Reality TV was one thing, but picking up the tools at 30 poses an entirely new (immunity) challenge for Simon Mee.
Starring on two seasons of Survivor, and a popular Instagram presence, Simon Mee may be a face you have seen before.
After ten years of working in the corporate world of media marketing and advertising, Simon Mee decided to jump ship and become an apprentice carpenter at age 30.
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Leaving his comfortable corporate job during the COVID lockdowns in 2020 was a massive leap for Simon.
“I remember being at work and looking out the window to the blue sky and thinking there had to be more to it,” Simon said.
“I was going stir crazy.”
Simon is now a newly qualified carpenter working on residential new builds and renovations across Brisbane.
“It is definitely late for some to pick up a physical trade at 30,” he said.
“But I’ve never looked back. It’s been a fantastic change for me.”
The transition
The transition, however, was not all sunshine and rainbows. Leaving a healthy salary with a great career progression to working for minimum wage for four years while getting certified at age 34 was a daunting prospect for Simon.
“At school the narrative was that smart kids go to university, and dumb kids do a trade. It was really clear cut,” Simon said.
“It’s been really empowering to identify the opportunity but also follow through with it.”
Witnessing a build come together gives Simon great job satisfaction.
“When you’re seeing the house come together and you have a conversation with the neighbours who say it looks great, there is a great sense of pride that I wasn’t necessarily getting with my corporate job,” he said.
Outside of the tradie world, Simon enjoys getting out and about in the Queensland sun, surfing, body-boarding and spending time with his one year old daughter.
Social media reach
With a growing social media presence, Simon’s Instagram has allowed for a greater connection to other tradies and people wanting to follow a similar pathway.
“A lot of people have asked about my experiences and being able to share my journey and encourage people to make the change to becoming a tradie has been amazing,” Simon said.
“The connections I’ve made on Instagram with tradies doing similar content to me has been great. We can share info and tips with one another. They have been powerful connections.”
“It’s important to surround yourself with good people.”
Advice
Pulling a career 180 has given Simon some unique insights into switching up careers. His advice to people wanting a career in trade is to make the most of every opportunity that comes your way.
“You have to really want it,” Simon said.
“It’s a hard slog but at the end of the day if you’re doing it for the right reasons, it will be so worth it in the long run.”