New here looking for advice

[Joe cookie]

Hi all.

I am based in Liverpool looking at doing my 360 excavator course and trying to get a start some how.

Spoke to a few places that do the course and one guy said Its hard to get work, so looking for some advice really, is it worth doing the course paying the money and having the possibility of not getting work?

Cheers all

 

[JD450A]

Hi all.

I am based in Liverpool looking at doing my 360 excavator course and trying to get a start some how.

Spoke to a few places that do the course and one guy said Its hard to get work, so looking for some advice really, is it worth doing the course paying the money and having the possibility of not getting work?

Cheers all

How old are you?
What do you think your going to earn?
What do you do currently?

 

[Joe cookie]

Hi mate
I'm 29
Looking to gain experience before I can really expect a decent salary so I'd take the hit early on.
I have worked for jaguar Land rover for 8 years so not direct experience, but I want to get away from that type of work.

 

[JD450A]

Hi mate
I'm 29
Looking to gain experience before I can really expect a decent salary so I'd take the hit early on.
I have worked for jaguar Land rover for 8 years so not direct experience, but I want to get away from that type of work.

I assume you where doing something mechanical at JLR?

My advice to you before you spunk the money on tickets is to have a search around and find a small firm that wants a mechanically minded dogsbody. Reason being is men whom know there way around a machine mechanically and can jump on a machine for a shift loading wagons are far more useful than a ticketed learner!

Small firms if they have the work will jump at someone if they are worth having! Don't email, ring the boss and if there interested make the effort to drive down and see them in person! But wait till this corvid s**t is over first

 

[doobin]

^ Yes yes yes!!!!!

Follow Rory's advice to the letter mate. Don't waste your time with tickets, if you get a job with a small local firm and the place need you to have them they'll put you through if you're worth keeping around.

Right now a lot of people will be thinking the same as you- and course providers are only too happy to hype it up. Look at the Arb world- it's a saturated market.

 

[Joe cookie]

Cheers guys

What time of firm's should I be approaching?

 

[Shovelhands]

^ Yes yes yes!!!!!

Follow Rory's advice to the letter mate. Don't waste your time with tickets, if you get a job with a small local firm and the place need you to have them they'll put you through if you're worth keeping around.

Right now a lot of people will be thinking the same as you- and course providers are only too happy to hype it up. Look at the Arb world- it's a saturated market.

just for clarity, this maybe the only time to follow Rory’s advice to the letter

@Joe cookie , it’s good advice from Rory, tickets are not the be all and end all of our game, despite what others may say, particularly the ticket providers! Yes, if you want to be involved with certain projects or aspects of machine work then you will need tickets and you’ve got to play their game unfortunately, but make no mistake, it’s a game.

If you can find a firm willing to give you a trial, then that will be ideal, and if you can bring other skills to the table then that would be a plus also. As Rory said, go and see them or give them a call, you‘ve got nothing to to loose. But definitely wait for this current clusterfuck to calm down, will be very few of us willing to take on new blood at this point in time

 

[DaveDCB]

I think every single firm I know of has at least most of its staff furloughed, not good timing at all. Have a think also if you wanna sit in a cab all day with your slippers on, or get out and about and learn more than just pulling levers, two very different jobs imo.

 

[Smiffy]

Agreed as above a week's training and a ticket doesn't make you an operator
I have tickets for various things but I'm not half the operator of the blokes on here
And it's really frustrating as you can't just get better by learning you have to accept you keep practicing and one day you will look at your work and think that's a lot better when I started
Also depending on the size of the firm you want to work for digger tickets don't necessarily hold the most importance for example alot of people I have spoken to had more interest that I have a license that covers me for driving with trailer

 

[Joe cookie]

Guys,

Thanks for all the advice it's really appreciated.

What type of firm's should I approach? Anyone know of any in the Merseyside area?

Cheers

 

[Simon edwards]

Hi Joe ,as the guys above say tickets do’nt make you an operator and a weeks course will probably set you up for a fall on your first jobs if the client is expecting an experienced man on the machine.
A bit of time spent on the ground with a decent firm that will let you grab a little seat time when possible is a good way forward,that way when you eventually end up on a machine you will have an idea of what you are trying to achieve with it.Have you considered investing the same time and money on an hgv test,would make you more employable to a range of companies involved in construction and plant.

 

[Mark]

Give D Morgan’s a call they take people on and put them through an operator’s apprenticeship gets you your 360 dozer and adt ticket. Not sure of all the details but I think you sign a contract that you will stay with them for two or three years or if you leave you will pay a % for the tickets. We’re working on a job with them in Glasgow and there’s a few boys on that scheme wage isn’t great but digs and meals are paid for them when working away from home.

 

[Nick...]

If you’re confident try and bullshit your way through stuff but no so you get caught out.we all have to learn and unless you give it a go you will never know.unfortuantly you can’t get a job without experience and can’t get experience with out a job.may be worth talking to farmers and offering to do do some ground work on their machines.lots of farmers run diggers these days
Good luck
Nick...

 

[Furniss]

What Rory said - excellent advise - if someone turned up at my yard having just gone through tickets and hoping to sit his totally inexperienced arse on a machine it wouldnt interest me but if someone turned up looking keen and was happy to do a bit of everything to gain experiene then its a different story.

 

[Gunners]

Tough time at the moment but there are people out there. With no construction experience, time on the ground will be worth more to an employer than tickets. Employers look for the right attitude and if you can demonstrate that you are better than the next man (not too hard in this industry) then you will have your ticket and machine sooner than you think and the £1k a ticket costs can be kept in your pocket. As Rory says, call the boss, be persistent, drive to their office and stand outside reception till someone sees you. I certainly couldn't turn down someone who was that keen to work for me, downturn or not.

Another option is the CITB, who are always looking to get people into construction and it might be an avenue worth exploring as in theory, they should have a scheme running to help people exactly like yourself, get into the industry. There are people employed to do this and the whole industry pays for the service so if you can get through to the right person, they should be able to help, or at least give you some options on how to proceed.

 

[Joe cookie]

Thank you for all your replys fellas you have saved me a good few quid.

What type of companys should I be searching for? It's quite a broad range of work.

Cheers

 

[Furniss]

Smallish firm that takes takes on quite a mix - that way you get a broader education and you might find a particular type of work or machine interests you more than the rest.
I did about 7 years for a firm before I went on my own - they specialized in drainage but took on a wide range of related jobs with lots of different kit - stands you in good stead for later.

 

[JD450A]

What type of companys should I be searching for? It's quite a broad range of work.

The smallest ropeyist looking outfit you can find

Honestly, just try your luck and ring some numbers that aren't national. A start is a start if your the right fit in there puzzle it'll work

 

[Mogman]

Thank you for all your replys fellas you have saved me a good few quid.

What type of companys should I be searching for? It's quite a broad range of work.

Cheers

Try wardle plant just the other side of Warrington

 

[Monkeybusiness]

Try wardle plant just the other side of Warrington

I was going to suggest Wardle - big outfit with loads of kit and loads of work!