Career Change At 52 Years Old...

[fredfredfredfred]

I've been studying electrical installation at college for the last 3 years,and as part of my qualifying as a sparky,I need to compile and complete a port-folio.
This is proving to be a real deal-breaker,as in order to do the folio,I obviously need to be working in the electrical trade.
Which leads me to the all important question.....
Why is it that when I apply for a post, I am viewed as a liability more than an asset ?
I realise that firms get funding for taking apprentices,But since I'm paying my own way,the company will not be losing out, since any monies they would loose on funding they would recoup through not having to pay to put me through college.
Practical assignments and written exams are all well and good,but I need to be out there,doing it in the real world.I'd hate to think that at 52 I'm viewed as no longer useful...
Thoughts,comments,suggestions appreciated.

[Old_Geezer]

Lack of experience.

Getting into a trade is the difficult bit. Catch 22. Pity you don't know someone willing to take you on for a few years: but keep trying. Folk must make it eventually or trades would die out apart from immigrant tradesfolk, and the naive pointing out how vital they were. You just have to keep applying.

How's your CV ? Does it indicate what a success you were in yiur previous employment and the skills you can bring to your new one ?

[fredfredfredfred]

Hopefully,I'm replying to 'old Geezer'...

Thanks for the reply.
Catch 22 sucks !!! It's not like I don't know which end of the screwdriver is the 'safe end',I know my health and safety,my risk assessments,and how to use my test equipment properly.It's at times like this that I really want to grab SOMEONE,and say 'What The Funicular'!!Assign me to a sparky,have me follow them around like a muppet,and I'll do what they tell me to do,and I'll do it well.You'll see that I'm not a flaming idiot.Give me a chance.
I wonder what would happen if I said that to a prospective employers face ?