help/advice

[paul curtis]

hi all, ive been tiling for 2 years now, did have 5 months off from injury last year, im 28 years old and live in dartford kent. since i started tiling ive been with the same employer, but im struggling with both working on site with a bad building contractor and bad employer, are there good sites out there? and employers? i would prefer to get into non site work or small refurbs, small building company to work for, is it possible? any advice would be great. cheers paul

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Welcome Paul - sounds as though your not enjoying your tiling! When I first started with Noah on his boat, the sites were a great learning ground, not just for tiling but for all aspect of the building industry. After 18 months of working I was pleased to be just starting to tile and to create something that was going to give a customer a lot of pleasure in the future. I realised that I had a lot to learn, and when I went self employed in 1975,after 5 years, I knew I was ready. I was earning double my wage for the company I was on for and as they couldn't/wouldn't pay my earning potential I left! IMHO it's all down to your attitude - be polite, work hard, keep everyone happy, and show you enjoy your trade! Learn all the time and respect the people you are working for. John.

 

[Ian]

Welcome along to TF Paul. As John has already said, if you want to control your own destiny you need to become self employed, that way you can build up your customers and client base, it'll be hard work though.

 

[DHTiling]

Cannot add anymore than TJ has... spot on advice.. most of all enjoy what you do and good luck..

 

[paul curtis]

thanks guys, i already am self employed and get all my work through this one employer, but hes more interested in retiring, so not getting fulll weeks work and he doesnt do site visits which the agent dont like then makes things worse for me on site such as dont take doors off when tiling floors, dont tidy plots and just makes things harder, maybe getting some flyers printed and seeing how that plans out might give me kick up the bum, i want to enjoy my tiling, but find i wont if i carry on with this employer and building contractor

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Paul - understand how you feel, but the 2 points you've mentioned are not unusual! If a door is on I tend to mark the bottom ready for a tile+bed then whip it off for the joiner (with a battery screwdriver it's only minutes) and even in small domestic kitchens/bathrooms you can guarantee to have to clear worktops and baths before you start - it gives you a chance to check for damage, and a customer/builder will always remember a tidy tradesman.
If you only work for 1 customer you shouldn't be self employed as the Government will perceive that you should be on the books! Use your spare days to look for other work and check out some of the threads in the Forum history on how to look for work.
Remember variety is the spice of life!