Brickies and Plasters

[huggy]

I'm considering becoming a bricklayer or plaster. I've seen ads in the paper for a training centre offering to train you up in a week for either discipline. Is this possible? How difficult would it be to find a Job?

[gazzawazza]

Are you sure this isn't some sort of induction course designed to prepare you for further training? I served my time as a brickie (a four year course in those days, late 70s) and could certainly tell when someone came on site pretending to be time-served when in fact they were diluties who'd spent only six months on a course. One I remember in particular didn't even last five minutes (literally) till the gaffer gave him the boot.

Whilst you may learn the very basics of bricklaying ie how to pick up darbo on your trowel and spread it, then lay a few bricks, you certainly wouldn't be able to get a job after a one week course. This takes lots and lots of practice, which is probably why I say I could tell diluties. This is not to say that no dilutie wouldn't ever be able to hold down a job as some time-served brickies were just as bad as them and with more practice the diluties would (hopefully) become better at the job. Hope I haven't put you off, as I believe there is good money to be made by decent brickies these days... which often makes me consider returning to the trade full time.

[coggles]

I agree with gazzawazza. When I served my apprenticeship, I was one of the last intakes before they started short training schemes. (It was working on magazines etc., and things were beginning to go computerised - showing my age!) You can nearly always tell when a tradesman (bricklayer, plumber, electrician etc) has served an apprenticeship or a significant amount of quality training. When you find one, they are worth their weight in gold, as there are a lot of 'rip-off-merchants' out there!