Tauranga electrical apprentice wired for success

Peter Bulford is looking for a job in the electronics field. Photo/Andrew Warner

Peter Bulford is on a mission and says he is not giving up his dream of getting an electrical apprenticeship - at age 50.

Despite the big increase in jobs hitting the Bay of Plenty market this year he has struggled to find work.

Not one to sit idle he already has completed a course at the Bay of Plenty Polytech and gained his level two, three and four papers but "now I just need somebody to take me on".

"You need to do so many jobs and have to have a logbook signed off to get qualified. That is the problem, no one wants to take on a 50-year-old apprentice."

Mr Bulford also acknowledged, "I am not the smallest man" and wondered if his size may be a contributing factor, adding "I am still pretty capable of doing most jobs".

The whole idea of getting a trade behind him was to get a life-time career.

He had applied for 30 jobs in the past six months and the disappointment of not getting the job was discouraging.

"I am starting to go a bit stir crazy. It kind of knocks the stuffing out of you a bit."

However, Mr Bulford had received help from Workbridge with writing his CV and had attended a Work for You seminar run by Work and Income New Zealand.

Electrical Contractors Association of New Zealand chief executive Neville Simpson said adult apprentices typically had more work experience, were more motivated and mature.

He was aware of a few adult apprentices who had been taken on but it was not a common occurrence.

Mr Bulford is not alone in finding it tough to find work in a booming labour market.

Janee Pearce shifted from Wellington to Tauranga in January after her husband moved for work and she was surprised at how difficult it was to get a part-time job.

She had held different administration roles in the past five years but said there did not seem to be many part-time roles in the city and those that were advertised were highly sought after.

Pam Smith's partner is set to transfer to Tauranga from Auckland in March as the company he works for is relocating.

She has also been trying to secure a job in the city but the experienced print finisher said it was hard going despite sending her CV to Priority One and door knocking businesses on a recent trip.

If she could not secure employment Ms Smith said there was no alternative but to stay in her current job, in Auckland.