Manual machinist apprenticeship work trial – any advice?

[Sebastian MayfieldParticipant @sebastianmayfield67516]

[Sebastian MayfieldParticipant @sebastianmayfield67516]

Hello all

I hope this isn't too off-topic – I am starting a 2 week trial next week in a jobbing machine shop. It is basically an apprenticeship, except I am a bit too old to be technically classed as such.

Does anyone have any advice or tips for me? Any pitfalls to avoid? They basically want to see that I have the potential, ability to learn, and get up to speed – and that they will 'just know' if I am right for them. Which is fair enough, to be honest!

Maybe some of you served apprenticeships in similar set-ups and have some thoughts … I'd appreciate any pointers, because I really want to get this job!!

The best advice I have had so far is to just 'be yourself' and not try and prove too many points, if that makes sense.

[MWParticipant @mw27036]

I guess this is advice you could give to anyone but do as you say, be yourself. The cultural fit is going to be the big determining factor and this isn't something you can really control, but alot people leave a job for a bad cultural fit. So good luck with that i guess.

Don't let the veterans frighten you off and don't worry about making mistakes, even they do and they didn't learn by being brilliant, so let their advice guide you i guess.

If you have the confidence, you can put forward some ideas on how to do a job, they might like that kinda enthoosiam.

Bring a pack of biscuits and share them round at tea break!

Michael W

[roy entwistleParticipant @royentwistle24699]

2 weeks apprenticeship ????

[Russell EberhardtParticipant @russelleberhardt48058]

Posted by roy entwistle on 07/03/2016 15:38:11:

2 weeks apprenticeship ????

Sounds more like a two week interview to me. Good luck Sebastian.

Russell.

[Sebastian MayfieldParticipant @sebastianmayfield67516]

It's a 2 week trial. As I said, they want to see if I've got what it takes. They made it clear they aren't expecting me to move mountains. There is also the possibility that I may discover it isn't the right place for me! So it makes sense for both me and them.

[Sebastian MayfieldParticipant @sebastianmayfield67516]

Thanks for your advice there Michael W – I must admit I haven't heard of this term 'cultural fit' before, but I get the gist of what you're saying. They seemed like an ok bunch when I went for my interview last week, but I suppose I'll soon find out if I'm going to fit in or not. There ain't a lot I can do about that, fundamentally!

[Nick_GParticipant @nick_g]

Posted by Michael Walters on 07/03/2016 15:37:44:

The cultural fit is going to be the big determining factor and this isn't something you can really control

Michael W

.

Of course you can control it.

It's called 'social skills' ………….. A basic requirement nurtured from youth. Seems neglected by many these days though.

Nick

[Alan Waddington 2Participant @alanwaddington2]

Turn up early and don't be the first in the clocking out queue.

Keep your hands out of your pockets.

Don't rush any given tasks, concentrate on doing them well, speed will come with experience.

Don't be scared to ask questions. Especially if unsure of something, better to ask twice than balls something up.

Keep your work area neat and tidy, pick up a brush if things get quiet.

Keep your fingers out of spinny things.

Make sure to add an extra teabag for the pot.

Sounds like a great opportunity, try to enjoy the experience and best of luck, hope it works out for you.

[Sebastian MayfieldParticipant @sebastianmayfield67516]

Thanks very much Alan

I think I will enjoy the experience, if nothing else comes of it.

They gave me a really good long look round when I went for interview, and I can honestly say I enjoyed every minute of it. I could definitely see myself being at home there.

I should add that I am not a total novice, having been studying on the woodwind course in Newark which involved a separate dedicated engineering class making various tools in a manual machine shop environment, so it's not going to be a massive culture shock.

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

I'd say it's more of a trial than an apprenticeship. It sounds like they may be as I would expect. Have a crowd of fairly happy people that get on and what they will be looking for is a certain degree of intelligence that this sort of job takes and your ability to pick things up. You shouldn't be frightened to ask questions when needed however trivial they are or make suggestions on how a job should be done if asked. Try to turn that into a discussion if needed.

2 weeks. Mine took 4 years and some were thrown out after a few months. I or 2 couldn't stand the pace and left.

John

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[Tony Pratt 1Participant @tonypratt1]

Make yourself useful & all the other comments above.

Tony

[frank brownParticipant @frankbrown22225]

Have a "day book", a diary in which you put interesting stuff :- machine set ups, telephone numbers in inside cover, whos who, grinding angles for tools. . . . Its so you can replicate set ups quickly and accurately. Just writing them down will help you remember and give the boss the impression you are organised.

Frank

[Sebastian MayfieldParticipant @sebastianmayfield67516]

Frank, I think that's a great idea. Thanks

[MWParticipant @mw27036]

"Of course you can control it.

