My Apprentice.
Discussion
I am of an age where I hear and read all the time that young people are feckless individuals who prefer to gaze at their phones than do some actual work. That hands on skills are dead. That no-one wants to get their hands dirty. That youth these days are all completely useless, and not worth the time and effort to do anything with.
I employed an apprentice at the start of the summer. He pretty much conformed to many of the stereotypes above. Was a little late most days. Would spend the time looking at his phone. Had no interest or enthusiasm.
Six months later, and today I was watching him fix a MOT failure list on a Peugeot. Fault traced a problem on a rear light cluster and fixed the issue. Removed the internal rim to access a seat belt issue. Stripped an old car to replace the bits, and was generally engaged, motivated, and humming quietly to himself all the while. Decent level of skill and application, good level of motivation and engagement.
I'm pretty pleased with my apprentice, and it's great to see a youngster offer a different view to all those negative viewpoints.
No reason for posting really, other than to note 'this made me happy today' , and not all youngsters want to be influencers and tik-tock stars. And we are all better off for it.
I employed an apprentice at the start of the summer. He pretty much conformed to many of the stereotypes above. Was a little late most days. Would spend the time looking at his phone. Had no interest or enthusiasm.
Six months later, and today I was watching him fix a MOT failure list on a Peugeot. Fault traced a problem on a rear light cluster and fixed the issue. Removed the internal rim to access a seat belt issue. Stripped an old car to replace the bits, and was generally engaged, motivated, and humming quietly to himself all the while. Decent level of skill and application, good level of motivation and engagement.
I'm pretty pleased with my apprentice, and it's great to see a youngster offer a different view to all those negative viewpoints.
No reason for posting really, other than to note 'this made me happy today' , and not all youngsters want to be influencers and tik-tock stars. And we are all better off for it.
Taking the time to note this is a tribute to him.
I don't have kids, but my friends have kids in the teens / twenties group, and they ALL seem far more rounded, self-aware and more productive than I was at that age.
Glad the apprentice is working out well; for some reason the description of humming as he does his work makes me feel good too!
I don't have kids, but my friends have kids in the teens / twenties group, and they ALL seem far more rounded, self-aware and more productive than I was at that age.
Glad the apprentice is working out well; for some reason the description of humming as he does his work makes me feel good too!
Credit to your apprentice, but also credit to you/your company. Just shows what some decent nurturing and guidance can achieve.
Don't have kids myself, but have friends with teenagers/young adults and most of them seem to have turned out alright. Polite and hard working. Last night while walking the dogs I met a young lad with his dog coming the other way. Dogs said hello and then a little bit of barking, nothing aggressive, but the young lad politely apologised even though it was mine doing the barking (I said if anyone should apologise it should be me). And he wasn't on his phone, unlike the numerous 40-50 year old dog walkers I regularly see around.
Most kids these days are alright - just different to what we were like when we were kids.
Don't have kids myself, but have friends with teenagers/young adults and most of them seem to have turned out alright. Polite and hard working. Last night while walking the dogs I met a young lad with his dog coming the other way. Dogs said hello and then a little bit of barking, nothing aggressive, but the young lad politely apologised even though it was mine doing the barking (I said if anyone should apologise it should be me). And he wasn't on his phone, unlike the numerous 40-50 year old dog walkers I regularly see around.
Most kids these days are alright - just different to what we were like when we were kids.
bearman68 said:
I am of an age where I hear and read all the time that young people are feckless individuals who prefer to gaze at their phones than do some actual work. That hands on skills are dead. That no-one wants to get their hands dirty. That youth these days are all completely useless, and not worth the time and effort to do anything with.
I employed an apprentice at the start of the summer. He pretty much conformed to many of the stereotypes above. Was a little late most days. Would spend the time looking at his phone. Had no interest or enthusiasm.
Six months later, and today I was watching him fix a MOT failure list on a Peugeot. Fault traced a problem on a rear light cluster and fixed the issue. Removed the internal rim to access a seat belt issue. Stripped an old car to replace the bits, and was generally engaged, motivated, and humming quietly to himself all the while. Decent level of skill and application, good level of motivation and engagement.
