How hard is it to get general work on the road ?

[MarkVS]

So i'm 57, about to give up all my work travel and work from home... Plan to retire at 60, tax free super. Daughter is 18...about to go to Uni.....

Part of me wants to just throw it in now.....and get around....

I have skills, but very specialised, and big corporate.....not a trade.

How hard is it, on the road, to get general work ?

[SEADOO]

To bad your not a tradie.

Not enough outside major towns.

The further north you go, the harder it will be. Since the mines have dried up, CEO's are now scrubbing toilets to pay the bills.

[speewa158]

As an unbaits  equal opportunity employer l would prefer you work from home & not roam the streets in daylight hours .     

[McGirr]

We will chat on the Kimberley trip. 

Mark

[Muckinhell]

if your keen to go, while your planning,selling and preping, go do some volunteer work at pubs cafes clubs etc wich may lead to some part time stuff to give some skills, maybe down you local caravan park start learning there bits and pieces so you may get some work at caravan parks as general hand or something. always some upskilling to be done somewhere for many of those type  of jobs in the regional and smaller comunities.

[speewa158]

You might not be getting the $ you are now but bare in mind lf you wont do it for the $ somebody else will . Throw yourself to the Either & see where it takes you .                           Enjoy                   

[edz]

Arm yourself with a few licences . HR truck  liscence, Learn basic diesel mechanical skills, helpful in most remote areas . 1st Aid,  Fork lift ... RSA and RCG for pub / club / other work. 

[Bird]

Arm yourself with a few licences . HR truck  liscence, Learn basic diesel mechanical skills, helpful in most remote areas . 1st Aid,  Fork lift ... RSA and RCG for pub / club / other work.

Theres a good 12 mths


It also depends on what your willing to do and how much hard work and Shit your willing to put up with

[woftam]

How hard is it, on the road, to get general work ?

I am assuming general work means anything and everything ?

How remote are you intending on travelling ?

Do you want to be paid ?

My experience only which relates more to remote areas.

Travelling to and from contracts I have randomly been offered jobs, usually totally unrelated to my qualifications (I work as a RAN). I have occasionally been offered jobs in roadhouses, in small communities and on stations ranging from menial to managerial. Frequency of offers seems to relate to time of year i.e. more work when there are more people travelling. This is without actively seeking work.

Do you have a partner and are they qualified in any line of work ? In my work it is common for people to bring their partners with them and most seem to find work of some description. Of course the organisation contracting the partner generally actively assists to find partners work as it makes the job more attractive.

As I travel by road using the CT I have a high exposure to others travelling. Talking and listening to others word of mouth seems to be a good resource regarding where work is available.

Some jobs are renumerated by accommodation, access to power and water rather than cash.

[chester ver2.0]

So i'm 57, about to give up all my work travel and work from home... Plan to retire at 60, tax free super. Daughter is 18...about to go to Uni.....

Part of me wants to just throw it in now.....and get around....

I have skills, but very specialised, and big corporate.....not a trade.

How hard is it, on the road, to get general work ?

Except for a difference in age i am the same as you my work has all been corporate and not trade. When we went on the road i found i could score the odd job for a free nights accommodation such as cleaning the caravan park pool at 1 spot or getting a weeks accomodation at another cause i work in Health and Safety and did his chemical risk assessments on his chem shed for him was OK, but for more long term paying roles they all seem to be trade based

[edz]

[quote ]
Theres a good 12 mths

Well he did say he's got 3 years till he wants to retire, plenty of time to skill up a bit   

[chester ver2.0]

[quote ]
Theres a good 12 mths

Well he did say he's got 3 years till he wants to retire, plenty of time to skill up a bit   

True as Edz said above RSA certificate and forklift license is what would be my minimum if i hit the road again

[wakychapmans]

when I was on the road (by bicycle) back in 1992, I rocked into a couple of pubs and offered to work for free (for experience) for a couple of days. I mean... I was living out of my tent anyway... so my expenses were kinda' on the low side.

