Thinking of a career change

[19bri79]

Hi All,

New on here and just looking for as much advice info etc as possible. You have probably heard this a thousand times on here but I seek advice.

I currently have a good job working in the oil industry but this means being away from home a lot and missing a lot off my young family growing up hence the career change. I make really good money approx 65k a year but I have realised this isn't everything as it can't buy time.

Anyway enough off that what I would really love to do is work for myself and tiling is something I would like to do, I am very good at diy and have done most things to a high standard at home. Now I won't just give up my job as that is just stupid but would like to start off part time when Iam on my time at home and build up the cofidence and knowledge I need. Hopefully doing a good job and getting my name out there.

Can you guys tell me best ways to start, what sort off money can be made, any other things i should or shouldn't do??????

Thanks Brian.

 

[Tony73]

Hi, the best way to sart is to work with a pro tiler for a year, so you would get an idea about tiling/stone fitting. and then you could start on your own, but you will be lucky if you make 25k a year as a starter 🙂

 

[Ian]

Welcome along to TF. Where abouts in the country are you? As mentioned above, try to shadow a pro tiler when you can but, before that go on a short course to get an introduction into the trade, so that when you get the chance to work with a pro tiler you aren't going in blind.

 

[Stef]

Hi, Dont be kidded that you will see your family if you become a tiler.

If you do go for a career change & you build up a good reputation then you will inevitably be working a lot of crazy hours.

I have worked 82hrs this week & we are back out tomorrow, done a 19.5hr shift yesterday. tonight was the first ive seen the kids from sunday.

As tony says, you would be as well trying to get a pro tiler to take you on as a labourer as it takes a long time to pick up all skills needed.

good luck.

 

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

Hi Brian and welcome to TF, as above tiling is not something you can become a master of in the short term. It takes many years, also in this climate there are master craftsmen struggling to keep busy.

Don't want to sound negative, but I am quiet atm and I am time served with over 40yrs experience. Most of my work comes from recommendations, my reputation took years to build and I am now having to work away from home, to keep going.

In a nut shell, I would say if you are earning 65k in your current job, stick with it, because you will not make anywhere near that as a rookie tiler. Good luck in your career choice.

 

[19bri79]

hi am in central scotland.
I know some off you are thinking why give up 65k. I am used to working the long hard hours but at least i will be home in my own house at night at home for xmas birthdays etc..
What sort off course do yous recommend....
Also you guy's must be making a living from it or you wouldn't be putting in the hours/ effort

 

[Ian]

I'll be straight up Brian, I make a good living now, but it has taken years to get here and it sure ain't 65k per year!

 

[lukeb]

Hi, Dont be kidded that you will see your family if you become a tiler.

If you do go for a career change & you build up a good reputation then you will inevitably be working a lot of crazy hours.

I have worked 82hrs this week & we are back out tomorrow, done a 19.5hr shift yesterday. tonight was the first ive seen the kids from sunday.

Agree,sad but true.

 

[tobins tiling]

As above mate in a nut shell but hope you can find a medium to see your family more as I have young family but at least I get to tuck them in and wake up with them but I do work long hours and don't get nowhere near as much time with them as I would like

 

[Stef]

Im with Brian on that, i really struggled to start with but i dont make £65k. i do have a good living.

Phil Hobson is 1 of the best tilers in the game & hes slack so its not an easy game.

 

[Tony73]

good living if you realy good tiler/stone fitter and if you have few tilers working for you. but it takes years to get to that point (reputation, contacts) 🙂

 

[John Benton]

Welcome Brian

I gave up a very good salaried job, company car etc, to get back to a hands on role nearly 7 years ago, and although I don't earn anywhere near as much as I used to do I am happier in my lifestyle. It's not always about the ££££. All money gives you is choice. You can have a car if you're earning £20k a year and you can have a nicer car if you earn £50k.

It will take time to build up a reputation and one bad job to ruin it. If you can, as the other guys have said, try to tail a pro and don't be afraid to ask questions. If you don't you'll never get any answers!

Can I just ask how old you are?

Good luck

 

[19bri79]

mmmmm lots to think about ???????

 

[Tony73]

i gues he is 33 :whistling:

 

[bugs183]

Being self employed is hard to see from the eyes of someone who's employed.
Us guys can make a living, but as you say we HAVE to put the hours in for alsorts of reasons.
First you work all day, then measure jobs do paper work ,invoice and research info on jobs in the evening, and it could be all evening for a week!
Cash flow, if someone is late paying, and you haven't budgeted you have to go to work to cover it, then that person could be late paying and it starts again.
A job could go over for whatever reason, and it has to be done, say goodbye to your planned day off or evening out with the missus or worse still the boys!! I've even cancelled holidays for work.
Tax, you have to save it, but if someone hasn't paid or you need new tools you need to pay for the tax and that new thing, so off to work you go!!
Once the ball starts rolling you can't easily jump off as you still need to pay that years tax, so unless you have a nest egg just stopping being self employed is really really hard.
But, you are you're own boss, you make the decisions and you don't have to work for people you don't like.
I wouldn't have it any other way, but don't for one second think you won't be working weekends or downing tools at 4.30 pm.

