How much experience did you gain before going self employed?

[pearsgb]

Hi just wondering out of the self employed guys on here how much experience you gained before making the move to work for yourself?

I quite fancy starting up alone and doing mostly domestic works but i havent got much post apprenticeship experience to draw on and been away from the trade for a few years.

To regain some familiarity i was even wondering if it would be a good idea to do a domestic installer (Electrical Trainee i have seen it called on here ) course.

 

[Andy78]

About 8 years.
This experience included commercial, domestic, and light industrial installation work. Also estimating and tender preparation, creating site specifications and drawings, as well as running jobs on site.

 

[guest119]

Depends on how good an apprenticeship you received.

Boydy

 

[joelypops]

I was on the cards for about 7 years with two companies. Did my time with a heavy industrial firm, got laid off then went into house bashing and commercial with a little light industrial. Fell out with the boss so decided it was time to go self employed. Started subbing for a 'mate' who knocked me me £1500 then thought ive seen how not to do it twice, surely i can do better than this! And here i am

 

[Welchyboy1]

Apprenticeship then around 4 years thereafter, looking back now i was still wet behind the ears even then


so i can only say these 5 week courses must be damn good!

 

[Octopus]

Going SE is not just about the cables and switches. Its about dealing with clients, suppliers, manufacturers, builders, kitchen fitters, and very importantly understanding all the different types of building construction........

 

[sythai]

Going SE is not just about the cables and switches. Its about dealing with clients, suppliers, manufacturers, builders, kitchen fitters, and very importantly understanding all the different types of building construction........

Well put mate...... and to add to that your organisational and paperwork skills must be spot on if you really want to succeed above the rest.

 

[MDJ]

Hi just wondering out of the self employed guys on here how much experience you gained before making the move to work for yourself?

I quite fancy starting up alone and doing mostly domestic works but i havent got much post apprenticeship experience to draw on and been away from the trade for a few years.

To regain some familiarity i was even wondering if it would be a good idea to do a domestic installer (Electrical Trainee i have seen it called on here ) course.

A lot, however I would suggest having contacts who trust you and who will give you work more important than how many years you have in experience.

 

[GMES]

For me I was with a firm for 11 years industrial & commercial .it wasn't a very nice firm to work for, but it paid the bills, one good thing about it looking back was that the boss was a waste of space when it came to dealing with customers but was a fantastic fault finder, plc.'s etc.
so we would end up dealing with the clients, i.e. pricing jobs, sourcing materials, doing the job and then the paperwork. so to be fair we were all but self employed in theory, which I know set me in good stead for my solo career. my ex boss always said I had the gift of the gab when dealing with the customers, which believe me goes a long way to succeeding in this game.