I have a question for an electrician, I've rang a few companies to no avail and today I've tried asking on forums. I registered on a couple forums and asked the question, one isn't getting replies and the other requires an admin to approve your registration which hasn't happened yet.

 

 

 

I thought I would post here on the off chance it will be answered. So here is my question:

 

 

 

I am turning 18 soon, and looking to be an electrician in Australia, as my means of falling back in case my pilot career doesn't take off. (geddit?)

 

 

 

Learning the trade through the army or air force looks promising, it doesn't take as long and the pay is better than if I were to do a civilian apprenticeship. I also love the idea of the military because of all the other benefits like tax free pay, traveling, food and accommodation paid for, free medical treatment etc.

 

 

 

The one thing I am concerned about is how employers see this in the civilian world, I'm curious about whether employers will be less likely to employ me because I was trained in the military rather than the regular way. I know that in the military my training will be focused on the military, and not on the types of things a regular electrician would be doing.

 

 

 

So my question is will this hurt me, and what will my chances for a job be, if I was just out of the forces with 2 years training and another 4 years working as an electrician, compared to somebody just out of a 4 year apprenticeship or perhaps working 1 or 2 years after?

 

 

 

It probably won't get answered, but I though I would post just in case. If anybody can get an answer I would really appreciate it. The more professional opinions on this the better.

Well, I coud have an approximate answer, but I live in Canada and would be saying things about Canada's army and employers.

 

 

 

Still want to see my answer?

Strangely enough, I've considered the military as a path to my pilot career. Now I know you're looking at an electrician, but from what I've heard about past military pilots and civilian pilots positions, companies hold a former military pilot very highly. So I can't speak for what the electricians say, nor what they do over in Australia, but the military would seem like a good move to me.

 

 

 

Sorry I couldn't be of more assistance, I just thought I'd try to give you one bit of advice as to not make the day a waste. :P

Arrange an interview with someone from a job centre, there you can ask them all about it, they should know the best course of action and will be able to help you.

 

 

 

Otherwise, aren't there military recruitment bases anywhere near you? If not near you, you can always phone them up and ask if military training will help you in the civil world.

Still want to see my answer?

 

 

 

Sure, I'd love as many opinions as possible since this will be a life changing decision for me.

 

 

 

Strangely enough, I've considered the military as a path to my pilot career. Now I know you're looking at an electrician, but from what I've heard about past military pilots and civilian pilots positions, companies hold a former military pilot very highly. So I can't speak for what the electricians say, nor what they do over in Australia, but the military would seem like a good move to me.

 

 

 

Yeah I know ex military pilots are quickly snapped up, but I got told from my uncle who is a supervisor in the mining industry that they tend not to hire tradesmen trained in the military. I guess the worst case scenario is that after 6 years I have 200k cash + interest earned to use for flying school, and I try my luck earning enough hours for a commercial airline..

 

 

 

Arrange an interview with someone from a job centre, there you can ask them all about it, they should know the best course of action and will be able to help you.

 

 

 

Otherwise, aren't there military recruitment bases anywhere near you? If not near you, you can always phone them up and ask if military training will help you in the civil world.

 

 

 

Yeah I'm going to try another few places, and to ask the career adviser at my school.

 

 

 

As for talking to a recruiter, all they will say is that my electricians license is recognized in the civilian world. They always dance around questions like that.

 

 

 

*edit: Why were the posts below this about rainy day deleted?

While I can't speak to the situation in Australia, I can say that in the US military experience is one of the biggest pluses someone in a trade can have when applying for a job. My parents own a business that employs a fair number of electricians, computer technicians and other related jobs and when they look to hire people, the only single thing better then military experience is having a collage degree in something like electrical or computer engineering. In our experience ex military people tend to work harder, listen better and are much more productive then guys out of a regular trade school. Again, it may be different in Australia, but I know we give great preference to military people.

 

 

 

 

 

And Kaphias, yes, being a military pilot virtually guarantees you a good civilian job as an airline pilot. Besides getting a lot of hours fairly quickly, the pay is better then working at a small regional airline or teaching at a flight school and flying an F-22 is MUCH more fun then doing either.

Think of it this way: Would you rather hire someone who has military service doing what it is you need him to do, and has experience, or a guy who just has the training? Unless I just missed the mark.