I have recently moved to Tampa (from Maine) and am seeking a job. I have 4 years of experience in carpentry, everything from laying the sill plates to building and hanging the cabinets. I have my own tools (a lot) and reliable transportation. I love to work, and am currently going insane from lack of work. My ideal job would be to work for someone who does all aspects of residential work, and who would put me to work in all aspects of carpentry, as opposed to just framing or just running baseboard. I am a hard, reliable worker, and though I don’t know everything, I do know some things and I am an attentive learner and problem solver.
Any help in getting me in contact with someone who might be able to put me to work would be HUGELY appreciated. Thank you,
Nathaniel Lewis
Replies
I'm in MA so I can't help you. But I just wanted to tell you that with your attitude it sounds like I'd be lucky to have you. Keep looking, you'll find the right match dude.
Edited 11/14/2006 8:08 pm ET by dieselpig
Welcome to BT - great first post btw. How's your Spanish? lol.
Lots of the builders here (BT) would hire you on the spot, so you won't have to hit too many sites before you get work. Talk to reno contractors if you want task variety. Knowing how houses fail will help you build better new ones.
Stick around, I'd love to hear about the experiences of a hard-working litterate young carp. Apparently the industry is in shambles, lots of theories why. Your insights will be much appreciated.
With similar skills, I just went through a very similar transition, though on the other coast.
My advice- you won't have trouble finding a job- but take the time to find the right job. Breaktime here is a good start. Google for carpenters in your area- quite a few construction companies have websites these days (Well, here in the Bay area most do anyway). Talk to the good lumberyards, to see who does nice work, and does a variety of it- not just finish or framing. Look for interesting jobsites.
Good Luck
zak
"When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone." --John Ruskin
"so it goes"
wish you'd moved to Memphis... can you say ... hired...
good luck I'm sure you'll be fine
p
I thought I was the youngest around here.
I'm 26 and have been a carpenter for 7 years. I am one of the few people I know that can say I love my work. Sometimes a love / hate relationship though ;-)
I left a semi-large contractor 4 months ago and have went on my own. I have a few business related questions to post for you guys that work for yourslef or run a business....
p.s. I've thought of the move to florida during harsh winters here.
and I thought it was cold where I grew up in Scotland...
Go to Davis Island - that's where Tampa General Hospital is - and drive around. A lot of high end work going on there so you should be able to find some pretty good GC's. Walk up and introduce yourself.
Let us know how your job hunt progresses.
Good luck!
oldfred
Welcome to Tampa buddy!
Well, as was already mentioned... "how's yer spanish?" I lived in texas for several years and the market wasn't nearly as saturated with illegals there as it is in the tampa area, so the pay scale is skewed. I don't know what you were making back home, but I found that the pay scale here is a lot lower than it was in Iowa, (where I just moved from) and Iowa was pretty far below the national average.
There are still a few builders around who do just what you mentioned... a little of everything, remodeling etc. you just have to find them. I did find that the ST. Pete times was much better than the Tampa tribune for help wanted ads.
One other thing, compared to the rest of the labor pool in this area, you are a lot more qualified than you probably think you are. (heck, just speaking english puts you ahead of 80 percent of them) most of the contractors have just resigned themselves to the fact that everyone who walks through their door is mostly lying about their level of skill and their qualifications. so when somebody discovers that you actually can do all the things that you say you can, they're gonna be pleasantly suprised! Don't be too daunted by someone who wants to start you out at a wage that is lower than what you want for a trial period until they have a chance to "see you in action" and can determine that you really are as good as you claim.
I wish I could steer you in the direction of somebody, but I pretty much just arrived recently myself, and I'm still meeting people and learning my way around.
Good luck!!
Ps. e-mail me if you have any other specific questions, or if you just want to chat and commiserate with a fellow recent transplant from the frozen north.
Mark
[email protected]
Thank you all for the encouragement and advice! You guys are the best.
Hey Nathaniel...
Was just wondering how everything's going with ya... How're ya liking Tampa so far? Are you all settled in and gainfully employed? Where did you wind up?
Am I being too nosy? Just tell me to shut up...
Anyway, you gotta at least be loving this "80 degree weather in December" stuff we've been having lately.
Mark, The other Tampa guy" If I were a carpenter"
Thanks for asking about me Mark.
Since I last posted, alas, I have not found gainful employment, though I have had steady work doing various projects for relatives, friends, friends of friends, so forth. Finding a job working for someone else seems like a full-time job in and of itself, so I haven’t had much time to look. On the other hand, doing carpentry on your own seems like MORE than a full-time job! It’s also highly rewarding, but I don’t think I’m quite equipped, on multiple levels, to do it much longer, and so soon I will once again be looking for gainful employment.
And yes, the weather is great. I’m glad that I don’t have to try gluing up a panel in a Maine shop heated by a small gas space-heater in the middle of December! Or framing a roof, for that matter. On the other hand, I hear the summers here get pretty hot.
What kinds of things are you doing these days? How do they compare to your days in Iowa? Are you going to go to the International Builder’s Show in Orlando in Feb? Shoot me an e-mail ([email protected]) if you feel like it. I don’t know many people here, and I’m always interested in meeting new people, especially those in the trade.
-Nathaniel