(Not including referrals) How does a tiler find work?

[learningtotile]

I am worried about how to find work once I qualify as a tiler and gain some experience of course. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to find work, obv I wont benefit from referrals so I am wondering if anyone has any good tips for finding jobs?

Thanks - Scott

 

[Dan]

Generally your shops are your friends. If you can prove you're good to a shop, they should send you a bit of work.

Then the usual, website, online free directories (yell, google listings, thompson, etc), business cards in shops and whatnot, leaflet drops in local area, local newspaper is worth a go it still works in some areas but you do tend to find 'jack of all trades' undercutting you in most areas so only give it a go once or twice and judge for yourself if it works.

 

[cam_low]

where are you based ? Are you going out on your own ? How old are you ?

 

[tobins tiling]

I am worried about how to find work once I qualify as a tiler and gain some experience of course. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to find work, obv I wont benefit from referrals so I am wondering if anyone has any good tips for finding jobs?

Thanks - Scott

I take it you are in college training to be a tiler? If so if I was you I would go to your local tile shops ask the lads on the desk who are the descent tilers who come in and can you have there card take them home give them I call tell them you've been training to be a tiler your really keen to learn and have they got any work help you help them with, this shows a real willingness to work in my eyes that you've got off your backside to look round,or get a yellow pages and write letters to your local tilers because they should have an address.
I really think you need to learn a bit off an experienced tiler before doing your own jobs first, good luck finding work

 

[jonnyc]

scott ;
where are you based in london.
how old are you
what college are you doing your course at.
what course are you doing.
have you tried anything else before this course.

are you looking to :
1. go out on your own straight away.
2. get experience working as employee for a tiling company with view to going self employed when you feel you are experienced enough.
3. looking to get a permanent job with a tiling company.

I am interested in what you are doing and what your hopes are

 

[One Day]

Think about this: It's not so much what you know - but who you know.

That'll probably get me shouted at but it's true.

 

[Mr Tiler]

Think about this: It's not so much what you know - but who you know.

That'll probably get me shouted at but it's true.

that's true at succeeding in any thing... nobody can debate that

 

[Mr Tiler]

shame I don't have the best social skills lol more of a lone wolf doubt that will help me out in my chosen path

 

[learningtotile]

Hello All,

Firstly - I am so impressed at how active this forum is and all the replies - wow!

* I am in the TW postcode area S/W London.
* I am 25
* I am doing a fairly basic 4 week tiling course (About 1k in total)

I am looking go self-emp straightaway. I have already contacted local tilers and plan to work for free or a low wage for as long as it takes to gain some confidence. I am a graphic designer and work from home so I can support myself for as long as it takes.

I plan to, in theory, gain experience domestically but plan long term to bid on commercial projects, I.E gyms, hotels etc (Form a Ltd and have tilers working for me, more of a 3-5yr plan).

I went into my local tile showroom/trade counter and they said that their busy tilers are charging approx £** PM2.

So with that said, I am trying to gain domestic clients for bathrooms and kitchens.

Does the yellow pages hold any weight these days?

I WAS WONDERING..............

If,I, marketed myself with a website as a business rather than an individual then if I did get any work over the next 6 months while I am with my ''mentor'' tiler they could take the business and I would get a cut PLUS the experience?

Could that work?

 

[One Day]

shame I don't have the best social skills lol more of a lone wolf doubt that will help me out in my chosen path

Not necessarily! I "don't play well with others" :lol: but you only need to form a few close alliances and look after them... the rest follows.

 

[Dan]

Hello All,

Firstly - I am so impressed at how active this forum is and all the replies - wow!

* I am in the TW postcode area S/W London.
* I am 25
* I am doing a fairly basic 4 week tiling course (About 1k in total)

I am looking go self-emp straightaway. I have already contacted local tilers and plan to work for free or a low wage for as long as it takes to gain some confidence. I am a graphic designer and work from home so I can support myself for as long as it takes.

I plan to, in theory, gain experience domestically but plan long term to bid on commercial projects, I.E gyms, hotels etc (Form a Ltd and have tilers working for me, more of a 3-5yr plan).

I went into my local tile showroom/trade counter and they said that their busy tilers are charging approx £** PM2.

So with that said, I am trying to gain domestic clients for bathrooms and kitchens.

Does the yellow pages hold any weight these days?

I WAS WONDERING..............

If,I, marketed myself with a website as a business rather than an individual then if I did get any work over the next 6 months while I am with my ''mentor'' tiler they could take the business and I would get a cut PLUS the experience?

Could that work?

Yellow Pages: No. Not the paid bit anyway. Just take the free listings for the few people that do still use it.

Website: Sure, that's an awesome plan. Get the business in! - Sort out the jobs once the business is coming in. If you can pass work onto a tiler in return for a share of the profit and some experience I think you have an awesome business plan there.

 

[Mr Tiler]

Yellow Pages: No. Not the paid bit anyway. Just take the free listings for the few people that do still use it.

Website: Sure, that's an awesome plan. Get the business in! - Sort out the jobs once the business is coming in. If you can pass work onto a tiler in return for a share of the profit and some experience I think you have an awesome business plan there.

no dan... it doesn't work lol. I made a silly little ad up when I started out on yell free listings had 3 phone calls in one week for quotes and the guy I was doing the free work from didn't even want to know when I passed the work his way... I didn't want any money I just thought it would be a good thing from me to him and tbh I think he took it a little funny... he certainly did when he tried to cut a shower door down with a grinder! and then when he messed up the door instead of him leaving it for the scrap man I asked if I could have it.... never heard off him again haha!

 

[Dan]

I think it's the way you go about it and who you're passing the work onto.

I could imagine good tilers on here being willing to take on jobs for the sake of letting somebody shadow them for a few days. But perhaps only if they don't have enough work on themsleves already.

 

[jonnyc]

Well you look like you have a plan and have thought this through which is great.
i do however think that a 3-5 year plan after which employing others to work for you is wildly optimistic.
you are based very close to me and i am actually looking for a school leaver and someone of your age but I don't think you fit the criteria that I am after.
i have no doubt however that with the enthusiasm you have and the fact that you have come on this forum which is really an obvious move but still you did it and many others do not, marks you out as a man who is serious about getting on and will succeed.
Best of luck.

 

[The D]

You say when you are qualified. Can I ask what your plan isto get quailed??