Hi all, been a user of the forum for many years now as a complete lurker and throughout this time I would firstly like to thanks everyone for their extensive knowledge and advice across the board. Ive probably learnt more valuable knowledge on this webpage over the past three years than I did on my city and guilds.
Now my question isn't anything technical related its more an issue where I'm losing faith in the trade and looking how you lot manage with it all. My gripes start with the more I learn about the industry the more I realise I don't know, but still expected to. Ive been in the game since i was 17 and I'm now almost 30. Still a baby in the grand scheme of things but in a lot of other industries I feel with such a gain in experience and knowledge that would warrant a much greater pay and position increase. When the sad reality is that I am earning the same money as the newly qualified lad who's just turned 24 and we both hold the same job title. Its a kick in the teeth. I feel as though you hit the ceiling pretty early as a sparky with no if any opportunities to progress any further? For info I am a sub contractor (albeit full time) currently earning ÂŁ18p/h north west UK.
Always read and hear the phrase "Everyday is a school day" which isn't necessary a bad thing as it keeps things interesting, although what really bugs me is how in our trade we are held more accountable than most other trades on the job eg fire, manslaughter etc. but we're not paid much more in the long run? Painters behind me filling holes and at worst painting a wall the wrong colour? Plasterers whisking a mix what can go wrong? Joiners cutting wood, woops cut that too short no problem just get another piece! Plus the bricky outside and the ceiling fitters screwing pieces of tin together somehow earning more than us. How is this the case given the responsibility we have? Not taking anything away from said trades they are all very skilled professions but come on, the regs are a minefield yet somehow we're expected to adhere to said regs, whilst trying to finish projects on time and still make profit given how tight the price is and the schedule of works.
The latest topic I'm reading up on is the mini EICRs that are recommended before commencing any work, how are blokes out there making money spending time doing things like that before they give a customer an initial quote? Its an ideal circumstance and in my experience 90% of the time the circumstance isn't ideal.
This week had a sit down with the gaffer and put a quote together on 10 new builds at which we would be doing at a price that would pay the lads, run the vans and pay wages with much potential as with previous installs to blow the budget given overlooked aspects of the job or when the builder decides to add extras here and there but hit the roof if we dare put an extras bill in. I know the word is that no one makes much if any profit on new builds but what is the point in bothering if thats the case. (Builder does give us commercial work that we do make money on so its swings and roundabouts but still..).
I am having a huge moan here but a bad day has turned into a bad week so Im just out here venting and asking for advice on how you guys deal with this as I'm certain I'm not the only one thats had these thoughts cross their minds. If I knew what I knew now back when I was 17 handing my CV in to my first employer I would have told myself - Don't bother, its not worth the hassle!!
Thanks in advance for getting the violins out.
Now my question isn't anything technical related its more an issue where I'm losing faith in the trade and looking how you lot manage with it all. My gripes start with the more I learn about the industry the more I realise I don't know, but still expected to. Ive been in the game since i was 17 and I'm now almost 30. Still a baby in the grand scheme of things but in a lot of other industries I feel with such a gain in experience and knowledge that would warrant a much greater pay and position increase. When the sad reality is that I am earning the same money as the newly qualified lad who's just turned 24 and we both hold the same job title. Its a kick in the teeth. I feel as though you hit the ceiling pretty early as a sparky with no if any opportunities to progress any further? For info I am a sub contractor (albeit full time) currently earning ÂŁ18p/h north west UK.
Always read and hear the phrase "Everyday is a school day" which isn't necessary a bad thing as it keeps things interesting, although what really bugs me is how in our trade we are held more accountable than most other trades on the job eg fire, manslaughter etc. but we're not paid much more in the long run? Painters behind me filling holes and at worst painting a wall the wrong colour? Plasterers whisking a mix what can go wrong? Joiners cutting wood, woops cut that too short no problem just get another piece! Plus the bricky outside and the ceiling fitters screwing pieces of tin together somehow earning more than us. How is this the case given the responsibility we have? Not taking anything away from said trades they are all very skilled professions but come on, the regs are a minefield yet somehow we're expected to adhere to said regs, whilst trying to finish projects on time and still make profit given how tight the price is and the schedule of works.
The latest topic I'm reading up on is the mini EICRs that are recommended before commencing any work, how are blokes out there making money spending time doing things like that before they give a customer an initial quote? Its an ideal circumstance and in my experience 90% of the time the circumstance isn't ideal.
This week had a sit down with the gaffer and put a quote together on 10 new builds at which we would be doing at a price that would pay the lads, run the vans and pay wages with much potential as with previous installs to blow the budget given overlooked aspects of the job or when the builder decides to add extras here and there but hit the roof if we dare put an extras bill in. I know the word is that no one makes much if any profit on new builds but what is the point in bothering if thats the case. (Builder does give us commercial work that we do make money on so its swings and roundabouts but still..).
I am having a huge moan here but a bad day has turned into a bad week so Im just out here venting and asking for advice on how you guys deal with this as I'm certain I'm not the only one thats had these thoughts cross their minds. If I knew what I knew now back when I was 17 handing my CV in to my first employer I would have told myself - Don't bother, its not worth the hassle!!
Thanks in advance for getting the violins out.
