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]

Originally Posted by charlie1

.

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