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Thread: career change

  1. #1
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    Hey guys, I've been thinking about a career change for quite a while now (about 2 years). I'm currently studying Accounting part time at UWS (still have 4.5 yrs left lol) and I work in an office but nothing to do with accounting at this stage. Anyways, I'm looking to become an electrician and start an apprenticeship next year. I am 21 so I would be classed as an adult apprentice so does anyone know a good way to get into the industry and a rough idea on apprentice wages as an adult. The wage is the only thing holding me back as I have just purchased my first home with my fiancee, so I want to know if we can afford to survive.

    Thanks heaps guys

  2. #2
    Dillon Mac
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    If your in Aussie, last I heard.. Theres a BIG skills shortage so if yuo take up a trade (Sparky) the government is going to kiss and lick yuor ase to a 4th year aprentice so go for it I say..

    EDIT: btw, BIG MONEYS

  3. #3
    Senior Member DavisJD's Avatar
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    Look in the paper, or strart leaving notices at electrical wholesalers if your looking for a job as an electrician.

    As for wages, there a 2 main types, goverment award, which sucks, bigtime, even for adult apprentices.

    Then theres ETU wages (electric trades union), I would highly reccomend working for an employee that pays under ETU awards.

    Adult apprentices earn more and if you have a look around the ETU site you can see, it's not to bad when you start racking up the overtime! (e.g work a saturday!)

    The etu website is here;

    I reccomend working in the commercial or industrial side of things, domestic is ok if your working on new houses, but it is pure hell working on an old house. (unless you enjoy crawling through roofs, with itchy insulation while you struggle with cables and tools, trust me, it sucks!)

    If you work in the industrial sector you will get payed more with site allowances etc, and there will be more oppurtunities for overtime. (But you run this risk of working a mundane job and not learning a lot)

    Hope this helps, let me know if you have more questions

    James

  4. #4
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    commercial sounds like a good idea then. I have been looking around briefly in papers etc but haven't come across anyone looking for 2008 apprentices.

    I hadn't seen the ETU site yet so thanks heaps for that. I had a quick look but I'll have a really good look through it tonight.

    My missus has just started a new job too with more money so I can afford to take more of a paycut than I anticipated. Working o/t doesn't bother me either.

    I'm in Sydney if that helps anyone with more information.

  5. #5
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    OK.
    I'm 18, so im not classed as a 'Muture Student' so 2nd year=$9.sumfing/hour
    a first year that works with me is 28 and is a 'Muture Student' 1st year=$8.sumfing/hour (normal 1st year=$6.sumfing/hour)

    I work as an Electrical Fitter at a Chicken Abattoirs, IMO great to get into (not being biased) I'd HATE to be a wire jerker (Domestic Electrician)..soo boring(Do some at tafe and is pretty boring)!!and in your 1st year as a Domestic you dont learn anything more(straight from the mouth of all the domestic guys at tafe!)..Electrical Fitter's do PLC's, Motors, Controls, Machines and some Domestic..and even some Fitter (Mechanical) Work.

    Try and get into the Food Industry (People have to eat) or the Sugar/Steel Mills.

    Hope that helps you mate..

    My 2c's

    Dan. :2thumbs:

    EDIT: If you have anymore Questions don't hesitate to PM me..

  6. #6
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    Part of the reason I like the idea of an electrician apart from always being fascinated since I was a kid is that I can go out on my own a few years down the track.

    What is an electrical fitter exactly??

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    If you like the idea of going out on your own then domestic electrician is your pathway then, as long as you dont mind doing the same things (installing powerpoints, lights,etc.)

    An Electrical Fitter does the same Tafe as a Domestic (theres only one course), but theres better career paths (go to university after tafe and do the engineering course and specialise in PLC's, etc. and earn $100/hr like the engineer that comes to our work when we have a PLC Fault)...depends what type of work you want to do...duno what to say but this is what we do at our work:

    - Heaps of Fault Finding on Processing Machines
    - PLC's, Sensors and Controls
    - Single and Three Phase Motors
    - Single and Three Phase Socket Outlets (industrial powerpoints)
    - Lighting (Every type including Truck Lights to hi-bays, etc.)
    - Big Scale Hot Water Units.
    - Heaps of Fans (Single and 3PH)
    - ETC ETC.

    Anything else you want to know?
    have you seen/heard what we do at tafe?are you good at physics/math?

  8. #8
    Member
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    nah I have no idea what the tafe component of the apprenticeship is like. I never did physics, but I did do 3 unit maths for my HSC

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    you'll b right then..just study and it's easy, if you dont you'll struggle!!haha
    Goodluck with it all

  10. #10
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    thanks heaps mate

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