe you still get youre rates adjusted as time passes.

I am going to try find that out. Will ring Solas tomorrow

Luke774

Would anyone recommend a good place to do Safe Pass? I'm looking to do my Manual Handling online this week at least that will be quick & easy and out of the way

carrollsno1

Luke774 wrote: »

I am going to try find that out. Will ring Solas tomorrow

Let me know how ye go.

If you can get an apprenticeship in Electrical & Instrumentation then get that. You can work in a wide array of sectors with that.

Danzy

Electrician.

Luke774

[Deleted User] wrote: »

If you can get an apprenticeship in Electrical & Instrumentation then get that. You can work in a wide array of sectors with that.

Dont see alot of apprenticeships going for that. I think there is more maths involved in that side aswell, I was always more of a C or D student on the maths side

Luke774

Luke774 wrote: »

Dont see alot of apprenticeships going for that. I think there is more maths involved in that side aswell, I was always more of a C or D student on the maths side

Ok, fair enough. Way more money and opportunities on that path, though.

arccosh

Deleted User wrote: »

Ok, fair enough. Way more money and opportunities on that path, though.

did you not hear? hear got a C or a D in maths one time so that's him fooked for life :rolleyes:

arccosh

arccosh wrote: »

did you not hear? hear got a C or a D in maths one time so that's him fooked for life :rolleyes:

Well if a disinterested 17 year old was bad at maths then what hope would a motivated adult have?

_Brian

Definitely an electrician.

It’s an extremely versatile qualification opening many many avenues of employment, the others you mentioned would not have the same versatility regarding employment opportunities

arccosh

Deleted User wrote: »

Well if a disinterested 17 year old was bad at maths then what hope would a motivated adult have?

none, that one exam has you done in for life

Luke774

Seen on Facebook someone who started there apprenticeship only awhile ago was told Covid has made the waiting up to five years to be qualified, or so he was told when he did the induction.

carrollsno1

Luke774 wrote: »

Seen on Facebook someone who started there apprenticeship only awhile ago was told Covid has made the waiting up to five years to be qualified, or so he was told when he did the induction.

Well believe it, howd you get on with the ETB?

Luke774

carrollsno1 wrote: »

Well believe it,

Not sure what to think of that now, when I seen it people in the comments were saying they could see themselves leaving or the ones who are thinking about starting a apprenticeship not doing it.
One said they are just doing it as a back up and if they get into the garda before 4 years they will leave it .

Luke774

If you serve your time as Electrical Instrumentation apprenticeship would you qualify as a fully qualified
Electrician and a fully qualified instrument tech?
Can E&I techs do everything sparks can do ?

If I was to get a apprenticeship with Jones engineering would they teach you both

A neighbour of mine recently got solar electric panels and said the company where looking for apprentices would that be good to get into ?

aido79

Luke774 wrote: »

If you serve your time as Electrical Instrumentation apprenticeship would you qualify as a fully qualified
Electrician and a fully qualified instrument tech?
Can E&I techs do everything sparks can do ?

If I was to get a apprenticeship with Jones engineering would they teach you both

A neighbour of mine recently got solar electric panels and said the company where looking for apprentices would that be good to get into ?

Have a look on here to see the differences

https://apprenticeship.ie/career-seekers/get-started/learn-more/electrical/Electrical-Instrumentation-L6

https://apprenticeship.ie/career-seekers/get-started/learn-more/electrical/electrical-l6

It would be very difficult for someone to learn everything about all aspects of work in the electrical field(which includes instrumentation).
I qualified as an electrician and gained experience in instrumentation later on. I really wish I had have done an instrumentation apprenticeship originally though.
I have worked with plenty of electricians who would have little to no interest in instrumentation though so it really comes down to what you want to do.
Some electricians are happy to wire houses, some are happy to work in construction and some are more interested in technical work. It all comes down to what you are interested in doing.

Personally I would avoid getting into solar panel work as an apprentice as it limit your opportunities and the work will quickly become very repetitive. You may become very good at installing solar panels but that's all you will know how to do.

You will almost definitely learn nothing about instrumentation with Jones engineering as most of their work is construction.

What sort of electrical work would you be interested in?

Luke774

Hi so I was asking for advice last month about starting a apprenticeship I think I'm better off waiting until get back to normal. Companies are still taking on apprentices as they are being used as cheap labour for 3 or 4 years.
Waiting to get to each phase is getting ridiculous at this stage . I know someone who started there apprenticeship back in August 2018 and got called to phase 2 during the summer yet there is plenty of others on electrician Facebook page asking who are taking on apprentices.
Someone said they are on there 3rd year but still stuck in phase 2 aswell as there pay rate not going up .

Another one said a first year apprentice who is with them 2 years he wont get to phase 2 until 2022. And another who started there apprenticeship in July 2019 and still hasn't been called to phase 2 .

How can some apprentices get there pay raise after each year and others are not getting a raise they are stuck on phase 2 rates when they should be on rate phase 4 or 5 .