House Painter Forum

Professional Painters => Professional Painters and associated Trades Forum => Painter's Tales Short & Tall => Topic started by: damicom3 on July 04, 2014, 07:46:02 PM

Title: First Painting Job Experience
Post by: damicom3 on July 04, 2014, 07:46:02 PM
So I got a job as a painter roughly 6 months ago. The guy who hired me told me I would be taught a bunch of painting skills. I had bills to pay and learning a trade sounded appealing. I saw this boss no more than 5 times over the course of the entire employment.

The first 2 months I was basically just cleaning up after the more experienced painters. Vacuuming or sweeping. Occasionally they'd have me paint something unimportant like a closet or caulk something. I think I painted a combined total of 6 hours in the first two months working 40-45 hour weeks.

I kept thinking it would get better and it did. I was put with a different guy to work. He let try everything. He wasn't really the type that instructed you how to do something and then critiqued it. Instead he would make me do something I've never tried(without instruction) and then be very upset when it wasn't perfect. Luckily I wasn't that bad at painting... but in the back of my mind I still wanted someone to put even the tiniest amount of effort into showing me how things were done.

By month 4 and 5 I was allowed to paint more but really everything I learned was from watching how other people were doing it. I came to realize that even though the boss wanted an apprentice type worker... none of his more experienced workers were ever told to teach me or help me learn the ropes.

The final straw was when the boss started to become worse and worse at paying me. It would take many days or even weeks to get paychecks that were promises much earlier.

Overall it was a horrible experience of being yelled at and treated like I was an idiot every time even the tiniest detail wasn't perfect. So what I want to know is this typical of being the new guy in a painting company? Or was I just unlucky? Despite everything I still like painting though and will look for another job(I quit a few days ago). Am I right to feel like things should of and could have been a lot better?
Title: Re: First Painting Job Experience
Post by: mymint87 on July 05, 2014, 07:17:42 PM
the best way to go is work whereever you can BUT go to school at night with a union apprenticeship program.....

yes it is typical, the mindset is why should i show this guy and have him end up taking my job. construction is cut throat business, and thats all they way up the ladder, someones always looking to abuse or take advantage of a unknowledgable person or company for that matter

but there are good shops to work at...

you can find a good company with a person who is willing to show you the ropes....you do this by hurrying, working hard, not complaining, starting from the bottom and learning the ropes

one thing you dont want to do is act like you know it....most painters can tell in 3 minutes if  guy knows how to paint and it cant be faked

another way to climb up the ladder is bouncing from company to the next, each time you move is a fresh start, you see how each company does things and you watch...remember the object is to get the paint from the can to the surface as fast as you can, even if your masking caulking and cleaning up, you can stiil see how things are done, thus grow your experience and knowledge

the bottom line is where are you going to be 20/40 years from now...retirement? still painting?..35 years ago i was making 6 bucks an hour and living large as a tract home painter...little did i know it condemned me to a life of painting....I have had a comfortable life and the past 22 years my own business and my own time, but I am not rich....so i say paint where you can, but try and go to school or visit your local union and inquire about their apprenticeship programs on your off time
Title: freshers experience for new job
Post by: leeshin on July 02, 2015, 12:11:16 AM
wherever you join as the fresher, you should go across experienced staffs who helps freshers and others who hesitate to help because of the inner fear.
this is not just that you are newbie. this was just because of some sort of jealousy and some may think of benefits in teaching you.
if the trainee allotted to you is not good enough, then the whole process will put you in trouble and career improvement also will get spoil.
to avoid this better be bold and volunteer to ask any doubts and post frequent questions until you get clarified. this suits for all jobs including house painting
Title: Re: First Painting Job Experience
Post by: leeshin on July 23, 2015, 09:41:42 PM
check out some of the tips regarding the beginners in home panting in the following link
http://www.1877painters.com/blog/House+painting+tips+for+a+beginner
this sounds useful and this may  help you
Title: Re: First Painting Job Experience
Post by: 1st Coast Painting on September 09, 2015, 01:48:20 PM
I have been painting since I was about 12. My dad owned a painting company down in Miami. He ran me to the ground. It took a while for him to allow to paint along side his crews, but after a while he put me into closets. Now at the age of 32 I own my own painting business in Jacksonville Fl. I learned a lot from him. Painting can go bad, if experience is not there. I find myself using the new guys to so a lot of the b.s work to keep my professional painters moving quickly.
Title: Re: First Painting Job Experience
Post by: soperfectpaint on October 29, 2015, 04:10:51 AM
We are painting professionals from last 30 years and have experience in all type of residential and commercial painting services. Our first experience was good that is the reason we are growing so fast.

www.soperfectpaint.com
Title: Re: First Painting Job Experience
Post by: jeffbutler on June 30, 2016, 10:26:45 PM
I there any available painting job as of this time? Need to find extra income and also need to stretch out my body on this field, it's been long time not having painting job despite I am good at it.
Title: Re: First Painting Job Experience
Post by: mehr on August 09, 2016, 02:04:04 AM
The term paint is used to include paints, varnishes, enamels, shellacs, lacquers, and stains.

• Paints are composed of mineral pigments, organic vehicles, and a variety of thinners all combined.

http://thepowersupplies.com/ (http://thepowersupplies.com/)
Title: Re: First Painting Job Experience
Post by: chrisn on August 09, 2016, 02:37:02 AM
The term paint is used to include paints, varnishes, enamels, shellacs, lacquers, and stains.

• Paints are composed of mineral pigments, organic vehicles, and a variety of thinners all combined.

http://thepowersupplies.com/ (http://thepowersupplies.com/)

un freeking believable
Title: Re: First Painting Job Experience
Post by: dacpaintingswfl on December 28, 2016, 08:01:29 AM
I have stared by business before 25 years & I have more good & bad experience in 25 years. But customer satisfaction our mission

http://dacpaintingswfl.com