Reality of getting into a trade after the teens?

[Geeen]

No if all of the workers productivity is in excess of the service book recommendations by say 33% and they are all paid $20 per hour because they are such productive workers (as older apprentices tend to be),

I was pretty much told this by a guy looking for an apprentice on Wednesday, a lot of companies prefer older apprentices for maturity reasons and the workload they can get through, by the way I'm in my 30s going through this...

[R2D2]

You sound like you have plenty of excuses to not even bother to do a bit of door knocking. Get a job sweeping the floor or cleaning the bogs at a workshop and then show them what you are made of.

I suppose after a couple years seeing spotty faced teens with a "Meh" attitude getting the jobs I want's made me pretty pessimistic.

I'm in a similar situation, I decided to get some qualifications after being made redundant from my former profession (I was automating houses and installing high end home theatres). Am doing a Pretrade in Mech Engineering at Wintec, its six months three days a week, up here in the Waikato most employers recruit from these courses for apprentices. I have said no to a couple as I intend to do further study next year and dont want to stuff anyone about. Could be a valid option for you to do three days at tech and two days doing work experience that leads to paid employment.

Was there a fee for that course or was it subsidised? Only asking because I think there are courses for 22 weeks here in palmy but wasn't sure if they held the same appeal to employers as the longer, expensive course. Are you doing paid work otherwise or on a students allowance? If they are even an option, I really have no idea

I was pretty much told this by a guy looking for an apprentice on Wednesday, a lot of companies prefer older apprentices for maturity reasons and the workload they can get through, by the way I'm in my 30s going through this...

Well here's hoping

[george formby]

I'm in a similar situation, I decided to get some qualifications after being made redundant from my former profession (I was automating houses and installing high end home theatres). Am doing a Pretrade in Mech Engineering at Wintec, its six months three days a week, up here in the Waikato most employers recruit from these courses for apprentices. I have said no to a couple as I intend to do further study next year and dont want to stuff anyone about. Could be a valid option for you to do three days at tech and two days doing work experience that leads to paid employment.

K'inell mechanical engineering is my next thing, but.... I live at the edge of nowhere so cannot do the time at uni & hold down a job. Well, not yet, might be 60 before I pull that off.
OP, 21? Humble your self & get 2 jobs, one for the rent & one for the future. It won't get any easier if you hang around.

[R2D2]

K'inell mechanical engineering is my next thing, but.... I live at the edge of nowhere so cannot do the time at uni & hold down a job. Well, not yet, might be 60 before I pull that off.
OP, 21? Humble your self & get 2 jobs, one for the rent & one for the future. It won't get any easier if you hang around.

I don't have anything against two jobs, its whether or not there would actually be enough time after the course for a second job. I've just emailed a couple places about the courses they offer and will get in touch with WINZ or whoever handles it tomorrow to get a realistic idea of what I could get in the way of an allowance from them if the study was full time

[george formby]

Over the decades I have spent a lot of time sleeping 6 hours a night or less. Family has reined me in, I have to & want to be at home, but as a single chap I was much happier out there trying to make my way in life rather than trying to make life come to me. Time is only relevant to your perception of it.
I may not be qualified to post, though. Never crossed my mind to be sponsored to further my ambitions. Admittedly, a smart move if you can do it.

Have a read about folks like John Britten, Edmund Hilary, wotisface from Facepuke etc etc, they refused to be baulked in their ambitions & realised that the only boundaries were what they imposed on themselves.

Go forth young man & realise your dreams,.

[R2D2]

Are you near the autistic spectrum Mr R2D2?

just watching Anika Moa winning multiple awards on the telly....
her rejection of 'merkin money and mainstream pressures is admirable
her mom seems like an aspie

Maybe a mechanical workshop with all its neurotypical politics is not for you?

I prefer to take my car to home mechanics who eschew workshop environments

Some workshops are fucken shit places of employment

I know, I've heard plenty from mechanics who refuse to work in that trade after a few years with some of the bullshit that comes with it. And yes shes a gem... And yep I'm a downy. You can tell by how much I lack in vocabulary compared to yourself

[Voltaire]

My 18 year old was relying on Emails and Internet for getting him a job. Once he used up all my Broadband I told him to print out CV's and go door knocking..He said that was "old skool"..not the easiest to do but he got some positive feedback....and a Job 1 day a week at Barkers, that went into 3...that got him a nice wardrobe...
A chance conversation with a supplier and now he is a Trade Assistant, give him a chance to show what he is like to an employer, hoping to get an Apprenticeship next year.

[Geeen]

Was there a fee for that course or was it subsidised? Only asking because I think there are courses for 22 weeks here in palmy but wasn't sure if they held the same appeal to employers as the longer, expensive course. Are you doing paid work otherwise or on a students allowance? If they are even an option, I really have no idea

Luckily for me I have a Wife who is back in the workforce expressly so I can do this, and getting a bit from studylink

[unstuck]

SIT zero fees. You live in the wrong part of the country.

[St_Gabriel]

At age 32 (ish) was sick of dead end low paying jobs so started looking around for electrical work, checked out the local WINTEC to see what courses they had for sparkies. Got a fairly shit job working as an electrical labourer (no chance of an apprenticeship but at least I was getting experience) wiring new houses and renovations. Enrolled for night school and started my Electrical engineering level 2 as a MOE (Ministry of Education) student as opposed to an ETITO (Electro-Tecnology Industry Training Organisation or come such bullshit) student.

