The adult trainee route
Retraining without an employer?
To complete a recognised training route and JIB registration, you will need to find an employer who completes at least 2 of the following types of work:
- Industrial
- Domestic
- Commercial
It is worth chasing local employers or indeed agencies who, once they know you are studying, often offer electricians mates rates or if they are JIB registered, they may even offer adult trainee rates. The usual trick of going through the Yellow Pages, local and national newspapers, internet job sites and even internet forums these days may find you work. If you choose to go to college, you may well make contact with students who do have employers looking for adult trainees or may even be employers themselves. Being part of a social network and getting to know local employers is a definite advantage to getting your foot on the ladder.
A lot of mature students choose to go to college on evening or day release to gain the following qualifications:
These qualifications alone do not necessarily allow you to practise as an electrician however will save time later if you are successful in gaining an employer. Often, these qualifications are enough to persuade an employer to take you on on a trial basis to assess your skills and allow you to complete your electrical NVQ and the AM2 enabling you to join the register of electricians.
Often, in my experience, adults with the right amount of dedication and enthusiasm manage to get the retraining opportunity. Some employers prefer employing adult trainees as they get potentially a quicker return on their investment, although at some expense compared to the younger option, they often prove more reliable and quicker to use to the companies advantage. It is always worth speaking to your local college as they may have knowledge of the local industry and who may be recruiting.
Another possible route is using employment agencies and gaining work as an electricians mate. Completing the 2330 will stand you in good stead as a basic qualification and you get the benefit of actually working on site and with electricians. This is easier to do if you live in, or can commute to the larger built up industrial areas.
Work experience
Some adults have sought work with an electrician on a weekend, often offering their services free of charge, to gain invaluable experience without having to leave their (usually secure but uninteresting) day job. If nothing else, this approach will show prospective employers that you really are serious about becoming an electrician.
CV
In an increasingly competitive industry, it may well be worth seeking out advice on the creation of a good CV. The Job Centre is a good place to start if you are currently unemployed, your local college may well be able to help out or you could even seek professional services.