Contractors not having enough time or patients with apprentice (me)

[hotdog123]

Hi folks Im work for my local council and as we don't do a wide variety of work such as conduits, etc they send me down the contractors they use sometimes for some experience to help build up my portfolio for my nvq, its a smallish newish company around employ around 20 people and been around less than 10 years. Well at the moment im on a placement doing conduit, and I actually think I would enjoy the work if the guy I was put with had a bit more patients with me, when I ask to have a bit of patients with me he says he cant as the job needs to be done and he has not got time for that, nor has the company got spare materials in case I make a mistake. On the job sheet it says 2 man, yet Its just me and him I have never done conduit before) only been working for 6 months, most of that being on rapid response doing bits of fault finding, showers, sockets, rcd, loop,tests,etc. Anyways it just seems like the company is very rushed and has not really got the time for me there and I dont feel like he wants me there as he has a bit of a go it me on things and never really says I done anything well, which I feel I have, I wouldn't mind that, but its just it feels like he is always me criticising me, everyone at the council has been great with me and have had a A and B report from one of the guys I was working with when my training officer came out. I just feel like Its not a good environment for me as it is a quick in quick out type of place, not having the time to show me the ropes or even allow for me to be a bit slow and inexperienced. I really enjoy my job normally and love learning about electrics and different type of work but I just hate this really, are all private companies like this, or should I look about at getting a placement at a larger company one more used to apprentices?

 

[telectrix]

is this steel conduit? if so, why not ask your boss if you can borrow a hilmor and dies over the weekend and you pay for a couple of lengths of tube. then have a bit of practice at home. by all means look around for a better placement, but don't jump ship before getting a new job. jobs are hard to come by.

btw, it's "patience". doctors have patients. lol.

 

[hotdog123]

What it is, is that this is just a placement while the is a bit of work on at the contractors, the council who I work for are great, couldnt ask for a better place, nice freindly atmosphere, etc. I want to stay there for years no plans what so ever to leave, I love the job, its just I dont think the placment is much good with the contracotrs, Im only on it for 4 days and done 3 so only 1 to go, its just to do the other things on the nvq I will need to go out again with contractors and I just dont think its the right sort of enviroment, Im here to learn, (the contractors dont pay me while im there) and the atitude is that the isnt time for that, the job needs doing quick, at the council and at college they show me step by step how to do it, but they just not got the time here. Are all private companies like this or are bigger more estabilshed ones, who are used to apprentices better?

 

[High Tower]

You will probably find the contractors are all on price mate, don't take it to heart, it's hard enough to make money without one arm tied behind your back!.

Your task is to work out how to be an asset to them while still learning

 

[trev]

If this is anything like the local authority I sub for from time to time they'll have a training officer who is responsible for your development. Have a word with that person but try to make it sound like you're not whining.
Also, they'll have a schools and public buildings section. You could ask if there's any chance of a secondment to that.
Having an apprentice does slow you down BUT we were all like you once and someone made the time to show us what to do, during a break time talk to one of these guys and tell him how frustrated you are. Maybe they'll cut you a bit of slack and start to do the right thing.

 

[Guest77]

Hi folks Im work for my local council and as we don't do a wide variety of work such as conduits, etc they send me down the contractors they use sometimes for some experience to help build up my portfolio for my nvq, its a smallish newish company around employ around 20 people and been around less than 10 years. Well at the moment im on a placement doing conduit, and I actually think I would enjoy the work if the guy I was put with had a bit more patients with me, when I ask to have a bit of patients with me he says he cant as the job needs to be done and he has not got time for that, nor has the company got spare materials in case I make a mistake. On the job sheet it says 2 man, yet Its just me and him I have never done conduit before) only been working for 6 months, most of that being on rapid response doing bits of fault finding, showers, sockets, rcd, loop,tests,etc. Anyways it just seems like the company is very rushed and has not really got the time for me there and I dont feel like he wants me there as he has a bit of a go it me on things and never really says I done anything well, which I feel I have, I wouldn't mind that, but its just it feels like he is always me criticising me, everyone at the council has been great with me and have had a A and B report from one of the guys I was working with when my training officer came out. I just feel like Its not a good environment for me as it is a quick in quick out type of place, not having the time to show me the ropes or even allow for me to be a bit slow and inexperienced. I really enjoy my job normally and love learning about electrics and different type of work but I just hate this really, are all private companies like this, or should I look about at getting a placement at a larger company one more used to apprentices?

It may well be you have made a few mistakes and they haven't got the time to correct you regarding them on this particular job, by the way the company with 20 employees isn't small believe me, as it is only 4 days in total it is no big deal, as trev mentioned speak to your supervisor at the council and ask if he can talk to the next company you are sent to so they understand you need some actual training and the spark working with you needs to be a little patient regarding your competance.

 

[Richard Burns]

Private contractors will unfortunately be almost always in a rush to get things done as fast as possible.
Time is money and all that.
I would say that as it is going toward you training that you try and get the best you can out of it.
It might be less learning but easier to take a step back a bit and only do small parts of what is required, leaving the main contractor to do the bulk of the work.
Explain that you will only be able to do x as you are there in a learning capacity and do not want to slow them down.
I would say this technique is not likely to be successful, sorry, but if you can manage it, this would make it easier on you.

Remember that the next time you go out you will be more confident, will know what to expect and also you will be further along the learning curve and so it will be easier.
You might also get someone who is more tolerant of someone who has to learn and may give you some time.

If you have a good local work environment perhaps you could ask someone knowledgeable there if they could explain (even if they have no kit with which to demonstrate) what is required at the contractor jobs.
E.g. how do you bend conduit to make good lines and not mis-measure?

 

[Marvo]

I know it seems like a big issue to you now but as you get more experience of both people and the job you'll start to take obstacles like this more in your stride. What you're encountering is just real life, there's lots of guys out there who are interested in nothing more than getting the job done and getting home and paid and it's a different world for you when you've got to work with them and learn from them even when you don't feature on their list of priorities. Luckily it's just a few days so grit your teeth and just keep your head down, even if you only learn that you don't want to end up like that yourself in a few years from now then you've still learned something valuable.