Maybe there is still hope

I was astounded today to read in my local newspaper job vacancies for apprentice foundry shop pattern makers with a local engineering company. Note the plural opportunities on offer although the advert didn't specify numbers.

For obvious reasons I won't mention the company by name, but I can assure you that they do have an international reputation in certain areas of engineering expertise.

Perhaps the tide has turned and we can look forward to some of the older and relevant (to us) skills returning.

Phil

alas I offered an apprentice position within my company...one person applied! When i got my apprenticship i was selected from 200 peaple, how times have changed

"I can do that, gi's a job!"

I wonder if they even get any applicants as the kids today ,well most of them are scared of getting dirty and you would be lucky to pry thier i pad out of thier hands long enough to do so !

I had an experience of just how mechanically inept the younger generation have become when my friend asked me to " HAVE A LOOK " at his Nephews motorcycle as he had to fit a new stator and re fit the side cover .

Well actually both side covers as he was to stupid to work out which side was the stator  was on and which was the clutch side  - didn't look for the wiring harness going into the motor so he removed both sides .

After i fitted the stator and covers while this nong stood there with his hands in his pockets asking stupid questions i asked him if he had some oil to fill the motor .

He did have oil and the correct type/grade but had no idea where to fill it from or how much it required and immediately reached for the i phone to look it up .

I remove this from his grasp and pointed to the dipstick and the sticker that tells you the volume required 2.4 L !

Next morning i copped the questions about changing the thermostat in which i showed him where it was , how to do it and let him know in no uncertain terms that "IT WON'T GET DONE BY ITSELF "and took off fishing !

It's not as if the bloke has had no mechanical experience as he has but just does not want to try or learn - very frustrating !

I don't know where the Australian metalworking industry is going as it seems as most of our contracts are going overseas and i imagine the UK is in the same boat .

Ian

Edited By SLOTDRILLER on 21/03/2013 02:22:43

Hello Craig,

That is very encouraging, it is still good to hear that practical knowledge and enthusiasm can still secure a hands-on job, well done. Clearly the selectors were realistic as well and were not looking for a degree where it isn't needed.

To an old timer from the past it is good news, I had similar experience.

Brian

<just how mechanically inept the younger generation have become>

Back in the 60s when I was an apprentice I had a friend training to be a quantity surveyor. One day he had to use the works van and being diligent he checked the oil and water levels first. He noted the water level was down and topped up the radiator with a kettle of water. It was still down so did it again. The level still not being right he asked a colleague.

The colleague pointed out to my friend that you put water in the radiator not in the rocker box.

Craig, I had a similar experience. When I was out of work once, I saw an item in the local paper that an electronics company had started up and had gained a large order. I wrote to them asking if they needed any more employees, and stating that I could build complex circuit boards and was a radio amateur. I got the job, and when I left, I was in quite a senior position, plus, as is usual in small companies, I did everything. Best job I ever had!

Geoff

We had a bunch of young chaps apply for an electrical job at our company a few years back. After the usual formal interview, they were given a 13A plug, a length of flex and suitable tools. The plug even had attached to it the little cardboard info sheet giving the required wire lengths needed.

It was unbelievable. Strip the insulation off the wire? Naaah. Earth wire to the live terminal? Why not? And why not strip lots of insulation off all the wires so they touch each other when the plug cap is assembled with the wires rammed in? Friightening...and this was before the current practice of always supplying electrical goods with fitted plugs!

Well, I suppose that explains why they do supply fitted plugs. Pity really, it removes the possibility of a little Darwinism...

David

The youngsters these days are as mechanically minded/adept as were back in the 'good old days' but they have little or no opportunity to learn and practice these skills. My son has been taught how to turn and mill by myself and has brought himself expensive TIG & MIG welders to work on his and mates cars. They are always interested in what can be achieved on machine tools but are shown nothing in school etc on the subject of manufacturing things.

