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WA Sparkies.. Advice about adult apprenticeships?

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Created by antisense > 9 months ago, 25 Feb 2015
antisense
WA, 109 posts
25 Feb 2015 10:50AM
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To any WA sparkies that are willing to share their advice...

I'm a 37 yo with several Uni degrees in science, but job prospects suck at the moment and I want to step sideways into a trade that interests me. I'm 100% serious about starting a commercial/industrial electrical apprenticeship but I get the feeling most companies think I'm too old and probably set in my ways.

Anyone got any advice on how/who to approach this? Looking to start in mid year if possible so have some time to plan.

Cheers,


choco
SA, 4177 posts
25 Feb 2015 1:30PM
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antisense said..
To any WA sparkies that are willing to share their advice...

I'm a 37 yo with several Uni degrees in science, but job prospects suck at the moment and I want to step sideways into a trade that interests me. I'm 100% serious about starting a commercial/industrial electrical apprenticeship but I get the feeling most companies think I'm too old and probably set in my ways.

Anyone got any advice on how/who to approach this? Looking to start in mid year if possible so have some time to plan.

Cheers,




http://matureageapprenticeships.org/mature-age-apprenticeships-wa/

HENDO 77
WA, 290 posts
25 Feb 2015 11:59AM
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EGT electrical group training would be worth contacting.I did a mature age app as a sparky starting at 32. Well worth the trip if you can afford it. I found everyones attitude fine. I think electrical companies would only prefer young bloke when theres a lot of labour involved eg housing, apart from that the in depth roles eg commercial and industrial would take an older bloke anyday over a 17 yr old kid that's more interested in facebook on their phone than doing the job. good luck.
TRUST ME first stop ring EGT ,I didn't do my app there but that's where most come from

sotired
WA, 602 posts
25 Feb 2015 12:01PM
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I heard from a friend over there that there are plently of electricians around now that the expansions phases have finished for the mines. I don't know how accurate that is, but before you get too far into it, try and find out if there are many opportunities for that skill at the moment.

antisense
WA, 109 posts
25 Feb 2015 12:47PM
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Select to expand quote
bigtom said...
EGT electrical group training would be worth contacting.I did a mature age app as a sparky starting at 32. Well worth the trip if you can afford it. I found everyones attitude fine. I think electrical companies would only prefer young bloke when theres a lot of labour involved eg housing, apart from that the in depth roles eg commercial and industrial would take an older bloke anyday over a 17 yr old kid that's more interested in facebook on their phone than doing the job. good luck.
TRUST ME first stop ring EGT ,I didn't do my app there but that's where most come from


Thanks for the advice Tom! I've been in touch with EGT already by email and they just advise to complete their online application and see what happens. Not really the response I was hoping for but it's a start. Maybe phone call as you suggest will give me a better idea of where I stand.

@sotired I agree that the boom is definitely in decline in WA. But I think there will always be a strong demand for qualified sparkies. Compared to my current career where you're lucky to get a 2 year contract at a time I'll take the trade qualification anyday :)

Thanks again!



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"WA Sparkies.. Advice about adult apprenticeships?" started by antisense