Question For Plumbers Who Have Had Apprentices / Trainees

[WaterTight]

I've been offered some unpaid work experience part time with a qualified and experienced plumbing/heating engineer. This is gold-dust in current climate and so I'm very keen to impress. He knows I've got no experience outside classroom as yet but do have my tech cert. So obviously he's not expecting a plumber, but presumably he's also not expecting someone who can't bend a pipe.

If you were him, what is the minimum you'd be reasonably expecting? And what would you be looking for in terms of potential? Also if you've taken on an apprentice/trainee before, what were the biggest mistakes, annoyances, frustrations your trainee did?

Basically... this means a lot to me... any golden tips?

Thanks

 

[jpm]

Don't try all kinds of fancy bends.Keep it to simple "kicks"and 90's.Don't waste pipe,it's very expensive.Learn quickly where all his tools and fittings are,and put back everything you use.Clean up after yourself and him.Empty your pockets every night,not that you appear honest but he may get called to a job in the evening when your not with him and you may have that important tool in your overalls i.e. a stubby screw driver.WHEN HE SAYS TURN ON THE WATER JUST CRACK IT AND SHOUT"All ok?"before opening full bore.Think before you do anything,way the job up and try to think of the best and neatest method and then ask him if that's either what he would do or is there a better way.And last but by no means least if you break something in a house tell him straight away.

 

[REDSAW]

jpm,
good point there about the pockets.
i was just comming to the end of a total bath re-fit working to 7.30pm finishing of and to save comming back next day. i told my trainee to put the stuf in the van whilst i got paid, i then told him to ps of home like u do whilst i chatted with the customer/taking a breather over a cup of tea. any way after half an hour i then made my way to my van only to find that he had pssd of with my keys, and he lived 25 miles away. having no mobile on him i had to wait for him to get in before i could tell him to get his ase back sharpish, how embarassing standing there for over an hour.
i sure did kick his bum the next day.

 

[justlead1]

Hi. Most tradesmen assume that every body on the planet can for example. Select a drill fit it in a chuck, drill and plug holes and select the correct (size, type, material) screw in to support whatever. These sort of tasks need to be understood, and are the foundations, before moving on to more inspiring stuff. Ask questions and get answers, view the plumbing and heating systems you are involved with and match against the theory you have gained. If you keep the work area tidy, anticipate were your needed (lifting say one end of a rad whilst he's on the other) Generally improving his working day. Nice people make nice plumbers. Good luck

 

[w1nxn]

dont try to impress to much

did this once when boss was away on another job when i first began (who happened to be my older bro), thinking i was now capable of taking a job to the next level instead of waiting on his return, he was out the house for 20 mins when the living room ceiling came in, all over sofa and tv.

him being my brother didn't help me at all, worse in fact ha

steady away, belt n braces and it'll go nicely.........

 

[GreenArmy]

Brilliant tips from all above, also make sure you can make a cracking cup of tea.

 

[Dave]

And work live...

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qURQORA0gEQ&NR=1]YouTube - aprentice plumber trying to change valve. Live !!![/ame]

 

[traineedrip]

be polite to the customer and be enthusiastic. keep your work area clean and be aware of mait and lsx .... its not easy getting it out of the carpet!

im doing the same as you and it wasnt easy finding somebody willing, but you will learn heaps! best of luck with it mate.

i asked him what problems he had had in the past and his main complaint was nothing to do with plumbing... more bad attitude and not turning up/lateness

 

[unguided1]

well there s some brilliant advice above, My little snippet if its any help is under no curcamstances ever get black water from a radiator onto someones brand new shagpile, and never ever put yer foot through a ceiling as my loveslave managed last year.
regards
Mike

 

[bobpape]

And if you do manage to spill black rusty radiator water on a white carpet,
Take your spray water bottle and a wet/dry vacuum, and proceed rinsing and sucking do not rub it with a cloth, You will find it works a treat.

 

[Bernie2]

This may sound mad. But if you want to be a Plumber. Then learn balance. Basically learn to balance Plumbers tools in your hand one by one. Just to get the feel of them.

What gives most apprentices away is the awkward way they use tools.

If you learn to balance them you may find it a lot easier.

Try for instance knocking a small panel pin in with a tacking hammer, holding it by the end of the shaft. Try balancing a lump hammer and knocking a nail in with it.

Try cutting with a saw using its whole length.

Try cutting a piece of wood with a junior hacksaw so you get a straight cut.