It's called 'social skills' ………….. A basic requirement nurtured from youth. Seems neglected by many these days though.

Nick"

So that you might bleat with the sheep and howl with the wolves?

Michael W

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Sebastian

I was in much the same position as you some about 20 years ago ! I was offered a retirement package from my "proper" job that was too good to refuse. I looked around for another job then came across an ad for a technician in a mechanical workshop. Now although I have been a model engineer for many years I have no qualifications or formal training and thought I would be cheeky and apply. Against my expectations I got the job! It was great! This workshop supported a large research facility and folk would come through the door and say " Could you make something to do this…. or could you repair that" It was fantastic! Some jobs were a bit boring or repetitive but others were really interesting and challenging. ( The workshop equipment made me drool!)

As far as fitting in I found that a flexible attitude, a willingness to take on tasks, not being afraid to ask questions or seek advice helped. The boss was also helpful. He was faced with someone (me) who had no formal qualifications or experience in the field but did have plenty of enthusiasm. Talking to the guys later I asked how they had viewed some " novice" joining their ranks. Their reply was "no problem" once I had shown that I was keen to "muck in " and they were quite happy to guide me through the things "new" to me.

So my advice would be:-

1. Be flexible

2. Try hard to "fit in" – remember everyone else has their established place there and you will need to fit into the dynamic.

3. If you are unsure of anything ASK.

4. Try to be friendly and helpful to your fellow workers.

Good luck let us know how it goes.

Norman

[Nick_GParticipant @nick_g]

.

No Michael,

One should always be ones self. But have the ability to blend in, adapt and mix to required situation.

e.g. I have a friend who would cut it if you placed him into the Savoy. You could also drop this same guy into a back street bar and he would adapt and be liked. – East end London boy who ended up in a private school patroned by Margaret Thatcher. …………. Everyone there was socially equal until they went home.

Nick

[jason udallParticipant @jasonudall57142]

It says “If in doubt ask” on the drawing for a reason.

Better to look a bit new, at drawing stage than after ruining stock.

And don’t hide mistakes. ..again mistakes are one thing defects to customer are another.
.better to check first but shit does happen

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Posted by Ajohnw on 07/03/2016 17:10:20:

2 weeks. Mine took 4 years

John

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.

.

Mine is still running 52 years on and still having a ball.

[Mark CParticipant @markc]

Jason,

I was thinking the same thing! We don't put that on drawings just 'cos its always been like that – we put it on because as designers, we would rather have people ask before it needs re-making…..

Mark

[Sebastian MayfieldParticipant @sebastianmayfield67516]

Many thanks for all the advice so far guys, I really appreciate your collected wisdom on this!

Edited By Sebastian Mayfield on 07/03/2016 21:04:28

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

Concur with all the above; 2 weeks…. mine took 5 yrs … another thing comes to mind… steer clear of politics & religion until you're well established, you never know who's listening… they're one of the biggest causes of upset anywhere. Good luck any way.

George

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

+1 on all the advice above.

And be prepared to do all the boring, dirty, uncomfortable and repetitive jobs without complaint. A big part of testing out a prospective apprentice is to make sure he has the "stick-to-it-ness" required to become a competent tradesman over the next four years of apprenticeship. They are not really interested in whether you can use a lathe at this point — they can teach you that as you go along. But patience and persistence can't be taught so easily.

Cheerfully take and complete whatever jobs they dish out to you and don't expect to be working on all that exotic machinery in the first few months, let alone the first fortnight. Be prepared to sweep the floors or spend all day knocking burrs off parts made by someone else or making 100 pieces of half inch round two inches long, or drilling two quarter inch holes in each of 500 pieces of flat bar etc etc.

It's called paying your dues.

[Bob Brown 1Participant @bobbrown1]

Ask questions for things you do not know, even if you think they are stupid or are unsure of and do not be a smart A….

I was under a guy many moons ago now who's remark I still remember, "I'll show you once, I'll show twice, then I'll kick your A……." certainly made sure I took notice.

If you make a mistake as we all do, openly admit you made a mistake as it is a way we learn, I've made some big ones, just make sure you do not make the same mistake twice.

Bob

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Do the work to the required standard, I remember getting my ears chewed for over doing a job, it was then explained that extra work did nothing for the item I was making except at to the cost, I'v still got the item in my note book

A188 Rudder Bars/ CAA CESS 88/110, it's just a little bit of 4130 steel about 1 1/2 long x 3/4 wide with a hole for an AN-3 bolt/10-32UNF bolt, I think I made 30 or 40 of the little plates to reinforce the rudder peddles of our new Cessna A-188 Agwaggons, I think our pilots had heavier feet than the ones in Wichita. The message must have got through, that was 50 years ago.

Ian S C

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