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+--- Thread: Leaving RAF (/showthread.php?tid=5049)
Leaving RAF - Jjfrankie - 09-12-2014
Hello my names James im new to all this but basically im looking for advise and possibly some experience from people localy.
Im currently in the RAF and coming to the end of my contract in the new year, Im due to be going on a "complete kitchen installation course" to get the basics from Feb-Apr but between now and then im able to work for anyone to gain some experience and knowledge to best succeed in the career change.
Im living in Bildeston near Ipswich and if anyone is from around this area any help would be much appreciated, if you could just message me that would be great.
Thanks for reading
RE: Leaving RAF - andy5405 - 10-12-2014
James, it's entirely possible to achieve a career change into kitchen fitting, just get out there and learn as much as you can, badger people to give you a start so you get experience and work your way up the ladder.
I fall into the category of independent designer/supplier/fitter and don't have a showroom so my overheads are low. A lot of the guys on here do the same and you can earn good money by doing everything from conception to completion. However the hours are often impossibly long and I'm yet again seriously questioning whether it is worth it at the moment. I'm looking to either design and supply or just fit, I've come to the conclusion that doing both isn't working for me.
However don't let my woes worry you other than it's worth being aware that kitchen fitting can be a tough job sometimes for reasons that aren't obvious to the uninitiated. One that is worth bearing in mind is that you have to get used to walking on eggshells at times. Kitchen fitting is actually a piece of piss but you are working in the heart of someone's home. In reality you have ripped out the heart of someone's home so small problems can get out of hand as people that are normally rational can become irrational under those circumstances. I'm lucky at the moment to be working for extremely nice people at the moment and we have been messed around very badly by the granite company. They are taking it very well and being very reasonable. However they are obviously upset and it makes you feel responsible even though it isn't your fault.
There is more heavy and awkward lifting than you might think which is OK if there are two of you, but hard work if you work on your own. If you get to the stage where you design and supply as well, it's good when it's good but there will be a lot of times when you would do almost anything else for a living. It's just too much at times.
Anyway I'm not trying to be negative, I'm just trying to point out a few pitfalls that probably exist in any job. That said I've done what many would consider to be stressful jobs in previous careers and what I do currently is without a doubt the most stressful.
It is however very rewarding when you get to the finish line and see what you have created. That is what keeps me going.
There are quite a few threads on here where people have asked the same questions as you, including ex services people. You can do a search or maybe someone might be kind enough to dig out some links for you.
RE: Leaving RAF - Jjfrankie - 10-12-2014
Thank you very much Andy for the reply, at the moments im torn between trying to find someone to work with (which is turning out to be hard) for the experiance but the only problem i think i may have is i dont think it will pay the bills, but have to weigh up the fact that im getting experiance what money cant buy, the other option i have considered is getting a business loan to be able to get all my own kit so dont have to rely on others for thers.
Its all very daunting as i left school and joined the forces straight away so i know nothing else apart from military life, and now coming out its a big plunge into the unknown.
I probly havent picked the best time of year aswell to start looking as im finding many people done have much on at the moment, as i imagine people will wait for the sales in the new year to buy new kitchens.
One bonus i have is that my wife is a kitchen designer and is currently working for Magnet ( not sure of what you think of the company but it pays) so hopefully she can put the word around the fitters there that im after some work.
RE: Leaving RAF - andy5405 - 10-12-2014
Most guys on here probably wouldn't rate Magnet very highly but this site doesn't really attract run of the mill kitchen fitters who might not know any better. We also don't really aim to compete with the sheds so all that guff about bogus New Year sales isn't too much of a distraction.
However Magnet would be as good a place as any to start. The main thing is to be fitting kitchens of any description and get on that steep learning curve ASAP. There's no better place to learn it than on site. Then as things develop you can look to improve your skills and knowledge of the industry and you might want to look at what a lot of the guys on here do or you might just be happy taking a wage from someone like Magnet. There's good reasons to do both and although the latter option will be lower paid you will have some sort of life and that Clints for a lot.
I wouldn't go too mad on kit just yet other than basic hand tools and maybe the most necessary power tools. Don't ask for advice on here re power tools, you'll be looking at what you think is a good power tool at say £100 and we'll all chime in with the Festool option which will be £300-400. Well almost all of us....
The single biggest thing is that if you have the drive to succeed you will be fine at whatever you choose to do.
Here's the thread from the guy from the forces in the same position as you that was on here recently.
http://www.kitchenfittersforum.com/showthread.php?tid=4563&highlight=forces
He was online this morning, you could pm him and get in touch.
RE: Leaving RAF - Jjfrankie - 10-12-2014
Thanks again Andy ill have a look at that now and thanks for te advice.