Career path choices?

[macka09]

Amen to that.
Just to buy my 3 & 1 yr old children shoes and a coat eAch cost me nearly 2 days wages. Not named gear either.
Over a days wages for a weeks shop, without nappies or toiletries.
The maths don't add up at all at the moment which is why something needs to change. Fortunately me or the mrs don't drink or smoke and we certainly couldn't afford to now lol

 

[Rickster123]

How many kids do you have Billy?

Thats not the point at all. Billy trained early in life. His choice. Macka has trained later. His choice.

 

[Killy Bing]

How many kids do you have Billy?

none, i had to be supported myself during that period (18 to 22)

nor would i expect anyone to work to those wages i listed, however that was my route, others have done it on less !!!

if i had kids that i couldn't support i would be applying for other jobs and asking what i need to do to earn more in that role

 

[macka09]

I will always appreciate the fact he gave me an opportunity but 2 years in and no rise, no benefits and no sign of anything changing I need to look elsewhere.
The day he told me he was driven by money put it all in to perspective for me. I also know he lied to my colleague who recently joined us, about what he was looking for in a employee. So I know he can't be trusted either.

 

[macka09]

What do you think I should be able to do unsupervised for £60 a day?

 

[Killy Bing]

Ah billy, good to see you're still alive. Did you ever digitise all those training manuals I gave you? Would be good to share them out on here like you said.

i am alive !!

they are on my training shelf in my bedroom, i need to get them scanned and copied!!

i also need to take you for a curry and a pint with added apologies.....

 

[wetdrip]

This thread has changed the I feel about my son becoming a plumber gas engineer.
Full stop.
I'm taking a holiday from here.

 

[Rickster123]

This thread has changed the I feel about my son becoming a plumber gas engineer.
Full stop.
I'm taking a holiday from here.

Why? You start at the bottom. It's always been that way hasn't it? Money gets better over time but it's not an overnight fix.

 

[macka09]

Who as an apprentice was sent from birmingham to London to first fix a bathroom and a downstairs WC? Also installing a secondary stub stack in there first 3 months on the job lol.
Unsupervised.

 

[iain85]

You owe me nothing but would be nice to see you before I head abroad. I hope life is treating me well?

If you're pressed for time lad I'll get them back of you and send them on. Up to you but would be nice for as many people as possible to gain from them.

i am alive !!

they are on my training shelf in my bedroom, i need to get them scanned and copied!!

i also need to take you for a curry and a pint with added apologies.....

 

[Millsy 82]

I would be looking, I managed to get a hefty pay rise (although only to what you are on now) I was massively out of my comfort zone and it was a sink or swim situation, if it wasn't for another bloke helping me I would of sank massively but after 3 months I was holding my own and 6 months I started flourishing.

What do you get through in a day?

Most companies I've worked for over the past few years

Installers have been on about £25000 a year and expected to do a neat combi swap in a day.

Service and breakdown engineers between £26-28000 and expected 8+ jobs a day average with no more than 10% call back.

 

[macka09]

We're not your standard company like that which is probably one of the issues. We do a lot of boiler installs and domestic bathroom renovations. Full heating system upgrades also

 

[Millsy 82]

Why? You start at the bottom. It's always been that way hasn't it? Money gets better over time but it's not an overnight fix.

It's the same in every job.

There does seem to be a lot of people do 6-8 week courses and expect to be earning 70k a year. Not completely there fault I don't think anyone would do them if they got told once you complete you will be on minimum wage for a year and then it will start creeping up!

 

[Millsy 82]

We're not your standard company like that which is probably one of the issues. We do a lot of boiler installs and domestic bathroom renovations. Full heating system upgrades also

How long would it take you to do a combi swap?

 

[macka09]

No 6-8 week course here and I don't expect 70k a year. Just advice really.

 

[macka09]

A day.

 

[macka09]

I don't know if that's good or bad but my colleague can do it in 3 hours lol.

 

[macka09]

So are we paid on time served or how quick we can do something? Or how many things we can do?

 

[Millsy 82]

No 6-8 week course here and I don't expect 70k a year. Just advice really.

Sorry wasn't aimed at you. Just quite a few people that come and go and phone looking for work.

 

[Rickster123]

A day is good going at two years in. Fair play on that. A bbu to combi? Unsupervised?

 

[Millsy 82]

A day.

As long as it's neat you will get £90 a day easy on most companies.

 

[Millsy 82]

A day is good going at two years in. Fair play on that. A bbu to combi? Unsupervised?

Take me about a week! Lol.

 

[macka09]

A day is good going at two years in. Fair play on that. A bbu to combi? Unsupervised?

I haven't done that on my own as yet if I'm honest. Between 2 of us it took a day including fitting a new radiator and the flue through the roof.

 

[Rickster123]

So are we paid on time served or how quick we can do something? Or how many things we can do?

Yeah basically. The more you can do the more you earn the employer. The more you earn him the more you should earn. You've got acs now. That's a huge plus on your side. Makes you more employable but the years of experience will count against you a bit. So you need to be able to sell yourself on what you can do.

 

[macka09]

I'm not trying to say I can do everything or that I can do everything really quick but I feel I deserve more than £60.
When I set out to do this career I didn't know whether I could do it or not and i wouldn't expect a rise if I was still at square one in respect to what I'm able to do.

 

[Rickster123]

I'm not trying to say I can do everything or that I can do everything really quick but I feel I deserve more than £60.
When I set out to do this career I didn't know whether I could do it or not and o wouldn't expect a rise of was still at square one in respect to what I'm able to do.

Tell him tomorrow! Don't put it off because it will just **** you off more and it will end in tears. But have a figure ready incase he asks what you want. So have a number and add 20 quid to it.

 

[macka09]

Tell him tomorrow! Don't put it off because it will just **** you off more and it will end in tears. But have a figure ready incase he asks what you want. So have a number and add 20 quid to it.

I don't think £220 will go down well lol.

 

[Rickster123]

I don't think £220 will go down well lol.

Is that what you think you are worth?

 

[macka09]

No that's a joke.

 

[Rickster123]

No that's a joke.

Good. 250 is a nicer number!

 

[macka09]

Lol that would be nice.

 

[Neil K]

Good advice given here and I know how you feel. When I was an apprentice I did a couple of shifts in the local pub at weekends to buck up my wages. Have a chat with your boss about it, be polite and have all your ducks in a row ie. Have a figure in your head etc. If he doesn't bite then so be it. Start looking for a new job, leave WHEN YOU'RE READY and picked the best possible fit for a new job, leave having given him notice and on good terms. You'll have done everything possible at that stage and it'll onwards and upwards to the next stage of your professional life. Good luck

 

[Neil K]

Good advice given here and I know how you feel. When I was an apprentice I did a couple of shifts in the local pub at weekends to buck up my wages. Have a chat with your boss about it, be polite and have all your ducks in a row ie. Have a figure in your head etc. If he doesn't bite then so be it. Start looking for a new job, leave WHEN YOU'RE READY and picked the best possible fit for a new job, leave having given him notice and on good terms. You'll have done everything possible at that stage and it'll onwards and upwards to the next stage of your professional life. Good luck

Forgot to include, when I was an apprentice. ....I didn't have mouths to feed!

 

[macka09]

I appreciate all your advice thank you.

 

[plumben]

I appreciate all your advice thank you.

I think when you go to work tomorrow, have a good chat with your boss about your situation, obviously your kids are always going to come first, tell him you would like to continue working for him but can't survive on your wage and would like a pay rise and even some overtime and see where it goes