Western Province
New Member
Fellas, after reading that post about a young guy debating to become a plasterer or go to uni, I was wondering how many of u set out to go into the trade, or did u just find yourself there one day?!
I started out on the sites as a kid. Disliked it. Did a few office jobs, then decided to go to university at 23. Had a great time and met a lot of good people. (My debt wasn't huge as tutor fees did not exist, and my year was one of the last to get a grant). Armed with my degree (History). I fell into accountancy as there was not a lot else around, and basically travelled on and off for 4 years, doing whatever temp jobs I could find.
After living abroad, the UK was an eye-opener! accounting jobs were low paid/boring/stressful and full of petty people. Then (ironically) on a team-building day, the realisation hit me of being stuck in an office 8hrs a day listening to inane talk of diets/eastenders/xfactor etc for the rest of my life!
I bought a house needing renovation, and practiced my old skills on doing it up. Then I joined a plasterer pal out on jobs to get back up to speed.
Good things about plastering: Mostly you are own boss, a plastered wall/room/ceiling looks great, its a 'real' skill and hopefully will always be in demand (as opposed to 'jobs' such as Youth network social care co-ordinator etc),
Bad things: Many plasterers have to chase jobs then don't get them, a lot of under/over-pricing from competitors can mean u have to barter for a decent wage, you cannot have an off day and do a half-job, and joints get worse as you get older!
I started out on the sites as a kid. Disliked it. Did a few office jobs, then decided to go to university at 23. Had a great time and met a lot of good people. (My debt wasn't huge as tutor fees did not exist, and my year was one of the last to get a grant). Armed with my degree (History). I fell into accountancy as there was not a lot else around, and basically travelled on and off for 4 years, doing whatever temp jobs I could find.
After living abroad, the UK was an eye-opener! accounting jobs were low paid/boring/stressful and full of petty people. Then (ironically) on a team-building day, the realisation hit me of being stuck in an office 8hrs a day listening to inane talk of diets/eastenders/xfactor etc for the rest of my life!
I bought a house needing renovation, and practiced my old skills on doing it up. Then I joined a plasterer pal out on jobs to get back up to speed.
Good things about plastering: Mostly you are own boss, a plastered wall/room/ceiling looks great, its a 'real' skill and hopefully will always be in demand (as opposed to 'jobs' such as Youth network social care co-ordinator etc),
Bad things: Many plasterers have to chase jobs then don't get them, a lot of under/over-pricing from competitors can mean u have to barter for a decent wage, you cannot have an off day and do a half-job, and joints get worse as you get older!
