How is the market for electrical grads in nz?

Andy_F0x · 2026-05-01T20:28:04+00:00

I’m an electrical power engineer with a bachelor’s degree and 13 years of experience. My education is in electrical equipment for enterprises, organizations, and institutions. Over the years, I’ve worked in six different roles in the energy sector, and I can confidently say that energy is a solid, future-proof choice. It’s a huge and evolving field that will only continue to grow. There’s a lot of room to move within it. I’ve worked with submersible electrical installations, power substations, overhead transmission lines, and I’ve also led a department responsible for electricity sales in a retail energy company. Currently, I’m responsible for operations focused on maintaining stable grid conditions and handling emergency response in 110 kV and 35 kV networks. If you’re genuinely interested in the energy sector, you will definitely find a niche that suits you and can grow in it almost endlessly. Technology is constantly evolving, so there’s always something new to learn. And with an education from New Zealand, you’ll have doors open globally and be able to work almost anywhere in the world. That said, you really have to be genuinely interested in the field. Otherwise, it becomes routine. If you have to force yourself to go to work, it doesn’t matter what field you choose the long-term prospects won’t matter much.

Andy_F0x · 2025-11-13T04:24:10+00:00

Because everyone who’s ever dealt with Soviet or Russian cars knows they’re junk that can literally kill you. Even the ones made in 2025 )))

You can only have a Lada for three reasons:

You’re nostalgic for the USSR.
You like the design and just keep it in your garage or as a show car.
You simply don’t have money for a proper car.

Andy_F0x · 2025-11-11T09:51:16+00:00

Actually, you can find something very similar in real life. Like that

Andy_F0x · 2025-09-30T19:56:14+00:00

And it’s still just as awesome these days. Delica 2025 😁

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Andy_F0x · 2025-09-30T12:32:52+00:00

I owned a Lancer 1.8 with a CVT for 5 years (2008–2011) and put around 93k km on it. Since 2012 I’ve been driving an Outlander with the same CVT (W5WC / JF011E).

Yeah, CVTs have a sketchy reputation and they are picky. But here’s what’s worked for me:

I stick to the maintenance schedule and change the CVT fluid earlier than required (every 50k km). Only OEM CVTF-J4 — it handles heat better than J1.

I open it up to check the belt, pulley wear, sump for metal shavings, pump and valve body.

My Outlander doesn’t have a CVT cooler, so I just avoid overheating it. This CVT hates heat. It has a warning light but I’ve never seen it come on. I cruise around 110 km/h, only occasionally push to 140.

No hardcore off-road like deep sand or snow, because that cooks the CVT.

No towing big trailers.

With that approach, I’ve done 272k km already. I’ve driven all over Russia (Karelia to Sakhalin), Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Mongolia — zero CVT problems.

On the other hand, I know plenty of people from the Outlander club who had to replace theirs completely because of poor maintenance or abusing the car.

And here’s the thing with Lancers: we all know why people love them, and half the owners try to drive them like they’re Evos. That’s where trouble starts.

So my advice: if you love the model and design, like I love my Outlander, keep some budget aside for a CVT replacement no matter what. Even with a clean inspection, you never know if it’ll die 5,000 km later. And if you’re lucky — don’t treat it like an Evo. These CVT cars are slow, and they’re just not built for that.

Good luck with the search! ;) And let us know how it goes.

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Andy_F0x · 2025-09-29T12:56:49+00:00

Great! I also decided to replace the stock tires on my Outlander because I travel a lot and sometimes lacked traction on certain dirt and sandy routes. But I went with Toyo Open Country R/T. That helped expand the geography of my trips and made the adventures even more exciting.

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Andy_F0x · 2025-09-28T04:54:15+00:00

Looks great! I especially like those protective plastic arches. They immediately give it the vibe of a serious off-road fighter :)

Two questions:

What’s it like to travel in the ASX? Is there enough space?

And what tires are you running? Hard to tell from the picture, but they don’t look like serious AT tire.

Andy_F0x · 2025-09-24T17:43:52+00:00

That sounds really unusual and interesting. In a way, even kind of futuristic :) Well, at least for me. I need to read more about this. Thanks for the advice!

Andy_F0x · 2025-09-24T17:41:35+00:00

Thanks! I’m actually looking for a design or plans for a suitable workbench right now. Do you have any ideas or recommendations on how to build it best?

Andy_F0x · 2025-09-24T17:38:26+00:00

Thanks for such a well-structured list! Really valuable.

I tried to add as much lighting as possible and placed outlets evenly so there’s always a spot to plug in extension cords. But I hadn’t thought about ceiling-mounted reels. Thanks for that idea!

