Advice to an Apprentice.

[TJ Smiler]

Knee pads and quality dust mask..........It really doesn't make you a 'Hard Nut' to not use either.

 

[stone tiler]

Have to disagree with the travelling time,people who work in asda generally live close to work,am doing 130 miles a day I give the boss two hours in the morning he gives me two hours in the afternoon,or I simply wouldn't travel that far.

But if you're honest that's the decision you make. You don't have to travel, there is no gun to your head. You could find more local work or drop your price accordingly to find the local work...or work at your local Asda/Tesco/Etc.

I'm lucky that most of my projects are localish to me but when I do have to travel I have to weigh up if the jobs worth it or not. I can't add the travelling cost to the quote of or I would loose the job. Therefore the apprentice/labourer can't charge me for travelling time to get to the job. It all comes down to do I/he want the job and most importantly how quickly I/we can get it done and sometimes that means working until 6/7. I've just done a job where the drive was 80 minutes each way. It was for a builder I do lots of work for so I had to either upset the builder by charging extra and risk the contract or swallow on the travelling times/cost. The labourer didn't agree so he had the week off unpaid.

You have to weigh it up/look at the bigger picture and make the decision. Everyone has different guidelines and commitments

 

[Time's Ran Out]

I started a seperate thread 'travelling time'.

Keep this thread for advice to an Apprentice.

 

[White Room]

As said dust masks are paramount...in my young days on site guys would be cutting asbestos sheets anywhere..

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Get used to wearing toe cap protected footwear!
You won't be allowed on the buildings in trainers.

 

[White Room]

Goggles as well, it only takes a second to lose an eye...

 

[CJ]

Invest in decent knee pads.......they will be on their knees a lot

 

[judge]

keep tools well maintained and in theyre place where you know where to find them

 

[Andy Allen]

A tiling job should always look as good un- grouted as it dose grouted...
Thats what my boss always said to me and he always made a point of looking at my tiling before grouting it gets you out of the ' that will look ok when its grouted' habit....especially when it comes to awkward cuts..

 

[mike1979]

Learn to make a good cup of tea and don't tell me to @&£( off when asked what's that supposed to be
in all seriousness tho ask lots of questions, get stuck in and enjoy learning