Frustrated

[lincsbob]

After spending 16 yrs in the Army & then going into endless pen pushing jobs and being made redundant 3 times in 5 yrs, I decided to retrain to be an electrician. At the time there seemed to be a distinct shortfall in this trade. So 2 years of hard slog later and all exams passed with credits & distinctions, here I am fully qualified and looking for a job. Only to find myself tied up in red tape. The only thing I have left to get is my NVQ level 3 but to get this I need to be working/sponsored in an electrical position, on the other hand to get such a position I need a JIB card and for this I need references from previous electricians jobs. Not sure which part of the merry go round to start with. Does anyone have any advice/help.

[jonsun70]

I can understand your problem. I moved to England from SA in early 2007 with high hopes, landed a management job but was fired after a few months due to inexperience....just didn't know the processes yet!! Found work as a sparky in London, doing small jobs at first, pulling cables and holding ladders but built trust with co-workers, got good referrals and slowly built my way up...took about 16 months. Now doing well, studied for 17th and 2391 and working in industry.
Being a soldier helps mate, work hard, believe in yourself, don't expect any handouts, and see everything as a possibility, you'll be all right.

[petesrepairs]

This might sound like an obvious point, but have you tried talking to the JIB people to see what they can do to help? or any of the big electric firms?

[wannabesparky]

know how you feel m8 8 years in got my CSCS card 17th edition cant even get a job as a mate its mad !!!! mad world this civi street

[Andrew]

I see in UK there are alot of certifications and qualifications which helps to find a job. I`m from lithuania and here i have 7 years experience in electrical works. i gratuated college and get degree in electrical -automatic engineering. I`m interesting what work i can to work here in UK (in electric and similar fields) if i dont have 17th edition ? And how long it takes to get 17th edition ? Sorry for my english. If there are any questions ask me I`ll answer.

[Neil_Allen]

After spending 16 yrs in the Army & then going into endless pen pushing jobs and being made redundant 3 times in 5 yrs, I decided to retrain to be an electrician. At the time there seemed to be a distinct shortfall in this trade. So 2 years of hard slog later and all exams passed with credits & distinctions, here I am fully qualified and looking for a job. Only to find myself tied up in red tape. The only thing I have left to get is my NVQ level 3 but to get this I need to be working/sponsored in an electrical position, on the other hand to get such a position I need a JIB card and for this I need references from previous electricians jobs. Not sure which part of the merry go round to start with. Does anyone have any advice/help.

Hi
Just hang in there The Tories will break all this red tape get you back into work crush the JIB / Union i am qualified electrician cannot get a job recession but needs my 17th no money, no job Napit Registered sitting at home. Dave Cameron will stop all this and about time. Jobs JIB UNION he can sort out the rest i doubt.

Keep your chin up not much longer

Try this Company delta training

[johnyh]

all the time joe public can pop down the local diy shop and rewire there house fix the gas and do all the strutural work no questions asked
also the cowboy gets a couple of hundred pounds bonus for dodgy paper work the public has no idea what is proper so there is no chance for expensive skilled people wh have spent years learning why electrics are dangerous in the unskilled hands also no money available for refurb till property booms again