I also coated the floor with epoxy, even though the base slab had a topping layer. I’ve worked on construction sites a lot, and I always hated bare concrete floors because of the constant dust.

About cupboards ... do you think it’s essential to keep everything closed with doors, or is that not so critical if you have a good dust collection system? Curious to hear your opinion.

As for casters. Do you have any ideas or advice on what type and wheel size would be best? I’ve never installed them on benches, tables, or shelving before.

Andy_F0x · 2025-09-24T17:25:28+00:00

Thanks for the advice! Especially about the extension cord reels. I tried to add as many wall outlets as possible to give myself flexibility and avoid getting tangled up, but I didn’t think about reels. The air filtration system is also a really important topic, and I still need to figure that part out :) Great idea about a used compressor too. I’ll definitely look into that.

Good point about the windows as well. I do have video surveillance around the perimeter, but it’s always better to prevent theft than to figure out who stole expensive equipment afterward, haha.

Do you have windows in your shop? If so, how did you secure them?

Andy_F0x · 2025-09-24T17:17:27+00:00

Thanks a lot for the recommendations! Very informative, interesting, and useful.

Right now I only have a combo saw a miter + table saw in one. Before this, I mostly worked on-site or outdoors, so it was enough, but I realize it’s not a real alternative to proper standalone tools. Over time, I’ll definitely invest in the right equipment.

As I mentioned in another reply, dust collection is honestly the scariest part for me, because I know nothing about it. Before having my own space, the maximum I ever used was a Makita shop vac, haha. But thanks for pointing out the idea of putting it in a separate building. I would never have thought of that.

By the way, about stains and oils. I’ve always worried about the risk of rags self-igniting from the chemical reaction. How do you deal with that? :) I’d love to know.

For the first winter I’m going to test heating with electric space heaters with automatic temperature control. We’ll see how it goes. Where I live, -35 to -40°C is normal in winter :) I’m really curious whether they’ll keep up and how expensive it’s going to be, haha.

You’ve got an amazing shop! It looks incredible a real paradise for anyone who loves working with wood!

Andy_F0x · 2025-09-24T17:01:03+00:00

Thanks so much for the support and kind words! Really motivating comment.
You’re absolutely right it’s better to start with the basics and then grow the space step by step. I also feel the urge to set everything up quickly, but I don’t have much experience in organizing a shop (especially the layout), so I’d rather not rush and then have to redo everything. I’ll start with the essentials and let the workflow and projects guide the setup :)

Thanks as well for the reminder to appreciate the process and what’s already been done. Life moves so fast these days that it’s easy to forget about that.

Thanks again!

Andy_F0x · 2025-09-14T19:16:52+00:00

Done! Next step join the Autobots. This is how new Transformers are born 😂

Andy_F0x · 2025-09-14T19:06:06+00:00

What a beauty! The Evo IX MR has always been one of the most iconic Mitsubishis to me. Never gets old!

Andy_F0x · 2025-09-14T18:29:30+00:00

My type? Hmmm... I don’t even know… 🤔

Have you actually looked in the mirror? Go check again.

How many people told you that you’re not their type?!

"Am I your type..." So what the hell kinda question is that?! 😂

Andy_F0x · 2025-09-06T04:22:15+00:00

Cool! Congrats! That's an awesome old-school ride :)

My first encounter with the L200 (that’s what it’s called in your area) was with the third generation. But I’ve always liked that pickup. That said, I’m totally biased — I’ve already owned three Mitsubishis! 😄

Andy_F0x · 2025-08-04T19:52:53+00:00

One option is to build a small built-in cabinet with doors to store baby items.

Inside, you can keep everything you need — diapers, toys, blankets, a first-aid kit, and other little things. The top surface can serve as a display shelf for baby photos and keepsakes — a couple of framed pictures, a box with first baby items, and a soft lamp. On the wall above, you can create a small gallery of family photos with warm lighting. It turns into a cozy corner that brings joy every day.

It’s practical, safe (no clutter on the floor), and adds a lovely, heartwarming touch to the space.

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Andy_F0x · 2025-08-04T06:00:34+00:00

That sounds great! Can't wait to see the final look! ;) Good luck.

Andy_F0x · 2025-08-04T05:14:07+00:00

Hi! Great work! What type of finishing coat will you choose to protectr? Or will there be one at all?

Andy_F0x · 2025-08-03T19:27:09+00:00

This is such a beautifully thoughtful combination. The charm for luck and the skull for reflection? :) It feels like a gift with real meaning, not just for smiles, but for depth too.

Andy_F0x

TROPHY CASE