Career Advice

[psheil99]

I am 16 and have always had a passion for both IT and also building work. I really enjoy both and since I was about 6 I have always worked with my grandad and uncle on building sites. Also, since about 6 I have had my own laptop and have taught myself about Windows XP/7/8 and Windows Server 2008/2012 to the point where I have a home lab running active directory etc..

 

I am having a real problem deciding what to go into; be an Electrician (my uncle had a very successful business and has said I might be able to get an apprenticeship with him) or go into IT with an apprenticeship with QA Apprenticeships. If I go into IT I would like to work up to something like an Infrastructure Architect or something similar.

 

I know it's my own choice but I am really struggling to know what's best to go into :/

 

Any help is really appreciated.

[psheil99]

Thanks @Galway that is what I was thinking, it's easier to get into IT than be a qualified electrician and would you say it's also better for getting private jobs?

[elsiegee40]

I think that's good advice from @Galway.

[nicholab]

Also being an electrician the career path ways are more establised. Also I get the impression starting saleries are better.

[Nixon77]

Yes mate stick with your uncle, its very good money in the electricians.

 

You can do IT as a side thing and gain some qualifications, in a couple of years then make a choice which way you want to go.

[novastorm]

If it were me, id be looking to work with your uncle and completing an apprenticeship with him. Nothing stopping you doing IT stuff as well once you are a qualified electrician, as I see it of the 2 its the one thing you can progress with at any time. Take the offer from your uncle while its on offer.

 

what he said

[Oaktech]

If it were me, id be looking to work with your uncle and completing an apprenticeship with him. Nothing stopping you doing IT stuff as well once you are a qualified electrician, as I see it of the 2 its the one thing you can progress with at any time. Take the offer from your uncle while its on offer.

 

My brother in law did exactly this. Qualified as an electrician out of school, got data cabling qualification, then fibre install kit and qualifications, became familiar with the install of rack equipment, then with the significant amount of money he made doing that started paying to do MCE's and now operates a business with 12 employees offering full design and build installations for everything from a network cabinet to medium size data centres.

[Duranis]

Yeah would have to agree with everyone else, if you have a chance to become a qualified electrician and it is something you are also interested in then take it. IT is very much something you can learn on the side and even the most recognised IT qualifications you can gain yourself. Not so easy to do that to become an electrician though.

 

Also being a qualified electrician could be a big help if you go into IT later. I used to work in the cruise ship and super yacht industry for example and a lot of the big yachts loved having ETO's that were also capable of handling the IT kit and paid really good money for people with the right skills. Lots of other industries will be the same.

 

Generally there are a lot more IT engineers around than qualified electricians and less options for them as well so easier to progress and get a decent salary as an electrician.

 

Edit: Also bravo for having some clear ideas about what you want in life at 16.

Edited April 18, 2016 by Duranis

[jinnantonnixx]

I'd echo the good advice given above.

 

There is another, humungous, advantage of being an electrician. Your job will not suddenly evaporate when it's outsourced.

 

My dad (now retired) was a highly qualified electrician working in heavy industry. When he took early retirement, he could have taken any number of different jobs as his electrical engineering skills are highly transferable.

[MattDLEA]

Electrican probably a safer job then in IT

[abillybob]

Ugh welcome to real life. Sorry to put a downer on things but it now starts where you'll get around 19 weeks off in total throughout the year (including bank holidays, your holiday and weekend's) the remaining are weeks you're at work... You'll have responsibility, a boss telling you what to do and stress on your shoulders. I made the mistake going into the type of normal office IT work that I have. Every time you're at work you'll be counting down the days until your getting your next holiday and wishing your life away.

 

Oh what I'd do to be care free and back at college - best years of my life.

 

Go do something amazing and don't look back, enjoy life and live the dream. Don't follow the sheep like I and so many others did.

 

Good luck on your endeavours. Do something AMAZING.

[Nixon77]

abillybob, it can't be that bad, change job.

[ellsandell]

abillybob, it can't be that bad, change job.

 

Agree...

[psheil99]

Thank you all for your opinions and advice, I really do appreciate it!

 

I feel that from what everyone had told me including family and friends is that I should become a fully qualified electrician and then once I have a few years under my belt, integrate that with IT.

