Discuss Apprenticeships anyone? in the Canada Tile Advice area at TilersForums.com.

I

Ian

I've just started a new lad today, he's 24 so hopefully will have a bit more about him than the other 2 teenagers I've tried out (unsuccessfully!). He's done some tiling before so hopefully he'll learn quickly, time will tell.

So we're 3 weeks in and so far he's not shown up twice, been late once and been off sick for two days because he stubbed his toe. I think we all know where this will end up.
 
D

Deleted member 9966

So what you're saying Bri is, in 3 weeks, he's only done 2 weeks worth of work. Can you afford to have somebody operating at 66% effort and capacity?

- - - Updated - - -

And you know you can ban the use of telephones during his working hours don't you? Allow him to use it only during his breaks/rest periods.
 
I

Ian

Ok so here's the story. This lad is the son of a very good customer of mine (the hot tub in the conservatory house), I've been there again this week doing a wet room for them. I screeded the wet room floor about 5 weeks ago and while I was there my customer asked if I'd ever thought about taking anyone on, I said yes but, I'd had two lads in the past that had been hopeless. He asked if I was willing to take his son with me for three months to start with and that he'd pay his wages, so essentially a bit of free labour for me. The first no show was 2 weeks ago today, a mate of mine had a 70m floor to SLC and needed a hand, it was a 3 person job really as we couldn't mix anywhere near the floor, me mixing, my lad carrying and my mate troweling, with him not there it left me to mix, carry the bucket 50 metres run back and mix again. That annoyed me and it took so much longer than it should have. He said he'd slept through his alarm and it wouldn't happen again, ok I thought, everyone ***** up every now and again. Monday comes and he's not there again, stubbed toe and had to go to the hospital but, forgot to take his phone! How are you texting me then? :lol: Off sick the next day as his foot was swollen. So this Monday we are at his mum and dad's house to start the wet room, guess what, not there again. So I go to his mum and dads and tell them he wasn't there when I went to pick him up, I also grassed him for the other 3 occasions which he'd pleaded with me to keep from his dad, which I was prepared to do. I still kept him with me for the rest of the week and had a long chat with his parents before I came home this afternoon, they're having a word and I've just said that if there is one more no show, it's goodbye. I've told them that if he makes it to the end of the 3 months I won't be taking him on anyway. They are totally on my side and there is no problem between me and them (his parents), from what I can gather this isn't the first time he's tossed a decent opportunity down the drain. He's a decent enough lad but, I don't need anymore friends, I need reliability. I've spoken to a couple of people about him over the last 3 weeks and have come to the conclusion that I just can't be bothered with the hassle of an apprentice anymore so, everything I know and will continue to learn is going to the grave with me. The world is definitely full of lazy, useless idiots. Decent, hard working, reliable people really are few and far between.
 
T

The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP

Bri,they all usually are ,but of the lot I've had,about ten,I've got one diamond ,been with me ten years now,misses the odd day,but only every blue moon,and is great at his job,oh and his sister is fit :)

Thats Ok then Craig, are you sure you are not bias.:drool5::lol:
 
T

The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP

Ok so here's the story. This lad is the son of a very good customer of mine (the hot tub in the conservatory house), I've been there again this week doing a wet room for them. I screeded the wet room floor about 5 weeks ago and while I was there my customer asked if I'd ever thought about taking anyone on, I said yes but, I'd had two lads in the past that had been hopeless. He asked if I was willing to take his son with me for three months to start with and that he'd pay his wages, so essentially a bit of free labour for me. The first no show was 2 weeks ago today, a mate of mine had a 70m floor to SLC and needed a hand, it was a 3 person job really as we couldn't mix anywhere near the floor, me mixing, my lad carrying and my mate troweling, with him not there it left me to mix, carry the bucket 50 metres run back and mix again. That annoyed me and it took so much longer than it should have. He said he'd slept through his alarm and it wouldn't happen again, ok I thought, everyone ***** up every now and again. Monday comes and he's not there again, stubbed toe and had to go to the hospital but, forgot to take his phone! How are you texting me then? :lol: Off sick the next day as his foot was swollen. So this Monday we are at his mum and dad's house to start the wet room, guess what, not there again. So I go to his mum and dads and tell them he wasn't there when I went to pick him up, I also grassed him for the other 3 occasions which he'd pleaded with me to keep from his dad, which I was prepared to do. I still kept him with me for the rest of the week and had a long chat with his parents before I came home this afternoon, they're having a word and I've just said that if there is one more no show, it's goodbye. I've told them that if he makes it to the end of the 3 months I won't be taking him on anyway. They are totally on my side and there is no problem between me and them (his parents), from what I can gather this isn't the first time he's tossed a decent opportunity down the drain. He's a decent enough lad but, I don't need anymore friends, I need reliability. I've spoken to a couple of people about him over the last 3 weeks and have come to the conclusion that I just can't be bothered with the hassle of an apprentice anymore so, everything I know and will continue to learn is going to the grave with me. The world is definitely full of lazy, useless idiots. Decent, hard working, reliable people really are few and far between.

Pick me Bri, I still get asked for my ID, when buying booze. ( OK, I was asked once and the guy had a white stick and a labrador) I think he was hard of earing too, although it could be my young sounding voice.

Anyway I think I would make a decent apprentice, I have no grey hair at least I don't think I have, but my eyes are not what they were.:lol:
 
I

Ian

Pick me Bri, I still get asked for my ID, when buying booze. ( OK, I was asked once and the guy had a white stick and a labrador) I think he was hard of earing too, although it could be my young sounding voice.

Anyway I think I would make a decent apprentice, I have no grey hair at least I don't think I have, but my eyes are not what they were.:lol:

Nice try lad, I don't think you're the type of candidate I'm looking for. I'll bear you in mind if another vacancy arises :lol:
 

widler

TF
Esteemed
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Thats Ok then Craig, are you sure you are not bias.:drool5::lol:

Ha ha,I suppose so.
His sister is named after a Dolly Parton song,they must of known what she would look like, slim as hell with huge marakers (not blond though,well not her head ;) )
 
S

Spud

my apprentice is 17 years old , he is a good lad and listens and tries hard, he started at hackney community college as a level one diploma candidate and within 4 weeks was promoted to the level 2 course, he is a quiet type and never moans if we are late working which is quite often , yes he makes all the stupid mistakes you are supposed to make and is as green as grass at times especially when i gave hin a drill and told he to give it to the 2 chippies on site , my other lad said "look you have to make sure you dont give it to the wrong blokes as it is expensive" what are their names? he asked " Phil McRaken and Phil Macrevice" was the reply , he spent 45 minutes asking everyone on the site including the site agent where he could find the phils , the agent found it hilarious and came over and had a good crack with us after that.
Last week his tutor was asked by one of his colleagues if Luke could play for the college in an inter college sports tornament as all the kids said he could beat them all at table tennis in the canteen at lunchtimes.
he had to play all the other students of the london colleges and he won the tornament and will be representing London in the national finals in Bath in April , He is also playing in the British Premier League Table tennis event this weekend in Liverpool and will be playing the best players in Europe this weekend
Not all apprentices or 17 year olds are losers there is some amazing kids out there and we need to find them and bring the best out in them you do this by building their confidence and having a structured working environment so they know what is expected from them if you are doing
custom bathrooms and bespoke work it probably isnt the best environment for training as the beginners need repetition and site work and commercial tiling is far better for them to learn the basic skills as they get more time hands on the tools with this type of work
 

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