By reading this you are indicating an interest in either being an electrical apprentice or are already an apprentice and wish to know more of what is ahead or what should be ahead.
The only way to learn the trade of electrician is to be taught by experienced electricians on site or other work place, learning the practical aspects at a college is not the same, college should be complimentary to the site work and by tradition apprentices had day release to go to college where they are taught the calculations relevant to electrical engineering. That tradition of training was known as an articled or indentured apprenticeship, it was formally recognised by a contract between the employer and apprentice regarding the level of training. On completion of the apprenticeship the apprentice received his recognition as a tradesman and his articled or indenture documents which proved his right to be called a tradesman. In England this traditional method of training was destroyed in the 1970s by the Labour government of the day, and as the traditional training methods were not re-instated by the Conservatives when they regained power they too must stand condemned for the total failure of the apprenticeship system. The so called modern apprenticeship, where paper qualifications take absolute precedence over practical ability, is no substitute for the real thing.
The politicians of the UK have between them wrecked the traditional apprenticeship system that had worked for hundreds of years. In England there are three major political parties, the scum class benefit party (Labour Party), the mathematically challenged party that lies (Conservative Party) and the party without honour or integrity (Liberal & Social Democrat Party). Then there are the smaller parties, the party of slime which wants to prevent anyone having a life and wishes to drive the country back to the dark ages (Green Party), the looney left, fascist right and overtly racist parties which do not deserve recognition by being named, and finally there is the party growing in stature that may just be the country's salvation UKIP. No real choices for us poor voters, just desperation!!!
Companies from the biggest to the smallest should receive tax breaks and possibly subsidies for employing persons engaged on indentured apprenticeships following defined modular courses and attending day release colleges. There should also be a clear pathway so that a person starting an apprenticeship at sixteen can if they have the necessary abilities progress from apprentice to chartered engineer. In other words it should not only be ‘A’ levels that get you to university. Conversly it should also be a requirement that to become a chartered engineer a person must have a number of years practical experience and a number of years design experience.
Since the purpose of the apprenticeship is to learn a trade it is sad that the relevant trade unions do not take a much more active role in the promotion of the trade. A trade union is by definition a union of tradesmen, that union should be setting out the training required and level of qualifications to be obtained before someone may be called a tradesman. At present the government and various employers' bodies have taken on that role, and let’s be honest as with anything else that has been touched by politicians, they have screwed it up completely. The Labour government introduced the modern apprenticeship with all those daft NVQs and the employers have set up bodies to register the tradesmen and charge them annually for the privilege of being registered (one of the great British rip-offs). Why should a tradesman pay a pen pusher to give him a card saying he is a tradesman, the electrical section of AMICUS should stand up for the electrician tell the employers where to stick their cards. And since the government and employers have completely screwed up the training of tradesmen take on that role, they will almost certainly relinquish it without a fight.
Although in this article the traditional apprenticeship is promoted that does mean that there should be no changes. Apprenticeships should not only include the practical and theoretical aspects of electrical engineering; they should also include training in running a business. A significant number of apprentices will when they become electricians become either self employed or start companies.
Obtaining an Electrical Apprenticeship
To become an apprentice it is essential to have GCSEs in maths and English, this is necessary as much of the theoretical work involves maths, and English is necessary as it shows competence in the use of language, it also proves that you are able to read and write; it is also an advantage to have a GCSE in Physics.
Due to the absolute dumbing down of the exams over the last fifty years the pass grades of those GCSEs must be A*, A or B the lower pass grades of C to G are not high enough to warrant an apprenticeship placement.
Here is the proof of the lowering of standards in the English education system, in 1956 you learnt the times tables up to the twelve times table at the age of 9, an announcement by the education ministry on 8th July 2013 stated that in 2014 you will be expected to learn that table at the age of 10, in 2013 that age was 11.
