Wendy Ramsay receives her qualification as floor and wall tiler from BCITO training advisor Stuart Caulfield. Photo: Supplied / BCITO
A Nelson woman who recently qualified as a tradie at the age of 56 following a difficult battle with cancer has some simple advice for anybody considering a career change at a later stage in life: "Just do it."
With research showing the average person changes career between five and seven times in their working life, Wendy Ramsay has done just that and has just become a qualified floor and wall tiler.
Ramsay grew up on a beef and sheep farm, and has worked in a variety of jobs, including share milking, hairdressing, rental management, and selling animal genetics to farmers.
She became more involved in her partner Mark's tiling business after her battle with cancer, taking on small tasks before working her way up to a full-time apprentice tiler and then completing her qualification.
She told Checkpoint that while she was working with her partner, she decided to get the formal qualification for the kind of work she was already doing.
"I had been doing it for about four years, and I thought I should actually just do it, I'll learn more from learning all the ins and outs of the trade, and it has been great."
Ramsay said it was different from working in a salon, "although you still need an attention to detail".
"It's rewarding work because you get to go into a bathroom that's outdated and you get to help in a lot of cases with design, and ideas helping the client to make good, practical choices.
"It's just nice to be part of that. You can look and feel proud of the work you have done."
Ramsay has some simple advice for anybody considering a career change at a later stage in life.
"Just go and do it.
"There are a lot of people who are working in a trade and they might just be a labourer in that trade and they may have done it for a long time, but if they just sign up through the BCITO, they could gain that apprenticeship and get qualified because they've got all the knowledge there, they just don't have the qualification to back it up.
"And it's not hard - I thought it was going to be hard - but you do it at your own pace and you submit your work, it's easy, they've got a great platform for it.
"See where life takes you, and if it's pulling you somewhere else, go for it. If you're not happy, life's too short, just change your career and try something else."
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