5 week wonders

[vandalay 10]

My story, having always had a interest in electrics/electronics from early age I never really followed through with it and drifted into other things,

Sort of fell into renovating properties about 10 yrs ago where I used to muck in with the various trdes doing a bit of everything.

This is when I started following up the intrest I always had by working with the sparks who were working and realising how much I loved doing it and decided to take it further by getting some formal training and qualifications.

Joined one of these private training courses where you do these home learning for the theory work with exams that you send back to them. At three stages during this you had to go to one of their regional centres to do a weeks practical and your actual exams

which were;

Basic electrical theory Oct 07,

Part P Mar 08,

17th Ed June 08

PAT testing June 08

Whilst doing all the studies for thisa I also started doing any work I could in the trade

with various sparks sometimes going straight from my own job to working just to get the experience which is where I think lads on these type of coures really need ,you can read as much as you like from a book but until you put it into practice you dont fully understand it IMHO.

Was getting regular work end of 2008 so March 09 went to a local training centre and took my 2391 which I passed it in July that year.

So i suppose I will have to class myself as a 5 week wonder although this was spread over 2 years which I suppose is still going on as I still consider myself to still be learning the job all the time, the standard of my work I like to think is of a good standard (no complaints and lots of referals)a lot of this I think is knowing my limitations and if I am not sure about a job will get a friend who subs work out to me for opinon or even pass the job onto him.

Now getting ready taking my own way by getting ready to get my own elecsa registration hopefully in about March.

[batty 520]

Bet you were creaming it doing that job:coat

Yes robbed customers regularly.

[davetheglitz 258]

5 weeks - luxury!!!

MOD technician apprenticeship - degree - then 20 years of various engineering jobs for BAe. Brief career as a Science Teacher (don't do it!!) then 8 weeks night school for 2391 - and the college let me do self taught 2381 (16th) at the same time.

2 Years with a Mr Electric franchise doing emergency callouts was effectively my apprenticeship during which time did the 17th (exam only to save money!!). Now in a partnership - building up the business and learning all the time!

Many of the electricians I met with Mr Electric had years of experience - but for most of them it must have been Groundhog day. You only get experienced by doing new jobs or trying different methods.

Love this forum and the good advice that's on it. Anyone who is on here wants to be a good electrician no matter what their background is. What strikes me however is that so few electricians use the forums so are relying on their own experience to tackle any jobs. After time many of them invent their own rules and regs and adopt bad habits. I'd rather have a 5 day wonder who asks questions than a know it all 'experienced' electrician!

[sellers 160]

started my apprenticeship at 17 at a commercial and industrial firm, 6 years later just started out on my own. Moving to domestic was a small learning curve, you can do all sorts of panel wiring, conduit, fire detection, submains, 3phase etc, but then you struggle getting a cable down a cavity because you didnt think about the lintle above the door.

a year of domestic work and you pick up all of the nacks pretty quickly. Like anything really.

[revjames 847]

started my apprenticeship at 17 at a commercial and industrial firm, 6 years later just started out on my own. Moving to domestic was a small learning curve, you can do all sorts of panel wiring, conduit, fire detection, submains, 3phase etc, but then you struggle getting a cable down a cavity because you didnt think about the lintle above the door.

a year of domestic work and you pick up all of the nacks pretty quickly. Like anything really.

Yes its easier going industry - domestic than the other way round.

[Apache 1,652]

I'm a vet who fiddles with my own electrics

Not sure why I hang around really...............

[Admin 2,508]

I'm a vet who fiddles with my own electrics

Not sure why I hang around really...............

Because we Love ya.

[Apache 1,652]

Because we Love ya.

Nice to know I'm missed when I don't sign in for 28 hours!

[Admin 2,508]

Nice to know I'm missed when I don't sign in for 28 hours an Hour!

[kme 1,401]

D`ya know - I actually said to Mrs. KME earlier, that it was odd you hadn`t been in. I knew, cos the guinea pigs were still fighting!

[Badger 398]

D`ya know - I actually said to Mrs. KME earlier, that it was odd you hadn`t been in. I knew, cos the guinea pigs were still fighting!

kme thats no way to talk about admin and ad2 like that now say your sorry! :^O:^O

[mcgaw81 16]

Bet you were creaming it doing that job:coat

There is a joke in there somewhere..........

[mcgaw81 16]

Well.........

