Healthcare, government, hospitality and construction seem to have decent availability but what's it actually like for people working in tech, finance or creative industries? I hear a lot of people either work remotely and moved here for the lifestyle, or they've made peace with a pay cut compared to Melbourne or Sydney
I spent ages today trying to find a specific type of drill bit and even the staff member I asked wasn’t totally sure which aisle it was in. Feels like everything is organised differently depending on the store, and what used to be a quick in-and-out trip now turns into a bit of a treasure hunt.
I hooked an old rusty crab pot today that was full of octopuses but not a single crab in sight
Had a classic today. Fixed a faulty pendant in the kitchen and suddenly the client is claiming the garage door opener is acting up because I was messing with the wires. It is usually just a coincidence or they have had a pre-existing issue they only noticed because they are now paying attention to everything in the house. I usually just try to calmly explain how the circuits are separated at the board, but some people just do not want to hear it
Some older suburbs can be a pain with parking, tight access, traffic, no space for materials and constant moving vehicles around, while newer estates are usually easier but sometimes further out.
Do you factor stuff like that into your quotes or just wear the extra time and hassle as part of the job?
I’ve been thinking about upgrading my reel lately but can’t decide if spending big on something like a Stella is actually worth it or if mid range reels are already good enough for most people now
I’ve paid for the extra legroom but every time I check back, it’s moved me to a standard row. Is this a glitch with the A330 seat maps or something else?
I’ve been thinking about moving to Hobart myself, so I wanted to hear how people are finding it once the excitement of the move settles down a bit. Has it been worth it overall with work, lifestyle, meeting people, cost of living, and day-to-day life?
I do a bit of overhead work and my current drill is starting to feel like a lead weight by the end of the day. Need something lighter that still has enough grunt to get through hardwood
Had a job last week where the customer swore the kitchen was haunted because the microwave would only work if the bathroom light was on. Turned out some backyard sparky from years ago had wired the wrong neutral into it and created the weirdest setup I’ve seen in ages
I am thinking about going solo in July. Aside from the tax man taking half your money, what is the biggest hidden cost of being a subcontractor?
The laws say we can disconnect, but if a pipe bursts at a regular client's house, I feel like a dog if I don't answer. Do you actually switch the work phone off at night, or is it just part of the job and you cop it for the extra work?
I’m struggling with a few residential jobs lately where the client keeps tacking on "just one quick thing" every time I turn around. If I say yes, I’m working for free and blowing my schedule for the next job. If I say no or try to charge extra, it gets awkward and they act like I'm trying to rip them off. I’ve tried the "happy to do it but I'll have to write up a variation" line but some of them still push back. How do you set the boundary early without killing the vibe on a job?