Jord, some of my heavy duty mechanics (plant mechanics) earning 130k a year on a 2 x 1 roster. There are better rosters, 9 x 5, 8 x 6 (days) and so on.
Start watching the weekend papers, particularly Saturday add section. Big Companies start adverts just after June.
You can start off just ring around if need be to get the jump. Check with your Uncle he will have some good contacts for you. If you have the smarts, go high voltage electrical. Stick with electrical big industry, try not to go general house, as in this State, mining gives more scope.
You will need good marks both English and maths, not tops, but good.
You need any other data, PM me and I will try to help out.
Mineral

i think i will be looking at the industrial side of things, and ever since i was 3 i have been pulling apart ** and trying to fix it, and only resently i have been actually doing more good than worse, and blaster dont you meen windsuring not kiting[:p, but i hadnt thought of the papers so i may go have a look at the west now just see if there is actually anything listed. and luckely i have alot of family friends with woodside who are fairly high up so lets hope they can put a good word in for me and my uncle hopfully knows a few contacts

sent a pm ro you kearnsy and blaster what company are you with??

Hey Jord,

This Kind of off the topic but if you know any one in the trade that you want to do go and ask them about some work experience with them and if you can't fit it in with your school Work experience. Do it through one of your holidays. That is what i have just done I have just come back from a week on a farm I did this for a school project but since I was a young lad I have always wanted to be a farmer I may only be in year 9 but I have started my work experience in a way. From this experience I have lernt many new skills invoved in farming. I wish you good luck through year 11 and 12 and mate follow your dream.

Cheers Pittsy

Jords, why are you doing year 11 and 12? start looking now and if the opportunity arises go for it. I did year 11 and 12 and wasted my time doing it thinking I was gonna be an artist. If I could go back to year 10 I would have started my apprenticeship then. I had mates who dropped out in year 10 to do trades and now own houses. I on the other hand started my electrical apprenticeship when I was 23 while married and bringing up a young family. Its the best thing I have ever done. Ive worked NW with Woodside. Ive worked on most of the big jobs in the city and Im telling you there is so much money to be made out there its ridiculous. A 3rd year apprentice working with me now is taking home $1400 a week. Not trying to boast (HELL YEAH!) but I worked over the Easter break on $100 an hour just to give you an example and thats on wages! Good luck. If you want some contact numbers PM me and I will round some up

I didnt do any courses. Did a 4 year apprenticeship.
Yes it was Karratha. But out on the Burrup. At least 10 years worth of work up there. Big companies have leased out homes in Karratha for 10 years so thats gotta say something? The job I was on had 200 sparkies on it!

Hey Jords,

I totaly agree with all the guys for exactly the same reasons, you dont need marks you need enthusiasum, start looking now for any of the fore mentioned jobs / apprenterships, If I had my way again I would have left school at year 10, if you are doing ok in maths thats all that realy matters, being able to work by yourself and problem solve is like gold.

I agree with the electrical choice as well but realy all you need to do is get some kind of idea of what you want then go and have a look, by the looks there are lots of knowledgable guys here and they appear to be in good positions within their respective feilds. Listen to the many Yodas young grasshopper :)

Me, Im a Logistics Operations Supervisor, I run a warhouse and wish I did what the guys are telling you to do now.

Good luck.

Cheers GT

Good on ya Jordy,

At least you have a plan, the rest will follow.

Cheers GT

what i have been thinking today is to actually finish year 11 and start year 12, but start applying for apprenticeships early or during the chrissy holidays and if i get offered one i would drop out do what ever i needed to do at tafe and such and take it from there,

im not to sure if i should be aplying this year tho because i have a late b-day 17 oct so im in the last couple months of the year so im ot to sure, but i have made my mine of on doing an elctrical trade of some sorts weather it be fitting or wot ever im not to sure about mechanical sid of things nd my dad seems to think its the rong pathway for me

Jord, here goes now listen.

You are well ahead of all the others your age just in your thoughts alone.

OK you have an idea now what you want right, everyone has told you the different ways of going about it. Good TEE results won't get you a trade. Finish this year, maximise the work experience program through your school. If someone likes what they see you may land a job just from that(highly unlikely, But never know).

Apply for all jobs in the paper which start around October-September ready for the January intake of apprentices. Still no luck, don't worry instead of year 12 use that year to go to TAFE and do a pre-apprenticeship.

I will guarantee you'll land a job when you finally get the opportunity to show a potential employer what lengths you have gone to. Plus you will cruise through your trade with confidence as you will already have the the basic skills and work place enviroment awareness. Safety is a major concern for companies these days, you will be more in touch with the hazards than some punk just out of year 12.

This was the process I took. I've never struggled from not going to year 12, I have friends that went all the way through to uni (still paying it off) and earn half my wage and still unhappy with their work.

Good luck mate, try get with a big company. It can be dangerous work and they take safety policies more serious

here here

Good on ya Jords

There seems to be alot of sparkies on this forum?
Who are electricians here?

Jord, just in case you missed it, Detroit ran add for apprenticeship yesterday in paper.
But if you can go electrical, go that way, I know how small the pool is out there, trying to get people for my power generation package team
Mineral