I'm pretty pleased with my apprentice, and it's great to see a youngster offer a different view to all those negative viewpoints.
No reason for posting really, other than to note 'this made me happy today' , and not all youngsters want to be influencers and tik-tock stars. And we are all better off for it.
I'm sure you will have done, but if not, please make sure you tell him how happy you are with his work and his attitude! I employed an apprentice at the start of the summer. He pretty much conformed to many of the stereotypes above. Was a little late most days. Would spend the time looking at his phone. Had no interest or enthusiasm.
Six months later, and today I was watching him fix a MOT failure list on a Peugeot. Fault traced a problem on a rear light cluster and fixed the issue. Removed the internal rim to access a seat belt issue. Stripped an old car to replace the bits, and was generally engaged, motivated, and humming quietly to himself all the while. Decent level of skill and application, good level of motivation and engagement.
I'm pretty pleased with my apprentice, and it's great to see a youngster offer a different view to all those negative viewpoints.
No reason for posting really, other than to note 'this made me happy today' , and not all youngsters want to be influencers and tik-tock stars. And we are all better off for it.
When I got my first job, I had a mentor teaching me the ropes, 1 on 1, no distractions, I learnt more from him in 6 months than I did in 3 years at University. He took redundancy shortly after and I ended up running the area for 3-4 months before I left, no way I could have done that without his tutelage.
Skills can be taught, experience is experience; it comes with time, but a good attitude? You either have it or you don't.
Lots of older folk like to talk down the abilities of younger generations, and I suspect it was always thus. I’m sure one day I’ll be the same. But I suspect it’s because they feel a little bit threatened.
I work for a Tier 2 contractor in construction, and quite frankly many of our youngsters run rings round the older generations.
We have a lot more feckless and incompetent people over 50 than we do under 40.
I work for a Tier 2 contractor in construction, and quite frankly many of our youngsters run rings round the older generations.
We have a lot more feckless and incompetent people over 50 than we do under 40.
We have a scheme at work where we've worked with a few apprentices in different parts of the business. We always struggle with warehouse and production youngsters. No interest, easily distracted and don't want to be here.
However, we had success with a Lab apprentice who has gone on to higher things than we can provide. We see that as a good thing for her of course, even though we have a gap to fill.
We also have a maintenance apprentice. A young lad, just about to turn 20. He's been with us for 2 years and has performed really well. We have to explain most things a few times, but I do need to remember he's young with no hands on experience prior to him starting. Overall his attitude is amazing though, and if anyone has the willingness to learn, I'll work with them to help bring them along.
I do think he's generally the exception rather than the rule though.
However, we had success with a Lab apprentice who has gone on to higher things than we can provide. We see that as a good thing for her of course, even though we have a gap to fill.
We also have a maintenance apprentice. A young lad, just about to turn 20. He's been with us for 2 years and has performed really well. We have to explain most things a few times, but I do need to remember he's young with no hands on experience prior to him starting. Overall his attitude is amazing though, and if anyone has the willingness to learn, I'll work with them to help bring them along.
I do think he's generally the exception rather than the rule though.
I wouldn't have grown up in the social media era for a big clock. Figuring out who you are among this barrage of negativity, distortion and bulls
t cannot be fun.
That people in their teens and 20s simply aren't either catatonic in a basement or axe murderers seems pretty impressive to me.
The people I know in that age group are hard working, thoughtful and sensible. Well done to the OP and the apprentice, the world needs more working together and talking about positive things like this.
t cannot be fun. That people in their teens and 20s simply aren't either catatonic in a basement or axe murderers seems pretty impressive to me.
The people I know in that age group are hard working, thoughtful and sensible. Well done to the OP and the apprentice, the world needs more working together and talking about positive things like this.
Two things, great to here that’s your apprentice has made such an improvement in such a short amount of time. More importantly, it’s a credit to you and your team to be able train, guild and help to develop them.
