gordonu2

Hi all, I'm in a dead end job and in desperate need of a career change not just for myself but for my wife. Someone mentioned tiling and it has been stuck in my head ever since, so I booked a tiling course in a couple of weeks time and been really excited of the prospect of working for myself as a tiler. But i have been reading a lot of posts on this forum and there is 1 that I found worrying. Somebody reckons that only 20-30% of people doing these courses actually become tilers. Could anybody give me any reassurances that the percentage is higher because I feel a bit down now.

Dave

That figure will also include peeps who just do those courses for diy projects and have no intention of becoming a tile fixer..........It is up to the individual as to how much effort they put into making it work for them....

A good business plan goes a long way in this game.......

Dean W

I suppose the first question mate would be what course are you planning on doing as that could no doubt effect your potentail as a tiler.

Varley

Tiling courses will give you the knowledge you need to go out and tile to a good standard, it's adviseable to do a few jobs for friends and family first to find your feet and overcome problems you might encounter. A good tiling course will also give you good marketing strategies to help you get business. What they won't do is actually get the business in for you, and leaving a few tiling cards in a shop or popping in to kitchen or bathroom shops once in a while just won't do it. You have to get out there and really push yourself and sell yourself. You need to make contacts in other trades and pass each other work, this is how you will get regular work in. This all takes time to do so brace yourself for a slow start, but if you really push yourself, market yourself properly and make good contacts then you'll be fine mate.

Varley

gordonu2

I'm doing the 4 day course at NETT. And if everything goes ok i'll do the more advanced 4 day course. I'm planning to buy most of the tools when I get there so that I can get started as quickly as possible but still keep my job going for now. The only thing is my work are looking for redundancies so I could get a redundancy package,so not sure if I should take the plunge straight away or gradually build up the work.

Dave

I would do it gradually gordon......test the water before you jump in for a swim.......

gordonu2

Cheers for the advise, probably lots of sleepless nights to come.

Varley

Yip, that would be my advice too mate.

Varley

poynton phil

i did a 4 wk course at pts warrington, and they do give good tuition on how to tile, and start up your bussiness successfully. But theres a big world out there, with an increasing amount of tilers. So like dave says, its proberbly best to test the water and ease yourself in slowly, but good luck anyway

ChaseTiling

Gordon,

The key to business success is down to the individual. Like any business, it's dog eat dog and the best man wins. If you are good at your job and have great customer service skills combined with an excellent marketing strategy, you are going to win.

It all starts with getting the right training - make sure its an accredited training centre you go to, as contrary to certain individuals beleif - qualifications mean a lot these days

Good luck

Tiling NVQ and Tiling Courses
TF Resident NVQ Advisor: Any questions or advice you need on getting an NVQ, then please ask me. Either PM me or post your questions in the NVQ part of the forum, where I shall be sat.

Fekin

Personally, I think that point could be your down fall im affraid, as you really need the desire to want to be a tiler and not just decide to plump for it after someone mentioned it.

Tiling is a lonely trade really, normally working on your own in someones bathroom ar what have you.
If the desire isn't there to start with your only going to find it even harder to get going than other new tilers that really want to break into this trade for the love of tiling and creating something with your own hands, as many are finding it very difficult anyway.

Just to try and take up tiling just for a job change isn't really the best way to go in my honest opinion.

As for the amount of people actually becomming a tiler after training... it all depends on the desire of the people doing them, and how long do they stick at it too.

Good luck, but the best advise I could say is to really think about it before committing to it

gordonu2

Someone did mention it to me but I had never considered it before. Now that I am doing the course I am 100% focused on it . I want this to work out for myself and my wife. It is a job that really appeals to me and one in which I think I would be good at. I know it will be very difficult but I am willing to give it my all and hopefully everything will work out ok. I think anybody thinking of a career change has worries, I just want to be sure these courses will give me enough knowledge to start up on my own. Cheers