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dougmontgomery
Hi,
Been lurking around the forum for the last couple of days and began to feel a bit voyeuristic - which is not a comfortable feeling. So, I decided to pluck up courage and introduce myself so I can better benefit from the forum.
My name is Doug Montgomery and Ive just finished an 8 week course with Able Skills. You leave there on a bit of an optimistic high, but with each week without work I can feel myself getting more and more daunted at the prospect of my first job. One thing thats struck me since reading some of the posts is how varied each job is and how little I know, as opposed to how much I thought I'd learned. It did occur to me that it might just be a bit arrogant to assume I could waltz into this profession and compete with time-served guys after 8 weeks. The course suggests making a living is possible after a short course without actually stating outright that you can leave and tile like a pro, but the reality soon dawns on you and has taught me more respect is due.
I've a bit of dilemma in that I'm a (fitter than most) 53 year old and I need to get earning asap. My wife is supporting us at the moment, but she had cancer last year and its taken the stuffing out of her. I want to relieve her of all burden if possible. For the last 12 years Ive been working as a painter and decorator (in between studying for a Degree - long story) just doing domestic jobs. But its getting so my previous customers have had everything done they need doing for the foreseeable, and the competition in London when giving estimates means you almost have to give your work away. I stopped advertising three years ago and in that short time the conventional strategy trades use to get work has changed radically, what with the advent of Trust a Trader etc.
I've a degree in product Design and a post graduate Diploma in Interior Design but had to park my ambitions with this when my Mrs got cancer.
When doing the Tiling course, the tutor gave me a lot of confidence by saying that mine was the best mosaic he'd seen in some time - I know this was a genuine observation because he could be very blunt and critical (in a well meaning way) to the point where a couple of blokes left halfway through the course not knowing how to take him.
Ive built a website but having no portfolio I'm relying on the visual appeal of the site to land my first customer, obviously theres no gallery of work yet. The homepage image is a picture I set and took myself using two sheets of mosaic tile and a rubber duck. Ive also had some A6 size postcards printed with the same design as the front of the website. If anyone has any suggestions as to improvements to the website or cards, I'd be grateful - its here www.douglastile.co.uk
Basically I'd like any pointers you have time to give regarding finding work. Since I stopped using Yell.com a few years ago, I'm not sure it is worth using these days. But Yell is free for a local listing and its a format I'm familiar with so I'm wondering, is it worth paying for increased exposure?
I live in London SE27, but no longer have a van. We're living pretty much hand to mouth. My supplementary strengths I suppose are my design skills. I did some styling work for Conran and was 'talent spotted' by Heals while still a student and exhibited my furniture in the window of their main branch in Tottenham Court Road. It'd be good to incorporate my design skills - if you know of any builders who'd benefit from that kind of input? I'd offer this for free as I love design. As I say I've parked my design ambitions for now out of necessity and because design is a profession you build like a jigsaw, preferably whilst working as an intern which is why it favours youth. Also, it helps if you're young and pretty starting out, but I'm old and not exactly giving George Clooney any sleepless nights.
Any encouragement or suggestions would be really appreciated.
Hope I've not gone on too long.
Doug
Been lurking around the forum for the last couple of days and began to feel a bit voyeuristic - which is not a comfortable feeling. So, I decided to pluck up courage and introduce myself so I can better benefit from the forum.
My name is Doug Montgomery and Ive just finished an 8 week course with Able Skills. You leave there on a bit of an optimistic high, but with each week without work I can feel myself getting more and more daunted at the prospect of my first job. One thing thats struck me since reading some of the posts is how varied each job is and how little I know, as opposed to how much I thought I'd learned. It did occur to me that it might just be a bit arrogant to assume I could waltz into this profession and compete with time-served guys after 8 weeks. The course suggests making a living is possible after a short course without actually stating outright that you can leave and tile like a pro, but the reality soon dawns on you and has taught me more respect is due.
I've a bit of dilemma in that I'm a (fitter than most) 53 year old and I need to get earning asap. My wife is supporting us at the moment, but she had cancer last year and its taken the stuffing out of her. I want to relieve her of all burden if possible. For the last 12 years Ive been working as a painter and decorator (in between studying for a Degree - long story) just doing domestic jobs. But its getting so my previous customers have had everything done they need doing for the foreseeable, and the competition in London when giving estimates means you almost have to give your work away. I stopped advertising three years ago and in that short time the conventional strategy trades use to get work has changed radically, what with the advent of Trust a Trader etc.
I've a degree in product Design and a post graduate Diploma in Interior Design but had to park my ambitions with this when my Mrs got cancer.
When doing the Tiling course, the tutor gave me a lot of confidence by saying that mine was the best mosaic he'd seen in some time - I know this was a genuine observation because he could be very blunt and critical (in a well meaning way) to the point where a couple of blokes left halfway through the course not knowing how to take him.
Ive built a website but having no portfolio I'm relying on the visual appeal of the site to land my first customer, obviously theres no gallery of work yet. The homepage image is a picture I set and took myself using two sheets of mosaic tile and a rubber duck. Ive also had some A6 size postcards printed with the same design as the front of the website. If anyone has any suggestions as to improvements to the website or cards, I'd be grateful - its here www.douglastile.co.uk
Basically I'd like any pointers you have time to give regarding finding work. Since I stopped using Yell.com a few years ago, I'm not sure it is worth using these days. But Yell is free for a local listing and its a format I'm familiar with so I'm wondering, is it worth paying for increased exposure?
I live in London SE27, but no longer have a van. We're living pretty much hand to mouth. My supplementary strengths I suppose are my design skills. I did some styling work for Conran and was 'talent spotted' by Heals while still a student and exhibited my furniture in the window of their main branch in Tottenham Court Road. It'd be good to incorporate my design skills - if you know of any builders who'd benefit from that kind of input? I'd offer this for free as I love design. As I say I've parked my design ambitions for now out of necessity and because design is a profession you build like a jigsaw, preferably whilst working as an intern which is why it favours youth. Also, it helps if you're young and pretty starting out, but I'm old and not exactly giving George Clooney any sleepless nights.
Any encouragement or suggestions would be really appreciated.
Hope I've not gone on too long.
Doug
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