My apprenticeship was the best thing I ever did and it was only because of the guys that took me (and many others) under their wings
My apprenticeship was the best thing I ever did and it was only because of the guys that took me (and many others) under their wings
Good on you OP. Nice to hear of a young person getting on in life and learning a career. My daughter went this route as she wasn’t interested in university. She’s working at media/marketing agency in central London and loving it. They are nice to her and keep giving her lots of tasks to complete to build her skills and confidence. I think more young people should consider this route, especially as you end up with money in your pocket at the end of the month, instead of a massive debt after 4 years.
My place takes on loads of apprentices and T-level students. They’re mostly brilliant and we end up offering them a perm job in most cases.
My place takes on loads of apprentices and T-level students. They’re mostly brilliant and we end up offering them a perm job in most cases.
In my last job I mentored a mechanical design engineer apprentice who had spent the previous couple of years stagnating with little to no input being put in to him. Iirc he was 19 at the time?
He had some awful work practices because he hadn’t been shown any better but had a hunger to learn and improve.
I left the company about 8 months ago but have always stayed in touch with him. He left that same company approx 8 weeks ago and has started a really good mechanical design engineer role with a company specialising in nuclear decommissioning.
As it happens I was given a drawing pack to check at the new company I am working for today. This drawing pack was horrendous and my red pen just knew it was in for a work out.
I took a photo of 1 of the drawings and sent it to him via WhatsApp with the question ‘Honest Opinion’
Within 1 minute of him opening the message is got a rapid fire half dozen or so messages back from him.
His initial response was ‘Very quick thoughts, Makes me fu**ing sick’
Followed by at least 5 things he immediately saw wrong with the drawing.
Thing is, I know of at least another half dozen or so apprentices that I’ve encountered who would have came back with very similar comments, so when I see these comments that all apprentices are feckless, lazy social media addicts it makes me chuckle, because for the most part, it’s quite the opposite.
ETA. His is ginger though, so none of the above is particularly relevant as he should technically have been drowned at birth.
He had some awful work practices because he hadn’t been shown any better but had a hunger to learn and improve.
I left the company about 8 months ago but have always stayed in touch with him. He left that same company approx 8 weeks ago and has started a really good mechanical design engineer role with a company specialising in nuclear decommissioning.
As it happens I was given a drawing pack to check at the new company I am working for today. This drawing pack was horrendous and my red pen just knew it was in for a work out.
I took a photo of 1 of the drawings and sent it to him via WhatsApp with the question ‘Honest Opinion’
Within 1 minute of him opening the message is got a rapid fire half dozen or so messages back from him.
His initial response was ‘Very quick thoughts, Makes me fu**ing sick’
Followed by at least 5 things he immediately saw wrong with the drawing.
Thing is, I know of at least another half dozen or so apprentices that I’ve encountered who would have came back with very similar comments, so when I see these comments that all apprentices are feckless, lazy social media addicts it makes me chuckle, because for the most part, it’s quite the opposite.
ETA. His is ginger though, so none of the above is particularly relevant as he should technically have been drowned at birth.
I work in enterprise pre-sales for a software firm. My job, to a first degree of approximation, is to educate our prospects & customers on how great our software is and to help them get the most value out of it by using it in the right way. Most of the time I work with grizzled architects & IT directors who have been there, seen it all, and got the scars to prove it.
By some margin, the most satisfying engagement I have had in my career is when I spent three months working with a group of government apprentices in their late teens & early 20s. I have never before or since met such an enthusiastic, hard-working, un-cynical and motivated bunch of people. It genuinely was a breath of fresh air and gave a huge boost to my belief in the next generation and also genuinely made me reconsider some my own attitudes towards work.
Young people? Love 'em to bits. We need more of them.
By some margin, the most satisfying engagement I have had in my career is when I spent three months working with a group of government apprentices in their late teens & early 20s. I have never before or since met such an enthusiastic, hard-working, un-cynical and motivated bunch of people. It genuinely was a breath of fresh air and gave a huge boost to my belief in the next generation and also genuinely made me reconsider some my own attitudes towards work.
