Career Advice

Unless you're incredibly lucky, the perfect plumbing job opportunity is unlikely to land at your feet. To make sure you have the best chance of finding a job, find out which companies have job vacancies and prepare to present your case! It's always worth finding out as much as you can about the company you want to work for. It will also impress the company offering the job. Find out about the job vacancy and make sure you can match the skills that they are asking for. As a newly qualified or partly-qualified plumber or heating engineer, you may not have a wealth of work experience behind you to show off to your prospective employer, so make a list of all the jobs you have done in class, including any excellent work that you have been singled out for.

Make an effort to ask around to find out if there are any jobs available. Ask your friends and family and local plumbing businesses. Let everyone know you're looking for plumbing work. Each person might tell somebody else, and they may tell somebody else and so on. The more people who know you are looking for work the more chance you have of being told about an unadvertised vacancy. And don't underestimate friends and family. Even if you think an aunty or uncle couldn't possibly have a useful contact in your area of work, they might surprise you. People come into contact with more people than you might think and a lot of people pick up jobs this way.

Use Yellow Pages or other business directories to get names and contact details of suitable employers. You can drop in to see employers personally or send them a letter. Seeing them in person may take more time and courage, but it gives you a higher chance of speaking with someone.

If after you have read through our web pages, you still feel you need further direction, then try contacting learndirect on 0800 100 900. You can visit their website at www.learndirect-advice.co.uk for tips and help on how to find a job. Learndirect has a job profile on plumbing that you might find useful: http://www.learndirect-advice.co.uk/helpwithyourcareer/jobprofiles/profiles/profile274/

“We get called by approximately 5 apprentices per week, I find a lot of apprentices are unprepared when calling. I would suggest always having a CV prepared prior to calling a potential employer. Due to the high volume of candidates applying to each company you have to be prepared when calling. Have your CV ready to post or email. If you seem to be more efficient and organised than the other candidates this will make you stand out straight away.

“List all work experience on your CV and also include a separate referee who can vouch for your character e.g. your college tutor. Where possible if you can personally hand in your CV, do call into the office or site and hand it to the manager - be remembered!

“If you are really keen to get into the Plumbing and Heating Industry it is always worth offering to do work experience with a local plumber or heating engineer. This shows you are keen and also gives you the edge when applying for the positions, even if you have only done the odd day at the weekend. (It may also give you an insight into the Industry which would help you decide whether it is for you or not).

“Apprentice plumbers can expect to have a starting wage of £90 per week in line with government legislation which will rise according to both laws and experience.

“If anybody would like to ask any questions or receive tips I would be happy to help. Please do not hesitate to contact me on 01457 866719."

Lisa Talbot
Northern Plumbing Services