 

I think I was answering my own questions as I'm not the kind of kid that wants to be sat in doors all day... I'd much rather be on the move and doing something physical. But I also still have a passion for IT and I will definitely carry on teaching myself new technologies etc..

 

What could I do that integrates both an Electrician and IT?

[DJ-1701]

abillybob, it can't be that bad, change job.

 

Agree...

 

He's only offering his opinion from his point of view, unless we walk a mile in his shoes we don't know. Suggesting to change job is most likely on his mind anyway. Anyway, we are here to help psheil99.

 

Thank you all for your opinions and advice, I really do appreciate it!

 

I feel that from what everyone had told me including family and friends is that I should become a fully qualified electrician and then once I have a few years under my belt, integrate that with IT.

 

I think I was answering my own questions as I'm not the kind of kid that wants to be sat in doors all day... I'd much rather be on the move and doing something physical. But I also still have a passion for IT and I will definitely carry on teaching myself new technologies etc..

 

What could I do that integrates both an Electrician and IT?

 

It may be worth looking at companies that build new sites, they may have people in house that install the electric or setup networks or other IT based systems, or at least suggest a company that can.

It may also be worth looking at some Management Consultancy companies as they may do installations in house as well.

[elsiegee40]

Thank you all for your opinions and advice, I really do appreciate it!

 

I feel that from what everyone had told me including family and friends is that I should become a fully qualified electrician and then once I have a few years under my belt, integrate that with IT.

 

I think I was answering my own questions as I'm not the kind of kid that wants to be sat in doors all day... I'd much rather be on the move and doing something physical. But I also still have a passion for IT and I will definitely carry on teaching myself new technologies etc..

 

What could I do that integrates both an Electrician and IT?

 

Who knows? The field is changing so fast that anything we tell you now will have changed in a couple of years.

 

Good luck

[psheil99]

Yeah I was thinking that maybe something like data centre cabling and network cabling.

 

But as everyone has said, who knows what will be available in the future.

 

And thanks again guys, appreciate it [emoji106]

[ellsandell]

Yeah I was thinking that maybe something like data centre cabling and network cabling.

 

But as everyone has said, who knows what will be available in the future.

 

And thanks again guys, appreciate it [emoji106]

Network cabling is certainly something a lot of electricians bridge into. (Fibre/copper etc)

 

Good luck!

[elsiegee40]

If I had one piece of advice for you it would be to take pride in your work.

 

Work tidy and work clean. Take pride in the appearance of your completed cabling even if it will be shut away out of sight. If you can be bothered to do something that's good to look at and not leave chaos or a mess behind you then your clients will recommend you and have you back.

[psheil99]

If I had one piece of advice for you it would be to take pride in your work.

 

Work tidy and work clean. Take pride in the appearance of your completed cabling even if it will be shut away out of sight. If you can be bothered to do something that's good to look at and not leave chaos or a mess behind you then your clients will recommend you and have you back.

 

This is what I have always thought to my self, and I am one of those people that cannot leave anything messy.

 

It's the same with any job, our friend who is a plumber we use always does a neat and tidy job and because of this we always use him.

[psheil99]

I have decided to go down the electrician route. I have spoken to my uncle and have got an apprenticeship sorted out all I need to do now is contact the college and go in for a seminar

 

Thanks for all of the advice and feedback, it's greatly appreciated!

[DJ-1701]

All the best @psheil99.

[elsiegee40]

And all the best from me too!

[psheil99]

Thanks @DJ-1701 and @elsiegee40 [emoji4]

[crc-ict]

I would definitely say go for the electrical apprenticeship. It's a much safer bet. With the pace of change in IT, migration into the cloud, accessing with almost disposable consumer devices, it's hard to say what the long-term future of the 'IT guy' as we know it will be.

 

I'm in the position now where I'm an IT Manager, mid 30s, have a good degree, coming up to 10 years service in edu IT and I'm getting tired of it. I'd love to make the jump to being an electrician, but at my age and with my life as it is, it's all but impossible.

 

Go for it, get yourself the trade and you can always move on to IT later, but will always have your electrical quals to go back to.

 

Good luck!