240 replies to this topic

[miniman retford]

Sorry to hear this Craig but you have to try & be happy with what your doing & who you work with & for. Keep looking & i'm sure something that suits you will turn up soon for you.

In the meantime there's always the rent boy

[Tanya]

I'm sorry it didn't work out but I know that there were genuine difficulties, and that this is more than just about you being 'a quitter'.

I seem to be in the minority on here in thinking that it isn't ok to treat young people poorly, just because they are starting off at the bottom. While this may have been acceptable a generation ago, I don't think it is now. I have employed and trained a number of teenagers over the years and never felt the need to treat them less well than my other employees. Of course they are given less interesting jobs at times, because they don't have the experience to do the more challenging interesting work and I've had to explain to some of them what is required in the workplace, but in principle, as an employer I believe in that everyone regardless of experience has the right to be treated fairly and humanely. This might make me sound soft and fluffy, which I am not, but I am clear in my expectations and support employees to meet those expectations. I also do not make assumptions about young people as I have had some dire ones, some great ones and a simply fantastic one.

Chin up, keep positive and keep yourself busy while you find yourself another job

Anyway Craig - I hope you have better luck finding a decent pimp



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[Shifty]

Whilst I enjoy working on cars, theres no way I'd want to earn my living fixing them.

Cards on the table I'm a bit disappointed that you didn't stick it out longer, but thats entirely your decision and I'm sure you had your reasons. I spent most of my apprenticeship fighting against the other fitter(theres not many people in the world that I genuinely hate but he's still top of my list!!) and I know its not fun.

Have you considered trying engineering? I'm a maintenance engineer in a factory, I get to build machines, fix stuff and lots of interesting stuff. The pay is way better than being a mechanic(I earn about £10k a year more than my mechanic mates)

[sonikk4]

I'm sorry it didn't work out but I know that there were genuine difficulties, and that this is more than just about you being 'a quitter'.

I seem to be in the minority on here in thinking that it isn't ok to treat young people poorly, just because they are starting off at the bottom. While this may have been acceptable a generation ago, I don't think it is now. I have employed and trained a number of teenagers over the years and never felt the need to treat them less well than my other employees. Of course they are given less interesting jobs at times, because they don't have the experience to do the more challenging interesting work and I've had to explain to some of them what is required in the workplace, but in principle, as an employer I believe in that everyone regardless of experience has the right to be treated fairly and humanely. This might make me sound soft and fluffy, which I am not, but I am clear in my expectations and support employees to meet those expectations. I also do not make assumptions about young people as I have had some dire ones, some great ones and a simply fantastic one.

Chin up, keep positive and keep yourself busy while you find yourself another job

Anyway Craig - I hope you have better luck finding a decent pimp



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We always have a minimum of two apprentices per shift in our hangar. They are on a learning curve and have to take the rough with the smooth. Engineers seem to be a little harder on apprentices to see how they stand up to the rigours and environment they need to work in. We treat ours the same as we expect to be treated but they also need to realise that any mistakes will generally carry a penalty of buying the doughnuts for the shift.

Although this is not harsh by any means when they are constantly going back and forth to tescos to buy doughnuts / cakes etc they learn by this that if you mess up by not listening to the instructions then there will be a penalty. However if they think they know better than the Certifier (me) or one of the technicians then they are taken to one side where a one sided conversation will be held.

They are 100% supervised at all times unless of course its a lubrication job but they are still with a team. Due to the safety aspects involved in my industry we cannot tolerate safety issues and this is where sometimes the youngsters will be shouted at and berated for not listening. Its their lives and the members of the team that they can put at risk. Only once in the last few years have i really had to lay the law down and seriously berate an apprentice. He learnt from that and will never ever do that task again without thinking what the outcome could have been due to his stupidity.

We have to treat them carefully due to modern HR techniques as they can now complain at the smallest little thing (although they don't) but it also helps us to see whether they will be suitable to employ full time at the end of the apprenticeship. When i started in the industry there was no such thing as Human Resources and you learnt your trade the old school way. Harsh, very much so but you learnt from that. Now we employ engineers that to be honest although mentally capable are not really capable of turning that ability into a physical output.

Anyway this is not having a go at Craig by any means, there will be something out there that will suit you. Its just a case of finding it.

[mini-luke]

Whilst I enjoy working on cars, theres no way I'd want to earn my living fixing them.

Cards on the table I'm a bit disappointed that you didn't stick it out longer, but thats entirely your decision and I'm sure you had your reasons. I spent most of my apprenticeship fighting against the other fitter(theres not many people in the world that I genuinely hate but he's still top of my list!!) and I know its not fun.

Have you considered trying engineering? I'm a maintenance engineer in a factory, I get to build machines, fix stuff and lots of interesting stuff. The pay is way better than being a mechanic(I earn about £10k a year more than my mechanic mates)

I've just applied for an engineering apprentiship myself, the pay is far better even as an apprentice (150-180 a week for the first year spend in a classroom) plus you get some good qualifications out of it.

