[RE-wrenches] Apprentice interview
Ray Walters
ray at solarray.com
Tue Apr 28 17:45:39 PDT 2015
Hi Bob;
That's an excellent point. I'm trying to figure out what is a fair
arrangement: 4 years of training is worth quite a sum of money vs. 4
years of labor in the off grid mines.
Straight up $10/ hr and I'll train them for as long as they can be
trained with raises as they reach milestones like: they can go on a
troubleshooting visit on their own.
I think some off grid living experience is a prerequisite as mentioned
before, also they've got to be able to deal with basic math and
electrical equations.
Any other prerequisites before I create an unobtainable person?
R.Ray Walters
CTO, Solarray, Inc
Nabcep Certified PV Installer,
Licensed Master Electrician
Solar Design Engineer
303 505-8760
On 4/28/2015 2:03 PM, Bob-O Schultze wrote:
> An apprenticeship is the original 4 year degree. If the trainers are
> good, high quality workpersons, and the apprentice WANTS to learn, the
> apprentice will learn the trade. It's exactly the same in a college
> situation except that the newly minted journeyman, unlike a college
> graduate, will actually HAVE a trade and experience.
>
> On Apr 17, 2015, at 5:41 PM, Chris Mason wrote:
>
> 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
> <mailto: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 Engineer
> 303 505-8760 <tel:303%20505-8760>
>
> 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
>> <mailto: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 <mailto:dana at solarwork.com> - Web -
>> solarwork.com <http://solarwork.com/>
>>
>> O - 970.626.5253 <tel:970.626.5253> C - 208.721.7003
>> <tel: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
>> <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 <tel:303%20505-8760>
>>
>>
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>> --
>> Chris Mason
>> NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer™
>> Solar Design Engineer
>> Generac Generators Industrial technician
>>
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