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" <[email protected]> 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 <[email protected]> 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 - [email protected] - 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:[email protected]] *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: [email protected] >> >> Change listserver email address & settings: >> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org >> >> List-Archive: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/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: [email protected] > > Change listserver email address & > settings:http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/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: [email protected] > > Change listserver email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org > > >
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