Young people? Love 'em to bits. We need more of them.
I’ve been thinking of bringing in an apprentice next year, obviously there are cost savings with an apprenticeship, but most importantly for me is finding a trustworthy person who hasn’t been subject to picking up negative traits from other employers and can be tutored to become someone that I could be happy leaving to manage parts of the business when I’m not there.
48Valves said:
Lots of older folk like to talk down the abilities of younger generations, and I suspect it was always thus. I’m sure one day I’ll be the same. But I suspect it’s because they feel a little bit threatened.
I work for a Tier 2 contractor in construction, and quite frankly many of our youngsters run rings round the older generations.
We have a lot more feckless and incompetent people over 50 than we do under 40.
That won't cut it with PH's 4 (hundred) Yorkshireman. I work for a Tier 2 contractor in construction, and quite frankly many of our youngsters run rings round the older generations.
We have a lot more feckless and incompetent people over 50 than we do under 40.
airsafari87 said:
In my last job I mentored a mechanical design engineer apprentice who had spent the previous couple of years stagnating with little to no input being put in to him. Iirc he was 19 at the time?
He had some awful work practices because he hadn’t been shown any better but had a hunger to learn and improve.
I left the company about 8 months ago but have always stayed in touch with him. He left that same company approx 8 weeks ago and has started a really good mechanical design engineer role with a company specialising in nuclear decommissioning.
As it happens I was given a drawing pack to check at the new company I am working for today. This drawing pack was horrendous and my red pen just knew it was in for a work out.
I took a photo of 1 of the drawings and sent it to him via WhatsApp with the question ‘Honest Opinion’
Within 1 minute of him opening the message is got a rapid fire half dozen or so messages back from him.
His initial response was ‘Very quick thoughts, Makes me fu**ing sick’
Followed by at least 5 things he immediately saw wrong with the drawing.
Thing is, I know of at least another half dozen or so apprentices that I’ve encountered who would have came back with very similar comments, so when I see these comments that all apprentices are feckless, lazy social media addicts it makes me chuckle, because for the most part, it’s quite the opposite.
ETA. His is ginger though, so none of the above is particularly relevant as he should technically have been drowned at birth.
It's okay. After 35 years in Engineering he will go grey. On the way to grey, people will think he's blond.He had some awful work practices because he hadn’t been shown any better but had a hunger to learn and improve.
I left the company about 8 months ago but have always stayed in touch with him. He left that same company approx 8 weeks ago and has started a really good mechanical design engineer role with a company specialising in nuclear decommissioning.
As it happens I was given a drawing pack to check at the new company I am working for today. This drawing pack was horrendous and my red pen just knew it was in for a work out.
I took a photo of 1 of the drawings and sent it to him via WhatsApp with the question ‘Honest Opinion’
Within 1 minute of him opening the message is got a rapid fire half dozen or so messages back from him.
His initial response was ‘Very quick thoughts, Makes me fu**ing sick’
Followed by at least 5 things he immediately saw wrong with the drawing.
Thing is, I know of at least another half dozen or so apprentices that I’ve encountered who would have came back with very similar comments, so when I see these comments that all apprentices are feckless, lazy social media addicts it makes me chuckle, because for the most part, it’s quite the opposite.
ETA. His is ginger though, so none of the above is particularly relevant as he should technically have been drowned at birth.
I used to be ginger.
Ag fencing contractor
I have a young lad as a trainee with me now, he’s hard working, has a great attitude and keen to learn. Some things do take a bit of explaining to him but in general I’m very pleased with him. I think the difference is, he’s 21, his girlfriend is a couple of years older and they have a baby, so this NEEDS to work for him. I pay him well and he gets looked after to keep him keen. I think I’ve got lucky with him really.
