Seeking employment help.

[wiltsplumb]

i understand your position completely but there is so much that cant be taught in the classroom there is a lot to be said for having the saftey net of and experienced plumber watching over your shoulder when you are first starting out dont want to be dramatic but it only takes that one mistake due to inexperience and someone could end up getting hurt remember the little girl in somerset who was scalded by water comming from and un supported cold water cistern??!!

 

[Dava811]

Yes wiltsplumb i heard about it, and it should and could of been avoided. What would you suggest tho come the end of my 2 years and i need on site experience if i have no employer?

 

[andyg0507]

yes i toatlly understand where your coming from the point im trying to make is, theres nothing more i want than to get employment with a qualified expereinced plumber, but if its the only way forward its something that has to be done, and even by doing that i wouldnt feel like i know the lot, everyday will be a learning day as im sure your aware yourself.

 

[wiltsplumb]

if you are persistant then i hope someone will see how committed you are and give you the oppertunity and your right every day is a learning day even after 11 years for me! its just good to have that back up and please believe me when i say this doesnt apply to everyone but the thought that some of the numpties ive had from the local college on work experience could end up being let loose on the public without getting further experience scares me!! but on the reverse side you will probobly be better prepared for doing the work than some of the builders that do a lot of plumbing work!!!

 

[andyg0507]

i know what you mean wilts, im 28 and theres a few people on my course that scare the living daylights out of me when doing things. and yes hopefully my persistance will pay off, either that or theyll just get fed up of me badgering and feel sorry for me and take me on out of pitty

 

[wiltsplumb]

exactly andyg !! good luck with it!

 

[Dava811]

I think the biggest problem i am going to face is trying to find a plumber that can afford to take me on, even at minimum wage.

 

[wiltsplumb]

yeh dava it is an issue but i had a lad with me a couple of years ago who worked in argos most of the week and worked for me one day in the week and on a saturday he is now qualified and working for the bg bandits (oopps sorry im mean the well respected british gas!!)

 

[Dava811]

Well i'l just be persistent and see how i get on, thanks for the tips wiltsplumb and good luck andy g!

 

[oldplumber]

I did one day a week at college and worked self employed the rest of the time, took a year out after 2 years to develop some flats in an old hotel, then went back to college for 2 more years to get the nvq 2 & 3 and 6129 level 3. As a self employed perso it was hard work, nerve wracking and difficult to always get nvqs sorted. However I got my nvq 2 done in 8 -10 weeks and then did the nvq 3 in 3 weeks based on my own jobs, better than most of the apprentices working at college with me. The hardest part is getting evidence for the gas acs ccn1 part that the apprentices did more easily working for heating firms. I had to fely on a friendly plumber who I worked with very cheaply! to get the experience, evidence and confidence.

Be sure that you do not earn enough when your doing this, you only get the rewards having worked a few years and relied on friends to give you work and reccomendations and built a customer base.

You cant afford to cock up early on, it will stay with you a long time, so dont take on anything you cant be sure you will finish successfully. One bad job will nullify all the good ones overnight, and all the local trades will remind you of youre leaks etc. Get a thick skin for this trade, it can help, but after a few years youre mentors start asking your advice, which is rather nice for the confidence.

 

[Dava811]

Thank-you old plumber for the advice, each post from you guys just encourages me even more.

 

[azza]

Very interesting thread guys.

Just wondered OP, how you got a tutor to sign off your work for your NVQ? The tutor at my local college told me that wouldn't be permissable to use your own self-employed jobs. I was told I'd need to get a job with a VAT registered and public liability insured firm or sole-trader. The college also need evidence of my employment for 3 months prior to my starting the NVQ section. Do you have any tips on how a tutor might be persuaded that this isn't neccesary?

I've also tried to convince them that my brother's firm(traded for 6 years) might do for NVQ but that he didn't meet criteria cos he has no NVQ or equivilent.

ta

azza

 

[moony]

3 weeks to do level 3 ? and then you didnt have evidence for your acs ?

i dont understand this mate, your level 3 is basically your evidence for your acs....

are you sure you dont mean 6129 level 3 tech cert took you 3 weeks ?
my level 3 took me 8 months and i was quickest in my class at completing it bear in mind im a lot older than the others were, but i still had to complete 20 jobs covering a hell of a lot, maintenance, installs, gas fires, unvented systems. I find it hard to belive you completed in 3 weeks, the tech cert perhaps, no chance on the level 3, and then struggle to find evidence for your acs which suggests you dint have the right evidence for the nvq portfolio.

 

[fuzzy]

3 weeks to do level 3 ? and then you didnt have evidence for your acs ?

i dont understand this mate, your level 3 is basically your evidence for your acs....

are you sure you dont mean 6129 level 3 tech cert took you 3 weeks ?
my level 3 took me 8 months and i was quickest in my class at completing it bear in mind im a lot older than the others were, but i still had to complete 20 jobs covering a hell of a lot, maintenance, installs, gas fires, unvented systems. I find it hard to belive you completed in 3 weeks, the tech cert perhaps, no chance on the level 3, and then struggle to find evidence for your acs which suggests you dint have the right evidence for the nvq portfolio.

your level 3 isnt your evidence for acs mate, there is no gas at all in an NVQ3 i can assure you of that. the 6129 has gas, and you need eveidence of doing gas to do your acs but the nvq has no gas at all

 

[moony]

fuzzy - my level 3 portfolio covered landlord certs, gas work, gas leak, boiler instals, both positive and negative pressure, gas fires and servicing...

this passed my level 3 and it also counted as evidence for my acs. this has all been done this past year.

my course was 6088 heating and vent.