Advice RE: Tiling as a new career at 28

[Andrew]

Interesting, I have to be positive because I employ a 27 year old who is new to the trade. He had some basic general construction experience, an nvq in plumbing and was on An "intensive" tiling course when I took him on. Which I promptly advised him to stop attending after hearing some of the fundamental wrongs they were teaching.
Anyway after nearly a year he now understands the basic principles but is by no means a tiler. After working with labourers with no interest in progressing, i am now realising while trying to pass my knowledge on just how much there is to learn and teach. He is keen and really enjoys the trade but nowhere near ready for me to send him on jobs alone.
He earns minimum wage and will do for some time to come, if you are passionate and committed with a natural talent for the trade there is no reason why in a few years time you cant earn a decent living and once your skill set develops your earnings will reflect.
good luck

 

[AMtek]

Don't get drawn in by some of the companies that say if you spend 6 weeks with them learning a trade you will be able to go out and get a job as a tiler or set up self employed and earn 50k in your first year. I would be surprised if anyone on this forum would give you a job as a tiler and send you out on your own jobs after only attending a short course and domestic work is very difficult to find without other trades or tile shops passing work your way. You say that you aren't sure if tiling is for you but seems appealing, in my opinion if you don't have passion for the trade then you will not put up with the first couple of years of having a constantly empty bank account and if you do get through the first couple of years without the passion and pride in your work to do EVERY job to the very best of your ability then unfortunately you will not get the reputation you need to turn tiling into a sustainable career