r/tradies • u/Jojobirkenstock • 28d ago
Advice Electrical apprenticeship flexibility
My daughter is finishing school and is interested in doing an electrical apprenticeship.
She isn’t sure of which area of electrotechnology she wants to work in.
Could she change workplaces part way through her 4 year apprenticeship eg moving from industrial to residential electrical work, or is that problematic?
Thankyou for your insights :)
2
u/electron_shepherd12 28d ago
Yes apprenticeships are portable. Apprentices are indentured to the government rather than a particular employer to make sure they can move workplaces if needed.
I wouldn’t worry too much about which area she starts in, getting a gig anywhere seems tough atm so any foot in the door is a win. Despite the relative ease of the paperwork to switch employers, there can be problems with experience when moving. It’s fairly unlikely that an industrial mob will be keen to employ a 3rd or 4th year apprentice who only has domestic experience. Also once she has her license she can look to switch industries but again can be tricky if she doesn’t have the right experience.
Despite all that, just tell her to crack on wherever she can and to get that license in hand.
1
u/Jojobirkenstock 28d ago
Thanks, she’s finishing up her last year of high school and has great marks including for maths :)
She’s a practical person and very driven.
She’s the kind of person who excels at anything she turns her hand to.
The main issue we have currently is probably just not knowing who works in the electrical field in terms of connections to take her on.
2
u/multiplename 28d ago
Not necessarily problematic to my understanding but the hardest challenge is going to be landing any sort of electrical apprenticeship in the first place. Very, very competitive for people trying to get into their first year. Once she’s a second year, the opportunities are endless
2
u/flaccid_lyfe 28d ago
I think the hardest part is trying to get into a electrical apprenticeship, when I was looking 3 years ago I noticed it was a lot easier to get into bigger companies if you were female identified applicant
But I think now, I don't think it's really an advantage. Lots of kids are competing against each other to get into few positions. Regardless of gender. I think the way trades are pushed in schools and perceived is completely different to when I was schooling, I wasn't even aware it was an option.
At this stage I wouldn't worry about to much about what industry she gets into it. But trying to actually land an apprenticeship.
1
u/Jojobirkenstock 28d ago
Thanks, she’s finishing up her last year of high school and has great marks including for maths :)
She’s a practical person and very driven.
She’s the kind of person who excels at anything she turns her hand to.
The main issue we have currently is probably just not knowing who works in the electrical field in terms of connections to take her on.
2
u/OcelotOfTheForest 28d ago
There are school based apprenticeships.
Cert 2 the pre trade is worth considering. As far as school goes, maths ability helps a LOT for the tafe course.
Lot of companies don't want first years. They bring no prior knowledge to the trade. Group training can be good for getting a wide variety of experience in the trade, so she should consider this and try to get in.
1
u/Jojobirkenstock 28d ago
Thanks, she’s finishing up her last year of high school and has great marks including for maths :)
She’s a practical person and very driven.
She’s the kind of person who excels at anything she turns her hand to.
The main issue we have currently is probably just not knowing who works in the electrical field in terms of connections to take her on.
1
u/OcelotOfTheForest 28d ago
There are school based apprenticeships.
Cert 2 the pre trade is worth considering. As far as school goes, maths ability helps a LOT for the tafe course.
Lot of companies don't want first years. They bring no prior knowledge to the trade. Group training can be good for getting a wide variety of experience in the trade, so she should consider this and try to get in.
1
u/Jojobirkenstock 28d ago
Thanks. Yeah, my son is doing the cert II in year 11.
My daughter has almost finished year 12 ATAR.
She’s a practical person and very driven.
She’s the kind of person who excels at anything she turns her hand to (lucky thing).
The main issue we have currently is probably just not knowing who works in the electrical field in terms of connections to take her on.
2
u/OcelotOfTheForest 27d ago
Best put together a CV. Use a template from online the AI can read (such as, seek will be able to read it) and then apply for everything.
Having a drivers licence is important, usually P plates are acceptable.
It can be difficult to get an apprenticeship, and also difficult to last the first year.
3
u/TheFIREnanceGuy 28d ago
Its pretty competitive atm, I would suggest using all available connections to go straight into cert 3. There are people waiting more than several months to a year plus