Getting started

[Falcone]

I will shortly be doing the NETT course (next month sometime I reckon) and have a question about starting off once the course is done.

I'll still be working full time at my current employer and was thinking on doing tiling at the weekends until I get myself up and running etc. The thing is, if some jobs are going to take 3-4 maybe 5 days to do how will I be able to do this if I'm only doing weekends until I can get "compressed" shifts at my current employer?

(by compressed shifts I mean reducing my hours to 30 and and doing 10hour shifts mon, tues, wed so I could concentrate on tiling thurs fri sat sun if needs be)

Is there any way round this? i.e could I do long shifts on the weekend jobs to get it done in 2 days? would customers let me come back the weekend after to finish?

thanks in advance...

 

[enduro]

Tricky one mate, unless you only do kitchen walls, or your friends and relatives no this before you start.

 

[Fekin]

I currently work shifts in a power station, 2days on then 2 nights and then have 4 days off and do my tiling jobs on my 4 days.
If you only have weekends that you can tile on, then either be honest to the customer and say you also work on another job mon to fri and tile weekends, so a 4 day job would be over 2 weekends to complete, which there are some people on here that do exactly that and don't have any problems.
Or tell a porkie to the customer and say "yes I can do your bathroom no problems, but Im quite booked up at the moment, but I can get the job finished for you over 2 weekends, just for you" and they'll most probably be chuffed that you are willing to work your "only days off" to do their bathroom or whatever.

 

[Falcone]

Thanks, was speaking to one of ma boss's today and he said it'll be difficult getting my shifts compressed to 3 10 hour shifts. :sad_smile:

Will maybe just have t go part time once I've done a few friends and family etc.

Gonna do my own bathroom walls and floor, ma kitchen floor needs done to and my brother needs full bathroom done, i'll convice him his kitchen needs done aswell haha... my mums kitchen floor need redone coz ther's a few cracked, i'll talk her into that too lol...

 

[GatesheadCol]

Falcone,

You could say your working for a someone else at the minute. and are in the process of trying to branch out on your own. Thats the line Ive used (although granted its for saying Ive been tiling for a few years and worked for soeone else b4 taking the plunge myself)

Or you could just say your realy busy , but I could fit you in over 2 weekends if its a few days job etc,.

 

[faithhealer]

At least you have a few jobs lined up. When you get "proper' customers, be straight up about when you can work. telling porkies won't do your reputation any good. Good luck

 

[Ric]

its a really good question! i work full time self-employed cleaner. Every second Friday free and will soon have shortened Monday. If the tiling takes off its going to be difficult juggling both jobs. I know what i'd rather be doing but getting enough work in to pull the plug on the cleaning is the key. Guess it's down to getting out there in spare time and marketing yourself to death. I plan to hit the property development companies and try to get regular work. good luck from me to anyone making the change.

 

[Falcone]

thanks for the replies.

I think I'd probably tell customers that I'm just starting out and would ony be able to do it over, say, 2 weekends.

It's pretty sh*t coz my work will hand out "family friendly" hours to those with kids and they get any shift they wish but someone trying to better themselves get f*ck all help!! No plans for kids yet lol...

 

[Fekin]

Tell'em your adopting then

 

[Falcone]

haha... I considered telling them my lass had "dropped" coz they don't ask for any proof of the childs birth etc so it was tempting lol... too many folk in there know my mum and stuff so i'd end up gettin caught... lol...

 

[postie]

In the same boat Falcone i work up till about 1200 -1300 so i get afternoons and weekends to do the tiling ,it's hard work juggling 2 jobs but until i get enough tiling work i will have to juggle the 2.

 

[Falcone]

If they could give me Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 10 hour shofts then i'd be chuffed. If I cant get that shift then I'll have to just go part time and work til about 1 o clock like yourself postie...