Upper age limit for trainees

[DiscoStu]

Hello all,

I’m another forces person looking at ROVs as a new career – I’ll not bore you with my reasons. I’ve got a bit to go yet but am looking ahead now to gain extra certification/courses to augment my ONC & HNC. With over 22 years in the electronics field and having worked on HV up to 50kV, I believe I’ve got suitable experience to support the above qualifications. I understand there are many hurdles to overcome but there is one thing I can do nothing about – age. Realistically, would I be too old to start out as a trainee Pilot Tech at 43? It seems new entrants are at least 10 years younger. Thanks in advance for any advice or opinions.

Disco

[Savante]

I think its actually a crime in the UK to differentiate on the basis of age now matey as part of the employment equality (age) regulations 2006!

met plenty of trainees in the last two years who are older than that – one was a falklands vet !

[Andy Shiers]

Discostu , Age has absolutely nothing to do with it 🙂
You’ll be fine , The oldest pilot I knew of was 67.
And I have trained up in the last two years quite a few ‘oldies’ in their late forties , so you ain’t the first and you most certainly will not be the last 😀 Some might say the forties is a good age to do it as you have had plenty of experience in dealing with people…………………………….
Mind you 😕 I know of a few people in the fifties that havna the grasp of reality and do not have the right attitude for the job 😯
Good luck

[James McLauchlan]

Disco

Forget what you may/might consider as getting on a bit, that is purely an armed forces viewpoint. The military may retire people at around 40 but the rest of the world lasts a lot longer 😉

Just go for it..you’ll fit.

[rovbionic]

Sure a company has to look at the $$$out lay to train up a newbe but in the current market any thing goes.

I am 51 in a few weeks and recently got exposure/course on the new Schilling subs….at this stage of the came you have the operational smarts the newbes dont.

The average bloke might hit the pub and savour the wee brown lasses as a life style.

Granted one has to make the effort to stay sharp and fit i.e extreme mountain biking,martial arts and just healthy life style.

You get out of this life what you put into it.

Experiencing more offers than ever in this ole farts career!!!

[DiscoStu]

Thanks to all of you who have responded … what a friendly bunch!

Yes it may be a crime against Equal Ops & Diversity to discriminate against someone on account of their age but of course proving it could be hard and costly if you believe you have been a victim. Still, that’s not what concerns me – I simply don’t want to pursue a path that’s best left to younger guys. E.g. I wouldn’t want to retire at 65 as a Pilot Tech 2. From all your responses though it sounds like I can still compete with the young’ns and still have time to make it up the ‘ranks’. Perhaps early 40s is a ripe age?

I’ll continue to poke around the site, which is a great resource by-the-way James. Now then … how to get some hydraulics experience? Wish I’d worked Rapier years ago!

Thanks for the feedback guys.

[elad1986]

Its even harder for young lads coming into the industry who have few contacts, few skills and a half-assed discipline behind them.

I was 19 when I came into the industry. Ive had years where I am only getting 75-120 days work p.a. This is even when the industry is booming.

If you have the right contacts and your experienced in either instruiments, electronic, electrical, mechanical or hydraulics: it does not matter if your a 40, 50 or even 60 y.o trainee.

Don’t hold back because you think your too old to be a trainee.

Elad

[Andy Shiers]

Even if you are Australian 😯

[Wade Berglund]

DiscoStu…hello Mate

I am in the same situation, I am getting out of the Navy after serving 22yrs in ships and submarines. As a tech you have no worries, the work skills, discipline, people management abilities that you will have built up will work in your favour. Plus being used to the fact that you have been able to be deployed for periods of time puts you a head of the young lads just starting.

I just got a job working for Fugro and I start the day I get out of the Forces. Good luck and enjoy your new life and career.

I know I will!

[sang]

Hello all,

I’m another forces person looking at ROVs as a new career – I’ll not bore you with my reasons. I’ve got a bit to go yet but am looking ahead now to gain extra certification/courses to augment my ONC & HNC. With over 22 years in the electronics field and having worked on HV up to 50kV, I believe I’ve got suitable experience to support the above qualifications. I understand there are many hurdles to overcome but there is one thing I can do nothing about – age. Realistically, would I be too old to start out as a trainee Pilot Tech at 43? It seems new entrants are at least 10 years younger. Thanks in advance for any advice or opinions.

Disco

In singapore, some company will look at the age limits.

[Wade Berglund]

Sang wrote:

In singapore, some company will look at the age limits.

Sang, what company would that be and what would be the age limits…just curious?

Cheers

[scat]

while were on the topic im getting a pain waiting for elec tech work to fire up
and as im only a child of 44 it seems im just old enough for a career change
can any of you guys recommend a good reconized all in rov course any where thanks tecnician or pilot or both thanks 🙄

[liddelljohn]

I started in ROV when i was 48.

[Andy Shiers]

Aged 48 or 1948 😯

[marley]

Hi Scat, there is an all in one rov course offered in the sunny place of Newfoundland, Canada. It is a 9 month rov pilot tech course. You need a Diploma or Degree of the Electronic, Mechanical nature to enroll. Spoke to some guys that did it and all had employment at the end of the course. Seems to be worthwhile if you can take 9 months to do it. Also you’ll get to enjoy the great weather. not. They actually have an rov system and the instructor has been in the industry for quite some time.

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