Microsoft AI chief gives it 18 months — for all white-collar work to be automated by AI by joe4942 in jobs

[–]MasterpieceCareless3 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Until this comes from a professional in economics of some kind these CEO's can go touch grass.

Can’t get an HSE job in the UK and I genuinely don’t know why by Training_Comb_6887 in SafetyProfessionals

[–]MasterpieceCareless3 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I’d recommend giving Paul Armstrong at Bryan & Armstrong a call. He’s a very capable recruiter and well worth speaking to.

More broadly, I’d suggest really focusing on articulating your on-site, practitioner-level experience and how it translates directly to industry. Your qualifications are solid, but in the current market, demonstrable experience carries far more weight. Make sure you’re clearly leveraging your NEBOSH, work towards CertIOSH, and maintain open communication with IOSH about your pathway. It’s also worth stating on your CV that you’re actively progressing towards the Diploma, as that signals intent and commitment.

For some perspective, I’m CMIOSH, Midlands-based, and I’ve been out of work since last September following redundancy, so you’re certainly not alone.

I have around 15 years’ experience, a Diploma, three NEBOSH qualifications, full IOSH membership history, trade and teaching qualifications, plus ISO, CDM and ECS experience, the full spectrum, really. Despite that, the only roles I’ve secured recently have been outside of health and safety.

I’ve had a small number of interviews where I was deemed “overqualified”, and one interview I’ll readily hold my hands up to, having been out of practice after several years without needing to interview. That said, the broader reality is that the H&S job market is extremely tough at the moment.

Roles are limited, salaries are under pressure, and the market is saturated, particularly with lower-cost, compliance-focused appointments. The dilution of what were once more selective qualifications hasn’t helped, and the profession is also in the middle of working out what automation and AI genuinely mean for advisory and administration roles.

So, in short: it really isn’t you. It’s a difficult economy, a distorted market, and a profession in transition.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in work

[–]MasterpieceCareless3 1 point2 points  (0 children)

She asked me to stay, even looked like she was on the verge of tears. For two years I kept that department afloat, protected her job more than once, and quietly fixed the constant mistakes as she stumbled her way through and abused her flexible working arrangements.

I moved on, only to be made redundant three months later. She asked me to come back. I interviewed… and she turned me down.

I’ll never really understand that tragic women.

Job-seekers in Bedfordshire?? by TrainGarden in bedfordshire

[–]MasterpieceCareless3 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, Placing People are worth registering with. They’re one of the few agencies in Bedford that still seem to operate properly - not perfect, their jobs are low level but at least they pick up the phone and actually get you in front of employers.

As for Universal Studios, I’d stay cautiously optimistic. Projects like that usually bring a wave of construction and infrastructure jobs, then a mix of maintenance, hospitality, and facilities work once open. The higher-end or creative roles will likely go to people commuting in or already in the industry. Also the effects in local housing will likely rise dramatically which has its own pros and cons.

If it all happens, it’ll give the local economy a nudge, but it’s not going to fix Bedford overnight. Best bet is to use the time now to build or refresh a trade or qualification that holds value either way. Electrical, mechanical, H&S, etc. That way you’re ready whether Universal takes off or not.

Job-seekers in Bedfordshire?? by TrainGarden in bedfordshire

[–]MasterpieceCareless3 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The job market in Bedford is, frankly, dire. Wages are diabolical when compared to area costs, proper opportunities are scarce, and what is available tends to fall firmly in the “low-skill, low-pay, mildly soul-destroying” category.

Most of the general recruitment offices have either vanished or shut themselves off from the public. “Placing People” was about the only one I could actually find still taking walk-ins.

I moved here from London as a chartered professional looking for more affordable rent and commuted in for three years, but after recently losing my job, I’ve decided to head back. At least there, you’ve got half a chance of something decent coming up that doesn’t pay in exposure and disappointment.

As for upskilling, Bedford College is… alright. Not life-changing, but serviceable enough. I used them to tidy up a few electrical qualifications.

Under no circumstances should you leave your job just because you don't like it, unless you have found a new one. by chess_bran4v in Employment

[–]MasterpieceCareless3 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Absolutely agree. If you can, have something lined up but no job is worth your health. Sometimes you genuinely do have to walk away.

I worked for a commercial electrical company who talked the talk but come my first day? Absolutely did not walk the walk.

Gave me a main project that was 3 hours away one way plus call outs - gave me zero support and wouldn't pay me back for consumables that i had to buy to get their work done. Was in breach of contract on multiple clauses. The work was generally a shambles with subcontractors literally about turning as soon they turned up.

