Questions for the sparkies out there

[rainman]

As may be apparent from some of my other comments, I'm pretty much unemployed, and have been trying to find work for a while. I used to be an IT middle manager - but there is not much call for that shit at the moment, it seems. I've applied for a heap of jobs, contract or perm, done all the right things: working the network and the recruiters, CV at all the big places, yada yada yada. Even "lesser" roles, call centre jobs, whatever, but rarely even get a response. Managed at least to get a look at a mid-level role recently, but lost it because the other guy had more current tech skills. Getting some contract work but not enough to pay the bills. So, even though I'm still pursuing a bunch of options with it, my IT career strategy ain't working so well, and I think I might need to diversify.

I hope to move out of Auckland in about 7 years, preferably somewhere semi-rural, so I'm looking into what I can do that might make me employable there too, as I probably won't be independently wealthy by then... A mate suggested being a sparky, and that kinda makes sense - I've pulled lots of data cable in my time and that's sorta similar innit...? :)

So, I'm doing some homework - and have some questions for the experts among you:
- Is there room for more sparkies or are we drowning in them? Don't want to go to the expense of retraining and just end up an unemployable electrician too.
- What's the best option for getting a ticket? I understand I need to do the L2 NC Elec Eng stuff (looks quick and easy), some L3 practical work, then more study at L4, then I can sit the exams etc. Is this right?
- About how long does it take? Am I likely to be employable (at mortgage-paying wages) during the time it takes to qualify?
- Can I in fact complete this study if I'm not working in the trade?
- Where's the best place to do the study? Open Poly any good?
- How practical is it for someone with a dodgy back to be a sparky?

All advice gratefully accepted...

Alternatively, anyone else have any suggestions for other in-demand skills that I could quickly retrain in so I can get employed? Will do almost anything legal, that does not involve heavy lifting... including IT work, of course, flexible commercial arrangements available :)

[rwh]

AFAIK, you have to clock up a certain number of hours of relevant work experience - work that would require the ticket you're after - supervised.

I did the theory for my restricted certificate or something - the thing that lets you work on plug in appliances - but it's useless without having done the job.

I think the result is you more or less need to do an apprenticeship.

Richard

[rainman]

I think the result is you more or less need to do an apprenticeship

Looked at that a little while ago but they only want the young. I'm 40-something.

[Pixie]

Call the Electrical Worker's Registration Board http://www.ewrb.govt.nz/
They'll have all the info you need.

If you can get into it,using your IT background and specialising in residential Data/automation would put you in a sought after niche

[Fatt Max]

Call the Electrical Worker's Registration Board http://www.ewrb.govt.nz/
They'll have all the info you need.

If you can get into it,using your IT background and specialising in residential Data/automation would put you in a sought after niche

+1 on that

I'm a sparky by trade, I used to run the service division for a big electrical company in Auckland. There are a few companies that would employ a mature apprentice and the EWRB could help you there. There is a level of hours you would need to clock up and that does take time.

As Pixie says, you could look at home automation or data cabling / service technician work. Threre seems to be a lot of that about at the moment if SEEK is anything to go by.

But, the EWRB is a good first stop.

As for the future, well, sparking is always a good trade, especially rurally where they are always in demand. Things will start to get better out there mate, it just takes time.

Good luck mate, let me know how you go. I'll keep my eyes and ears open for you

[rainman]

Thanks for the help. Had a look at the EWRB site and it seems to say they need 18 months experience before you can sit ESTA or whatever it's called these days. I'll call them tomorrow and understand it better though. Also had a look at ETCO (although I know they are not keen on older workers), their apprentice rate is about $10/hr. Will have to do the WfF maths but don't think I can feed the mortgage and the kids on that... let alone insurances, school costs, doctors, rates, house maintenance, etc. I had hoped to do this without selling the house.


Things will start to get better out there mate, it just takes time.

Hope you're right, but I'm far from certain on that front. It'll be a year on Tuesday since I was made redundant, and the savings are starting to look a little thin. I'd sell the bike if it wasn't worth bugger all - I'm not riding it anyway as it's not WOF'ed or insured.

[St_Gabriel]

No set number of hours to complete, just job task assesments.
ETCO pay fuck all (but do pay all your tech costs), get a real apprenticeship
You can do the lvl 2 and 3 electrical engineering full time at polytech (and also lvl 4 at some institutions), but cannot get registered until the job tasks are done and the regs exam and trade cert exam are passed.
There are a few companies that prefer mature apprentices for the obvious reason (they is mature)

ESTA is a just electrical service technician (apologies to any est's here) and cannot run wires to connect to mains, but they can fix your drill and coffee machine. The classes of registration have all changed recently and dunno what they all are now.

If you currently had enough work to keep your head above water, you could of course just start the night school/ correspondence course now, to make you more attractive to an employer. Though the datacomms exp is bloody handy to have.

[Conquiztador]

Becom a ESTA (faster), get a job servicing copy machines, printers etc. on the road. Mostly young guys do this. You have the IT background so you would be a good option as they are today intergrated to networks. As you also have maturity and middle management experience it would not be long before you would be promoted to Supervisor/service manager.

Good Luck!

[Fatjim]

You're better off money wise getting a pleb IT job than a sparky.

[tnarg]

Becom a ESTA (faster), get a job servicing copy machines, printers etc. on the road. Mostly young guys do this. You have the IT background so you would be a good option as they are today intergrated to networks. As you also have maturity and middle management experience it would not be long before you would be promoted to Supervisor/service manager.

Good Luck!

Dont bother with EST-A. Yes with your I.T background it will help but the money is shit really for what you do. I did it electrical servicing for 12 years and got made redundant and wouldn't go back to it. Under valued under paid. Just my story though. Try going down the sparkie path. My 2cents.

[firefighter]

You're better off money wise getting a pleb IT job than a sparky.

Really? I thought sparkies did alright?

[Swoop]

I did the theory for my restricted certificate or something - the thing that lets you work on plug in appliances - but it's useless without having done the job.

That would be the Electrical Service Technician.
http://www.ewrb.govt.nz/content/publications/info/info0301.html

Surely you knew what you studied though?:scratch:

[rwh]

That would be the Electrical Service Technician.
http://www.ewrb.govt.nz/content/publications/info/info0301.html

Surely you knew what you studied though?:scratch:

It's a while ago, and it was a fill-in course while I was doing my NZCE studies. I did it because it was offered, and I had nothing better to do at the time, and didn't think about it much :-)

Richard