Just starting out...

[Deleted member 46792]

Hello I'm not totally new to this forum as I got some valuable advice on here last year re: tiling my bathroom floor. But subsequently I took a tiling course at UK Pro tiling. It was a really excellent course and covered so much and now I'm looking for my next move. Whilst I have some DIY experience and experience on a short course and a lot of theoretical knowledge, I dont feel particularly confident marketing myself as a professional tiler - because I am not - in order to find some work to get the experience. Chicken and egg type thing. I work as a web developer so I ultimately I should be sorted for online marketing etc. I thought about asking around for work experience but not sure how that would go down. Does anyone experienced in the trade have any suggestions on building confidence, getting experience?

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Welcome and good luck.
Your situation has been discussed many times on the forum and there is mixed replies.
How do you get experience without doing jobs, and should you be charging for work that you have no experience in doing.
I am not the right person to give advise on this one really as my position is this is a trade and as such an apprenticeship is the only way forward.

 

[One Day]

I started out from a sales role. Totally no idea what i was doing looking back. I'd done a bit of this and that, thought tiling was easy.
I think my sales skills helped me talk my way into jobs. Then it was a case of making sure i actually delivered the goods. a very tough few first years followed. I earned nothing because i was so slow. Quality always first, speed comes in time.
If you always turn out a good job, then you have as much right to be tiling as a time served tiler in my (inflammatory) opinion!

 

[Time's Ran Out]

Still comes down to charging people for work you have no experience in doing - that's morally wrong!

 

[hmtiling]

I did a an apprenticeship and it was all ceramics back then. I learnt a lot more after it and am still learning now.

 

[One Day]

Still comes down to charging people for work you have no experience in doing - that's morally wrong!

It is if you are pretending you are experienced. If you're upfront and honest and yet can convince the householder to take you on - that's ok surely?

 

[Blunt Tool]

Hello I'm not totally new to this forum as I got some valuable advice on here last year re: tiling my bathroom floor. But subsequently I took a tiling course at UK Pro tiling. It was a really excellent course and covered so much and now I'm looking for my next move. Whilst I have some DIY experience and experience on a short course and a lot of theoretical knowledge, I dont feel particularly confident marketing myself as a professional tiler - because I am not - in order to find some work to get the experience. Chicken and egg type thing. I work as a web developer so I ultimately I should be sorted for online marketing etc. I thought about asking around for work experience but not sure how that would go down. Does anyone experienced in the trade have any suggestions on building confidence, getting experience?

Hi, have a look around your area, local tilers, tile shops etc and see if an experienced tiler is willing to take you on to gain more experience and the longer you are with him the more confidence you will acquire

 

[Deleted member 46792]

Thanks very much for the feedback. Much appreciated.

 

[Italy]

welcome

 

[rufus the tiler]

Like I always say to people is that I could teach anyone to tile in a day.....ie where to start from...wall prep....room measurements.....cutting tiles wet and dry.....trim cutting....what products.....etc etc.....then they would be able to tile to a good standard until they come across issues which happen a lot such as walls out and uneven walls etc....these things will need someone with a bit of savvy to work out how to overcome them.........this is what slows you down when first starting out but a bit of pointing out by an experienced tiler and you will get there.....but under no circumstances cut corners to speed you up......at this quiet time you will need good reveiws