Tiling courses: What not to do!

With the boom in the construction business, there has been a sharp increase in the demand for trained tradespeople like plumbers and tilers. For people who are already in the construction business, taking up an additional skill like tiling can work out really well. They already have the contact in the industry and they are familiar with skilled handwork. For them, picking up additional skills in tiling with tiling courses becomes really easy.

Even if you aren’t already working in the tiling industry, tiling courses can teach you about 70% of the skill in a few months. But you will have to pick up the remaining 30% by working on the job. But if you choose your tiling courses well, you should be totally trained in tiling in a few months. How do you know which tiling courses teach you the perfect balance between practical and theoretical knowledge? Are there specific things that you should watch out for? Let’s find out!

 Check the feedback on the tiling courses you have selected- Disgruntled students are more than likely to vent their spleen on shoddy courses online. Just Google the course and then add the word “review” after it. You should get a mix of bad and good reviews about nearly every type of tiling courses on the internet. Do be warned though that not all reviews can be taken for face value. Remember that continuing education courses like tiling courses require you to study independently and a few students cannot manage that well. Take the reviews with a pinch of salt and make your own decision.
 Check the qualifications of the staff associated with tiling courses- teaching staff at tiling courses should have NVQ qualifications and a lot of exacting knowledge about their profession. Ask for credentials and check them. A few courses sometime ask the same instructor to teach plumbing, carpentry and tiling courses in an effort to save money. This is of no use to you, as you cannot learn the hidden tricks of the trade from an inexperienced person.
 Choose industry affiliated courses- That’s right! Industry affiliated means that the course teaches a curriculum that is accepted by working organizations. Students who pass out from these courses are given first preferences for jobs and projects. The employer knows that he is getting trained professionals and you know you are getting a good deal. Just check the prospectus for details about “industry affiliation” and ask for more details to confirm that it’s just not a blind advertisement. The main accepted standard for “Industry Accreditation” is The Tile Association.
 Don’t be fooled by the promises of placement cells- Most tiling courses have a placement cell associated with them. These placement cells place novice tilers with construction agencies to learn tiling as apprentices. Now this should be optional for all students who take up tiling courses. It is not compulsory and neither should the course charge you for the placement cell services.

Whatever tiling courses you choose remember that: ultimately, it’s a self-study routine. If you work hard you will succeed, if not then you are wasting your own money.