trade

[novalew]

i'm currently weighing up my options on careers, i'm 29 and have done menial office work for 11 years (9 without a sick day to date) i have a family but i want to do something different. I cant quit my job, has anyone on here ever completed an evening course and found good work after?

also which trades are easier to learn this way? any advice is appreciated.

[Hobbit]

I'm in the same boat ish, bored of wagon driving so thinking of learning a trade. I'm thinking plumbing, fed up working 70+ hour weeks for the man, would rather be working long hours for myself

[novalew]

the only problem is are evening courses expansive enough?, is that what you would be looking at Hobbit?

[Stuart]

Would a course teach you what you NEED to know, or just some tat that might be of help. I mean when I need to do some dIY jobs I will watch a youtube vid of someone doing said job...... Better than a class as its practical info rather than a pretend syllabus.

[Hobbit]

Courses i have looked at involve practical stuff too. I'm lucky that I've moved back in with my dad so i can afford to work a 4 day week while i train if need be. Think i'd struggle doing an evening course. Doubt i'd take much in after a full days work.

[novalew]

Would a course teach you what you NEED to know, or just some tat that might be of help. I mean when I need to do some dIY jobs I will watch a youtube vid of someone doing said job...... Better than a class as its practical info rather than a pretend syllabus.
i agree but i'm going to need some sort of qualification to get a foot through the door

[Tony M]

I'm 27 and realised after 10years of rubbish jobs I should have went into a trade when leaving school. Recently I've applied for apprenticeships but don't seem to be going anywhere at all.

[_Jake]

im 18 work full time and do an evening course. Dint wanna do daytime education when i left school as our education system is complete shyte and should die. i get it free because im only young (what they said anyway) but my dad did the same course as me and it was £900 odd iirc. Im doing welding and fabrication and its pretty good, obviously its going to vary from college to college but ive found that they actually treat you like a human being rather than a toddler and dont fill you fulla **** either, just tell you what you need to know to get the bit of paper + always happy to help with anything else. but thats what i would expected from an evening course anyway. my qaulification at the end is a lvl 3 diploma & could lead to coding & ASME qaulifications if i pursue it further. I'd say go for it, not much to lose! other than £900 lol

[Andy]

Buy a window cleaning business/round off somebody.Or walk the streets canvassing yourself like i did
Very easy to make alot of money,you get out of it what you put into it,guaranteed income as most get done every month.

[mowgli]

I'm 27 and realised after 10years of rubbish jobs I should have went into a trade when leaving school. Recently I've applied for apprenticeships but don't seem to be going anywhere at all.

nobody takes on anyone other than a school leaver for an apprenticeship, cos they get govt. money to take kids on..


there is no magic fix. basically, you have to decide what you want to do/have a skill in/ actually want to do for the rest of your life, then go for it...

i don't have many real qualifications worth having, but i have practical experience & the ability to turn my hand to anything. i wish i had a trade as such, but it hasn't held me back.

[Stuart]

Buy a window cleaning business/round off somebody.Or walk the streets canvassing yourself like i did
Very easy to make alot of money,you get out of it what you put into it,guaranteed income as most get done every month.

Must be a norvern thing, I've never seen a window cleaner/business round here lol

[Andy]

Must be a norvern thing, I've never seen a window cleaner/business round here lol
What as in any for sale or just them out cleaning in general??
Lots in the south,and theres always work for sale in the south,they are priced a hell of alot better than up here aswell.

[mowgli]

In london, the other week, i saw a window cleaning bloke on a moped, with a large box on the back... I reckon it had a bucket, and kit in it, but i don't think it had a ladder lol lol lol

[Jon_nova1]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Commercial-window-cleaning-round-North-London-/330738819107?pt=UK_B_I_Business_for_Sale_CV&hash=item4d0191e023

Theres one that isn't up norf lol

Its surprising how much you can get out of it, i actually helped a mate out last week and between 3 people we pulled £200 per day and you can get well into 4 figures just by selling a round you canvassed yourself

[Andy]

I can clean £20+per hour on my own easily.
I started with nothing but knowledge on how to do it and being confident when canvassing.
Now i have a 57plate combo and a good little business with still loads of room to add more work,also do gutter/conservatory roof cleans,patio's/decking etc aswell.
Work most saturdays doing stuff like that.
Like the old saying goes-"where theres muck theres brass"

[mowgli]

and andy with a catapult & some food scraps to attract seagulls..........lol

[Andy]

and andy with a catapult & some food scraps to attract seagulls..........lol
Dont need to at this time of year,they are everywhere.Making a right mess,keeping me busy-happy days.

[Stuart]

What as in any for sale or just them out cleaning in general??
Lots in the south,and theres always work for sale in the south,they are priced a hell of alot better than up here aswell.

I mean in general, as in no flyers never see any cars/vans with ladders and never see people getting them cleaned. Maybe its just we get new windows when they get dirty lol

[Andy]

haha.lol
Sounds like a good area to canvass

[mowgli]

i wouldn't go up a ladder near your place stu for fear of a ryanair plane clouting it lol

[Stuart]

None overhead here, they have to stay away from the town (plus the runway is well offline) ;)