Electrician Apprenticeship?

[Abz]

I'm 19 and thinking, i should get a trade. I'm currently working at Midland Brick working in the lab, fairly cruisey job but can't really see it going too far or leading me into much. Looking at the different apprenticeships that are offered, i think I'd like to go into electrical.

If anyone here is an electrician, please give information on what its like, whats involved and the like? Is it best to look for private companies that do household/domestic work or is it best to get an apprenticeship with a commercial company?
And,
Does anyone know of any companies wanting to employ an apprentice? Is it possible to get an apprenticeship up north on the mines, or is this fairly uncommon?

Thanks,
Adam

[Aphex]

Best to get into companies that do large scale commercial projects rather than house bashing. A little house bashing is good but all the theory in the world wont help if house bashing is all youve done during your apprenticeship.

TASC or SEME come to mind as being the most interesting. They both do very large commercial jobs and do more than just lights & power points. They both do C-Bus, Large scale CCTV and Access Control Installations, Fibre, Comms and im sure one of them does Crestron

Whats it like? Hard work for the first few years. Lots of repetative shit. Think kilometers of cable, hundreds of meters of conduit and thousands of points. If you want an idea of what im talking about, check out the lighting in the undercroft carpark at the new Ikea. But you'll be doing the dog work where ever you go until you've earned your stripes. If you prove yourself, you'll be doing some things by yourself as a third year. At tasc, one of their third years is running access and CCTV jobs (dont need EWL to sign off on security jobs just security & cabling license)

Programming access, CCTV and PLC systems can be fun too. Just need to understand a little logic and you're away.

They would be the sort of company id be looking to work for if i was starting over. Leaves so many doors open for your future.

[Sentry]

Schnoodle: You wouldn't happen to have contact details for those companies? Am looking to jump ship and find a new employer

Abz: Electrical apprenticeship is much how Schnoodle describes it. Be prepared to carry tools for first year but it DOES get better. The work is interesting and if you're with the right company, you'll get a lot of variety between jobs. Ive gone from wiring Telstra generators to chillers that draw 700amps per phase to BMS controls systems in large buildings and airports to managing the BMS install and upgrade at Lakeside shopping centre. Its all about how motivated you are, what you're interested in and where you want to go.

My only real advice is this:

Do it.
Don't go through EGT. I run a PLC course as a second job at College of Electrical Training and some of the stories I hear from the EGT guys are terrible.
Sink your teeth into everything. Have every finger in every pie. If it looks like new technology, get into it. Be the guy the tradies call when it breaks down.

[Abz]

Thanks Schnoodle and Sentry for your responses. I'm not afraid for working hard, nor put off by starting at the bottom. I'm really just after something that i can do longterm and be comfortable. From what I've read so far about the job, it seems interesting and something i can see myself doing. An aspect of it that really enticed me was the possibility of variation. It's not necessarily the same thing, day in day out.

Might be a bit of a daft question, but what are the best methods to apply for apprenticeships and where are the best places to source them out?

[Aphex]

Go straight to the companies you wish to work for regardless of if they're advertising or not. Most of the larger companies have an intake atleast once a year so even if they're not looking at the moment, the fact that you've actually showed some initiative in this climate will be a bonus for you when they have their next intake.

Sentry, Ill PM details when im back in the office Friday.

[Deej]

...Firestorm...

[19andrew59]

Are you willing to relocate or fly in/out?
If so, try Downers and the like.
Also, mining companies take on apprentices
though it's not easy to get a start.

[Abz]

Originally Posted by 19andrew59

Are you willing to relocate or fly in/out?...
Also, mining companies take on apprentices

Yeah mate, i think if i could i think I'd prefer a fly in fly out situation. Just haven't really heard of any of the companies taking on apprentices.

[Jamathi]

Rio Tinto run a very active program via an outside company.
I have here 2 appies with me.
I'll get the details this morning in out meeting with some contact info for you.

[19andrew59]

Originally Posted by Abz

Yeah mate, i think if i could i think I'd prefer a fly in fly out situation. Just haven't really heard of any of the companies taking on apprentices.

Maybe have a look at doing some drafting courses as well as the apprenticeship. If you come out at the end as a tradie with CAD (AutoCad, Microstation, etc) experience, you'll be in a prime position to get good dollars.

[Sentry]

Thanks Schnoodle.

Abz: I don't know about your financial situation, or if you live with the parentals, but I got into my job through my pre-apprenticeship.

A pre-apprenticeship might seem like a bit of a waste of time, but it'll carve 6 months to a year off your apprenticeship time, while also being on aus-study (if you qualify). Free money from the government = goodness. If you're serious about doing something along these lines, I'd suggest doing an Electrical/Instrumentation apprenticeship. Having a dual trade is a real foot in the door and means you're not restricted to one field of work. Midland TAFE does a decent elec/instro pre-app. Check them out.

