When my father was young , getting an apprenticeship was very easy . The day you left school you could simply walk down the street , go into any tradesmen’s shop and get a job . Nowadays things are very different , competition is fierce and positions are scarce . As electricians , our company gets many applications from hopeful candidates , but some don’t give themselves the best chance of succeeding . I’m always happy to guide people in the right direction , but we can only take on a limited number of apprentices every year . Here are a few tips for anyone who’s serious about getting a 3 year apprenticeship as an electrician in Scotland .
Contact SECTT :
the Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust are responsible for the training of apprentices within the SJIB training scheme . They also offer helpful advice and information on the best way to get an electrical apprenticeship .
Sit the SECTT test :
You will need to prepare for the test , especially when you are not allowed a calculator , see the link for example . Practice long division and multiplication , I love the Nintendo DS Brain Training as a fun way to do this . You have limited time for the number of questions , the faster your times table , the quicker you will the answer the questions .
Get a CV together :
You will need to write a CV to provide to your potential employer . There are many online help guides which give helpful information on content and structure . It should contain your basic information , qualifications , experience , achievements and references .
Get some experience:
Try and find an employer who will give you work experience . If you are unemployed then the local job centre and various charities can offer help with this , If you have not left yet you can contact an electrician directly and seek permission from the school .
Find an employer:
You will need to find electrical contractors in your area . You can find contact details using a directory like Yell , I would also advise finding a company who are regulated with the NICEIC or SELECT . You will need to phone companies and ask if they will be considering taking on apprentices and send a CV to every one that is . It’s always a good idea to phone after a few weeks to see if they have received and try and get some feedback .
Get further education
If you think you may struggle to get an apprenticeship this year then contact your local college for available courses . Due to the reduction in apprenticeship opportunities many structured courses will provide an excellent starting point for a career as an electrician .