From mail worker to house tiler
Sydney Morning Herald
Saturday January 9, 2010
Mid-life crises coupled with a large redundancy payout created the catalyst for a career change for former Australia Post worker Helen Damas, who became a tiler.Distinguishing herself in a male-dominated domain, Damas entered the trade to set up her own business, Lady Trady Tiling, with the help of her boyfriend."I met my partner, John, a tiler, in 2000," Damas says. "I had already left Australia Post and didn't have a plan for the next career move, so I did stints working in cafes and as a parking attendant."With no trades experience, Damas worked with her partner to build up her knowledge in the early days. "I progressed by helping him with a bit of tiling that became a lot of tiling - and, as they say, practice makes perfect."I'm now a self-employed floor and wall tiler specialising in the domestic market."According to Damas, residential work is very different to the commercial market. "Mostly I deal directly with the home owners, though I do work for a select few builders," she says. "I like involving myself with the entire process - from start to finish."I'm it ... I'm the boss, the worker and everything in between."Damas says having a good memory was important in her former job. "You needed to memorise a lot of the postcodes working at Australia Post," she says. "I also learnt good communication skills in my customer service role, which has really helped in my own business."Recalling with affection her time in what was referred to as the "dead letter office" (where mail was forwarded due to insufficient information for delivery), Damas says: "Many were letters from grannies to their grandchildren containing cash or a gift, despite the public being warned not to put cash in the post."I could often glean enough information in the letter to have it sent back to the sender, or forwarded on to the intended recipient."Among them were many letters from children addressed to Santa in the North Pole and it was my role to ensure these letters got to Santa ... and that Santa replied. It was very rewarding knowing that reply would put a smile on a child's face."Damas says she is looking to gain further qualifications in tiling this year. "I can gain most of that through recognised prior learning," she says.Though Damas believes it is harder for a woman in a male-dominated field, she says: "Guys are very accepting of females on job sites - and you only have to look at TAFE college enrolments to see how many more [women] are looking towards a career in the various trades."Anyway, we girls seem to have the knack for the attention to detail that clients look for in a job."YVONNE NICOLASyvonnenicolas@bigpond.comThenSALARY About $36,000a year.HOURS A lot of shift work before more "normal" hours in her customer service role (10am-6pm).WORK-LIFE BALANCE Leaving worries in the office made work-life easy.NowSALARY Anywhere from $60,000 to $80,000 a year.HOURS About 8am to 4.30pm with some evenings spent typing quotes and invoices.WORK-LIFE BALANCE Though working longer hours overall, working for herself gives greater work flexibility for family and personal commitments.MISS Friendships.LOWS "It can get a bit lonely sometimes with me and my radio for company,"Damas says.LINKhelendamas@optusnet.com.auFor more salary advice,see mycareer.com.au/ salary-centre.
© 2010 Sydney Morning Herald
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