You must have normal colour vision, be physically fit and strong and be comfortable in confined spaces and at height. Normal colour vision is essential to enable the identification of wires, physical fitness is required as many tasks that are undertaken by electricians require a high degree of manual dexterity other tasks such as busbar trunking and cable racking installations take strength. Many tasks that an electrician performs will be in small spaces perhaps underground other tasks will require a head for heights, tall buildings have aviation obstruction lights, guess who installs and maintains them.
You should also be able to do paper folding and gear train exercises as these are often used as aptitude tests during the interview.
When you attend interviews for the position of electrical apprentice you will have had little or no practical experience and that makes interviewing difficult for the interviewer. What questions can he/she ask that are relevant to an electrical apprenticeship that you can answer sensibly. So although the questions may be of a technical nature it is how you answer rather than the answer itself that will be important.
The interview is not only difficult for you.
How you walk into the interview room and sit down has a great effect on the interviewer, by that act alone you will be either half way to getting the job or halfway to failing to get it. This may be teaching your grandmother to suck eggs but you must be clean, neat and tidy, that is, do have a shave, or if you have a beard it must be trimmed to be neat, and shower or bath on the day of the interview, dress smartly, groom properly and make sure you are early. It is vital that you are comfortable with yourself, that is you are not concerned that you are not looking your best, you have to focus on the interview not whether you have dirt on your face! Always speak to the interviewer with respect, if you do not understand a question say so and if necessary ask for it to be put another way. Always look the interviewer in the eye.
Until you have interviewed other people for jobs you will never know how to act at an interview. In years to come when you do interview others you will realise just how bad you were when you were being interviewed.
A tip, never ever allow yourself to be filmed either interviewing or being interviewed as the playback will be the most humiliating experience of your life.
The interview itself should be a two way experience you should have questions for the interviewer as this demonstrates that you have thought seriously about being an apprentice. Ask your questions at the end of the interview or when you are invited to ask questions.
Here are some questions that may be asked of you, it is for you to consider what responses to make.
Have you ever done any paid work such as a paper round or Saturday job?
Why do you want to become an electrician?
What do you think an electrician does?
Have you considered an apprenticeship in any other trade?
Do you think trade unions have a role in a modern economy?
What is GDP?
What hobbies do you have?
What is the purpose of each of the wires and their colours in a three core flexible cable?
How about a four core armoured cable?
What is the standard UK electrical supply?
Is that supply the same throughout the European Union?
Why is ac used for general distribution in preference to dc?
What is the purpose of a fuse?
Looking at a BS 1363 13A plug which is the live pin?
How does a GLS light bulb work?
Why is it that when light bulbs blow it is usually as they are being switched on?
What does a RCD do?
Can you explain what a transformer does?
Can you explain how a generator works?
Can you explain how a power station works?
What is the voltage of the overhead catenary wires on the railway main lines?
Are those catenary wires ac or dc?
What are the voltages of the national grid and super grid?
What does IEC stand for?
If we offer you an apprenticeship how would you see your career progressing after you become an electrician?
If we offer you an apprenticeship we will be committing ourselves to investing a lot of money in your training what are you going to give to us in return?
Yes, no and don't know are not the correct answers to any of the above questions.
And here are some questions you may wish to ask
Do I get day release during the whole of my apprenticeship?
How many electricians do you employ directly?
How many fatalities and notifiable accidents have there been in this company in the last ten years (this is a mummy question)?
What is the company turn-over and the percentage profit on that turn-over for the last five years?
Will my training cover maintenance, production and installation work?
What different types of installation work are covered by this apprenticeship?
What different types of production work are covered by this apprenticeship?
What different types of maintenance work are covered by this apprenticeship?
Will my training include learning drawing using AutoCad?
Will my training include project estimating and programming?
If your company cannot offer training in a particular aspect do you make placements with other companies to cover those aspects?
If the company should cease trading will you guarantee to transfer my apprenticeship to another company?
Is this apprenticeship articled or indentured?
What are the hours?
What is the wage structure during the apprenticeship?
What is the holiday entitlement per annum?
Is the training program laid out in the contract of employment?
When will I be notified of the result of this interview?
If you are having interviews at a number of companies the above will help sort out which one you wish to work for.