[sonikk4]

I was studying at college for my EASA (European Aviation Safety agency) Part 66 Category A licence when some Virgin Atlantic apprentices told me that part of their training was working with real live aircraft (under supervision of course). That really appealed to me, and made me want to get this job.
There's lots of variety. The on-the-job training at Gatwick or Heathrow Airport has been my favourite part. I've worked with the engineers doing engine runs, towing aircraft, and observing engine changes. We also have classroom training on all the theory. It's such a great thrill to be working on actual aircraft that fly. Normally with college training you just tinker with bits of aircraft, but this is the real thing.




"Joe is really living up to my expectations, right from the start of the apprenticeship he has shown the qualities, maturity and dedication that is required to succeed. Reports from his supervisors during his first exposure to live aircraft during On Job Training indicate that Joe has the potential to become a very competent technician"

- Apprentice Manager VAA.

A lot of the instructors and engineers I work with are ex Virgin Atlantic apprentices, so they're really keen to help. After the exams and basic training in my first year, I'm now doing aircraft work and completing my modular exams that go towards gaining my Aircraft Maintenance Engineers Licence.
My goal is to successfully complete the apprenticeship and then work as an aircraft technician. I'm nearly there, but I still have to complete all my exams by the end of this year, then I'll be one step closer to my goal! My long term goal will be to work my way up to a supervisor position.
If you're thinking of starting a career in engineering aviation, I'd really recommend the Virgin Atlantic Apprentice Scheme.






If we have an apprentice intake, the advertising process commences in March.
To be eligible to apply a minimum of four GCSEs at Grade C or above, or equivalent, which must include Mathematics, Science (preferably Physics) and English Language are required.


Apprentices are based at the Virgin Atlantic Academy of Engineering Training near Gatwick, and gain the following qualifications:

• NVQ Level 3 - Aeronautical Engineering
• City & Guilds - 2661
• Examination/Module passes towards EASA Part 66 Category 'A' - Line Maintenance Certifying Mechanic
• Examination/Module passes towards EASA Part 66 Category 'B' - Line Maintenance Certifying Technician
• Approved handskills programme (mechanical and avionic)

The next intake if it goes ahead this year should be either the end of the month or next month if anybody is interested.

[mk3 Cooper S]

The workplace as an engineer/technician is all about getting on with people and banter that you may get.

Some of the tricks played on the apprentices and some of the duties they are expected to do is all part of the learning curve and shapes you as an adult.

I too am disapponted that you did not stick it out longer and no disrespect to your personally but it seams to be a sign of the times that certain aspects of modern life seems to have missed out the growing up, absorbing and respectfull behaviour period. - I know this from my son who thinks he is a lot older and more learned than he really is.

In all parts of training you have to start at the bottom, show inititive and respect to get on.
I hate to think how people would react to what we were put through as apprentices but it is all part of the test/learning curve.

I suggest you think long and hard about your carear choice as it is important to pick something that will keep you interesed for many years to come.

Good luck.

[1275GTS]

I'm with shifty and mk3 cooper s on this and i'm also dissapointed that you didn't stick it out longer. Many moons ago I did my engineering apprenticeship and then it was for 5 years. It was hard and at times i got treated like sh*t but in those days that was part of being an apprentice and growing up. I'm now qualified (nearly 30 years ago) and I personally would not change the way i did my training. My apprenticeship years where one of the best times of my working career. I learnt a hell of a lot about life and abit on engineering.
I hope you do find a job that suits you and please don't take offence to what has been written as most of us are just passing on our experiences and advice as we have been there and bought the tee shirt.
All the best in whatever you do.

[Black.Ghost]

on the first day back last week he'd just changed, treating me as though I'd been there and known him for years.

Believe it or not, thats probably a good thing. A mechanic job will always have a lot of banter, mild abuse and general piss taking, it goes with the territory, its inevitable. Right now I can't help but think about the Inbetweeners episode where will has to do his work experience in a garage and Neil does his for a paper and they won't swap them over

they are taken to one side where a one sided conversation will be held.

HAHA Ex military? That's what gets said to us. "Shut up this is a one way conversation".

I'm with Tanya in that I disagree with using apprentices as cheap labour. Its an outdated policy in my opinion, and one that employers should not be able to get away with.

The **** jobs bit, I'm not bothered about. That's easy to deal with, everyone has to do that, in whatever job you are in. You do have to start at the bottom and work your way up, you can't just expect to jump in at the top, life just does not work like that. And the simple reason for that is all the education in the world can never account for experience, and you can't just learn that. So I have no problem with that bit.

