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Greveouse · Newbie Joined: 29 Sep 2007 Posts: 2 Career Advice: +0/-0

I'm extremely confused.. I really thought about what I'm gonna' do about the future, but I really don't know. The one thing I do know is that my girlfriend (if we get married.. I really can't tell as of yet, since it's only been about a month) will have a better job then me.. She's gonna' be a psychologist.. But she can afford to go through college, unlike me. I have alway barely made it by in my current life, but I hope that changes in the future, I want to become a house painter. I know they might not get paid the best, but that's the career I fell in love with.

The main problem I have right now is... I don't know how to find work.. I live in Redding, California, and I really have like no connections to the industry.. I've been wanting to get as like a House Painter's helper or somthin', but I really don't know any.. BTW, I'm only 16 years old right now. I just really know that I want to be a house painter, or a "Painter and Decorator" as it's called.. But I don't know how to break into that buisness.. I mean I could have gone door to door as a kid, about age 9-10.. but I'm not that old anymore.. It's not cute anymore.. I really want to get "My hands dirty" so to speak..

So, could you guys be so kind as to tell me how I'm supposed to go about this problem? I've researched a bit about House Painting, and I have a bit of an idea of what kind of education you need and such, and I'm about the right age to become somones... Apprentice.. or somthin'.. Here's a few questions I got.

- How can I become a house painter, without knowing anyone in the buisness?? (I got cousins and stuff, but they live in San Jose..)

- What exactly do I have to do to be considered an actual "House Painter", and not just a guy who paints houses? I there's this license thing that you get, but my cousin (17 years old) doesn't have one, but he works as my other cousins helper..

- I read somewhere to get this license you need to be in the buisness for 4 years?? How would that work? I mean if you're tryin' to get your license doesn't that mean you can't work as a house painter until you get one?

- If I do become a house painter, will I still have to get "Laid Off" every winter or somthin'? I mean I'm sure theres a reason, like there's less buisness, but what is a "Lay Off"? Do you get like fired until buisness picks up again?

Thanks for your time in advance.. I really appreciate if you've taken interest in helping me, I'm really confused about my future, and I have only a vague idea of how to attack the buisness I'm choosing.. If you could help me fill in the blanks I would appreciate it a lot.. I really am very desperate for some help here..

Thanks again,

Rajiv Thukral

lexa10881 · Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 2:51 am Post subject:

The best way to get your experience is to see if you can get hired on as a beginner with a local construction company or painting company. You have to be licensed and bonded later on if you own your own business. You might consider going to school for something related to architecture, construction, or interior design at a later time if you can find a way into college. Many local colleges as well as state schools will give you a large part of financial aid that does not have to be repaid if you do not have a lot of mney, based on current school grades, etc. Ask your career counselor at school to help you at least inquire; you might be able to go to college for free if you have no money.

http://www.cvtips.com/college_career_services.html

Pauloz · Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 1:15 am Post subject:

One thing that might help is an apprenticeship.

There are usually training schemes where you can become a paid apprentice, and learn the ropes step by step. You can find out from a technical college what's available, just ring around.

There's also usually an industry association, and they can tell you how to get started, if you want to do it that way. Someone will know who to contact.

The money's very good, for professionals.

("Laid off" means not working when there's not enough work around. You're not actually glued to the employer, though, and you can look elsewhere. Apprentices are on formal training schemes, so it's unlikely to be a problem while you're an apprentice.)

Greveouse · Newbie Joined: 29 Sep 2007 Posts: 2 Career Advice: +0/-0

Thanks for the help.. I was lookin' on the internet for a few apprenticeship programs, and I found one that has on the job training, and classroom instruction once a week, but the problem is that it's quite a bit away.. That's a long drive every week..

Do you think there's any that are closer to where I live?

Pauloz · Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 12:53 pm Post subject:

Probably- worth a good look around, anyway. You might bump into someone who knows a way of handling that situation, at least. People in the business do a bit of traveling, so they find ways of dealing with being all over the place.

On the job training pays for itself, so that's something.

if you find yourself working with with the one you've found, see if you can hustle some transport, or somewhere closer you can stay during the week. Might be simpler in the long run.


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