240 replies to this topic

[Artful Dodger]

Big day tomorrow!

Firm handshake and look 'em in the eye = best first impression ever.

Tally Bally ho old boy!!

[Tanya]

Good luck and let us know how your first day goes! I would say that we're all behind you, but let's not go there again!

[minimarco]

First thing you want to do is find the biggest guy in the shop and go beat him up....

wait... im thinking of prisons....

[Noah]

Remember if In doubt, Flop it out.


No, Don't do that!

[RawlinsGTR]

GOOD LUCK big boyyyyyyyyyyyyy.

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

STARTED TODAY! It went really well, I enjoyed it a lot.

To make up for the bad wages theres a snap-on guy that comes round in the most amazing van of dreams, and you walk in and theres spotlights on the ceiling lighting up the walls and hallway full of snap on and blue point tools! So my boss will be buying me tools over the course of my apprenticeship to keep, which to be honest I'm more than happy with because I'd only go and waste it all on britshit cars and parts and never get anywhere! So i'm pleased with that. It'll be good to have something which can help me with my career in the future, as well as decent tools to go in mine and Simons garage!

I needed a poo for most of today and my OCD was pretty severe, I'm a master of hiding it though, I just get home mega stressed and unable to settle all night.. < bad points

Edited by Mini-Mad-Craig, 04 February 2013 - 10:44 PM.

[mininuts]

Glad it went well matey.

It'll take a couple of weeks for you to settle in and get used to things but, you'll be fine pal.

I know where to come for some fancy bits for the ZT-T now

Edited by mininuts, 04 February 2013 - 10:49 PM.

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

Thanks Paul! I'm sure it'll all settle down eventually I'm just glad to have some steady income and a bit of a future set out for myself more than anything, what's more it's in something I enjoy

[Artful Dodger]

Sounds like all was well then 8). Boss is buying you tools? Lucky bugger;)

And I felt mega aquard, nervous, happy when I started working with the racing team! Just kept looking at the cars, an dont think i had lunch for 3 working days in a row, but you get use to it and settle into a grove:P

[myredmini]

So happy for you Craig Well Done!!!!

[Tanya]

Well done Craig - great start I'm really pleased that you had a good day and hopefully you'll have many more good days ahead .

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

Thanks guys, It's going okay so far, I wont moan too much.

It's off to a rocky start and I'm not really enjoying it, for a whole host of reasons really. I havn't signed a contract (or anything for that matter), and my employer doesn't want my P45, my wages are sent via HSBC bank transfer every Friday and no national insurance or anything is going down at all. I dont 'officially' start my apprenticeship until September, when college starts, so am I now an apprentice? surely not? Meaning I'm entitled to more than the 2.65 an hour that I'm receiving? It's 4.98 I believe. I'm not sure what to do now really. Watching my boss rack in 300 quid in labour on replacing a cat, coil packs and HT leads on an Rx8 whilst I'm getting 20 quid of that feels like I'm being utterly exploited.

I can't talk to my parents about it because they'll be angry and automatically assume that I'm not going to stick it out and waste an opportunity so I dont know what to do really.

The work is okay, but it isn't really what I expected (Hey, nothing is, it isnt that which gets me down) It's just the fact that I feel a bit like I'm just being exploited. Lasting until September is going to be challenge, and thats when my training begins! I then have 3 years after that!

Edited by Mini-Mad-Craig, 11 February 2013 - 09:08 PM.

[sonikk4]

My nephew was in the same position as you and my, cousins son as well both apprentices for a garage. Both were on basically the same rate as you are on now.

From what i have heard garages are notorious for low apprentice wages and this would seem to be the case. Where have seen its £4.98??

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

My minimum wage as an employee is 4.98 mate, I'm currently on 2.65, which as an apprentice is fine and I'd be more than happy with, BUT - I dont start my apprenticeship or receive any training until September, so surely I am not an apprentice at this point in time?

[Shifty]

Get used to it, thats generally what apprentices do.

If you're getting a decent training then the boss is entitled to make money off you, its that that keeps you employed. The rewards come at the end when you're trained.

Stick at it and don't get yourself down by moaning about it, its a better option than spending your life stacking shelves or asking people if they want fries with that!!