Half way through the year, tutor comes in and says that such and such company was looking for an apprentice. Applied for the job (only myself and one other applicant who wasnt even in the class), got the job and started my actual apprenticeship building switchboards. This was totally unrelated to my experience but it was still a foot in the door. Continued on and changed job (after redundancy) to finish my apprenticeship with a second company doing more routine electrical work (not so specialised). Been qualified for 5 years or so now.

My age actually counted for me in my first apprenticeship due to the fact they were after someone more mature to help develop who was the junior staff member at the time. Joke was on them as he made me more immature rather then what they intended.

[Motu]

I've heard plenty from mechanics who refuse to work in that trade after a few years with some of the bullshit that comes with it.

I've met a lot of guys, even girls who ''used to be a mechanic.'' Usually trying to tell me what to do, know alls. A lot of this is because of when we start apprenticeships. In my fathers day, and the guys who taught me, they didn't go to highschool, they started in the workforce at 13, and apprenticeships were 7 years. In my day (Baby Boomer) we left school at 15 or 16 and into an apprenticeship...we didn't really know what we wanted to do for the rest of our lives. By the time some had done their time they knew they didn't want to be a mechanic, or whatever else they served their time at.

Adult apprentices go into it because they know this is what they want to do - we have one at work, he's good. More sacrifices for an older person than a school kid, that's got to be something on your side.

[ellipsis]

I've met a lot of guys, even girls who ''used to be a mechanic.'' Usually trying to tell me what to do, know alls. A lot of this is because of when we start apprenticeships. In my fathers day, and the guys who taught me, they didn't go to highschool, they started in the workforce at 13, and apprenticeships were 7 years. In my day (Baby Boomer) we left school at 15 or 16 and into an apprenticeship...we didn't really know what we wanted to do for the rest of our lives. By the time some had done their time they knew they didn't want to be a mechanic, or whatever else they served their time at.

Adult apprentices go into it because they know this is what they want to do - we have one at work, he's good. More sacrifices for an older person than a school kid, that's got to be something on your side.

...the fact that I had a wish to be a mechanic when I was around 13 didn't stop my old lady selling me into an away from home carpentry apprenticeship with a bloke who was a ferocious nutcase, when I was 14...thank fuck she did...pained me for a few months but 42 years later I'm still a chippy and have still managed to play the fix the bike or car game alongside my work...as an employer for large parts of that time, I can tell you OP that attitude and reliability and punctuality have been the major reasons for me either taking someone on or not...one of the best blokes I ever had work with me as a chippy was boilermaker with bugger all experience of chippying before that!...

[SMOKEU]

From my own experiences, almost no one wants to hire anyone without experience in that particular field. The days of simply rocking up to a work place and getting a job are pretty much gone. I handed out dozens of CVs both in person and via email when I was on the hunt for a job, and only got 1 interview and that was because I knew a dude who worked at that place who put in a good word for me.

I would suggest that you look into becoming a house painter. It's the easiest job I've ever done, and the money isn't too bad either. It certainly beats freezing your ass off in an unheated workshop in winter, and melting in the sun in summer. Being a sub contractor I don't have to deal with anyone watching directly over me, so as long as the job gets done to a good standard with minimal disruption to the client, then I get to do pretty much whatever I want on the job*

*Sniffing panties on the job is apparently forbidden.

And, Tatoo 'fuck jews' on your forehead.

+1.

[Juniper]

TBH I think everyone needs that first person to take that risk and take you on.

I had the same thing. I'm an administrator/coordinator by trade, yes I call what I have a trade. Its something I love doing and it took Daniel Relf from 2degrees to give me my break and take this smart mouthed girl from Harvey Normal retail into the corporate administration. He was the best and worst boss I have ever had but I owe him everything.

I have no qualifications (I dropped out of uni for medical reasons and never went back) and the position I'm in now is only something I could dream of. People have to do massive amounts of study and tedious exams to get where I am. Of which I shall soon be doing, having the job is nice, the title brilliant, but the money to go with it would be really nifty.

3 years ago I was on min wage, my goal is in 3 years time to be on 100k.


The only way I think I have gotten this far is by my attitude. I work on an old-school theory of honour and respect. I'm straight up and tell it like it is. I do my work to the best of my ability, and if it is possible to do it better I have no qualms in asking for help or advice. And I have a "Don't waste my air" rule- so don't constantly complain about something without providing a solution. Otherwise you are just wasting my air.

[Swoop]

A couple of points, if I may...

Firstly, "older" apprentices are favoured by some employers. One of the main traits is timekeeping. A mature person will be at work ahead of time, NOT "on" time and certainly not late. They will also not spend half the day with their dick in their hand (cell phone)...

Secondly, door-knocking still works. A Harold article from some HR fuckwit simply banned the concept entirely. Advising people to simply email their CV is just another way of saying "we want you to be on the dole".

I have advised many people over the years. Door knocking, accompanied with a BREIF cv, a kit of tools and a willingness to work with a positive attitude... simply works.
A boss does not have the time to email or telephone. Show up on their doorstep and you can guarantee a better strike-rate because they can see you & your attitude in front of them. YOU have the opportunity to see them and the working environment. = win-win.

An apprentice who is 50yrs old, is not unheard of either.