stevegunn

Occupation before turning to cc
« on: April 05, 2005, 08:16:53 am »
I'll start time served motor mechanic

jacko

  • Posts: 304
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #1 on: April 05, 2005, 08:29:22 am »
Admin Manager (made redundant after 19 years then again after a year) b4 that Merchant Navy for 11 years.
Enormous job satisfaction from this venture - wish i'd done it years ago!

John_McGavin

  • Posts: 112
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #2 on: April 05, 2005, 08:34:47 am »
Army - REME vehicle mechanic, Retail Management then working with a large insurance company - got fed up sitting at a desk after 7 years so turned to CC
John, Falkirk, Scotland

Singrey

  • Posts: 23
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #3 on: April 05, 2005, 09:17:12 am »
Army - Infantry; they taught me how to clean & how to kill people quite effectively! Not much call for the latter when I got out, so fell into cleaning. Thought that this would be okay until a proper job came along – that was 20 years ago! Oh well!!
Stuart - Cheshire & Cambridgshire

Martin Sambrook

  • Posts: 96
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #4 on: April 05, 2005, 09:26:10 am »
Army, Securicor, got fed up looking at everyone elses money so started CC'ing

paul@ctcs

Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #5 on: April 05, 2005, 09:48:47 am »
I left school in 1993 and straight into an engineering apprentiship which took 5 years to complete, this left me with a GNVQ level 3 and a few other qualifications to boot In mechanical engineering. I went on to become a section head in charge of about 20 guys before being offered a job by another engineering company with the intension of developing there systems and bringing there stone age technology up to date. The boss at the new company was a complete arse so after only a year I wanted out!!
With Emma having running the office of a large ish cleaning company (her boss was even worse than mine :o) and a few thousand pounds in the bank we decided we would go it alone :)

It was the best decision we have ever made ;D ;D ;D

Paul

Karl Wildey

  • Posts: 781
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #6 on: April 05, 2005, 10:19:10 am »
signature writer for the government. Only work once a fortnight.

Chris Bailey

  • Posts: 281
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #7 on: April 05, 2005, 10:41:28 am »
Operations Manager for a company supplying CCTV equipment

Big Brother IS watching!!
Carpet Care

Leicester

paul@scc

  • Posts: 109
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #8 on: April 05, 2005, 10:46:37 am »
public house manager before that recruitment agency

Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #9 on: April 05, 2005, 10:54:46 am »
carpenter- i cut through tendons,nurves etc on forearm on sheet of glass in van...  i struggle to hold small screws and nails now so decided as well as moving to cornwall i would start something new- suits me very well .. mick

dave401uk

  • Posts: 434
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #10 on: April 05, 2005, 12:42:50 pm »
Royal Marines, got to the dizzy hieght of cpl,got shot in ireland,left the forces and ran a cleaning co for a total pillock,had a ruck with him,and was told if you think you can do better,f*** off and do it,

The best wisdom ive ever had given to me ;D ;D

Dave
Its never a pass of the wand,just a master stroke.

cheryl new

  • Posts: 87
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #11 on: April 05, 2005, 12:47:04 pm »
Ship & Cargo Broker in South Africa for 11 years, Shipping Consultant for a german shipping company for 3 years, maternity leave, desparate not to work in another office ever again, got my carpets splashed n dashed, thought could do better, saw Cleanitup, took NCCA course, am currently building up a nice little cc biz of my own and am having van signed up this week.  Although it's been a really slow couple of months, I'm hoping I won't look back.

Cheryl

Gareth House

  • Posts: 25
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #12 on: April 05, 2005, 01:08:20 pm »
Started out cleaning carpets part time while at college, then left to become an estate agent, making to much money for too many already rich people, so decided to start making more money for myself with my own cleaning company.

Richard Edwards

  • Posts: 36
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #13 on: April 05, 2005, 01:36:04 pm »
Insurance Loss Adjuster & Fraud Investigator.

Too much hassle. long hours and not enough money.

Not much has changed then !!!  ;D

Phil Marlor

  • Posts: 678
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #14 on: April 05, 2005, 02:15:03 pm »

I used to be a Doctor.
But I lost my patience!

