Ok lets open a debate....fast track

[charlie1]

I also done a course (1 week) and learned loads on the course but the course did not make me a tiler, I made me a tiler, I eat, slept and done tiling and have been like that ever since. Here my guess at successfull short course students making a living... 5-15%, why? Because they have little respect for what's involved to be a great tiler or they have no aspirations to be a great tiler. Once one knows what he/she wants to be then they can acquire enough knowllage and skill to get them there, how they do that is not important but they do need the curiosity to ask the right questions, then throw in working with some other tilers and learn from them... 6 years later he/she making a decent living with loads of experience then the sky is the limit. Failure = do a course then come out all guns blazing, taking on jobs that are way out your depth (most are at that stake but you either sink or swim)

yes I know... I'm getting off topic and carried away.

I would one day like to pass on all I know to someone or others and give them a chance. I personally know at least 6 people who have been on a short course and failed miserably. I fact, I don't actually know anyone who has done a short course and been successfull but in saying that... No one in real life ever admits to doing a short course lol

 

[charlie1]

I am not going to criticise people who decide to do a course.....some people just have a natural talent for something....and that "could" be tiling/plumbing/bomb disposal......and that person may be fantastic!
I have not read the main parts of the post.......(please forgive me!) but I will chip in my 2p.......

YOU CANT LEARN ANYTHING ON A QUICK COURSE!!!!.......(other than the REAL basics) full stop!
I feel sorry for the people that think they can leave their career in I.T and will become a plumber/whatever in a few weeks(at great cost!) .........it is simply not true.......IMO......
the first time a course tiler comes up against a substrate he/she is not used to.......tile centre setups are box sections that are flat, level and plumb........this job you could be tiling the face of mount everest!!!

I have done a good few courses over the years and I can assure you........training on the job is the only way forward!!!!......IMO.......

I will await the battering I am about to receive!...........be gentle.........usually, I am here to help!

Lee

couldnt really disagree with any of that.

 

[MTiler]

I learnt to tile on a 4 week, full time course. I was made redundant and had to re-train in something. Ive been trading 6 years, and you all seem to like my work. The TTA tiler of the year also originally learnt to tile on a course, as it happens with the same company as me.
Whichever way we originally learnt to tile we're always learning. We've all got to start somewhere and most of us dont have the luxury of being able to do two/three year courses. No method is better or worse than the other, theres good and bad in both, its what you do with it that counts and your attitude. If your attitude stinks your work will stink however you learnt.

Sharon

 

[Mr T]

I learnt to tile on a 4 week, full time course. I was made redundant and had to re-train in something. Ive been trading 6 years, and you all seem to like my work. The TTA tiler of the year also originally learnt to tile on a course, as it happens with the same company as me.
Whichever way we originally learnt to tile we're always learning. We've all got to start somewhere and most of us dont have the luxury of being able to do two/three year courses. No method is better or worse than the other, theres good and bad in both, its what you do with it that counts and your attitude. If your attitude stinks your work will stink however you learnt.

Sharon

I honestly couldn't out it better myself... and to people who think working for nothing is a bad thing or will get you knowhere... tht is just not true... I love tiling and I will eventually be a fully established tiler with no college nvq or qualifications but that doesn't matter because once im timeserved and know the ins and outs it will cost me roughly £100 to get an nvq in one a day.

 

[Stef]

As already stated, You have to be a certain individual to come through any course.

I think the majority of members on this forum would have been able to make it in whatever career that they chose.

I have done numerous jobs, brickie, joiner, painter etc but tiling was something that i had always wanted to pursue & i worked beside a tiler (use that term loosely) for over 2 years & then went for it myself.

I think very few will come through a short course & make a living from the tiling game but as this forum has proved it can be done.

 

[Mr T]

As already stated, You have to be a certain individual to come through any course.

I think the majority of members on this forum would have been able to make it in whatever career that they chose.

I have done numerous jobs, brickie, joiner, painter etc but tiling was something that i had always wanted to pursue & i worked beside a tiler (use that term loosely) for over 2 years & then went for it myself.

I think very few will come through a short course & make a living from the tiling game but as this forum has proved it can be done.

I agree there too mate to be able to do 4 weeks at it with no experience at all is quite an individual...

 

[Stef]

I agree there too mate to be able to do 4 weeks at it with no experience at all is quite an individual...

4 weeks and it would only give you the very basics.

You would learn more on this forum in 4 weeks.

 

[Spud]

No- one ever left a short course a great tiler , they left as novices/beginners , experience and attitude makes you a great tiler , working with other tilers gives you the bench mark to judge your skills against and learn form how they do things

 

[The D]

I honestly couldn't out it better myself... and to people who think working for nothing is a bad thing or will get you knowhere... tht is just not true... I love tiling and I will eventually be a fully established tiler with no college nvq or qualifications but that doesn't matter because once im timeserved and know the ins and outs it will cost me roughly £100 to get an nvq in one a day.

Ok let me make my self absolutely transparent I do not have a problem with people working for nothing to get some on the job experience. I do not have a problem with tilers that started there journey in a training centre. I absolutely agree we all have to start somewhere .
My comment was about the people in the article that was asking companies to take them on for nothing so they could collect the evidence for there NVQ. This is futile the evidence they collect this way can’t count towards there NVQ if it was not paid work.

I do however have a big big problem with training providers that sell short training courses and dress them up to be something they are not. In there advertising they refer to full level this and NVQ that when what they are actually selling is nothing more than an in house certificate and a lot of talk.

 

[Daveshadowman]

When I started tiling if some one had said I have been on a 2-4 week course to learn to tile he would have been told you just about learnt how to make the tea and carry the tools then Maybe mix the sticky and drive the sweeping brush . IMO and I do not wish to afend anyone it has taken me 25 years +the learn my trade not 2-4 weeks these course should be band and go back to a full appentership with sending the apprentice for a long stand etc that is what makes a tradesman life long learning not 2-4 weeks