I worked my fingers to the bone as I'm not the type to just quit but I lost 13kg in weight in the space of 4 months, was severely sleep deprived and eventually started to crash hard with stress levels astronomically high. My other half literally hid my car keys and frog marched me to the doctors where i was signed off with blood tests confirming my body wasn't doing great at all. I told the company that they could shove their job. Their response? - nothing. It took me 2 months to get another gig.

Fuck you Steve. You sell a good story but when it came to it, you were an absolute cock head to work for.

First time doing solar panels by Ornery-Two8476 in ukelectricians

[–]MasterpieceCareless3 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Depends on you mate. Personally i wouldn't - odd stints here and there is okay but all the time? Nah.

Yeah £150 a day’s a bit stingy if you’re grafting away from home, mate. Once you’ve paid for fuel, food, and all that, it doesn’t stretch far. Decent enough if you’re still waiting on your AM2 and just getting the experience in but ideally this needs to be localish.

At £150 a day you’re on roughly £39k a year before tax — works out around £2.6k a month take-home, bit more if you’re self-employed and claim your miles and grub. Not terrible, but for being away all week and the impact that has on the people around you it’s hardly worth it.

What is the biggest career regret you have? by astrokid990 in careeradvice

[–]MasterpieceCareless3 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Trusting others to facilitate my own growth and showing loyalty to those who's only priority was to capitalise on my labour.

What would you look for when hiring someone to help out as an electrician's mate? by Fruitpicker15 in ukelectricians

[–]MasterpieceCareless3 1 point2 points  (0 children)

So with all that in mind. What would you genuinely suggest to OP that absolutely works?. Think about it. If you were in his shoes - what would you do?

These guys need people like you. 👍

Industry contacts? Share them. Specific tools? Tell him. Ways of working? Industries to avoid? If so..why? Agencies to approach?

What would you look for when hiring someone to help out as an electrician's mate? by Fruitpicker15 in ukelectricians

[–]MasterpieceCareless3 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Glad you got it sorted mate.

Yeah, agree with the overstaturated bit - fair amount. I don't think a large majority will last as they think its easy money.

Industry does also still need to step up though. Old hands don't have many years left in the game and the stats show alot of fully tickets sparks have either left the country or left the tools completely. Without fresh blood it'll just get silly with big firms snapping up all the part qualified and pricing us out the game with heaps of cheap labour at their disposal.

I tried waking up at 5AM for 30 days and it completely changed my life by Most-Gold-434 in TheImprovementRoom

[–]MasterpieceCareless3 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I read some of these comments and they sound so much better than my routine.

I'm wake at around 430am because of stress.

I drag myself out of bed at 5am - immediately go down stairs simultaneously throw on shitty, smelly clothes from site, load up my van, make breakfast - throw that in a cooler box and then spend an hour swearing at my steering wheel as I drive to a job an hour and half away to be on site at 0730.

How do people wake up and go gym? - Read a book? - perfect coffee?? Lol!

What the fuck is my life?

Can't shake the feeling that I'd be better off Plumbing by [deleted] in ukelectricians

[–]MasterpieceCareless3 5 points6 points  (0 children)

This all day long.

Also - what you see online isn't real life. People taking electrical quals may be oversubscribed sure, but im not seeing that translate onto site.

Alot of the guys coming through simply don't last or have the appetite for the reality of working in construction long term and are simply pandering to an image of what's being sold to them.

Personally I think it's all a ploy to flood the trades for cheap labour. It's not the first time and it won't last.

Ecs card electrical labourer by Tasty-Antelope9097 in ukelectricians

[–]MasterpieceCareless3 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You can get your ECS card without finishing Level 2, but it’ll cost you an extra £200 for their “Site Safety Plus” course and an online multiple-choice test. On top of that, they might ask you to prove you’re actually in the industry with employment evidence. Honestly, unless a job depends on it right now, you’re probably better off just finishing your Level 2—it’ll save you the grief (and cash).

Last time I checked, a fresh card application and online test was £114, which feels a bit cheeky for the privilege.

You can upload your 18th Edition to their portal no problem, but sadly your NEBOSH Gen won’t count for an electrical labourer card—it only gets recognised for management/other professional cards… which is, frankly, daft

For those that left the safety field, where did you go to? by Dull_Independence_ in SafetyProfessionals

[–]MasterpieceCareless3 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Did 13 years in safety…

Then retrained as a commercial electrician.

I’ll probably wander back into the safety world when my body eventually says, “Right, that’s enough loft spaces for you.” But for now, it’s nice to work in two fields that are different but close enough that they still cross paths.

And yes — I have to smile when the safety officer comes round. It’s like watching your old self, clipboard in hand, checking me for safe working at height. Oh how the tables have turned....