 ;D ;D

Phil
Stevenage, Herts

LUTON TOWN 3-0 SUNDERLAND

Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #15 on: April 05, 2005, 02:40:43 pm »
Plumber, Undertaker & Military Policeman  ;D

The Great One

  • Posts: 11841
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #16 on: April 05, 2005, 02:49:56 pm »
Hi

hmm lets see....

Baker
Army
Croupier (17 years and still going)
In between had a computer training centre and went down like the red baron in flames  :'(

Now trying to claw my way back up through cleaning and carpet cleaning, been fairly busy up until the past 2 months, now have tumbleweed drifting by and a lone coyote howling in the far off distance.

Odd?

Regards

Martin 8)

ian richards

Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #17 on: April 05, 2005, 03:37:38 pm »
Debt collector, Bus driver, and then in Retail selling Designer Menswear.

but as you can see from above, none of them were hard work, so i have had a wake up call becoming a carpet cleaner ??? ???    Still wouldnt change it though :) :)

Ian

Doug Holloway

  • Posts: 3917
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #18 on: April 05, 2005, 04:24:06 pm »
Hi,

Milkboy,choir boy :o , paper boy, carpet cleaner.

Left School , lab Technician, Industrial Chemist,Carpet cleaning,Technical rep,Tecnical/Quality Manager,Life Assurance Salesman,Carpet Cleaner,1989

Never looked back but have had some tough times, but stuck at it and now reaping rewards,

Cheers,

Doug

Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #19 on: April 05, 2005, 04:33:49 pm »
Strangely i omitted the choirboy bit from my cv.
Wandsworth Boys School choir (1974 -1979)............my first taste of being on tv at the first night of The Proms at The Royal Albert Hall.
Who would have thought it, me on BBC2 ( with hair ).

Doug Holloway

  • Posts: 3917
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #20 on: April 05, 2005, 04:41:03 pm »
Chris,

I only joned the Church Choir because we got paid and only got in 'cos I could read.

We were a proper bunch of oicks in cassocks!

Cheers,

Doug

neil 47

  • Posts: 1345
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #21 on: April 05, 2005, 05:06:55 pm »
Builders Merchants Storeman ,Holiday camp ,Civil engineering, ,Security guard,
Contract Miner 10years,
special needs worker, ,Residential Social Worker, Carpark Attendant,
Storeman x2,Social Work Assistant. a bit of gardening work
 + carpet cleaning
I get bored easy

        Neil              ;D ;D ;D ;D
IICRC

Ian Rochester

  • Posts: 2588
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #22 on: April 05, 2005, 05:24:50 pm »
Lets see:

Army - REME (Avionics)
Engineer - Food (Tea Packing)
Shift Production Manager - Food (Potato)
Production Manager - Food (Chickens)
Factory Manager - Food (Butters & Sauces)

Got made redundant from last one and used some of the money to buy a cc machine as a stop gap till I found a "proper" job again!!  Never looked back, though I still do a little bit of consultancy work within the food industry if asked, and I still don't see this is a "proper" job, surely it's not possible to enjoy your work, meet interesting people, take time off when you want and get paid for it as well!!

Dave_Lee

  • Posts: 1728
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #23 on: April 05, 2005, 05:25:13 pm »
Apprentice fitter, then time served fitter, bus conductor, wharehouseman, storeman, aircraft fitter, plant fitter, door to door salesman, army (royal engineers) CC & carpet fitter.
Dave
Dave Lee, Owner of Deepclean Services
Chorley Lancs. Est 1980.
"Pay Cheap -You get Cheap - Pay a little more and get something Better."

jcbdfa

  • Posts: 58
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #24 on: April 05, 2005, 07:10:02 pm »
engineering apprentice-4 years
window cleaner-1 year
museum conservator(fancy cleaner?)-10 years
fire and flood tech
cc

stevegunn

Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #25 on: April 05, 2005, 07:16:31 pm »
All these ex army chaps must have got used to cleaning whilst serving HM  ;D ;D

Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #26 on: April 05, 2005, 07:26:36 pm »
Shiny boots = clean carpets

Glynn

  • Posts: 1129
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #27 on: April 05, 2005, 07:30:53 pm »
Freelance brain surgeon
Regards
Glynn

Singrey

  • Posts: 23
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #28 on: April 05, 2005, 07:33:31 pm »
There does seem to be a small military theme running through this topic! I thought it was just me.
If you can think of anywhere in the world where it pes down with rain 24 hours a day I’ve been there and I’ve cleaned it! My whole military career is just one big memory of being wet and cleaning stuff!!
Stuart - Cheshire & Cambridgshire

Matt Read

  • Posts: 235
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #29 on: April 05, 2005, 07:42:36 pm »
Banker.....no its not a spelling mistake !
Matt

Len Gribble

  • Posts: 5106
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #30 on: April 05, 2005, 08:20:48 pm »
Mechanic, trainee accountant, plumbers mate, top man demolition/heavy plant diver, cutter meat market, back too heavy plant got licence back, asphalt roads, banking, commercial cleaner now a rug sucker and loving it.

Matt

BBA exam a bit harder than any cc exam, who did you work for? Me Grindlays/brants/ANZ wife used to call me man in a suitcase! Bank staff, the banks Gestapo!

Len
Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other. (Sidcup Kent)

Matt Read

  • Posts: 235
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #31 on: April 05, 2005, 08:25:05 pm »
Just a bit len...i think i managed a couple of passes then they just started hard selling in branches and i couldn't see the point. I was just a bog standard clerk at the grand old trustee savings bank...now lloydstsb.
Matt

adl

Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #32 on: April 05, 2005, 08:49:34 pm »
Show Jumping Trainer in switzerland and germay till 97 then Truck driver till 2003

regards Dave ADL

Len Gribble

  • Posts: 5106
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #33 on: April 05, 2005, 08:51:17 pm »
Matt

Never demean yourself as bog standard without you they would be missing a cog.

You’re lucky you did not work the Yankee banks they hand out titles like rvp and do they get bighead about that = supervisor or unit head at the end of the day a cog within a wheel

Len
Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other. (Sidcup Kent)

paulchambers

  • Posts: 530
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #34 on: April 05, 2005, 09:10:27 pm »
I cleaned cookers and repaired domestic appliances and before that i was a postman for 11 years  after being a in the Royal Navy for 9 years

clive

  • Posts: 140
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #35 on: April 05, 2005, 09:50:20 pm »
Butcher.

Don Atkinson

Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #36 on: April 05, 2005, 10:00:58 pm »
In order - Used to boil up and make different assortments of toffee at home and sell at the local market, moved on to Fudge, then had a 'Dinky Donut' catering van, then held Tupperware parties, then was paid to scare people in London's dungeons dressed as an ape, than had to sit down then stand up 30000 times a day as a Shakletons highchair tester, Then worked for Chem-Dry, Then made different varieties of Pork Pies at home and sold at market, then tried and failed to set up a 'wash a dog' business, sold papers on a street corner, started back at Chem Dry, tried making different varieties of Cornish Pasties and selling them at market, Naughty underwear and panty salesman, then sex toy distributor, then Horse Chestnuts from a stand in Leeds, Than back to Chem Dry but got sacked for having a bath at a customers house, then finally self employed.

don          

Ian Gourlay

  • Posts: 5748
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #37 on: April 05, 2005, 10:02:39 pm »
I am amazed no cleaners.

Retail Manager 23 years ,Direct Selling 15 years god that makes me old.

Shaun_Ashmore

  • Posts: 11381
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #38 on: April 05, 2005, 10:24:42 pm »
Did the usual bits like college and a couple of jobs but fell into carpet cleaning at 17 only last year ::)

Shaun

Len Gribble

  • Posts: 5106
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #39 on: April 05, 2005, 10:33:37 pm »
Ian

I was only referring to full time work parents had a catering and cleaning co stated at the age of 11 don’t ask me to make a pot of tea or do the washing up as you would not like my reply!

