What To Consider Before Making A Career Change
Lately we see more and more people looking for a career change into the construction industry. But how do you know if this is the right decision for you and your household?
Hopefully this will help you, it is all based on our years of experience with teaching people to become qualified electricians as mature career changers. Some positive experiences and some not so positive have been shared with us.
Do Your Research
It is important to understand what the job will involve before you take any expensive leaps.
With a career in construction it seems like every day will be filled with rewards and pride in your work, however the reality can sometimes be hours of frustration out in the cold before a solution to a fault can be found.
If this doesn’t sound like the career for you there are other options once you have your foundation and experience will lead you into different directions. So don’t rule it out
2. Is There Job Security
Electricians are in demand and therefore it is hard to find another job that is so future proof. I will say though are you able to complete install work for the rest of your career?
Are there job roles available in your chosen field and do you feel that it will be sustainable? Within construction there are some scary stats around the current skill shortage. This is before we consider that the government is keen to build 1.5 million homes in the UK.
Lot’s of qualified electricians chose to do a course like the 2391-52 to ensure that they can carry on working as inspectors for the rest of their time on the tools.
3. What Is The Pathway To Qualification
First off you will need to talk with a trusted specialist about what qualifications are needed. Try to avoid any training provider who sells the quick or fast path to qualification.
As an electrician if I wanted to take short cuts I should probably choose a different career, one where we didn’t work with invisible voltage!4. Get Some Real Life Experience
For me I think I learned that I had made the right career choice when I actually got my hands dirty and started the job. So if you have any friends or contacts who you can ask to spend some time with this would be a great plan.
If you don’t like it at this point then you have lost nothing.
5. Cost It Out
The cost of your training is just the start you will also need to factor in time out of work. Other areas to take into account include tools etc.
If an electrical career is the right choice for you, do not go for your basic set of tools as you will need VDE tools and these work out a bit higher in cost.
We have heard stories of training providers telling their construction students that they can earn upwards of £100,000 a year. Now this may be true once you are established but this does not factor in all of the time to be self employed, insurance costs, van, accountant fees - the list goes on!
6. Consult Family and Friends
I am saying this with a caveat as you don’t want to talk to them until you have made up your mind, but you will need them on board. Studying is hard and finding time and space at home means everyone in your house needs to be supportive.
At the end of the day it is your decision but if it requires cutting back on the family budget for a while then they need to be onboard and ready to stand by you.
Studying can be hard so the more support the better.
Next Steps For Your Career Change
Get in touch with one of us and we can talk you through the next steps to becoming an electrician, please do take all of teh advice above.
Becoming an electrician may be the exact career change you are looking for and we would be so happy to think we could help you along your pathway!
Full list of courses we have available can be found here.