Pest Control

[nige123]

Hi all , having worked in the airline business for the last 27 years I've come to the conclusion that there's got to be a job out there which I could actually say I enjoy doing which I used to say about my current role twenty years ago !

I love being outside rain or shine and wonder if any of you guys could give me some of your views on Pest Control and the possibilities of future employment .

I m happy to fund the training needed and would be interested on your views as to if it's better to route through companies like Rentokill or just taking it on yourself.

The crunch came today after being told by a very junior manager telling me I'm lucky to have a job ! A job that I started before he was born ?

Moan over but any thoughts would be gratefully received.

Thanks in advance

[BattleFieldRelics]

Lots of people are being forced into self employment due to redundancy or not earning enough in their current jobs. Its tough out there. I would stick with your job even though you work with a ***.

[mossy835]

thats about right, a young jumped up manager.knows nothing about the job say your lucky to have a job,hope you find a nice out door job,

[KFC]

Many independent pest controllers route through Rentokil etc but it can be really hard to make a go of it. H&S, legislation and insurance can be very involved. Domestic jobs want it as cheap as possible and industrial contracts pay better but getting paid can be a nightmare. They'll either pay late, not pay the full invoice amount or both so cashflow will be a big challenge.

Also, doing the work is one thing but admin, doing estimates and keeping a track of servicing and payments means many unpaid hours.

 

Of course, anyone who wants to succeed will so best wishes with it if you go for it.

[CharlieT]

Although there are plenty doing it, there will always be room for an operative who is keenly priced, honest and available. After all Rats, wasps, mice, beetles and the like are never going to go away.

[Scully]

I don't know the ins and outs of it as I haven't really read the full ad', but there is often an ad' in ST magazine from a pest control company wanting people to take on the role; I'm assuming it's a franchise, but like i say I haven't read it in its entirety. May be worth a gander.

One of the lads from the next village does this for a living, but he is employed, not self-employed. He reckons it's a great job as he simply drives round and visits farms etc on a daily basis putting down poison etc. The company he works for only deals in small vermin such as rats and mice, wasps etc, and nothing like rabbits, foxes etc.

He says he isn't well paid, and claims 'money isn't everything', which is easy to say when your wife is a lawyer!

We do loads of pest control, but most of it is unpaid, which can be bad enough at times, and I can understand the view of being your own boss out and about in the countryside,but if you have bills and a mortgage to pay, and mouths to feed, you may find the novelty soon wears off. If a client is paying you to get results, the pressure is on to deliver,(cos word gets around fast, especially between farmers)and you're committed.

When it all pans out, I would think it would be great job.

[wacker]

Hi, I'm a full time pest controller. My recommendation is to go for a franchise as you will find most of the work is in kitchens, factories etc. you will need to pass your RSPH (Royal Society For Public Health) exam, Be a Member of BPCA (British Pest Control Association) Most franchises will supply training, equipment etc.

 

If you want to make a go of It, contract work is the way to go, and then fill in your time with job work. In this day and age companies want to see paperwork of competence so it's vital you get your training. I'm with ProKill by the way.

[Mentalmac]

Hi, I'm a full time pest controller. My recommendation is to go for a franchise as you will find most of the work is in kitchens, factories etc. you will need to pass your RSPH (Royal Society For Public Health) exam, Be a Member of BPCA (British Pest Control Association) Most franchises will supply training, equipment etc.

 

If you want to make a go of It, contract work is the way to go, and then fill in your time with job work. In this day and age companies want to see paperwork of competence so it's vital you get your training. I'm with ProKill by the way.

Nice answer there.

 

Maybe a route to go is to join Rentokil as a Surveyor. This way you learn the basics of being a technician (They teach being a technician first) and then the sales training on how to sell it and being a good surveyor (I.e being able to identify what type of pests you are dealing with properly and efficiently, which can mean the difference between a sale and not a sale).

 

I used to be a Surveyor and through it got BPCA certificated, plus with Rentokil you get yourself a load of top notch training materials and a 'bible' like folder with pictures of all pests with lifecycles and what prep's can be used etc... This is very handy when dealing with any of the SPI's found in food places when there is so many to know about you can forget sometimes. I still have a PDF version of this folder that I kept....

 

Perhaps doing this route, learning the basics as a technician, learning to sell the products, doing a year in that (Albeit it's a tough old game working for Rentokil, high targets and lots to do and also lots of competition) - but then you'd get a pretty good picture of it before investing heavily. Then if you like it after a year or so and have lots of qualifications, you leave and take them with you into a franchise or set up on your own...

 

When I was a surveyor, we sought out the jobs for the technicians and 'prescribed' what was needed and had to do all the H&S stuff (Risk assessments and method statements, to which you get trained on how to do properly) - as well as frequent testing on all aspects. If I was between appointments and had a spare hour or two I'd go and help the technicians and managed to get myself doing all manner of things, from putting up bird point and netting right down to contract jobs like checking bait stations etc...

 

The most important part of pest control in my opinion is the reporting and cleanliness. Most restaurants and food factories etc only have pest control for auditing purposes from who they supply (like M&S or Tesco's audits) - THEY get penalised for dirty bait boxes, empty bait boxes, wrong type of prep used, pests being present and not effectively dealt with, as well as having their reports checked regularly. If you want to score the good jobs you have to prove that you can report well and efficiently and audit friendly as well as doing a spot on job. That way, price doesn't always matter.

[STOTTO]

If you are lucky there might be an opportunity available eradicating pesky junior managers at your current place of employment, a few of you older guys should get together to discuss it!!