How long you been doing this?

[robw]

Hi all,
I have not done a course yet, just in the middle of arranging one but was wondering what do you new tilers do when you go to a job and maybe the customer asks: So tell me how long have you been doing this?
How do you feel telling them that you have maybe just finished a 4,5 or 6 week course or a 4 day course,
I only ask this as I spoke to a tiler the other day who has been doing it for 17 years and is time served with the intention of getting his thoughts on courses and he said he wouldn't like to have someone in his house doing work who has only done a short course.
Don't know how customers would feel or how I would feel telling them this.

Cheers
Rob

[andy-p]

your best bet would be to give the customer a bit of the old flannel !! i mean would you be happy if you went to the dentist and he told you he has just came of a 4 day course !! mums the word and keep schtum

[MrSpoon]

i did a 4 day course at the end of april and i openly admit to customers that im quite new to tiling (if they ask) but i think with the ammount of information ive taken in from this site and help and guidance from my regular adhesive company and tile store i can reassure them that im more than up to the job all about how you perform when you go to give a quote really, if you go in there and scratch your head they'll probably start asking questions, but if you go in there confident and recommend things and suggest doing something this way or that way blah blah because of x reason and how it would benifit them blah blah and show them a portfolio of work you have previously done and give them a decent quote then theres no reason why they wont get you to do the job, afterall selling yourself is going to be number 1 as soon as you arrive at their house to the moment you leave, i've never had anyone ask for proof of training (apart from when i worked on site) just get some experience tiling for friends and family then tell your other customers youve been in the game for a few years if need be

just out of interest, what course are you planning on embarking upon?

[andy-p]

good answer spoony !!

[robw]

Yes good answer thanks, Think I am going to do a 4 week course at scottish trades training centre, can do more or less if i want.

[brian c]

why do you need to tell the customer how long you have been tiling?Just be confident and make sure you know what you are talking about with regards substrates adhesives and grout and how you prepare substrates for tiling and you will be fine once you have all this knowledge.

[MrSpoon]

cool, go for it and good luck

[robw]

Nearly spat my tea all over the screen with that dentist one andy

[charlie1]

As Brian say's do not mention how long you have been tiling for. If the customer mentions it then just lie

If you make an arse of the job it wont make a difference how long you have been tiling for. You are going to need to turn out a pro-result weather you have been tiling for a year or 20 yrs so if you feel that yu cant do as good a job as the other guy who has been at it for 10 yrs then you would be better off telling the customer that you will only be doing a half decent job cos you have only been tiling for a year.

However if you feel your job will be as good as the other guy then whats the problem with telling a wee white fib.

Now if you have a problem wth your concience but you stil feel the need to lie then you need to bend the truth a wee bit so it becomes more palletabile to yourself.

[graham31]

.

Now if you have a problem wth your concience but you stil feel the need to lie then you need to bend the truth a wee bit so it becomes more palletabile to yourself.

or just go to confession.The big fellow always forgives you

[Grace'sDad]

I don't like lieing - (in fact that's a big part of why I left my well-paid "career" and moved into tiling) so I simply said that I have been tiling on & off for about 9 years (true, as I have always done my own tiling) but that I only went self-employed recently. Then I keep talking and swing the conversation away from this!

If they kept on, and asked who I used to work for - then I came clean and told them the full story.

Afraid it's a tough but inevitable part of starting out, until you get a few good jobs under your belt!

[daj5451]

I wouldn`nt worry too much about the customer asking how long you have been tiling,i havent had that question fired at me in the 2 years ive been tiling.Be confident in yourself.What spoony says is a good answer.Dont give the customer reason to question you.

Good Luck

[smurf21]

My Advice is dont lie if a customer asks they have a right to know. if your doing a four day course and you think this gives you the experience you need to do a first rate job and your confident in that fact then be honest and tell your customers your treating them like guinea pigs. If a four day course is all you have under your belt mate imo you shouldnt be going it alone yet. get some experience with another tiler so you have a support base first.

[bearwithme]

start tiling for family and friends who know that you've done the course (will give you some leeway). not only will you get practice and build speed and confidence but if you take your time and do a good job, they'll tell friends about you and the circle will get bigger and you'll get better. take the time to get on line and ask all the questions you can think of, the lads on here know their stuff and are all really helpful. don't rush, it'll take time, but before you know it you'll be advising customers and giving them facts about how the job should done correctly. don't feel intimidated about being new to the game and don't be tempted to take a job on unless you know you can do it well. from there its more about selling yourself and why customers should choose you over others. good luck mate

[bearwithme]

smurf posted while i was typing. good point dont lie, you'll get caught out! if you dont know something just tell em and say you'll get back to em. if you explain your new to the game most people will accept you saying " i'd rather not blag you, i dont know the answer but i'll find out because i like 100% certain that im doin the best job possible" most people are decent and yes you'll lose a few jobs but rather that than flapping about bein caught out when your just startin. you wont need any extra stress, trust me.

[graham31]

Robw how many times have you got someone in to do a job what ever it is and how many time have you asked if their qualified?

I've never asked a tradesmen if their qualified.

I think this question will come up once in a blue moon

[Fekin]

Don't ever get asked now, and all I said back when I started was quite a while

[robw]

Hi all,
Any jobs I couldn't do myself then they were done by mates, but if I got some one new in then I always asked how long they had been doing the job. Just in conversation mind, it was while they were doing the job.

[pjtiler]

once you start bull sh!ting punters your on a very slippery slope
it will come back and hit you in the eye