Try balancing a cordless drill until you feel comfortable with it.

And so on.

 

[Swift2506]

Hi all I thought I was bad

have started with a new company and after a month been given a second year apprentices

A really nice lad keen tidy and got good skill

we done some waste pipe on some urinals cut out old and put new in he was there beside me getting on with I like that he was prepared to crack on and get stuck in

I Was told he needs to get on as there is another lad gunning for his spot with me

I went to start a big house in a nice area new build
i clipped out and drilled the hole and the (boy) was with me the next day showed he the run how I wanted it don and told he to crack on

1st day was a slow and unsure over completed a few bits and was not working efficiently

2nd day on the way to site I explained to him about thinking ahead as that is the main part of plumbing and not running up and down the steps looking for fitting and tools

as the time has gone on two weeks he has turned into a excellent plumber neat tidy planing ahead coming up with good ideas on pipe route and setting out

he has had complements from the builder the architect and suppliers branch managers

he's coming to work in the morning telling me how he wants the run pipe work in the plant room

I Have had next to no input into he's training but I am proud of him


i was not treated the best as a young lad coming up I hated going to work I know the bloke I was working with was a bully.

I WILL NEVER TREAT ANYBODY LIKE THAT

We are here to help and teach people not just about plumbing but about life

i have worked with a few engineers over the year and look back and enjoyed all of it

golden rules

1 always be 5 min early you should be waiting for him not him waiting for you

2 keep his tools and van clean and tidy not only his Benefit but your less Time looking for tool more time learning and doing

3 think ahead what tool will he need are the batteries charged for drill

4 don't be playing with your phone

5 alway have a tape pencil pad and a torch in your pocket (he will love that)

6 i feel this is important if you have nothing in your hands and he's carrying his tool you need to sort that out

My dad is 62 and still fitting pipe and all the lad I worked with when I started were taught to respect and look after the senior men on site I seen a contract manager that my dad taught carrying my dad's tool on to the site while my dad carried a drill box and crib bag

sorry about the rant

hope you enjoy

 

[LPC]

Be honest. If you cock up, tell him immediately.

 

[bright spark]

Just be on time, enthusiastic, clean up, keep van and gear tidy, nice to customers and don't be afraid to ask questions. It's not stupid if ye don't know. Yer stupid if ye pretend ye know. If ye don't shout he'll just presume ye know. He shouldn't mind repeating some action to help ye understand it. You'll be better for it.
all the best and enjoy it as much as ye can.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

has no one checked the date of the last post before the one that swift posted?

 

[Dannypipe]

Think the original post is about 7 years old! LOL

 

[Toggles]

And if you do manage to spill black rusty radiator water on a white carpet,
Take your spray water bottle and a wet/dry vacuum, and proceed rinsing and sucking do not rub it with a cloth, You will find it works a treat.

Once you've done the above as recommended by bobpape, if there's still a tarnish mark where the spillage took place... 'BIGWIPES' work a treat at clearing it to a spotless finish, not even the customer will notice there was an accident 😉 Big yellow tub from suppliers ( Not the scouring type though !) All the lads I worked with adopted my little trick too. magic !

 

[Paul - PDS]

jpm,
good point there about the pockets.
i was just comming to the end of a total bath re-fit working to 7.30pm finishing of and to save comming back next day. i told my trainee to put the stuf in the van whilst i got paid, i then told him to ps of home like u do whilst i chatted with the customer/taking a breather over a cup of tea. any way after half an hour i then made my way to my van only to find that he had pssd of with my keys, and he lived 25 miles away. having no mobile on him i had to wait for him to get in before i could tell him to get his ase back sharpish, how embarassing standing there for over an hour.
i sure did kick his bum the next day.

Amen.

 

[josh]

Swift this post is 5 years old, he's either made it or now working in tesco's!

 

[spot 270]

Sorry did not look at the date was looking to find out how to do a better job of bringing on the boy and how to keep him keen from from his side of it and got on one

Again sorry will check dates next time

 

[Swift2506]

Sorry did not look at the date was looking to find out how to do a better job of bringing on the boy and how to keep him keen from from his side of it and got on one

Again sorry will check dates next time

Log in with tapatalk and it uses a overall log in instead

So from swift2506 sorry not a big forum user still learning

 

[Dotty]

Don't worry boys, it happens....

 

[wetdrip]

Well, the OP, Watertight's last activity was only two hours ago.
Perhaps he can enlighten us.