Degree to Electrician? (An update)

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vegasthepom

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Hi

I am almost 30 and have completed a HNC in electrical engineering and then an MEng degree in electrical and electronic engineering when I was younger. I worked as an electrical/mechanical maintenance engineer in a factory and then as a building services design engineer.

I later realised that I hate sitting at a desk all week and much prefer practical work. I regret not taking the traditional apprenticeship route and feel that I was misled into going to university. Ever since I graduated I have struggled to find jobs because of more people doing degrees and there not being much industry anywhere nearby + not many companies want to take on inexperienced employees.

I recently relocated 2 hours away from home and started a new job which is assisting the electrical department of a public company. Technically I am employed as a labourer but I am carrying out electrical work such as wiring lighting circuits. My managers and the CEO have told me to apply for their internal electrician position, I told them I don't have City&Guilds or 18th Edition and they just said I am overqualified for the position and getting on okay and that they could put me through the wiring regulations.

I have came across this issue often where no one really knows where I stand between being time served and a HNC/degree, the same when I worked as a maintenance engineer to fill staff absences. The same when I have been to interviews where the company has said they take on people as electrical engineers with all different backgrounds and then fill in the gaps with qualifications. My understanding is that I should have City&Guilds or at the very least 18th Edition Wiring Regulations or ECS to be carrying out electrical work. Unless there is someone qualified to sign it off?

My relevant background includes power/lighting/3-phase starter motor installations from the HNC, conduit, working with microcontrollers/systems engineering, servicing machinery, replacing motors, fault finding on electrical and electronic circuits, wiring junction boxes, rectifiers, sensors and DIY servicing/repairs on my own cars.

I feel that most of the work I will be involved with is straight forward enough with some practice, but there are going to be some more complex things I will need more guidance with such as wiring transformers or motor control systems. All of my colleagues have been at the company for 10+ years and some are more willing to help than others
 
your company should already have someone to sign off works.

All you need is 18th edition regs and whatever 2391 Inspection and Testing, has become these days, but at a later date. The actual requirement to do any electrical work is to be 'competent', what ever that means. If your employer is offering to pay for training, grab it with both hands.

I got fed up with being made redundant after 20 years in factory jobs. I was fortunate to have been a time served electro-mechanical apprentice before going into office work and CAD. Like yourself, I enjoy hands on work. The hardest thing to learn is the actual installation work and associated skills, which can only be learn't 'hands-on'. I achieved this by doing jobs around the house and working with a friend who taught me 'house bashing'. Sounds like you have that covered already, the theory will be a doddle for you. ECS is just a construction industry scheme for building sites, I've never used it although I did hold a Gold ECS card for a few years.
 
As an update on this I have now been given a position as an Electrician at my company which creates and maintains art installations.

I do find it strange considering I am not time-served or registered to work on houses but at the same time it seems to just be a job title for a specialised techniciany sort of role.

My company wants all-round technical people to carry out electrical and technical work which means that my electronic background of microcontrollers and soldering provides some value to their team on top of the basic electrical jobs such as changing plugs, wiring circuits, building boxes and carrying out tests etc.

I have improved on my practical skills but still have a long way to go to become confident for the more taxing electrical jobs.

If all goes well then I feel that I have finally found a career that I will enjoy due to the practical element, and to finally be free of the 9-5 desk based jobs
 
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