Advice, career change dont no what to do

[leeh1982]

Hi all I’ve only just joined today thank you in advance for any of your comments.

Im 27 currently a HVAC design engineer in building services on 35K a year 26K after tax with 10 years experience.

Now for the down side stuck in a office, working for a boss who's got no time for you or anyone else struggling your way through your career with no help learning to do things the hard and long way by having a go scratching your head and making mistakes then getting b......ed and spoken to like your thick for them, so as you'd expect im not confident in my job, okay at it but could be better and my heart isnt in it anymore.

The out come of the above is im really interested in doing a course as a gas engineer/ plumber.

Anyone heard of hybrid gas training course:
4wks training followed by 200 hours on site experience if you pass this you become a fully qualified gas engineer.

I no its impossible to learn a trade in 5wks but time is money and 2 years in college when you got a mortgage and bills to pay is madness.

My mates got his own business and is telling me come with him cause he's earning a fortune doing 12 hour days on his own phone never stops as he's got loads of land lords on his books with boiler repairs leaks etc.

Am i being sucked in by the old saying the grass isn’t always greener. I just don’t want to leave my job start a new career and hear them words i told ya so.

Any comment please cheers.

 

[Mbear]

I repair boilers and heating systems, I don't do plumbing.

They courses are a scam IMO, I'm not saying they don't exist but in this Game on the job experience wins every time, go out with ur mate, work toward ur acs and see how things go(maybe go out on ur own or sub for firms)

To work on gas boilers/fires etc u only need ur acs (gas safety) the nvq stuff helps with fault finding etc but is not essential to work on gas.

U learn far more from a good tradesman who's taken u under his wing than u ever will in the classroom when it comes to fixing heating

 

[Guy]

Hi all I’ve only just joined today thank you in advance for any of your comments.

Im 27 currently a HVAC design engineer in building services on 35K a year 26K after tax with 10 years experience.

Now for the down side stuck in a office, working for a boss who's got no time for you or anyone else struggling your way through your career wit*************
h no help learning to do things the hard and long way by having a go scratching your head and making mistakes then getting bollocked and spoken to like your thick for them, so as you'd expect im not confident in my job, okay at it but could be better and my heart isnt in it anymore.

The out come of the above is im really interested in doing a course as a gas engineer/ plumber.

Anyone heard of hybrid gas training course:
4wks training followed by 200 hours on site experience if you pass this you become a fully qualified gas engineer.

I no its impossible to learn a trade in 5wks but time is money and 2 years in college when you got a mortgage and bills to pay is madness. +++++++

My mates got his own business and is telling me come with him cause he's earning a fortune doing 12 hour days on his own phone never stops as he's got loads of land lords on his books with boiler repairs leaks etc.

Am i being sucked in by the old saying the grass isn’t always greener. I just don’t want to leave my job start a new career and hear them words i told ya so.

Any comment please cheers.

It really is risky especially in this climate but if it's something you really want to do, i would suggest save a little bit of money so you can continue paying your mortgage and bills etc.

Those four week intensive courses are terrible, you would not learn enough in such a short space of time, i wouldn't touch them. Ask your friend if he could possibly put you through an apprenticeship?

There can be a lot of money to be made in being a gas engineer but not much more than what you're earning now.

 

[johnmcginty]

If you are not happy at the moment then do something else . If you think you would like to work with your hands plumbing then that is ok , do this because you want a change and you would enjoy the work not because you want to earn £30,000 because you will be lucky to make 10k - 12k in the firs few years as your phone is very much likely to stop ringing. Also if you have a mate then do a short course not one for ten weeks mind maybe a diy 2 weeker for around 1k just to get some basics then go with your mate as experience is the only thing worth its weight in this game. Not many people have a mate that is willing to take them on with zero experience , there are lads on here that would kill for that opportunity.

Where is this 4wk gas course? what are they called?

 

[justlead1]

Hi, Words are cheap over a pint of beer. If your pal means what he says, call his bluff if there is one? Say you will start at no cost to him, by shadowing him providing he answers the questions that arise and points you in the right direction for training material/books on the subject. If he's doing 12 hour days, say you will tag on to him say three evenings and a Saturday every week for say 5 weeks. This will test you both, and give you the opportunity to make decisions on your future without getting burnt. May i add. I has known a lot of plumber/gas and heating people over the years, and those who have achieved financial success and stability have all worked exceptionally long uncontrollable hours for the first 10 years Good Luck

 

[Blackcatgas]

Your crackers. Il swap with you any day.

 

[tamz]

Justlead has given good advice. Financial security is a big thing to give up so you should try before you buy if you can. You may take to it or you may not.
Although your mate may be busy enough with what he has now remember if you get good at it, his 12hr days will turn into 6hr and he will need more work. Have you discussed money? He may be making 60k or whatever but how much would he be willing to give you? Remember for the first while, even if you pick things up quickly, he will be carrying you and effectively paying you to learn. How much is that worth compared to what you are now on? I think you should have a serious talk first.

Btw Just a thought. Have you thought about applying for an HVAC job elsewhere? You may just need a change of scenery.

 

[justlead1]

Hi, That which has been suggested makes good sense. Changes in out industry will be massively, when the green type systems kick in with a bit of funding and we are short of qualified people in this area in my opinion. The benefit of being a consultant / designer working from office at home, Allows a far better life style. As the times you work can be any time within the 24 hour cycle, it not tied to the 9 to 5 existence. Unlike gas fitting, where you will be running about like a blue arsed fly and face confrontation on a daily basis.

 

[leeh1982]

Thanks everyone for you advice some wise words.

Your right words are most definitely cheap over a pint, I’m gunna follow him around after work and at the weekends at no cost to him.

I wont be jumping straight from the frying pan and into the fire its a great opportunity to learn something new and your right experience and knowledge is key and the qualifications are just a bonus cause by what I’ve heard and seen on site its amazing how many qualified plumbers there are out there who don’t understand there systems and basic engineering principles.

I’m in the same boat as all you plumbs out there the building game is on it knees very quiet at the moment so wont be finding many job vacancies in this climate.

Some one asked about the course its called hybrid gas engineering fast track training but won’t be rushing to join until I’ve have all the experience and confidence to do the job in hand.

Thanks a million everyone for you replies, this site is a true credit.