Which-Career.co.uk

Considering Electrical Careers?

Change Careers Now To Become a Working Electrician

Electricity is one of life's essentials in the modern world. We constantly need skilled electricians for both domestic housing and industry. Work for some is predominantly concerned with installations - others with safety testing or fault-finding and maintenance. In 2009, over six hundred thousand people were employed in one sector or another of the UK's electrical industry. So if you're looking to retrain for a new career, an electrical course could be just the thing for you.

Will It Suit Me?

What characteristics are needed to succeed as an electrician? To be an electrician you will need to be able to use a variety of tools effectively. It's important to be able to follow safety guidelines and procedures, so you need to be able to carry out tasks with great precision.

You'll need to be able to work independently, and make decisions for yourself. You'll also need to have perfect colour vision and to be physically fit, as some of the work is quite strenuous. And ultimately, anyone looking to start their own business must be focused and motivated.

Download Your Free Copy of Training Information

Whether you've already got some relevant skills or not, once you've trained and got yourself certified, you can start making money. But it can sometimes be a bit unclear which training will be best, so we've written a completely unbiased report that will tell you what you need to know. All the different training options are clearly explained - and we'll send it to you for FREE. With so many training companies offering electrical courses in Britain, you'll find our information really useful to help compare the benefits of each one.

Why not download the book first and take time to read through its contents. And then when you've got the hang of what you need, come back to this site and look at what some of the training companies featured here are offering. If you Bookmark this webpage by keying in Ctrl D you'll be able to get back to it instantly.

Make The Move To Self-Employment

A lot of people choose to train for an electrical career so that they can set up in business for themselves. The majority of adult students in reality head down that track. And as the need for electrical work in peoples' homes continues unabated, it's likely to continue. Sometimes people with other trade skills want electrical expertise, to give their business more credibility. Still others train in order to save paying trades people to do their electrical work.

As you might expect, a good deal of your domestic work can come from client recommendations. Your chosen college should give you all the technical expertise, but do remember to maintain a good attitude whenever you're working for others. Commercially employed electricians will usually work a 37 - 40 hour week, with possible overtime at the weekends. And according to SalaryTrack, last year the average employed electrical worker earned between 24K and 29K a year. Self-employed electricians should be prepared to extend their hours where necessary, but usually their higher pay will reflect that. They will need to take their overheads into account as well though.

How Should I Get Going?

In the UK, look primarily for C&G (City & Guilds) and EAL (EMTA Awards Ltd) training. Most young people entering the industry straight from school will study for C&G qualifications along with corresponding NVQ's. This requires a 3 or 4 year commitment. Re-trainers over the age of about 25 mostly study shorter courses part time, much of it at home. They don't need lengthy NVQ training because they're looking to work in private houses. Private electrical training companies can get students through their courses and on their way in a matter of months. This still allows students to meet the legal trade requirements, just in a narrower field over a shorter period of time.

What Does This Involve?

A typical EAL Level 2 Domestic Electrical Installers course would take you from no knowledge to competency in domestic work. With an eye always on safety, you'll be shown how to install electrics, rewire houses, test circuits and more. As certain qualifications are now a legal requirement, you'll be coached in the essentials to pass Part P - the title now given to relatively new regulations for domestic electrical work.

Your training will also enable you to understand and meet the standards of the IEE wiring regulations. You could also be taught and assessed to carry out various other tasks that together will allow you to complete and self-certify domestic electrical work.

Your training will include distance-learning work to complete at home, and all your workshops and assessments in-centre. How quickly you get a through the course will be down to you. Once you've attained your skills and certifications, you'll have skills that will set you up for life.