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Just a little about me ..I have done the domestic appliance course (dixon training) ( Paid by myself may i add) got my meggar, loop testers ,dvm and various tools .
Never done domestic appliance repairs apart from fixing my own stuff in the past (that actually led me on to this path to learn to do it right and to be safe) .
Now when looking around for work in this field most want a cv for this kind of work .. Now technically the only thing i have to show is my certificate that i received on the training course . Do employers like to take newbies like me ? or is this a chicken and egg thing ? meaning you need to have worked out in the field for a better chance that they will take you on.Or my other option would be to go self employed but that is a lot harder path to go .
Any advice appreciated as this is a field i do want and enjoy .
Thanks
shaun
Re: Do company’s really take on newbies
Hi Shaun,
‘Personally’, I would prefer to train someone, as each company works slightly differently, so although you can get experience with trained engineers, you can also inherit some bad habits!
If I were in your position, I’d keep knocking doors, don’t undersell yourself, but at the same time, be honest about what experience you have and I’m sure someone will be happy to employ you!
As for going Self Employed, I’d definately recommend you have some experience in the trade first… Lots of hidden suprises awaits for new self employed engineers 😉
Let us know how you get on…
Adrian 🙂
Re: Do company’s really take on newbies
why not pop a post in HERE Can’t do any harm. 8)
Re: Do company’s really take on newbies
Thanks washdoctor for the kind words and info..
@iadom That was my next move 🙂 just seeing what others thought.Thanks
Shaun
Re: Do company’s really take on newbies
raw wrote:currys in newark are looking for engineers
Cheers for that but i live in Lancashire so a bit for for me.
Re: Do company’s really take on newbies
It depends also on whether you must have a good wage coming in on a regular basis or don’t mind the ups and lots of downs in income which self-employment guarantees. You can get top ups to your low income via working tax credits if you do choose self employment. I used a site called entitledto.com about 5 years ago when I found out about this. It was dead easy to use an online form to check what I’d be entitled to without revealing my ID etc. So I was able to then put in a claim with much more confidence of it being worthwhile. The entitledto site seems now to have transmuted to http://www.turn2us.org.uk//about_us.aspx which seems to be a charity. Should still be worth a look if you’ve got income under £66,000 per year.
😆
Mike.Re: Do company’s really take on newbies
Hey Mike,
Thanks for that as i need to view all my options and all the info at the mo will help me choose which way to go.
Shaun
Re: Do company’s really take on newbies
Hi Shaun,
about 12 years ago when first starting out i had same problem as yourself went to college doing city and guilds but provided little practical experience so was left completely stuck, firstly i started to strip down old appliances and put them back together(still cant!) and luck had it found a charity called create in Liverpool that was taking on long term unemployed people and training them in refurbishing domestic appliances! i was working at the time for myself in a completely different field so saved money up to have about 2months out of work and went to create every day for few months from Manchester, they were good enough to let me come down on voluntary bases
after that next point of call were merloni i think i oversold myself at the interview with telling them i could fix their products but they quickly discovered i couldent but they dident care anyway and sent me out with 10jobs a day
also seems like your financially investing in your future with paying for Dixon’s training and everything why not try local appliance shops see if you can hang out with an engineer unpaid for a while to be honest myself id be glad of the company as it can sometimes be a lonely road 8hours or so aday.
good luck
Simonb
Hi simonb,
Thanks for the kind words….I guess it is hard when first setting out but i am determined to see this through as i love faultfinding and having the challenge ..Mechanical stuff i can do pretty good as i have had loads of practice when fixing cars ,i know before anyone says it’s not the same but the principal is very similar ,you still have to remove and replace stuff and there’s a hell of a lot more to remove/replace on a car lol.
It’s finding the faults on domestic appliances that is a challenge just on it’s self but this is the best site for advice that i have come across.I do have a couple of washers that i am working on at the mo but the only way to move forward is to get more hands on.
A big thanks to all who contribute on here as this is is what it should be about ,helping others.
shaun67 wrote:I guess it is hard when first setting out but i am determined to see this through as i love faultfinding and having the challenge ..Mechanical stuff i can do pretty good as i have had loads of practice when fixing cars ,i know before anyone says it’s not the same but the principal is very similar
Hi Shaun,
Loving your enthusiasm! Just wish you were in Cardiff and not Lancashire!
My appliance life started after I left the Army. I had one week in a local appliance repair center workshop, then was sent on the road replacing ‘Easy bits’! The money was poor, but I was getting experience so it didn’t matter! I soon found that, the best way to learn was by making mistakes, so don’t get put off when you do make them! The biggest thing I captured whilst training, and believe it or not, some time served engineers don’t get to this day is… A washer is a washer, regardless of badge, it does a few simple things, fills with water, tumbles, heats, tumbles, drains, then spins! Although many machines have fancy programmes etc, the basics are always the same, water, drum turn, heat, drain & spin! Simples! Same with dishwashers etc… Get to know the ‘Basics’ of what an appliance HAS to do within a cycle, happy days! The rest will come easily in time!
We have a meeting in September Shaun, you’re more than welcome to come along… You’ll pick up quite a bit and get a really good insight into the trade you want to be a part of 🙂 Link is below, PM me if you want to come along, will reserve you a room!
Adrian 🙂
Re: Do company’s really take on newbies
I got an email yesterday from a local chap who is looking to start a career in this game. He’s got HNC’s and ONC’s in Electronic engineering. Worked as an in-flight radar systems engineer on Nimrods at RAF Kinloss. Electronics ‘countermeasurers’ engineer with BAe systems on Tornado aircraft. Also servicing oscilloscopes, generators & spectrum analysers. Worked on Airbuses, 777’s and currently working as a contractor on both civilian & military aircraft.
I’m certain he will quickly suss out a flight control systems failure on a Hotpoint Aqualtis but I’m not able to offer him a leg up into this business personally. If anyone is interested in giving this young man a job (he’s willing to travel by the way) then I can forward on his CV and contact details. 😀
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