Taking on an apprentice

[needasparks]

Fingers crossed for you.
despite the theme of lazy youngsters there are still some keen go getters out there. You just have to find one fella.
heaven knows how full your inbox is by now.
Just don't expect much feed back from the first chat but tell them how clean you like your van

Some tips in this thread for any want to be sparks reading. see its not all doom and gloom just go that extra mile to make yourself stand out from the rest. Oh and lastly, please don't get your mum to ring all the companies for you, you would not believe how many do and what does that say about you.

 

[Guest111]

Looking to take on an apprentice. Anyone got any tips on what to look for. Going to give the person a trial run and see how they get on.

try a few simple electrical questions at interview that will give you an idea,anyone wanting to be a sparks should at least have read up on the job.watch out for the college boys though,some of them are terrible,heard some real horror stories,my last lad came to me with an assignment he couldn,t understand,he was a bright kid so it had me puzzled why he was struggling anyway the drawing he was given was completely wrong.turned out the instructor was on long term sick leave and his so called replacement was only level 2 qualified with virtually no experience.Kind of the blind leading the partially sited.

 

[OhmSweetOhm]

When I was in my 2nd year, I was out of work and my college advisor told me that I came with £2000 funding if a company took me on. That narf got me a job quick.

 

[vernam616]

The company i used to work for used to take around 3 on every year, and they always seemed to be lifeless idiots

No motivation, inititive or a brain, had the odd one which you can usually tell on the first day whether or not they will ever be anything

Problem nowadays is they expect it all on a plate for them and think it all comes too easy, when they started working at 16 yr old, they were instantly paid £150 per week !

When i was training it was £30 a week and it sure did make you work hard because you wanted to be taken on after the 2 years and earn some better money.

We had one apprentice who had been with us for around 2 years, constantly on his phone, messing simple things up, best i ever seen was when he was asked to remove a cavity wall box from a brand new wall which hadnt even been plastered, he took a hammer to the wall to remove it !, he was sacked shortly afterwards to no surprise

 

[Farmelectrics]

Is there anyone looking to take an apprentice on in the Merseyside area my nephew is looking to become a sparky like my self and his grandad

 

[geordie]

Meeting with a 16 year old lad next week. Sounds very keen already been offered a place at college

 

[Welchyboy]

Thing is I'm a little concerned if work suddenly dries up and I have to lay him off, especially if he has left employment to come to work for me, to be honest I have been crazy busy so far this year but it may not stay that way!

 

[i=p/u]

its like anyone, could be laid off next week welchy

 

[rugbynick]

we have had quite a few over the years. As long as they are under 19 when they start, all college costs are paid for by training organisation including NVQ3 and £500 contribution towards AM2 test.(JTL) Apprentices do not come under minimum wage and if you pay the JIB rates you are covered. I also pay all their travel expenses so there is no argument about not being able to afford to get to site.

 

[rugbynick]

Make sure they can do the maths required at college. We give them a little test based on transposing formulae etc Y10 school stuff

 

[Johnuk]

i would give him 2 weeks, to see how good he is, then go from there

 

[Welchyboy]

Well it's been 3 weeks so far, he's a good lad keen and tries hard he just seems really slow, about an hour to 2nd fix 3 12v down lighters!
My missis says I should give him a chance as he's only starting out but Im sure I was much faster than that
Its ok at the moment as I'm not under that much pressure but if I am soon it may become a problem

Am I being unreasonable?

 

[StuSpiers]

Well it's been 3 weeks so far, he's a good lad keen and tries hard he just seems really slow, about an hour to 2nd fix 3 12v down lighters!
My missis says I should give him a chance as he's only starting out but Im sure I was much faster than that
Its ok at the moment as I'm not under that much pressure but if I am soon it may become a problem

Am I being unreasonable?

A little I think.

You don't take on an apprentice to help you, you take on an apprentice to help him and teach him your skills, he will not start paying his way until the second year more than likely, and even then can still make plenty of grief for you in the way of cock ups.

If you need labour take on a mate.

 

[Richard Burns]

Give him a chance yet but why not talk to him and express your interest in how he is going about 2nd fixing downlights.
Give him an idea of expected time scales and see if he thinks he would be able to meet these.
If not what problems does he think he will encounter?.
Give him some to practice wiring again and again on on the bench if he is unsure of connections etc.

Continued communication is the key. Need to invest some more time in him!

Good luck

 

[Welchyboy]

Maybe I am being a little demanding lol