How to find a job as an Apprentice Electrician

There is a need for trainee electricians and apprentices in the construction industry but it is still quite difficult for youngsters to find jobs. Many colleges offer training courses however trainees often have problems finding places to gain work experience. If you find yourself in this position then the following suggestions may give you some ideas of how to find a job as an apprentice electrician.



You will need to create your resume or cv ready for when you start to apply for jobs. Your CV's covering letter could include reasons why you want to work for that company and assets you have to offer.



Tell all your friends and family that you want to start as an electrical apprentice. Family and friends may know electricians or have contacts with electrical companies. Other people may be aware of opportunities and openings and can pass on your details.



Learn all you can about the job of an electrician and start to build up your knowledge. You can find lots of information about electricians online. Find out about electrician's tools, cables and types of wiring systems and make yourself aware of the safety issues regarding electricity. Any knowledge you can gain will help when you are applying for jobs and at the interview stage. Electrical forums are a very good place to learn about electrician's work, the problems and the jargon electricians use.



Finding Jobs. Find local electricians and electrical companies to approach for work. Get their information from telephone and trade directories and also look online for local electrical companies. Call them and offer to send your CV. Sending out CVs to lots of companies can be expensive so it's best to call them first. Only email your details if you have been asked to. Sending unsolicited emails will probably be a waste of time as they are rarely opened by busy businesses. You could check out the classified section of your local paper for job vacancies and also the electrical ads section for more contact details of electricians. Electrician's forums often have a jobs section and are a good place to make contact with potential employers and get advice.



Working as an electrician's helper or mate this is a great way of gaining experience and you could offer to work for free to begin with. On the job experience is an invaluable way to build up your knowledge. You never know, these temporary arrangements could sometimes lead to a permanent job.



Training. Contact employment and recruitment agencies as they may be able to tell you which companies are recruiting and where to find information about electrical apprenticeships. Try the Job Centre for information about companies recruiting in your area and about training courses. Colleges and some training centres will run their own apprenticeship schemes for trainees and will probably have contacts with electrical companies who take on apprentices. Check online for larger electrical companies that may be recruiting apprentices.



Apprentice's Mindset. During your training you may have the opportunity to work with many electricians and you will albe able to learn something from each individual. You will soon find that there is more than one way to do the same job and everyone has there own preferred methods and techniques. A smart apprentice will learn a little from each skilled person and ask lots of questions. This is a great way of building up your own knowledge base and of finding out ways to solve the problems you will encounter in your career as an electrician. Don't make the mistake of thinking that a career as an electrician is 'just a another job'. You will realise that there is more to an electrician's work than simply installing and maintaining equipment and wiring. Electrical safety and a corncern for the wellbeing of other people who use the installation after you have finished the job are always to the forefront of an electrician's mind as he or she undertakes their work.



Courses. Most electrical training courses for 16 to 18 year old trainees are funded by the government and are free of charge. Colleges and training centres often charge a fee for students aged over 19 years old. Courses will be full time or day release and the Level 3 qualification will require trainees to be employed for 'on-site' assessments. Most companies obviously prefer their apprentices to attend college one day a week.