Tony

I too believe the basics are essential, most new cnc ops have no idea of how to grind a hss tool, or how to use a manual version of a lathe or mill. You could argue that they dont need to, but surely it all helps?

My 17 year old elder grandson, of whom I have written before, elected to go to agricultural college and learn agricultural machinery maintenance. This was instead of staying on to do A levels and attending university. I'm not sure what the current state of play is, but I understood that when he started at college, his O levels were such that the college said he should be able to obtain NVQ3.

I discovered last Tuesday that his 15 year old brother voluntarily managed to get a one week work experience at a local branch of a national, or maybe international, plastics producing company which apparently designs & makes their own machinery. This work experience was during his recent ½ term holiday. Apparently the school no longer arranges work experience. My grandson used a CNC lathe and did some aluminium and steel welding. He is now looking to other local manufacturing companies for a possible engineering type apprenticeship.

Neither boy is afraid of getting dirty. Both boys are used to farm work etc. as their father runs his own agricultural contracting business. The older boy passed his tractor driving test a few days after his 16th birthday. I fully expect the younger one to do the same.

Regards,

Peter G. Shaw

We have two 16 year olds who have come out of a local training scheme to join us. One has been put in the engineering shop and one has gone into the machine assembly.

They have been given the basics by the scheme and are settling in well meeting all the challenges that they have been given. I am well chuffed with them.

At 54 i have been wary of such an investment in my company but the lads are great. They listen to your advice, which is quite refreshing for a change. No moaning .

In the 8 weeks that we have had them there skill level is improving daily which is really, really encouraging.

And they don't mind wearing overalls either.

It's nice to give someone a job to do who gets on with it and not get the usual --- well i think it should be done this way!!!!!

Bri

“Craig you say “People were made to be loved...Things were made to be used...
The reason the world is back to front is that things are loved and people are used.”

How very true – I will note that down in my “Quotable quotes” book!

I’m a bit dismayed at the attitude of some here that today’s youth are a lot of useless work shy wasters.

When I left school (just after Noah beached the Ark) EVERYONE I was there with got a job of some sort - whatever their abilities. My employer gave me two years of on the job training and sent me to college. Throughout an interesting and varied career I went on at least one training course each year – all paid for by the firm.

I wouldn’t be surprised if young folk today were disenchanted – they work through school then, if they aspire to further education, must spend loads of money in gaining qualifications – not many apprenticeships today. Having shelled out all this dough they find that they need to compete with many others for the few jobs that are available and often need to settle for work which does not match their qualifications. Despite this I’ve found the few young folk that I know will buckle down and pick up what work they can whilst hoping that things will improve and the right opening will finally arrive.

We need to have faith in the young – they are going to fund the health service and our pensions!

Regards

Norman

Gentlemen,

the company I work for has taken on three apprentices, in the last couple of years, to work along side us service Engineers, they go to college on day release and then spend the rest of the week out and about with the engineers learning about our products and whats involved with Service, installation and breakdown repairs in both mechanical engineering, pneumatics, pumps, electrical and electronics which they also do at college. They also learn how to use machine tools.

Our MD recognises the fact that his service dept is made up of men over 55 who need to be replaced when they retire, I'm in that catagory, and what better way for the lads to learn of us oldies.

Martin P

I couldnt agre more Martin. Thats just what we thought. Two of my sons work in the business and they are both under 30, so when i go thay can have it and what better way than to have people they have trained from the start.

Bri

We have had three (non-engineering) apprentices and will start two new ones ina month or two.

My stepson is 30 and, fed up with his job, went to another marina and asked them to take him on as an engineering apprentice. He's loving the college work (practical machining as well as theory) - hes ten years older than the others and stays on at teh machine when they are out for a break. Having six years experience of boat maintainance the rest of the week comes to him pretty naturally.

He absolutely loves boats and I can't see him struggling to get work in the future, even without the apprenticeship.

Neil