How Do I Get into Labouring Jobs in Melbourne?

wetsandwich on 12/02/2025 - 22:35

Hey all,

I'm working in IT now and fairly well paid for what the job is, but due to various factors I'm burning out so badly from the pressure that I really have to take more of a break than any annual leave / sick leave combination is going to afford me before I snap. But, I also have a mortgage, so while I have a savings buffer from a redundancy last year, I still need a bit of cash to come in.

Can anyone guide me through the practical steps to getting a labouring job, such as what tickets I would need, what companies I should approach that aren't too dodgy, what pay I should expect coming in with no experience, and anything else I need to know? What would a basic entry level labouring job actually involve doing?

I assume the $200k Stop sign holding jobs don't really exist, but if I can easily find full time hours at around $30 I'd be happy with that. Anything where I don't have to have 10 people Teams messaging me as soon as I rock up at work in the morning!

Education & Work

Comments

  • brendanm on 12/02/2025 - 22:44
    +7

    I don't see this going well.

    • wetsandwich on 12/02/2025 - 22:45

      ? I don't think I've said anything particularly ridiculous here?

      • brendanm on 12/02/2025 - 22:48
        +10

        You've been doing a non-physical job for so long you are burnt out, and want to jump into a completely physical job. On top of that, you don't even know what is involved in it. Can't you just go for an entry level boring position in your field? Or cut down hours, so you are making the same amount as you'd get at a labouring job, but working fewer hours?

        • wetsandwich on 12/02/2025 - 23:00
          +8

          I'm not just a stereotypical desk sitting nerd though, I can deadlift several plates and bike ride a lot. Getting back to physical stuff would be great because I'm too mentally cooked to go to the gym like I used to do 6 days per week.

          Entry level positions in IT are likely even more stress, highly competitive, high pressure churn&burn and close to minimum wage if you want to actually get into them. Literally 60k with managers breathing down your neck about stats and KPIs - been there before. I can only see it being worse if anything without any upsides over my current job where at least I'm respected.

          • brendanm on 12/02/2025 - 23:02
            +7

            @wetsandwich: Doing weights at the gym is not the same as physical work all day. Maybe I'm wrong and you'll love it.

            Fair enough regarding entry level positions, sounds very painful for that pay rate.

        • A-mak on 13/02/2025 - 09:13

          I went from i.t helpdesk (I didn't try to keep fit in my personal time) to working in a bottle shop where 1 year later I was promoted to 2ic.

          If you have the heart go for it op.

          • brendanm on 13/02/2025 - 09:24
            -1

            @A-mak: Working in a bottleshop is not labouring.

            • A-mak on 13/02/2025 - 19:13
              -2

              @brendanm: Drive through bottle shop (customers didn't have to leave their car) with skeleton staff carrying 48kgs (2slabs) pretty much the entire shift at a quick pace (3rd busiest bws in the state).

              Pretty sure it is mate. I went from no muscle & getting chubby to mates telling me I was getting bulk.

              You'd be fun to hang out with.

              • brendanm on 13/02/2025 - 22:42
                -1

                @A-mak: Most people aren't going to assume what you just described when you say you "worked in a bottle shop".

        • ATTS on 14/02/2025 - 09:45

          I heard suicide rates were high among blue collar workers, esp construction workers , is that true?

  • lgacb08 on 12/02/2025 - 22:45
    +3

    warehouse pick packer would be a good start, just check around the major labour hire one like Chandler, Action, Programme, Corner Stone, etc. Can easily rack up 15km walk a day. Just avoid those that potentially have heavy job to pick (grocery/beverage, cold chain) if you don't want to break your back first day into the job.

    • wetsandwich on 12/02/2025 - 22:46

      I'm in pretty decent shape despite the IT job, so I wouldn't mind them. Thanks for the specific companies.

  • Benoffie on 12/02/2025 - 23:09
    +4

    White Card is a must. Forklift would be helpful.

    • El cheepo on 13/02/2025 - 01:08

      This and then straight to a recruitment agency to get a placement until they get a bit of experience.

      Not sure about the east coast, but the west coast has plenty of ok paying forklift roles, but not many paying 30+ ph full time. (Usually between 25-30 ft on average from what i see)
      People usually make their money in overtime in that industry.

      • wetsandwich on 13/02/2025 - 06:31

        Forklift looks to be 30-35ph here through some lf the mentioned recruiters in another comment. Not too bad.

  • fantombloo on 12/02/2025 - 23:32
    +2

    where I don't have to have 10 people Teams messaging me as soon as I rock up at work

    Depending where you labour you might have to. Prestarts and toolbox talks are common in construction.

    • JIMB0 on 13/02/2025 - 00:59

      Plenty of bullshit emails as well in large companies.

  • Hardlyworkin on 13/02/2025 - 05:43
    +3

    Join the Mafia (CMFEU).

    • Protractor on 13/02/2025 - 13:06
      -1

      Way to insult The Family.
      CFMEU is more bikie than Godfather

  • AussieDaddy on 13/02/2025 - 06:54
    +3

    Get an HR license and become a bus driver. Doesn't need much experience and you can make over $30 an hour. Just an idea.

    • Jimothy Wongingtons on 13/02/2025 - 10:26
      +3

      Always wanted a corner office with a view? How about being paid to travel? Plus drive a $400,000 company vehicle? I did, so I became a bus driver.