Len 
Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other. (Sidcup Kent)

Gavin Reardon

  • Posts: 464
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #40 on: April 05, 2005, 10:43:31 pm »

Rugby player
Gavin Reardon IICRC / NCCA

www.ace-cleaning.co.uk

ian richards

Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #41 on: April 05, 2005, 11:24:38 pm »
OOOhhh, Gavin ( he says in a very squeeky girlie welsh voice) my hero!!!!

I used to get up at 4.30 int morning , half hour before i went to bed, and lick roard clean wit tongue!! ( he says in a stupid version of a yorkshire accent)

I scored the winning goal in the F A cup final at Wembley in 1986, in the 92nd minute, i lifted the cup to the screams of a hundred thousand million fans, all doing the mexican wave!! The queen hugged me and said that she wanted my babies, Philip said that he wanted them too!! I then went on to win wimbledon and win the ashes for England........and then i woke up to see gavin sleeping next to me saying........ that he was the only gay in the village :D
 

paul@ctcs

Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #42 on: April 05, 2005, 11:34:17 pm »
Classic ;D ;D ;D

dave401uk

  • Posts: 434
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #43 on: April 06, 2005, 12:40:19 am »
chuffing magic that lad 8) 8) 8) 8)
and yes, real men like gravy!!

dave
Its never a pass of the wand,just a master stroke.

Gavin Reardon

  • Posts: 464
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #44 on: April 06, 2005, 08:10:30 am »
Hello Ian

I dont mind you having laugh mate, but don't ring me up at nearly 12pm to tell me that you are doing so  ;)

I will get you back next week when I come up to your house  ;D  ;D

Better start training me old mate :o

happy and safe butt wipping 

Gav
Gavin Reardon IICRC / NCCA

www.ace-cleaning.co.uk

Ian Gourlay

  • Posts: 5748
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #45 on: April 06, 2005, 08:11:12 am »
Len,

I did not notice you helping with the teas and coffee at Milton Keynes so I guess you have forgotten those skills.

How do you go from tarmac to banking?

ian richards

Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #46 on: April 06, 2005, 09:08:41 am »

Gavin

Was that Butt Wipping or Butt Wiping ???  Surly it must be butt wipping ???

Why would you want to come all the way down here to wipe my butt ???
You should see how hairy it is ;D

Nahh, it must be butt wipping :o I saw a lovely whip for sale in Ann Summers........Shall i get one for each of us ;D

spindle

  • Posts: 680
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #47 on: April 06, 2005, 12:03:19 pm »
i am a chef!!!!!!!!   and have been for 15 yrs..........working in restaurants and hotels all over london................its a pretty thankless job but great job satisfaction
life is one big learning experience!!!!!!!

Dennis

  • Posts: 2044
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #48 on: April 06, 2005, 12:31:06 pm »
What's for lunch then Chris?  ;D

Gavin Reardon

  • Posts: 464
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #49 on: April 06, 2005, 12:39:58 pm »
Ian

How can I go all the way down to you we I live?? im in Cardiff and you live in Solihull I think you mean come up to kick your butt  ;D ;D

Gav
Gavin Reardon IICRC / NCCA

www.ace-cleaning.co.uk

Gavin Reardon

  • Posts: 464
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #50 on: April 06, 2005, 12:41:52 pm »
Hi Don

You took a bath in a customers house! sold sex toys! dressed up as an ape and washed dogs ???

What's all that about???  :o



Gavin Reardon IICRC / NCCA

www.ace-cleaning.co.uk

Dennis

  • Posts: 2044
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #51 on: April 06, 2005, 01:09:54 pm »
You don't have to be mad to work for Chemdry.........

but it helps!  ;D ;)

Len Gribble

  • Posts: 5106
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #52 on: April 06, 2005, 07:10:01 pm »
Ian R

Iv had the pleasure cc at Ann Summers HO in Croydon think I’m booked to clean in June so if you can hold on till then I may be able to get a discount for you.



Ian G

Got laid off and saw a banking job being advertised so I went for it and got it, had to start at the bottom but soon worked my way up the ladder and became a delegator.