 

[Ian]

i gues he is 33 :whistling:

Or 32 :smilewinkgrin:

 

[19bri79]

mmmmm lots to think about ???????

 

[19bri79]

LOL yes 33yrs old

 

[Ian]

Being self employed is hard to see from the eyes of someone who's employed.
Us guys can make a living, but as you say we HAVE to put the hours in for alsorts of reasons.
First you work all day, then measure jobs do paper work ,invoice and research info on jobs in the evening, and it could be all evening for a week!
Cash flow, if someone is late paying, and you haven't budgeted you have to go to work to cover it, then that person could be late paying and it starts again.
A job could go over for whatever reason, and it has to be done, say goodbye to your planned day off or evening out with the missus or worse still the boys!! I've even cancelled holidays for work.
Tax, you have to save it, but if someone hasn't paid or you need new tools you need to pay for the tax and that new thing, so off to work you go!!
Once the ball starts rolling you can't easily jump off as you still need to pay that years tax, so unless you have a nest egg just stopping being self employed is really really hard.
But, you are you're own boss, you make the decisions and you don't have to work for people you don't like.
I wouldn't have it any other way, but don't for one second think you won't be working weekends or downing tools at 4.30 pm.

Very wise words.

 

[John Benton]

i gues he is 33 :whistling:

Spotted that after I posted :mad2:

 

[Tony73]

was not easy to gues :whistling: (19bri79)

 

[John Benton]

was not easy to gues :whistling: (19bri79)

He could still be 32

 

[bugs183]

We're not being all precious and trying to put you off, it is a rewarding job.
If you have savings, a small mortgage and the proper understanding that you WILL be at least halving your income, at the very least, then go for it!
But do your sums, how much a year do you need to live, how may days or hours are you prepared to work?£20,000 plus isn't too hard to achieve, but we are in a recession and even the best have struggled.
To even break £30,000 a year requires lots of work, to hit £60,000 unless you have a really good team of blokes, steady work and really reliable customers would be very very difficult to achieve, and you wouldn't be seeing much of your family.

 

[Stef]

Buy the daily star & you will see the advert,

3 day tiling course, earn £40k a year..:incazzato::mad2:

 

[19bri79]

I work hard and have got to where Iam through pushing myself. My wife and me run our own salon already so know how hard working for yourself is but that dosen't put me off at all.
Never shy away from work got a mate with his own building business who would get me work if i was good enough also know a few self employed joiners and decorators who am sure will put my name out...
This thread is giving me some good advice keep it coming...thanks

 

[White Room]

I work hard and have got to where Iam through pushing myself. My wife and me run our own salon already so know how hard working for yourself is but that dosen't put me off at all.
Never shy away from work got a mate with his own building business who would get me work if i was good enough also know a few self employed joiners and decorators who am sure will put my name out...
This thread is giving me some good advice keep it coming...thanks

If is a big word and to be good enough may take longer than expected.....if you have contacts, joiners, decorators etc what happens when they go quiet, theres a good chance they will have a stab at tiling if thats all there is...as a plumber does with me.

 

[dave l and l]

i ma from central belt and i can tell you its tough out here at the mo. i am well established and i am not as busy as i would like, starting out from scratch would be hard at the mo. i know a few decent tilers who have been about for years that have no work.. however i know a tiler who has not long started out and he says he is doing well, but that can be just talk.
to earn money you need to learn how to tile then get to a decent level and do it at a decent speed ,this takes time but can be achieved in a few short years

 

[Diamond Pool Finishers]

go on a three day course, get a van full of tools, and have a go, ......... there are loads like that out here ,you will just be another, take a chance it might pay off for you

 

[Diamond Pool Finishers]

oh and put a cooker in the van,and when your not tiling you can do fish & chip's, or use a taxi and put your tools in the boot and if your not tiling you can take a few fare's.....

 

[19bri79]

Definately going to book a course and get the tools and start off slowly and gradually build it up then hopefully get good at it then who knows may have to take it up full time. Any good courses in the central belt? No one has actually said how much can be made just a monthly average would be good to start. You can pm me if you like Thanks.

 

[Rick-o]

I went on a four week course to start off..Was very good on the technical side of things (weights substrates can take, setting out etc...) but definately needed to do a year or so under an established tiler of 20 years, to work out the real standard that work should be carried out to!!