new job!

[sam1]

hey guys,

just went for an interview today to be a plumber apprentice, i got the job starting tomorow.

im 21 years of age, i kno i like plumbing coz i was labouring for a plumber for nearly a year.
My first year apprentice wage is only 280 a week! before this i was clearing 800 labouring for a concreter

does everyone think it will pay off if i complete the apprenticeship?

and does anyone know roughly what a qualified plumber would make a year?

cheers sam

[soop]

I don't know what a qualified plumber makes.
But I've done an apprenticeship as a spray painter and, frankly after four years of shit treatement and pay. You end up with the same wage as someone working at Target...

[sam1]

really? i think a qualified plumber would make more than 20 an hour

what would u reccomend doing?

[Big_Simmo]

How about you dont worry bout the $$
Its a job, if you love the job then the $ is not important....
but in saying that a mate of mine is a qualified plumber and he gets $27 a hour

[soop]

A plumber could well mate. I can't comment on that.

I say do what YOU want to do. If you really want to go that path, then power to you buddy.

One thing I will say though, with trades its long hard days.
When you think about people who do a TAFE course and get an office job that pays them the same amount of money to sit on their arse, and you're out in the sun running back and forth with someone hurling abuse at you.
Thats the reality.

You could argue back and forth about why certain jobs are different to others. But at the end of the day trades ARE harder. Be prepared for that bud.

For the record my Fiancee works at Target and earns $22 and hour. I've seen what she does... I could do it in my sleep.

[sam1]

i like the job i cant promise u i love it though. If you owned your own buisness i think you could clear over 100k a year

[kniever]

isnt 21 classed as an adult apprentice? if it is then you should get closer to $400 a week.

i say stick to it mate and if you are smart enough start working for your self and you will make heaps more money

[sam1]

ill look into it, are there any plumbers on these forums

[Julie]

They can't get paid too much mate, they can't even afford to buy a belt to keep their pants up

[sam1]

i just dont no if it will payy off in the long run

[*uwishn*]

yea i was going to do an apprentice ship but 4 years of absolutely shit pay,
then about another 4 years sucking up the bosses arse at McDonald's wages.
so it takes about 8 good working years of you,
though if you are successful enough to open your own business it will defiantly pay of if your like the average Joe who cant well then you have wasted 8 years of earning some decent cash.

[sam1]

dammm can i ask what are you doing now?

[sam1]

why do people fail at going off on their own? is it lack of work or there organisation skills

[*uwishn*]

i am in the security industry,
and its cash mate,if you think positive you wont fail just be prepared to work hard,and not have much cash to spend for the 4 or so years.
sole traders have heaps of over heads,insurance and tax is the killer.
its your life do what you want lol.

[sam1]

yer i kno, ive just got to figure if i will have enough $ when im qualified to eat more than fried rice

[*uwishn*]

yea that was my problem car loans,rent,food,enjoying life 280 couldn't quite cover it.
if you where 15 then it would be an easy choice

[sam1]

yer what u doing now>?

[DevilDRake]

Well i'm 18 and doing a parts interpreting apprenticeship, CERT III In automotive Parts Interpreting. When i finish i only go to a whopping $15.70 an hour, but with that qualification i can work at Any Car/Bike dealership.

Saying that, I still don't know if this shitty wage is worth it. Plumbers can easily earn over $100k though, just gotta be good at organising your own business when you're qualified

[CSP]

Parts interpreting? LOL WTF???

[VKCOMMO]

Parts interpreting? LOL WTF???

Its like blowing someone that pisses you off... but completely different

[emir3008]

im doing an electrical pre apprenticeship,

and seeing as you are 21 you should be getting paid more, we had Jemena come in and give us a presentation on jobs with them, a Linesman apprenticeship for someone under 21 youd bed getting 640 a week, but over 21's were clearing 1200 and this was only 1st year.

So you should really look into what your actually entitled to.

[Stretchomatic]

linesman is a high risk job, so they will get paid heaps. plumbing would depend who you work for and where you work. go contract in mines or something large scale when you get to third year, good experience and good money.

[sam1]

well today was a bloody dissaster got up at 4.30am all ready to go couldnt wait. they sent me out to the burwood highway. seings though the burwood highway is so long they just said go to 110 burwood high there were three 110s on the highway so after a while i found at i was at the wrong adress the boss called me i didnt pick up n just went home

that was ment to be

im just going to be a labourer

[sam1]

sad storyyy

[LS1FUN]

Why didn't you pick up?

Honestly mate being 21 is not the best time to be starting an apprenticeship. You need to get into apprenticeships when you're young. Like 16 or so. The money is horrible and it is damn hard work. Find a job labouring in a warehouse, even get your forklift licence. I am the same age as you and am a labourer/forklift driver for a warehouse in melbourne and I earn $25 an hour.

From there you could complete a certificate in Transport & Logistics and move up in the industry. It's what I plan to do.