work/trades...what do you do for a crust?

Dales Cannon

Dales Cannon

lightbrain about 4pm
Staff member
Sparky is good especially if you then choose then to do off the grid installs, will be plenty of call for that. A lot of trades end up in the doldrums because of the path they choose, workshop of same old same old. #1 is an electrician who does heavy industrial stuff, power station generators etc. He loves it and domestic work leaves him cold.
 
tobbogonist

tobbogonist

a registered member
ozzybmx said:
I'm a sparky but now work in Operations (Power Plant).
My boys are now getting to that stage where they are deciding what to do and getting an electrical trade is #1 on both their lists.
It opens a lot of doors and there are many avenues after you can go down after you get your trade.
#1 son is doing work experience at my place in a couple of months, this allows him to drop 2 subjects in year 11 & 12 and get himself onto a VET course that reflects his work experience efforts.
So he will be doing level 1 & 2 in Electrotechnology which will be a decent foot-up to getting an apprenticeship if he goes down that road.

If you can financially afford to do it and it's what you want... get err done.
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This is pretty much what I wanted to here. Finances are not a huge problem/influence. We don't have kids and my partner works in the disability industry.
I'm pretty keen to get err done.
 
tobbogonist

tobbogonist

a registered member
Dales Cannon said:
Sparky is good especially if you then choose then to do off the grid installs, will be plenty of call for that. A lot of trades end up in the doldrums because of the path they choose, workshop of same old same old. #1 is an electrician who does heavy industrial stuff, power station generators etc. He loves it and domestic work leaves him cold.
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Yep I already know of people crying out for help on tiny houses. It's hard to find someone who is free and willing to do it. I think I'm on the right track.
Brother is an electrical engineer and he is kicking himself that he didn't finish the electrician apprenticeship.
I know a lot of carpenters that are running into owner builders. Their getting sick of being called in to fix shit when they could have taken the job to start with, been paid properly and done it right.
 
Mattyp

Mattyp

Cows go boing
If I had my time again I'd be an Electrical fitter or electrician, but not the crawl around in people's roof type. Try to get into doing new factory installs / fitouts. I do this now as a Fitter and Turner/welder but the sparkies have a pretty cruisey job and only need a van full of screwdrivers and cable ties.
 
ozzybmx

ozzybmx

taking a shit with my boobs out
tobbogonist said:
Brother is an electrical engineer and he is kicking himself that he didn't finish the electrician apprenticeship.
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That's another avenue, I know quite a few people who spent an additional years doing their Engineering degree after doing their trade qualification. The advantage is you are getting paid and doing the degree part time.

If you end up with a 'larger employer' they may pay for your additional quals. Though it sounds like you are looking to start your own small company and keep away from the cities.

Mine has just let me go back and do my Lv4 Training and Assessment, fully paid and time off. Though they ultimately are reaping the benefits of that.
 
cokeonspecialtwodollars

cokeonspecialtwodollars

Fartes of Portingale
I'd already started electrical engineering and part way through that got offered an apprenticeship, I was fortunate enough to be able to complete both at the same time. Never had to spend a lot of time on the tools but really enjoyed the short stints that I have done. Having the trade qualification allowed me to do my own wiring when I built the house and as is often trotted out will be something that I can always fall back on if other avenues of work ever dry up. I've not yet come across an electrician who has regretted completing their studies, but quite a few people that have regretted dropping out or not pursuing it to begin with.
 
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slowmick

slowmick

38-39"
i am an office bound engineer so take this with a grain of salt.
I have a two close mates who are in their 50's who have been electrical contractors since their teens. While being an electrician is not like being a brickie or a plumber it has still taken a physical toll on them. Neither have any intertest in being a manager or a supervisor to apprentices and so they have been saving and planning on how to slow down between 50 and possible before retirement. A large bag of cash is no good at retirement if your body is shot.
That electrical engineers with a trade background are worth their weight in cocky poo as they are generally a heap more practical when it comes to designing things. An electrical engineer with a current A grade ticket was the holy grail at my last employer.
 
cokeonspecialtwodollars

cokeonspecialtwodollars

Fartes of Portingale
slowmick said:
i am an office bound engineer so take this with a grain of salt.
I have a two close mates who are in their 50's who have been electrical contractors since their teens. While being an electrician is not like being a brickie or a plumber it has still taken a physical toll on them. Neither have any intertest in being a manager or a supervisor to apprentices and so they have been saving and planning on how to slow down between 50 and possible before retirement. A large bag of cash is no good at retirement if your body is shot.
That electrical engineers with a trade background are worth their weight in cocky poo as they are generally a heap more practical when it comes to designing things. An electrical engineer with a current A grade ticket was the holy grail at my last employer.
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Also this, I definitely found that my trade background helped make me a better engineer. To paraphrase one of the greats "I was less occupied with whether or not I could, I stopped more often to think if I should". The things you learn during your trade years will give you a better perspective of what will work in the real world.
 
fatboyonabike

fatboyonabike

Captain oblivious
tobbogonist said:
All my mates around the area are chippies and have warned me against going down that path/recommended electrical. I don't really know what I'm asking, more just reaching out.
Due to mental health issues I had never been able to plan long-term/consider the future and now it is all laid out there it is pretty fucking scary.
Any electricians on here?
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You need new mates... awesome , funny , cashed up electrical mates....chippies are like plumbers, missing a chromosome!
Fuck carpentry, you can get yourself a Triton work bench and pretty much do anything you need to, remember that it's not really a trade, just a poorly acquired set of specific skills
Sparky is one of the best trades, so many different branches you can follow, but stay away from domestic shit and solar installs where you can leave your brain at home!
I am an electrical fitter/mechanic but am also dual trade with AC/Refrigeration..love it.
 
treble

treble

Likes Dirt
I’m a sparky.
Similarly to @tobbogonist I came from a completely different field. I realised I didn’t have the drive/talent for my dream job and started my electrical apprenticeship in my early 20’s. Although I fucking hate it some days, I have never regretted getting my ticket. I work in a pretty specialised field these days but have done a bit of everything. As many others have said, there are plenty of paths to take once you are qualified. I’ve since done my contractors licence and had a go working for myself, got data licences, worked with automation, controls and safety equipment, even went back and studied electrical engineering.
Apprentice wages really aren’t that bad these days, compared to when I started anyway (seven whole dollars an hour:eek:) especially if you can get a gig with anyone paying EBA rates.

If you're thinking about it, maybe it's worth enrolling in a certificate 1 - pre-apprenticeship (if they are still around). I did one a long time ago, but I don't remember it being a particularly big commitment or very expensive. That should give you a better idea of what to expect and will make you a more attractive hire.
 
tobbogonist

tobbogonist

a registered member
Thanks this has all been excellent information. I've been gone bush putting doors in the bus (custom doors are not the easiest thing to knock up) and had no internet coverage.

I have already looked into the cert 2 training although nothing starts until next year. Apprentice rates is not much less than Bunnings now I've been demoted to floor work.
Would love to go back to uni but mentally could not handle it.

I'm going to start door knocking, see if anyone will take me on. If not just aim for the cert 2 next year.

@fatboyonabike I was thinking about maybe matching it up with the refrigeration down the track, seemed like the way to go. Glad it's working for you.

Not to worried about the retirement thing, we have a plan in place already. It just requires me to have a regular income and I'd rather do something I enjoy/makes me think then waste it standing around whinging about the boss all day.
 
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