Need to vent!

[mickelmaster]

Arghhhh, ive gotten myself into a 4 year cabinet making apprenticeship, all we do is screw stuff together, dont even need to drill holes, usually having a job wouldnt annoy me, but im just about to finish year 12, have high achievement in all my classes, got the award for manual arts and its all for nothing! I couldve started this really boring apprenticeship 2 years ago!!!

[opelblues]

o deery me, looks like you have a job, a pay check, a roof over you head, food on your table, and a car you can drive all your mates around town and its only a apprenticeship. Future income will come from the fact you can quote on jobs, work for your self.

During my first 12 months of my 6 years boiler making apprenticeship - 20 years ago. We weren’t even allowed to crack a ark, let alone grind anything with a power tool. Blueing was the first lesson i learnt. Second year i was allowed to grind back and prep jobs for the 4th years.

The 3rd year I told the boss to ............ a lot of French and move to cattle property's to complete my trade and this is was I learnt blacksmithing, and my last year was in the Australian Army due to court order. Then 4 more years repaying the det. so in conclusion get over yourself and learn and become the best trade’s person you can be and make you family and you friends envious


Yes you did get the hair up on the back of my neck

[tea lady]

Don't worry Michael. Its only the first steps on a long road. And sticking to jobs to give them a chance will also stand you in good stead, and looks better on the CV. Does it seem that other people in the company do more interesting things? If not just keep your ears open for other opportunities. And meanwhile do your interesting stuff at home on weekends. Its prolly hard finishing year 12 on such a high, then finding you are at the beginning again. Hang in there.

[masoth]

What Tea Lady said (with bells on). Every one starts somewhere and if you are smart you'll take the chance to watch all going-on about you - when your chance comes to shine you'll be ready and, with luck, surpass the longer serving appies. Stick to it Mate.

soth

[mickelmaster]

Thanks guys, and i know its easier than what some people do/ have done, but it still really annoys me, and although there is other stuff people do in the factory for a full 4 years day in and day out all i will be doing is screwing stuff together, the post was titled need to vent because thats all i had to do, i dont mean offence to anyone, but ive tried so hard to end up in the place i was trying to get away from.

[tea lady]

Screwing stuff together for the WHOLE apprenticeship? I thought apprenticeships were supposed to teach you something, not just use you as cheap labour. And when you get the piece of paper that says you're qualified you may as well have got it from a wheeties packet. Do you get to go too trade school and all that? Is there a career path? I'd be looking round for alternatives too if I were you.. And/or complaining to the "who ever is in charge of apprenticeships". Isn't there qualifying standards and stuff? Or is it a case of "educate yourself" these days.

Can you go and study somewhere instead? Furniture design maybe? Or Arcitecture even? Sounds like you need something for your brain AND your hands.

[Jim Carroll]

Why is it these days that young people think they should start at the top.

Micheal as all have said you are now in the next stage of your life you are now the puppy whao wants to learn more, make the most of your opportunities because one day you may own the company.

If the business you are looking at only do white boxes look further afeild and prove your worth to a joinery that does solid timber work but remember you will still be the first person to push the broom each day.

As they say "Suck it up."

[mickelmaster]

Yeah for the whole apprenticeship, they told the others they would get moved around but they didnt, i go to tafe for studies, but i would really like to have some hands on experience or else its going to be hard to remember, but the only reason i even considered doing this apprenticeship is to get the degree so as soon as i do im gone. I looked to do furniture design but they dont do it by itself and and theres only two solid hardowwd furniture joinerys on the Gold Coast that i could find but they have too many apprentices already I dont think i should start at the top, I am sucking it up, im doing the apprenticeship, i said it before twice now, i just needed to vent, i dont mean to offend anyone.

[tea lady]

OK! MM. Hang in there.

[Dengue]

Here is a golden opportunity for you mickelmaster, don't let it pass by.

Learn to be the fastest, most accurate screwer for a start, so that you are churning out work. Get the manager's attention.

In addition, do some designs on AutoCAD or some other industry software that the foreman probably cannot use, and start using their workshop after hours to build things that will get the managers attention, not the foreman who has been there 20 years getting 20 x 1 years worth of experience.

If you can't get the software, then learn the software that they use in the factory - surely someone can show you after hours how to use it. Just by using some initiative you will attract attention.

Show them what you can do, without interfering with your work. Be keen

regards,
Jill

[mickelmaster]

There really isnt anywhere to go in this company, I plan on doing my best all the way through, but when im done im going to leave if I can.

[corbs]

It might not be an option for you but I am sure I read somewhere that the RAAF were re-introducing carpenters. It was on a signal 6-12 months ago so if its that bad where you are, why not look into it?

[mickelmaster]

Well i was looking at apprenticeships in carpentry previosuly but doing one in cabinet amking qualifies me to do hardwood furniture, but one in capentry doesn not, thanks for the thought though

[corbs]

Its probably still not an option for you but the Defence forces generally do things a little different to the outside world. I am in the Navy and in the day we had chippies they did pretty much everything you could do with wood. I have seen some pretty impressive cabinets that were made by MT(H)'s (our old chippies). You would also be able to do courses which would help develop your cabinet making as well. As an example, I have nothing to do with wood in my current job but could do civilian woodworking courses and be re-imbursed a percentage of the course cost. If the training is related to your work in the Defence force and can be justified then the percentage increases (sometimes fully subsidised).

[Gingermick]

so in case you had to build a house and some furniture on a deserted island?
Both my sisters were at Nowra for years with the Navy, it was a good career choice.