What would you expect from a trainee ?

[Matthew87]

Evening guys, im looking for a little bit of advice and guidance for my current situation please

I currently work full time as a trainee electrician, and have had this job for the past 6 weeks while studying my 2365 level 2 at college on evenings

what I would like to know, is from your experience with trainees, what would you expect from somebody at my stage of training ? And at what rate would you expect the trainee to be progressing with jobs they are able to do ?

I always try my best, and at the minute my jobs are basically sweeping up and carrying tools, which im fine with

I just want to make sure im doing everything I can to make it worth his while having me as a trainee

Thanks very much

Matthew

 

[shanky887614]

Hi mate, it depends on what sort of Sparky you are currently working with, if he / she is the same as the bloke I learnt from, then your on a winner, on the other hand some of them aren't really interested in anything but getting the job done.

Watch and learn, ask questions no matter how daft they may sound

That is the same as the guy ive been doing ny training with.

Boss looked at job and will take 2-3 for 3 men

His brother rang us up and said its needs to be done by 1pm

So will have had 1.5 days on it, how the hell can you so 3 days work in half the time and do it neat.

Its not like we work slow

 

[Engineer54]

I'm in my first year at college Trev, been there since September and have been working full time as a trainee for just under 6 weeks

Thanks

So tell us Matthew, what sort of feedback are you getting from the mentors (Qualified Electricians)you are working with on site?? Don't forget, you are literally just starting out on a relatively long but ultimately rewarding road....

 

[jaypp]

Originally Posted by jaypp
try not to rush anything as silly mistakes take longer to put right!

posted by snowhead;

Especially on a Friday afternoon

and here's the proof! spent 2 hours today finding fault on lighting circuit done friday. feed, fittings, pir's, overrides ran to adaptable box n connections made there.. 0.19 meg n-e. glad boss's 'mate' wasn't working with me when i found that he'd crossed conductors at fitting, the end of only 2 looped - also found he'd tried to squeeze both conductors (of l,n&e) on first fitting into 1 push-fit 'receptor' even though the manufacturer provided 2!! conductors fell out pretty much as i dropped 'guts'. he's one that tries to rush if it looks like we might run past 4.30. if i were paying him i'd dock it.

 

[lockhes]

and here's the proof! spent 2 hours today finding fault on lighting circuit done friday. feed, fittings, pir's, overrides ran to adaptable box n connections made there.. 0.19 meg n-e. glad boss's 'mate' wasn't working with me when i found that he'd crossed conductors at fitting, the end of only 2 looped - also found he'd tried to squeeze both conductors (l,n&e) on first fitting into 1 push-fit 'receptor' even though the manufacturer provided 2!! conductors fell out pretty much as i dropped 'guts'. he's one that tries to rush if it looks like we might run past 4.30. if i were paying him i'd dock it.

This why I always check there work before testing and powering up

 

[Matthew87]

So tell us Matthew, what sort of feedback are you getting from the mentors (Qualified Electricians)you are working with on site?? Don't forget, you are literally just starting out on a relatively long but ultimately rewarding road....

Hi Engineer54, im getting mostly positive feedback, the only bad feedback ive had is my speed, but he says this will come with confidence, and confidence is not something I have plenty of at the minute

I know myself I am slow, and I even mentioned this to him before that I know I need to speed up, I spend a lot of time pulling on cables, making sure they are not loose etc...

My boss works for himself, a one man band covering domestic, commercial and industrial

I usually do 12 hours a day including travelling as it takes me an hour each way to get to work and back due to where he lives

Tomorrow is a full day of testing at an industrial unit, so ill definitely be having my pen and paper at the ready !

Thanks very much

Matthew

 

[jaypp]

This why I always check there work before testing and powering up

5+ years as a 'mate' and definitely experienced , 3 conductors to easily identifiable connections, you'd expect better!!!

 

[CockneyReject]

Hi Engineer54, im getting mostly positive feedback, the only bad feedback ive had is my speed, but he says this will come with confidence, and confidence is not something I have plenty of at the minute

I know myself I am slow, and I even mentioned this to him before that I know I need to speed up, I spend a lot of time pulling on cables, making sure they are not loose etc...

My boss works for himself, a one man band covering domestic, commercial and industrial

I usually do 12 hours a day including travelling as it takes me an hour each way to get to work and back due to where he lives

Tomorrow is a full day of testing at an industrial unit, so ill definitely be having my pen and paper at the ready !

Thanks very much

Matthew

Your speed will come with time and experience mate don't fall into the to be a good spark you've got to be lightning quick as it's a slippery slope to becoming a rough arse, my first apprentice ended up going down that route after he was taken off me and now I wouldn't let him wire a plug never mind anything else

as for furthering your learning carry on as you are and you'll go far, from what I've read on here I'd be happy to have you as an apprentice

 

[CockneyReject]

5+ years as a 'mate' and definitely experienced , 3 conductors to easily identifiable connections, you'd expect better!!!

Never expect better from a 'mate' and always check their work, learnt that the hard way early on and thesedays I'm of the opinion 'mates' shouldn't be 2nd fixing without close supervision at the very least as there's a reason they are a 'mate' and not a sparky

 

[jaypp]

Never expect better from a 'mate' and always check their work, learnt that the hard way early on and thesedays I'm of the opinion 'mates' shouldn't be 2nd fixing without close supervision at the very least as there's a reason they are a 'mate' and not a sparky

true, but it amazes me that after instruction, supervision, checking (over long period) and gaining trust, that 'said person' working under you would be this rough n careless. lesson learned hard way too!!!

 

[Matthew87]

Thanks for the replies guys, much appreciated

Could anybody tell me the dead and live tests that are performed on a EICR in a industrial premises please ?

Im trying to gather as much info as possible for when I get there in the morning so at least I might have the slightest idea of what's going on

I don't expect people to explain what each test is for, But a list of the different tests would be brilliant

Thank you

 

[trev]

A lot would depend on the limitations that had been agreed with the client. For example, there might be a stipulation that power to a specific machine would not be interrupted in that case there'd be not much that you could do.
If you go with the cripler acronym you won't go too far wrong though.

 

[Matthew87]

Thanks very much Trev, appreciate that

C ontinuity of cpc and bonding conductors
R ing cont'
I .R test
P olarity DEAD test
P olarity LIVE test
L oop impedance test, Ze and Zs
E arth fault and PSC fault current
R cd and other functinal tests

 

[trev]

Well done, you passed that little test

I just noticed I left one P out. Bad Me!

 

[jaypp]

Well done, you passed that little test

I just noticed I left one P out. Bad Me!

you only part p'd!!!

 

[trev]

I never part p Jay, I p like a bloody racehorse