I think there are many people that do probably give up on things a lot easier than they used to, but its a reflection of changing times. However, there is no need to treat people like ****, a bit of human decency goes a long way and costs nothing. Sometimes, you just can't get on with some people. Its that simple.

Its a shame you left, but now I would recommend getting any old job to get the money coming in, and have a good hard think about what you want to do and the route you want to go down. Do the research, write to some companies and see if you can spend a day or two there to get a feel for the kind of work etc. There are lots of ways to get experience and develop and find out what you actually want to do.

[Wise Old Elf]

Thanks for the replies everybody, I've read them all.

I left this morning. Because I'm a quitter and that's what I do.

I really wasn't getting on with the guy at all, and being with him for 8 hours a day was all just building up. He expected me to have experience in everything we were doing, I had to remind him that I am an 'apprentice' to stop him huffing and puffing whenever I got something wrong, which under the pressure he was putting me in by standing eagle eyed staring whilst I did something I'd just told him I wasn't confident with was a lot.

He also seemed to be trying to catch me out as a liar in everything, not just in the work. He'd talk to me and try and trick me into saying the wrong things and then do this awkward silence followed by a small laugh, it was just massively patronising and not nice really. I'm not a liar and didn't lie to him once, but he just didn't seem to trust me or something along those lines! It just made me feel uneasy.

I know that it was potentially a good opportunity, but I was dreading each day let alone knowing I have another 3 years and 8 months of it. I'd rather just leave now so that he can find somebody else to take on before September than stay and just end up leaving during.

I know that from other peoples points of view I could have stuck it out, more than for 15 days, but after 3 days I think I'd realised that I wasn't going to get on with him, and that never really went away. He played the nice guy for my first week, and then on the first day back last week he'd just changed, treating me as though I'd been there and known him for years.

Thanks for the replies though everybody. It has been a boost in confidence just to have gotten the job, and I won't base the rest of what I apply for on this experience, but I feel sure to say that repairing and servicing isn't really for me.

Don't beat yourself up over this Craig. I have had more jobs than I care to remember and I now earn a pretty good living.

I walked out of a job at Ricardo (20 years ago) after 1 week and everyone said I was crazy. Your story sounds pretty similar to mine in that my boss constantly stood over me questioning me on equipment that I had never seen let alone used. He drove me crazy! Sometimes personalities clash and that's just unfortunate. I was been called a quitter when I was younger but I see it as cutting my losses; there is no point getting up in the morning dreading your day every day.

The next job can only be better. Keep you pecker up!!

Jason

[Noah]

I think saying you're disappointed in Craig is very harsh, if not nasty.

Sometimes, things are not meant to be and if you really don't like someone as Jason said, then you're better off leaving. Have you had a look on the apprenticeship website?

Is there any Mini specialists in Kent/near you? Maybe its worth asking them if they'd be interested in an apprentice?

[Wise Old Elf]

I think saying you're disappointed in Craig is very harsh, if not nasty.

Sometimes, things are not meant to be and if you really don't like someone as Jason said, then you're better off leaving. Have you had a look on the apprenticeship website?

Is there any Mini specialists in Kent/near you? Maybe its worth asking them if they'd be interested in an apprentice?

Yep, Nobody needs a kick in the balls when they are feeling down.

[minimarco]

If you can't find anything else, you can always go back in September and tell them you lied about quitting, then do this awkward silence followed by a small laugh.
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hahaha.....

[mk3 Cooper S]

I think saying you're disappointed in Craig is very harsh, if not nasty.

Sometimes, things are not meant to be and if you really don't like someone as Jason said, then you're better off leaving. Have you had a look on the apprenticeship website?

Is there any Mini specialists in Kent/near you? Maybe its worth asking them if they'd be interested in an apprentice?

Yep, Nobody needs a kick in the balls when they are feeling down.

Agreed but sometimes you need a reality check.
Life isn't always a bed of roses, sometimes you need to dig deep roll your sleeves up and get on with it.

[valve bounce]

at the end of the day only you can decide what you want to do, but in that line of work the banter/abuses can he bad. at work when i was working with one bloke he and others use to play so many tricks on me. just a small few examples
once got a load of tyres put over me so i was trapped in the middle of about 8 tyres.
another time on road test in a van, got told to get in the back to find a rattle, he then stood on the brakes doing 60mph and i went flying into the bulkhead.
left 3 miles from work on road test for complaining about his driving, had to walk
got sat on by 19 stone college for answering back.
was sat in a van on lift pressing brakes then the lift was put right to the top and left there with me in the van whilst he went for dinner.
dint fit a wheel trim correctly and it fell off on road test, he wouldn't stop on the way back to retrieve it so i was made to go back on a push bike to find it.
had to do the chippy run every Friday for 3 years because i was "the boy"

i always think that been a c*** to the apprentice must be part of the qualification in the motor trade

rob

Edited by valve bounce, 19 February 2013 - 09:45 PM.