Employability Skills
Domain 12 tests the non-technical skills that decide whether a plumber gets repeat work: spoken and written communication, customer handling, teamwork on site, basic digital tools, and the documentation that supports a job.
Core skills
- Speak clearly and listen actively; repeat the job scope back to the customer before starting.
- Write job cards, estimates and simple reports with dates, quantities, rates and the work done.
- Read plumbing drawings and symbols, use units correctly, and calculate quantities and lengths.
- Use a smartphone for before-and-after photos, messages, digital payments and a simple expense sheet.
- Coordinate with masons, electricians and painters so pipes are not buried before testing.
Behaviour that gets you rehired
- Arrive at the agreed time, wear a clean uniform and ID, and explain what you are doing.
- Warn the household about water shut-off, dust and curing time.
- Ask for feedback and record complaints so the same fault is not repeated.
Worked example
A customer says "the bathroom smells". Reasoning: ask when it happens, whether it is worse after rain or after flushing, and which fixture was used. Then inspect traps, stack and vent, and write a short report: "Trap seal lost because the branch is unvented; recommend an anti-siphon valve; estimated cost ...". This turns a vague complaint into a documented, priced job the customer can approve.
Traps
Quoting a price before seeing the site; using jargon; failing to confirm the scope in writing; leaving the site dirty and losing the reference.