I started my apprenticeship with the local council (of all people) on my 17th Birthday, working with them gave you a lot of time to do the theory side. Done my full apprentice ship in 3 yrs 33 weeks (says so on my craftsman cert). This gave me a SVQ Level 3, 16th Edition. Went on to do the 2391 and updated it all to the 17th Edition last jan.

Fast forward 11 yrs, and I am An Niceic Approved Contractor, SBSA approved (Scottish Buildings Standards Agency), employing 19 guys working from the west coast to the east coast of Scotland. Hoping to break into the North West of England in the near future.

But still Learning.................................................

And always will BE..........

[septiclecky 85]

Well.........

I started my apprenticeship with the local council (of all people) on my 17th Birthday, working with them gave you a lot of time to do the theory side. Done my full apprentice ship in 3 yrs 33 weeks (says so on my craftsman cert). This gave me a SVQ Level 3, 16th Edition. Went on to do the 2391 and updated it all to the 17th Edition last jan.

Fast forward 11 yrs, and I am An Niceic Approved Contractor, SBSA approved (Scottish Buildings Standards Agency), employing 19 guys working from the west coast to the east coast of Scotland. Hoping to break into the North West of England in the near future.But still Learning.................................................

And always will BE..........

Bloody hell we're going to be invaded by the Bloody Scots againROTFWL

[Megaohm7 77]

Nothing beats the experience of working on the tools as it were . Not all apprentices will go on to make a good electrician , although many do and take great pride in what they are doing and are always willing to pass on valuable advice to people willing to learn that take it seriously because an apprentice has had to learn from someone in the first place to get where he/she is . I would have loved to have done an apprenticeship but I could not find one when I left school and I was under the careers officer at the time . That is why I am going down the route I am because It's the nearest I'll get to have done an apprenticeship ..At my own cost of course ..

[ianmacd 111]

I would be more interested to know how many people fail the assessment to join a little club, most common failings and their backgrounds.

[niceguy 4]

Didnt understand the options proper and voted time served self certing.

Still, did my apprenticeship and gained all my quals and experience at my employers expense.

Once all that was done, jumped ship with most of his clients.

Years on, im rolling in it and loving every day of my job.

Shame it has all been watered down to let in all the chancers.

You wouldnt see it happening in the gas world.

[sellers 160]

Hoping to break into the North West of England in the near future

quick - will have to get a few breeze blocks layed on hadrians wall!

[Andy™ 2,584]

quick - will have to get a few breeze blocks layed on hadrians wall!

im right behind you!

[revjames 847]

Still, did my apprenticeship and gained all my quals and experience at my employers expense.

Once all that was done, jumped ship with most of his clients.

Years on, im rolling in it and loving every day of my job.

You have no shame or guilt at your employer giving you 4 years training for free then you stealing most of his clients?

TBH its not something I would want to brag about Wet Fish

[niceguy 4]

I didnt say anything at all about stealing clients.

He was retiring the following year and he asked them if they would be happy for me to look after them when he did.

Christ, and I get accused of assuming.

[Apache 1,652]

I didnt say anything at all about stealing clients.

He was retiring the following year and he asked them if they would be happy for me to look after them when he did.

Christ, and I get accused of assuming.

To be fair - in the time and money your employer has spend training you, many times over will have been repaid by you working hard whilst training. The employer has had benefit too!

I can see both sides

[kme 1,401]

Shame it has all been watered down to let in all the chancers.

You wouldnt see it happening in the gas world.

Are you having a giraffe?

In the "gas world" (for those who don`t know, it`s located next to "pink, fluffy world") the numpties got in long ago.

Can we PLEASE stop all this - it`s peeing me right off now.

Thank you

K M E

[Admin 2 44]

Didnt understand the options proper and voted time served self certing.

Still, did my apprenticeship and gained all my quals and experience at my employers expense.

Once all that was done, jumped ship with most of his clients.

Years on, im rolling in it and loving every day of my job.

Shame it has all been watered down to let in all the chancers.

You wouldnt see it happening in the gas world.

I didnt say anything at all about stealing clients.

He was retiring the following year and he asked them if they would be happy for me to look after them when he did.

Christ, and I get accused of assuming.

I think the way you worded the first post did imply that you did actually 'steal' clients off your boss.

I even thought thats what you meant myself!!

Please think before you post.

[steptoe 2,137]

I think, for me anyway, an interesting point is that we have no one ,voting anyway,

that is a plumber/kitchen fitter or otherwise that has simply done a part P enrolement.