[RE-wrenches] Apprentice interview

Tue Apr 28 17:52:34 PDT 2015

I think you should describe the job as a trainee. You can do anything you
want after that. Just don't call it an apprenticeship.

On Tue, Apr 28, 2015 at 8:45 PM, Ray Walters <ray at solarray.com> wrote:

>  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 Engineer303 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> 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
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance
>>>
>>> List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
>>>
>>> Change listserver email address & settings:
>>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>>>
>>> List-Archive:
>>> http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html
>>>
>>> List rules & etiquette:
>>> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
>>>
>>> Check out or update participant bios:
>>> www.members.re-wrenches.org
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>  --
>>  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
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance
>>
>> List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
>>
>> Change listserver email address & settings:http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>>
>> List-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html
>>
>> List rules & etiquette:www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
>>
>> Check out or update participant bios:www.members.re-wrenches.org
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance
>>
>> List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
>>
>> Change listserver email address & settings:
>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>>
>> List-Archive:
>> http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html
>>
>> List rules & etiquette:
>> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
>>
>> Check out or update participant bios:
>> www.members.re-wrenches.org
>>
>>
>>  _______________________________________________
> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance
>
> List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
>
> Change listserver email address & settings:
> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>
> List-Archive:
> http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html
>
> List rules & etiquette:
> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
>
> Check out or update participant bios:
> www.members.re-wrenches.org
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance
>
> List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
>
> Change listserver email address & settings:http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>
> List-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html
>
> List rules & etiquette:www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
>
> Check out or update participant bios:www.members.re-wrenches.org
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance
>
> List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
>
> Change listserver email address & settings:
> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>
> List-Archive:
> http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html
>
> List rules & etiquette:
> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
>
> Check out or update participant bios:
> www.members.re-wrenches.org
>
>
>

-- 
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
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20150428/38b0daf1/attachment-0002.html>