[RE-wrenches] Apprentice interview

[Chris Mason]

The US currently puts little value on craft versus academia,  now everyone
smart is expected to go to college.  Consequently there is a stigma on
vocational education. When I did my electrical apprenticeship in Ireland,
we did two years of college, one year of training school and one year in
the field. There were 8, 000 applicants for a handful of positions.
I had a third year electrical apprentice from the US work for me on a three
month project we took on. He was absolutely unqualified and could not
answer the most basic questions on electrical theory.
I recommend you detail the educational opportunities and fund adequate
training enabling the apprentice to acheive the target qualification.
On Apr 17, 2015 4:53 PM, "Ray Walters" <ray at solarray.com> wrote:

>  Hi All;
>
> Thanks for the replies so far; I apologize for my misunderstood attempt at
> humor in my initial post.  I agree with Chris here, I hire contract labor
> all the time, but an apprenticeship is different.  Laborers top out pretty
> quickly and just aren't capable of learning the nuances of off grid
> electric design.  Much of the time that's all that's needed: pick this up
> and take it over there,dig here, etc.  I'm not looking for labor, as much
> as someone who could some day take over the business ( I'm 50 now) and go
> out and troubleshoot systems on their own.  I consider off grid solar to be
> more of a craft than mere construction contracting.
> An apprenticeship implies a much longer term arrangement where they may be
> paid less, but can expect training to the point of getting their electrical
> license and making a career out of it.  I'm having a much harder time
> finding the sort of person that wants to make that sort of commitment both
> in time and in learning.  Folks that have the smarts and ambition necessary
> are already busy.
>
> Thanks,
>
> R.Ray Walters
> CTO, Solarray, Inc
> Nabcep Certified PV Installer,
> Licensed Master Electrician
> Solar Design Engineer303 505-8760
>
> On 4/17/2015 6:22 AM, Chris Mason wrote:
>
> I'm not sure how the term is used in America, but generally "apprentice"
> does not mean cheap labour. An apprentice program should be an education
> path to a qualification with state recognized standards, such as
> Electrician or Plumber. if you just want inexpensive labour, that's not an
> apprentice, that's a helper, labourer, intern. As someone who started life
> as an electrical apprentice, I object to seeing apprenticeships
> shortchanging the applicants.
>
> On Thu, Apr 16, 2015 at 7:27 PM, Dana <dana at solarwork.com> wrote:
>
>>  I interview & definitely check references including: look at a tape
>> measure and tell me what those little marks are between 0 & 1”, & I look in
>> their truck or car.
>>
>> If it’s clean they may take care of your vehicle then same and if it’s a
>> mess that’s what you can expect them to do to your truck.
>>
>> Are they smokers? Is that OK in your truck?
>>
>> Can they work without checking their cell phone every time it goes Ding
>> or rings?
>>
>> Do they have their own tools and do they know how to operate tools like
>> your hydraulic draw punch or wire tugger without F%$ing it up or hurting
>> themselves?
>>
>>
>>
>> Does anyone do a background check on new hires?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> Dana Orzel
>>
>> Great Solar Works, Inc -  NABCEP # 051112-136
>>
>> E - dana at solarwork.com  - Web - solarwork.com
>>
>> O - 970.626.5253  C - 208.721.7003
>>
>> "Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988"
>>
>> *P* Please consider the environment before printing this email.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] *On
>> Behalf Of *Ray Walters
>> *Sent:* Thursday, April 16, 2015 4:50 PM
>> *To:* RE-wrenches
>> *Subject:* [RE-wrenches] Apprentice
>>
>>
>>
>> Hi Folks;
>>
>> I am considering hiring an apprentice, and I wanted to know if any else
>> has tried this, and what advice and experience everyone had to offer.
>> Also what would be the best way to advertise: Craig's List?
>>
>> * Wanted passionate techy soul to share warm fires and cold brews with,
>> watch beautiful sunsets over off grid arrays in remote locations, sometimes
>> carry leaky hazardous materials*.....
>> mmmm.  Obviously I need some help.
>>
>> Thanks in Advance,
>>
>>  --
>>
>> R.Ray Walters
>>
>> CTO, Solarray, Inc
>>
>> Nabcep Certified PV Installer,
>>
>> Licensed Master Electrician
>>
>> Solar Design Engineer
>>
>> 303 505-8760
>>
>>
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>
>
>  --
>  Chris Mason
> NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer™
> Solar Design Engineer
> Generac Generators Industrial technician
>
>  www.cometsolar.com <http://www.cometenergysystems.com>
> 264.235.5670
> 869.662.5670
> Skype: netconcepts
>
>
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