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 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.

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!

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.

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?

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

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

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

Well everyone I thought that I was on my own untill I read this thread, My youngest grandson 18 when he was younger made a sterling hot air engine in my workshop. Now has an apprenticeship and attends colledge for mechical enginering.
Encourage these young people I say
Bob.

I didn't do metal work at school, spent my working life in a totally unrelated field and only took up my model engineering "apprenticeship" on retirement. Much like Slotdriller above I became addicted and couldn't get enough of it. Most of the little I know has been gleaned from books, ME, MEW and a retired engineer who gets me out of the holes that I frequently dig for myself. I have (successfully?) completed several steam models but my greatest satisfaction was learning that after exposure to my workshop my grandson has declared an interest in a career in engineering and similarly the little boy (6years) next door who fights to get into my workshop. Early days I know, but from little acorns……….

Mick

PS Just in case anyone is wondering, all activities cease when the little fellow from next door is about, but he does enjoy playing with half completed model locos.