Starting a new career

[Jack Osborne]

Hi all, 

 

I am looking to make a change in career, I’m currently in the military but will be out in November this year. So I’m basically just looking for a bit of advice/guidance on where to begin. 
 

I have found local courses (North Wales) that I could start with to become a competent ground worker that include chainsaw maintenance, cross cutting and felling up to 380mm. This would cost around £1200. 
Once I have completed those courses, would I be right in thinking that I would then be employable at around the £80-£100 a day mark? (Considering I don’t have any of my own PPE as yet)

Any help/advice/guidance would be greatly appreciated. 

 

[Mick Dempsey]

I would say that would be the very least you could expect to earn.

[GarethM]

21 minutes ago, Mick Dempsey said:

I would say that would be the very least you could expect to earn.

Isn't that basically the minimum wage

[Stubby]

I thought you were great in the jungle . 🙂

[Mike Hill]

Have you tried your hand at being a groundy? Maybe volunteer for free at a few firms first,before you shell out for courses.

 

It might be that climbing is what really floats your boat,so your money might be better spent there.

[Mark Bolam]

He’ll need all the ground tickets to be a climber anyway Mike.

 

Good idea trying to do a few days before you commit any cash though.

[Joe Newton]

6 hours ago, Mark Bolam said:

He’ll need all the ground tickets to be a climber anyway Mike.

 

Good idea trying to do a few days before you commit any cash though.

Good point, though you can do your Tree Climbing & Aerial Rescue with no prior tickets.

 

Its definitely worth doing a few days before investing. If dragging brash and humping logs isn't for you it'll save you money on tickets. 

[PeteB]

Whereabouts in North Wales. As others have said, talk to a couple of decent sized firms in the region to ask if you can have some "experience" days as a free brash rat. I say decent sized firms so that if you want to stand/watch, you aren't necessarily hindering the daily ops.

 

Have you considered which sector could float your boat? Rail, Overheads, BT, Domestic, Local Authority or Forestry. Each is different and has its pros and cons? What are your mechanical skills - would you convert to machine ops or even machine maintenence?

[Joe Newton]

9 hours ago, PeteB said:

Whereabouts in North Wales. As others have said, talk to a couple of decent sized firms in the region to ask if you can have some "experience" days as a free brash rat. I say decent sized firms so that if you want to stand/watch, you aren't necessarily hindering the daily ops.

 

Have you considered which sector could float your boat? Rail, Overheads, BT, Domestic, Local Authority or Forestry. Each is different and has its pros and cons? What are your mechanical skills - would you convert to machine ops or even machine maintenence?

I'd never offer to work for free, even as unskilled labour. 

 

 Sets a terrible precedent. 

9 hours ago, PeteB said:

Whereabouts in North Wales. As others have said, talk to a couple of decent sized firms in the region to ask if you can have some "experience" days as a free brash rat. I say decent sized firms so that if you want to stand/watch, you aren't necessarily hindering the daily ops.

 

Have you considered which sector could float your boat? Rail, Overheads, BT, Domestic, Local Authority or Forestry. Each is different and has its pros and cons? What are your mechanical skills - would you convert to machine ops or even machine maintenence?

[Peewit]

32 minutes ago, Joe Newton said:

I'd never offer to work for free, even as unskilled labour. 

 

 Sets a terrible precedent. 

I agree. A sprat to catch a mackerel approach never works. Once you've short-sold yourself it's very hard to level up afterwards. 

I've been a bricklayer for 35 and laying hedges for 43 years, so I spend six months of the year hedging and the other six months on the trowel. This spring I've been offered a biggish job building a large barn as a subbie on a day rate. I haven't worked for the contractor before but they're a family firm and I know the gaffer, his wife and their son well socially. Rather than negotiate a day in the pub beforehand when we're both an unknown quantity to each other, I'll start and work a week on trial and then agree a rate for me to rate continue. We can then assess each other. They can see my worth and I can see what kind of outfit I'm getting myself involved with.