Worth leaving IT industry and get into Plumbing?

Question

Been working in IT mainly IBM for 11 years and been thinking about starting a new career as a plumber or simular where the skills are required.... whats your views on this?

thanks!

Answer 1

My brother made the same move last year after he got made redundant from his IT job.
The problem with the short plumbing courses that you will find is that they are (a) expensive and (b) short!
My brother felt he needed to gain more experience after completing his training so volunteered to shadow a friend who is a plumber for a while. He also had a few contacts in the building indutsry who he felt could put work his way.
Do you have links like these?
Without becoming CORGI registered (which is very expensive) you would not be able to work with gas appliances - so you'd need to decide if there is a market locally for emergency plumbing (radiators etc) repairs.

Answer 2

If your career has become 'stuck' at IBM you might consider looking for another job ?

But there's nothing to stop you getting into Plumbing in your spare time - in fact, I would expect the demand (and rates) for plumbers is higher in the evenings and at weekends !

So I say, "go for it" !!

Answer 3

A friend of mine runs his own plumbing business and earns a great living

Gets call outs a lot though so you need to know your market, look into it via your local small business adviser to check out your potential market

Most FE colleges who offer training in this area also have advice about prospects for setting up/ employment etc or go and see a careers advisor

Not just for 16 year olds you know

Good luck

Answer 4

Plumber, plasterer, tiler, general maintenance - all can potentialy have great rewards.

If you do what you say youre going to do, turn up when you say, get the job done and charge what you said YOU WILL MAKE A FORTUNE!!!

I packed in a great Management job to become a tiler - now charge £25 a square metre, work when it suits me and NO STRESS.

Go for it and good luck.

Answer 5

any move is a good move but plumbing isnt something that anybody can do, you have to be apprenticed first and learn the trade. if you can afford to fund your first years and second apprenticeship though technical college thats fair enough but you still need on the job learning skills. learnt to you by an experienced plumber. but the moneys good and its a decent trade. good luck.

Answer 6

I'm married to a plumber.It's a lot of hard work.Lots of training, responsibility of other peoples lives if working with gas.Take it from me, my husband can't wait to get an office job.He's 41 and suffers like heck with his joints, as does his father who is a retired plumber.Working in freezing cold water in all weathers,having to wear wet clothes all day etc.It's not a cushy job, and you'll have lots of 'mates' phoning you up, all hours, expecting you to fix their plumbing at mates rates.Think long about this mate,it's a big step to take.I wish you luck.

Answer 7

Do whatever makes you happy. I left a £25k a year (plus car and expenses) job I'd done for 13 years to get started as a helpdesk analyst at £10k a year - it was worth it to be happy.

Answer 8

Yes, you will make more money as a plumber. Remember, this aint a scene it's a gottam arms race.

Answer 9

If this is something that you are passionate about, then I suggest that you dive right into it. Statistically it is shown that people are most effective doing things that they love doing. And if you are more effective at doing it, then you'll definitely make more money.

Hope that helps!

http://www.financialgym.org

Answer 10

Follow your dreams.