I’ve had a fair few trainees/apprentices over the years, and I’ve really struggled with most, and typically they don’t last more than a few weeks. They typically fit all the stereotypes. The biggest thing I struggle with is a complete lack of initiative and ability to think for themselves.
The lad prior to my current one lasted all of four days, showed him a few basic things to do, and after day 3 told me he wanted more money cos he could do the job! (Which he couldn’t, as what he was turning out was still substandard, which I expected but it comes with time and experience!)
On day 4, I arrived to pick him up, I got a text message as I was outside saying he wouldn’t be able to make the start time each day, but if I covered her fuel, his mum would drop him to site (60miles away.)
I appreciate this gig isn’t for everyone, it can be long hours and a bit rough working in all weathers, but it pays well, especially once a bit of experience has been gained. We’re heading for a massive skills shortage in the next decade due to the attitudes shown by the upcoming workforce. It certainly seems to be an entitled generation who think they should be afforded a good living for nothing, and yet again manual trades seem to be sneered at.
I have a young lad as a trainee with me now, he’s hard working, has a great attitude and keen to learn. Some things do take a bit of explaining to him but in general I’m very pleased with him. I think the difference is, he’s 21, his girlfriend is a couple of years older and they have a baby, so this NEEDS to work for him. I pay him well and he gets looked after to keep him keen. I think I’ve got lucky with him really.
I’ve had a fair few trainees/apprentices over the years, and I’ve really struggled with most, and typically they don’t last more than a few weeks. They typically fit all the stereotypes. The biggest thing I struggle with is a complete lack of initiative and ability to think for themselves.
The lad prior to my current one lasted all of four days, showed him a few basic things to do, and after day 3 told me he wanted more money cos he could do the job! (Which he couldn’t, as what he was turning out was still substandard, which I expected but it comes with time and experience!)
On day 4, I arrived to pick him up, I got a text message as I was outside saying he wouldn’t be able to make the start time each day, but if I covered her fuel, his mum would drop him to site (60miles away.)
I appreciate this gig isn’t for everyone, it can be long hours and a bit rough working in all weathers, but it pays well, especially once a bit of experience has been gained. We’re heading for a massive skills shortage in the next decade due to the attitudes shown by the upcoming workforce. It certainly seems to be an entitled generation who think they should be afforded a good living for nothing, and yet again manual trades seem to be sneered at.
More firms should do this.
At one firm it took me 5 years to convince the board it was a good idea.
Position offered was a trainee position for six months. Do well I'd keep the position open until a position became available in the team.
All I wanted to see and hear at interview (both phone and face to face) was that you knew how to speak to people and you had a hunger to learn. Having zero GCSE's wasn't a problem.
The success stories are great, one bloke was stacking shelfs at Sainsburys before he started and now runs his own Services company. Another is at the top of his field in a major online retailer.
Some didn't work out. Like the bloke who started on Monday morning, spent most of Monday afternoon moaning about his salary and on Tuesday mid morning sat down and spent 90 minutes reading the Daily Mirror..... he then went on lunch. When he returned from his lunch he was invited to a meeting with me (without coffee). Things improved for a short while but on Thursday it was going downhill again. That afternoon his contract was terminated.
On the whole it was a very positive experience
At one firm it took me 5 years to convince the board it was a good idea.
Position offered was a trainee position for six months. Do well I'd keep the position open until a position became available in the team.
All I wanted to see and hear at interview (both phone and face to face) was that you knew how to speak to people and you had a hunger to learn. Having zero GCSE's wasn't a problem.
The success stories are great, one bloke was stacking shelfs at Sainsburys before he started and now runs his own Services company. Another is at the top of his field in a major online retailer.
Some didn't work out. Like the bloke who started on Monday morning, spent most of Monday afternoon moaning about his salary and on Tuesday mid morning sat down and spent 90 minutes reading the Daily Mirror..... he then went on lunch. When he returned from his lunch he was invited to a meeting with me (without coffee). Things improved for a short while but on Thursday it was going downhill again. That afternoon his contract was terminated.
On the whole it was a very positive experience
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