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Western Power - team UK!!!


Guest sweetpea 1

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Gents, sorry not trying to hijack the thread, I was wondering if you could recommend any linesman back in UK & Ireland that are looking to come to Melbourne instead of WA. I work for a company called Tenix that has two long term (10 years) distribution maintenance/construction contracts in Melbourne and we are planning to go to the UK and Ireland before the end of the year to recruit linesman. If you know of any I would be happy to talk to them. I am from Reading myself so can explain what's it like compared to back home and how easy it is to settle in.

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Nas I've just been for my interview and hopefully will get a job offer next week, I will give you a shout if I don't get the offer I'm looking for.

 

Hi Darren, I'm thinking about applying for Western Power in the near future.

 

I'd really appreciate it if you could give me a bit of basic info on the recruitment process.

 

Did you apply online?

How long did it take for them to get in touch with you?

I'm assuming it's Telephone interview, then practical assessment then face to face interview? Is that correct?

 

Where did you go for practicals and interview? How long did the interview last?

 

Any other help and advice on the sorts of questions they ask would be much appreciated.

 

I'm confident enough with trade based questions and health and safety etc, but do they ask you a great deal about electrical theory?

I did complete a City and Guilds 2322 in Electrical Technology Engineering, but today I'd probably struggle to go into anything past the basic Ohms law stuff.

 

 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated,

 

Cheers.

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Hi Sam, Well we were told they won't be recruiting again for maybe a couple of years.

 

You have to apply through a Manchester based recruitment company called Roevin. If you Google 'Roevin western power' your sure to find it. Interviews medical and practicals were held there. Quick 30 min casual interview no technical questions just stuff on H&S and what do you do before you can work on a dead 11kv line. Simple stuff. And then a general chat with them about why you want to move.

 

Once over there you work towards an Australian Qualification called a cert3 which a lot of our 2322 can be transfered. It usually takes a year to complete but with the 2322 I was role I could be qualified in 6 months.

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Oh really?

I may have already left it too late then, there are only 2 lineworker jobs on the highly charged careers website now (down from 9) both in Jandakot.

I've sent an online application through their website, so not sure if I should contact Roevin just yet?

 

Did you do the same, or did you go straight to Roevin without completing an online application?

Telephone interview sounds pretty straightforward, I hope they'll get back to me.

 

Cheers for the info Darren

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Hi Sam I was on the same interview day at Manchester with Darren I would give Roevin a call mate as I heard a couple of lads dropped out earlier in the week good luck mate

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Good luck Sam.

 

Any news yet Alan? Someone called one of my referees yesterday for a reference so hopefully I should hear soon. I hope they don't offer me a post in the middle of the outback!

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Would u be interested in going over for another company Sam I had a call from kelburn recruitment last week looking for linesman in wa for a company called theiss they contract to western power mate pm me if you want there details cheers alan

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Would u be interested in going over for another company Sam I had a call from kelburn recruitment last week looking for linesman in wa for a company called theiss they contract to western power mate pm me if you want there details cheers alan

 

I would be, so long as they provide a good relocation package and offer good training.

 

Obviously the job security to be had working for a state owned electricity board like Western Power is a big pull, plus I know someone who has worked for them and they sound like a good company to work for but yes I would consider other employers if I'm not able to find a position with Western Power.

 

At the end of the day, I have a good safe career here in the UK - so I only want to risk it for something secure, hence looking more at nationally owned electricity boards rather than private contractors.

 

 

If an opportunity came up, I'd fly to Australia next week for a job with Western Power - that said, I would also be happy to wait another 12 months for an opportunity and wouldn't want to make the move short term with a contractor I know nothing about. I'd have to do my research.

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Guest jas25577

Ill give you an insight into western power lads I work here and have been here a fortnight I am going to be based in jandakot,you will beat training school the first four weeks and in paid accommodation which is good but the communication with hr is terrible,they did not tell us you need your own private health insurance along with Medicare,which is 80 dollars a month for a single bloke,don't know about families etc,then you have to get a car which are really expensive here then when you find a rental which is really hard as so many people are looking as many as 30 people looking at houses in the 15 min viewing slot you get so if you know someone get them to start looking for you,then when you get one its 2 weeks up front and month bond for me which came to 3000 dollars and this is all on starting wage of 1100 dollars a week take home,I know guys who have came and left already as you make more money contracting only downside is you take longer to get your cert 3 which is a requirement in Western Australia

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Any regrets then jas? Sounds like its going to be hard going for the first few months. They told us we will be on a good wage for Perth. $78,000? Are we going to be on the poverty line or will it get better as we settle in? We were told we can use what's left of our relocation allowance on accommodation or car hire to help out.

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Guest jas25577

Aye that's right enough but hr department are useless that's the wages I'm on as well but it's no that great and you don't get early finishes either the boys head back to depot every day for about ten to four and go to depot every morn for 7,I don't know what you were told regarding shifts but I was told 8 on 6 off which you get shift allowance and maybe the chance to work one of yr days off but that's no happening as everyone is meant to be going on a nine day fortnight and depending where you are if there is overtime, so aye it will be a struggle when you still got utility bills etc to pay,a pint is about 7 quid back home or10/11 dollars in perth

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We were told that they help us find accommodation after the training period. I'm not sure where I'm going to be posted yet but it sounds like Perth metro isn't the best place to be! I was told 9 days a fortnight but I'm not really sure his that works? Mike Millard gave us the impression that work is quite relaxed, get the job done then stay out of the way until the end of the day? Or is it solid work from start to finish all day? I'm not used to that lol!!

 

How are you dealing with the heat? Do you think you made the right choice by going over there?

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Guest jas25577

It will be good to be trained by them I think but everyone I talk to seems to think get their cert 3 then possibly move on I know contractors who are takin home 1700 a week and just doin services and finished most days at 1, 9 day fortnight is just every other Monday off 4 day week one week five the next and college is boring as hell,have you done applied electro technology as a city and guilds because if you have not that is another 5 weeks at training school and you get a training wage which is slightly less than basic

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Guest jas25577

I don't know mate to be honest but you need to remember Western Australia has about 2 million people and 1.7 stay in perth and surrounding suburbs it's really remote in some places guy I came with is in a place called moora and there is nothing there apart from a few houses and he is gutted as his wife and kids have still to come and he thinks they will hate it

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So it is solid work all day everyday?

How are you dealing with the heat?

 

I'd rather work for a state owned company than a contractor to be honest, you get more long term benefits with western power. Im not sure what you get contracting. Im 39 so i need to look long term. Ill be coming over with a friend so rent & bills will be halved so that will help us.

 

Yes I've done my city and guilds so cert 3 should only take 6 months, most of city and guilds and be transfered over thankfully!

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