      On a more serious note, i dont know if i could really handle being a bus driver tbh when having to deal with some absolute LOONS like this one that broke this poor ladys fingers , or absoloute feral delinquents.

      • JIMB0 on 13/02/2025 - 12:13
        +2

        That corner office has an ever changing view of the entire city.

        i dont know if i could really handle being a bus driver tbh when having to deal with some absolute LOONS

        A lot of bus companies will hire you without a HR licensee and train you up as it's hard to get people due to the ferals that ride the bus.

    • DoctorCalculon on 13/02/2025 - 22:52

      As an added bonus, there won't be 10 people Teams messaging him while he is driving a bus. ;)

  • nizzkid on 13/02/2025 - 07:24
    +4

    Manufacturing maybe?
    Where I work pays $38ph for zero experience, knowledge, skills or tickets.

    • redparrot on 13/02/2025 - 09:17
      +4

      Where do you work, if I may ask? I'm in an exactly similar situation like OP and based in Sydney.

    • wetsandwich on 15/02/2025 - 17:37

      Wheres this if i may ask (can you DM?). I see a lot on websites but a lot is way out in the sticks.

  • 82norm on 13/02/2025 - 07:53

    Look for demolition labouring as a starting point. Sometimes scumtree, NextDoor advertise for work. Can be a bit dodge, but gives you some experience and it then becomes word of mouth. Do a few job sites, show your reliable and a hard worker and go from there. If you’re fit it’s doable. I did it casually and there is money to be made, albeit can be physically demanding, but less stressful. Gives you perspective and appreciation in life too and how others live.

    • JIMB0 on 13/02/2025 - 10:25

      Can be a bit dodge

      That's an understatement. Some of the demo guys are absolute morons and it's best to give them a wide berth on site if you value your personal safety.

  • Rahonui on 13/02/2025 - 09:41
    +3

    Get your white card, and start signing up with labour hire companies. Any other tickets are up to you, and they're all tax deductible. Every man and his dog has the basics - forklift, telehandler, scissor, ewp, traffic etc. They all help, but without the experience, you'll miss out going up against most others, so i wouldnt get too many to start with.

    The 200k jobs do exist, but what the headlines miss out is that you're only ever a daily hire (no job security), and to get to that level of pay involves ridiculous amounts of overtime. Think 10 or 12 hour days 6 days a week.

    General labouring, including traffic control involves doing the dirty crap others don't want to. Lots of sweeping, chipping concrete, emptying bins and cleaning up after trades.

    If you tick off any of the minority quotas, you will be able to get straight on with big builders (female/aboriginal/torres straight/disabled/transgender). If not, you're going to need a bit of luck.

    At least you are realistic with your expectations. Try some of the facebook groups for construction jobs, get some experience, and you can figure out the rest along the way. Best of luck

    • Jugganautx on 13/02/2025 - 13:00

      tax deductable doesn't mean much, you're still forking out your own money, its not a refund.

      • Rahonui on 14/02/2025 - 11:24
        +1

        Never claimed it was any sort of refund or any huge benefit? Just pointing out that all training is tax deductible. Anyone new to the industry may not realise that.

  • Drpepper666 on 13/02/2025 - 10:45

    Try another job in IT

  • ihbh on 13/02/2025 - 10:51

    Personal trainer?

  • 2esc on 13/02/2025 - 12:31
    +1

    Your absolutely right about the $200,000 traffic control jobs they certainly dont exist. I know a few traffic controllers and $28 an hour they are getting paid as casuals a couple even have to provide there own radios and vehicle. They have never met a traffic controller on $200,000. The highest they know about are CFMEU members on $50.50 a hour if you have more than 6 months experience. They would have to do a lot of public holidays, week end work etc and still wouldnt earn $200,000. There would be considerably less than 1% of traffic controllers actually getting work as a CFMEU Members.

    • Danstar on 13/02/2025 - 13:00

      Probably isn't working on a Government funded site, or the company he/she is working for is pocketing the profits.

      The minimum pay rate for a traffic controllers on union run sites is just under $50, and goes up the longer you stay in the job.

      It's a joke!

      • Protractor on 13/02/2025 - 13:09

        Yes but those new rapidly made perfect roads are so good.The bitumen never lifts or fails. We are so lucky to have such diligent and efficient workers..

        (OMG, I gotta get better hallucinogens)

      • tenpercent on 15/02/2025 - 20:07

        Your tax dollars hard at work…. which is normally one bloke doing the work and 5 others standing around chatting.

  • Muppet Detector on 18/02/2025 - 21:05

    What about a barman in a club? There are lots of different pay rates for hospitality but I believe working in a club (like a RS, Bowling club) has a fairly high hourly base wage but there are quite substantial loading rates for weekend and night time work. Not sure which is the applicable award, but someone else might know?

    From memory, even the glassies were getting large hourly rates.

    Probably need to know how to pull a beer and have a RSA. Bonuses if you can do the whole throw it all in the air like Tom cruise in Cocktail.

    Pyrotechnics get a bunch of money too. Looking for a company that does live performances.

  • Muppet Detector on 18/02/2025 - 21:09

    I don't know much about working in IT, but a concern I may have is how much time I can take off before I affect my ability to reenter that field for employment down the road?

    Could be that a first step is to have a talk to your GP or a counsellor/shrink of some type.

    Best wishes.

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