Too right about MK, the same at home that why I married young ???

Len
Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other. (Sidcup Kent)

Big_Fish

Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #53 on: April 06, 2005, 07:30:48 pm »
I was a cook, then I made traditional Scottish kilts. After starting a family I was a nursery school assistant and worked with  primary school children with behavior problems.

Murray was in retail working for a timber merchant in London and then for Kodak.

Too many years working long hours to line someone else's pocket.

Nicky


a55essor

Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #54 on: April 08, 2005, 07:45:21 pm »
I started as chef I agree with spindle2k it's a thankless task, also to many desk top chefs/cooks. Then when nvq come along did me d32/33 went in to assessing  cleaning/chefs  for their nvq's, worked as cleaning supervisor,then site manager on top of that starting me own business. 

Kev

beau4021

  • Posts: 65
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #55 on: April 10, 2005, 07:07:15 pm »
supervisor foremane amd later worked on computers !!
big change and glad of it
brian

md_cleaning

  • Posts: 278
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #56 on: April 10, 2005, 07:26:53 pm »
I did 8 years in Horticulture, then was a Fork lift truck driver, exiting stuff.

Atlantic Cleaning

  • Posts: 115
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #57 on: April 10, 2005, 09:20:13 pm »
Cheese Maker  :D

ABLECLEAN

Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #58 on: April 26, 2005, 12:06:59 am »
17 years sole trader in the carpet trade. Back breaking knee knackering and never earned a living. Used to help Dave 401UK years ago so decided to give it a go. I wish I had done it sooner!!

HolmansUKLTD

  • Posts: 849
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #59 on: April 26, 2005, 08:00:43 am »
School!! apart from working at Prochem its all i have 8) ever done.

NIck 8)
Surreys No1 Carpet & Upholstery cleaner
Surreys No1 Dart player
IICRC water restoration Technician

Barry Pearce

  • Posts: 111
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #60 on: April 26, 2005, 08:33:12 am »
Cheryl New.
Always look back, because thats where the mistakes were made and some of the hardest are the best, look at last weeks profit, last months, last years, select a job were they liked you and you felt proud of what you had done, how could you have improved your profit? Curtains? Oriental Rug? Moth proofing?Pressure washed the patio, the sun shines out of your backside but did you maximise your advantage
I've been in the trade over 46 years and I am still learning
Barry

Eddie Conroy

  • Posts: 108
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #61 on: April 26, 2005, 10:51:37 am »
Hi all,
Had a detached Retina in November (Moorfields are great) Car, computer and company phone went back in December. In the main the last 20 years have been spent in Sales or Sales Training. Hoping that some time spent in the contract furnishing field where I was resposible for specifying carpets , upholstery and curtains  will help in my new(and what is to me) exciting career.
Regards
Eddie

Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #62 on: April 27, 2005, 01:03:50 am »
sales direct mentor 1980- 1991direct clean u.s.a.  alpine windows anglian windows. churchill stairlifts. national mobility. nationwide mobility, turnkey vending inc u.s.a.louis mystere cable television holland. turnkey prducts u.s.a david bright sales mentor shows throughout the world, 1970 army sob northern ireland, now humble cleaner but so happy ;D
listen,learn.and benefit. try. reward.and love, peace harmony.feng shui. and all that. it improves ones selling .to ones customers.reap THE HARVEST WHILST YOU CAN. and try to crush the opposition.

therapist

Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #63 on: April 27, 2005, 12:42:40 pm »
Interesting background Sherlock perhaps some of the knockers might quieten down having read your CV, but I doubt it.

r m

therapist

Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #64 on: April 27, 2005, 12:48:42 pm »
Golf pro  -  Driving Instructor  -  Retail GM  -  Lecturer  -  Owned a pretty substantial cleaning business  -  C C  -  Still c/cing but also Sports injury and Rehab therapist hence the " handle."

R M

bennymon

  • Posts: 816
Re: Occupation before turning to cc
« Reply #65 on: April 29, 2005, 01:43:13 pm »
i used to work on fire engins everything from cutting out panels to wiring the dash