[Abz]

Sentry,

Yeah, currently i live with my folks. Next to no expenses apart from my bike and car. What exactly is a pre-apprenticeship? You mentioned doing a dual apprenticeship, how does that exactly work? Do you mean, doing the same thing simultaneously or get one trade then go for another one? With an Electrical/Instrumentation apprenticeship how does this differ from an electrical apprenticeship?

Has anyone dealt with Chamber of Commerce and Industry(Apprenticeships Australia) or know of anyone who has? If so whats the kind of responses that you are hearing? (Although I just got " There are currently no job programs available at this time.")

Cheers

[wheeless]

Sentry is giving you the good oil for sure . Do a dual trade in one of the larger companies and get as much experience as possible . Burner management systems , instrumentation , high voltage ,plc systems , DCS everything you can . Just dont fall into the rut , show your dinkum and want to learn and the vast majority of trades "people " will help you learn . Otherwise it will be carry the tools , make the coffee and sweep up for four years .

[Grubby]

i would be going into my 3rd year in july however i just quit my apprenticeship with the company that i was with. I havnt touch house bashing or commercial. with the company that i was with i was never going to touch house bashing or commercial. I can however layout and wire a switchboard or a DB. or build a board based around a soft starter for bore pumps. Or heck need a generator to be mine compliant i can do that aswell.

however i was looking at the long term training outcome that i was going to get through my old employer and it just wasn't filled out enough for my liking. Im about half way through my month off that im giving myself then im gonna be looking for a new company that will recognise the time that i have done and also pays a tiny bit more than minimum wage.

i waited till i was 21 till i started my apprenticeship because i refused to work that hard for $6.80 which is an Australian apprentice's 1st year rates. However to finish your apprenticeship by 23 means you'd be in your own home my 26. A very good place to be indeed

another company that does fly in fly out work is "Positron" or " Southern Cross Electrical Engineering" (or SCEE).
i was with PPS (power proving services)
if you dont mind working minimum 50 hrs a week (instead of the legal maximum of 38 and then your boss can request overtime from you but you dont have to agree) on minimum wage and have a ton of work pressure dumped on you as an apprentice which shouldnt happen, Then let me know and i'll give you my old boss's phone number

Ive enjoyed the work that i have done so far though, id highly recommend becoming an electrician. It really is a case of the more you put in the more you will get out

[Sentry]

Doing a pre apprenticeship gives you some of the basic knowledge before you actually get into the field, which means you'll be one step ahead of other apprentices in terms of theory (and some hand skills). Also means if you put your resume on my desk with someone elses who hadn't done a pre-apprenticeship, I would consider yours first.

Learning a dual trade means you can do 2 classes at the same time; generally one is done during the day, and the other is done 2 nights a week for a few months in a year, generally the third year of an apprenticeship.

If you're living at home, do it while you can! Contact the Apprenticentre and find out some more information. (Used to be called Apprenticeships WA). Haven't heard anything about CCI, apart from the name

[ranmar850]

Dual trade(e mech/inst fitter) is certainly the way to go, most in demand for the higher paid jobs, and you can do offshore, as well, doors really open up.

previous poster mentioned Positron and SCEE, I've worked for both, SCEE certainly seemed the better organised, good people to work for. If I hadn't wanted to move into maintanence, I'd still be with them, and on my way to Cape Lambert next week.

[Scribble]

CCI/Apprenticeship's Australia are a bunch of money hungry scum cunts!, avoid these fucking maggot's like the plague, it will be 4 years of ass rapeing. Chasing up paryroll EVERY fortnight becuase the dumb fucking slut's cant be fucked reading a timesheet or entering it into there computers.

Seriously, fuck them in the ass... hard... with a bat of nail's.

[ranmar850]

Originally Posted by Scribble

CCI/Apprenticeship's Australia are a bunch of money hungry scum cunts!, avoid these fucking maggot's like the plague, it will be 4 years of ass rapeing. Chasing up paryroll EVERY fortnight becuase the dumb fucking slut's cant be fucked reading a timesheet or entering it into there computers.

Seriously, fuck them in the ass... hard... with a bat of nail's.

Aw, come on now, don't be shy--tell us how you really feel

I've seen that happen with other training/ group training sources, the one in Geraldton was always doing the same thing to our apprentices Confusion often reigned

[Jamathi]

Elec instal, -fitter, -HV, -insto tech is what you want/need to get the best pennies.
But; you will never stop learning new methods, gear as it becomes norm/in use.
Interesting profession as you can come and go in your working career, license is ,still, for live, as long as you renew it on dates due.
License used to cost $0.25 per calender year!!
Not any more, the thieving robbing vultures!

[Rob]

Another good thing to consider is refrigeration. Thats a pretty good trade - I should have got my tickets in that as well - those guys that are any good dont come by very often - A really good other option if a sparky aprenticeship doesnt come up.