Dual Trade?

[cross]

Hey everyone,

Just after some advice. Im currently in the 3rd year of my electrical apprenticeship, and am considering doing the refrigeration and air conditioning course once i complete the electrical. My boss has the dual trade and we do both kinds of work. However doing the course would mean i would have to sacrifice holidays, money, or work weekends to make up the time i spend at tafe.

Anyone been in a similar situation or have some thoughts/advice?

Thanks,

Cross.

[johnc]

Tough, if you want to get anywhere in life it involves some sacrifice in the short term to gain long term. If you've got to think about it perhaps your not cut out to make an effort and improve your opportunities. Think about it, life is not going to be handed to you on a plate make the most of what's available to you when the chance comes along.

[Groggy]

I agree with JohnC, life rarely gives you something for nothing. Those that go and get what they want usually do very well. Go get it!

[cross]

Thanks for the replies,

I understand what your saying, and im still thinking about the pros and cons. Mostly, how much i will actually benifit from doing the course. The only time it would be of use is in future employment if i wanted to work has a refrigeration mechanic, or if i started my own business so i could offer both services. It wouldnt provide an increase in pay or better career path, that i can see so far anyhow.

[China]

Now is the the time to do it, in five years when you decide "i should have done that course" you'll have so many moe commitments and it will be so much more difficult, I am a cabinet maker by trade I went on and completed a furnishing trade certificte i.e. woodturning, chairmaking, polishing etc. This did not give any increse in pay and it took three nights a week for two years, when I bit the bullet and went out on my own, the knowleged it gave me was invaluable

[ozwinner]

What they all said.

I left school and did a bricklaying apprenticeship.
20 years later I found myself working in an engineering plant, I did a 2 nights a week 3 year welding course and got my welding ticket.

2 totally different trades.

Now Im back bricklaying again but have the welding to fall back on if the building trade ever gets too tough.

You can never ever learn enough, when you think you have learnt all you can ever learn go and find a rock to hide under.

Al

[Barry_White]

Thanks for the replies,

I understand what your saying, and im still thinking about the pros and cons. Mostly, how much i will actually benifit from doing the course. The only time it would be of use is in future employment if i wanted to work has a refrigeration mechanic, or if i started my own business so i could offer both services. It wouldnt provide an increase in pay or better career path, that i can see so far anyhow.

If you ever want to go into airconditioning contracting working for your self having both trades will be a big advantage. My son-in-law is a self employed as a fridgie and curses every time he puts a airconditioner in and has to employ a lecky to put the circuit or GPO in as it costs him money and he has to wait for the lecky to come to finish of his install.

I also have a friend who has the dual trade and makes the money on both the air install as well as the electrical installation and he doesn't have to wait for the lecky.

If you are content to just work on wages don't worry about it. You will have a JOB and that stands for "Just Over Broke". To get any where in life you need to work for yourself.

Like Groggy and JohnC says nobody is going to hand it to you on a plate and if you want to get anywhere you have to make sacrifices somwhere

[sleeping-wood]

Just do it......I wish I had done a frigies certificate years ago. I did electronics and it has served me well, but I wish I had completed refrigeration along the way.
You will be giving yourself an employable advantage over most.

[cross]

Thanks for the replies, it gives me alot to think about.

[BryanMc]

Cross

Presumably tou are a young whipper snapper still, but either way the extra trade will meen more flexability and you instantly become twice as employable. Your boss will most likely also respect you more in the short term and therefore charge you with more responsibility = more money .

Short term holidays will seem insignificant when in 5 or 10 years you could be commisioning a million dollars worth of refridge equipment in a supermarket or similar and charging as such.

From there sky is the limit (managment, design, consulting).

As management of a large electrical contracting company these are the things we notice.

Cheers

Bryan