Upside was that after only one morning shift at the pub, I was hired to do pretty much anything *except* serve drinks.

Six weeks of wages later... I was back on the road with enough cash to last me for a few months.

[glenm64]

The mines in WA are just starting to kick back in.
When we were on our northern trip last year, we got offered work at Mt Hart, the was work in Kununara, and places like Alice will have seasonal work.

Cheers Glen

[loanrangie]

57 is young and who is going to support the daughter while at uni, she will have her hand out for a few more years yet.

[glenm64]

Whats wrong with supporting themselves? Most important life lesson to learn.
Both my sons have learnt to stand on their own 2 feet. Expect nothing and you'll never be disappointed is my motto. Dont get me wrong, we're always there if things get tough. But neither of them expect anything.

Cheers Glen

[Fizzie]

True as Edz said above RSA certificate and forklift license is what would be my minimum if i hit the road again

RSA (at least in Qld) is about 1 hour online

[themissus]

We've been on the road for 4 years and never had trouble getting work. I have a office admin background and Rod has warehouse and delivery driver background with MR and fork lift licence other than that we have no qualifications. We find work via gumtree, facebook pages and word of mouth.
Jobs we've done since hitting the road:
Chaser bin (30t bin) driver for grain harvest  (Both)
Caretakers on cattle station (Both)
Managed working backpacker hostel (Kim)
Pond tech on Prawn Farm (Rod)
Cook for a harvest crew (Kim)
Reception at Big 4 Holiday Park (Kim)
Rod is working back at the prawn farm at the moment, we were passing through and know they are short staffed over the cane crush season, I've picked up some cleaning work at the park we're staying in. We'd planned on staying 8 weeks but have managed to get a housesit from Dec-April so we'll stay stay an extra couple of months, save $200 a week on park fees and give the back account a healthy top up. Planning on spending 2018 up the cape and won't need to worry about working.
So long as you're prepared to have a crack most people will give you a go and the more remote you go the more desperate they are for workers.
Cheers Kim

[speewa158]

Theres a whole Mew World outthere ,,,,just a bit down the street 

[Barrabart]

CEO's are now scrubbing toilets to pay the bills.

Mining CEO's should be made to scrub dunnies for a few days  each month, just to keep their big f%#kin ego's in check.

[Rodt]

Consider getting a Traffic Controller qualification if you are intending to potentially stay in the one place for a few weeks at a time. My experience in the past is that they are generally desperate to get hold of people that are qualified and reliable. Can be hot work on a road in the middle of summer but you have the opportunity to chat to a range of people. The more remote you go the less likelihood of being subjected to some of the crap that goes with being in a city

[Pebble]

I'm in WA and compared to last year there are certainly a lot of jobs going in the mines at the moment that's for sure. Only thing is that even for the unskilled type work you probably still need a few tickets (like confined space, working at heights etc).

[speewa158]

lf your the CEO of What ever , Now  . On the Wallaby  ( road ) your a JAFA  ,,, ( Just Another Farking Aussie  ) . line up ask the questions about work  or just get into it . The pay rate will be different to what you reckon you are worth but there are a huge bunch behind you to take your place . lf you want $ take the opportunity to get involved & see where it will lead . Some don't have personality you might & that could make the difference , leading to who known where .
      The longest journey starts with the 1st step  . Step Out       

[McGirr]

It depends on what work you want to do. Try different jobs, remote areas are good as you get to explore places that are pristine.

We have been on the road for nearly 3 years and dont regret any of the places we have been. You will find jobs easily. All pur jobs we have git have been on gumtree. Its a learning curve working for some people who have no idea what they are doing.

The current market is screaming for releif retail managers for remote stores. We have learnt alot running the store hete at Peppimenarti. We are now in a position, working remote, to pick and choose where we go next. Be prepared to have people say you are over qualified if going for simple jobs.

Mark

[Black Diamond]

Can you fit tyres?