Hiring apprentices

Topic: Hiring apprentices (Read 1615 times) previous topic - next topic

Hiring apprentices

September 17, 2014, 06:55:44 AM

As you might know i use a couple of kids from neighboring school as a work program for the town. They normally are very sharp and knowledgeable. They also have several ASE certifications. SO yesterday i got a young chap and put him on a problem. He diagnosed it correctly and spot on. He located an EVAP leak in a car and i told him to proceed to fix it. The tank had to be removed for access to the leak. So a few minutes later he was not removing the tank?? What was with that? So i spoke to him and he said they never did that in school and he did not know how to do it?? WHAT i was thinking to myself. This kid had 5 ASE certifications and was sharp as a tack. But it just goes to show you that having ASE certifications means nothing. But many places wont hire you if you do not have them. Thoughts on this would be appreciated. Just for the record we both removed the tank and the lad is working out just fine.

Hiring apprentices

Reply #1 – September 17, 2014, 07:02:02 AM

Some of these schools only teach you to pass the tests, not to actually do the work. Case in point, my wife went to college for Computer Information Systems back in the early 1990s. One of her classes was "Computer Repair". It was taught entirely on paper. They never actually worked on a computer! I bet some of the auto repair classes could be the same; all theory and tests, not much hands-on.

Hiring apprentices

Reply #2 – September 17, 2014, 01:06:19 PM

Well thank you for your honest reply. Have a great day

Hiring apprentices

Reply #3 – September 17, 2014, 02:07:59 PM

Kid from my high school went to wyotech for 2 years. Got a job as a grease monkey at the local toyota dealership. Dumb as a rock. Let a car go without tightening oil drain plug. He didnt stay long

Hiring apprentices

Reply #4 – September 17, 2014, 05:06:53 PM

I went to lincoln tech for collision repair. Spent alot of time on paper and some in shop. When you were in the shop it was sink or swim. If you didnt have a clue you're screwed. Im 51 I-CAR credible and building horse trailers. I cant find a job to save my life. No experience, no job.

I personally believe that you are teaching a trade it needs to be more hands on than pencils. Cant learn as well at a desk as you can getting your hands dirty

/edit. I applaud you for hiring green guys though its tough for us to get out there. Hell Maaco turned me down lol

Hiring apprentices

Reply #5 – September 17, 2014, 05:10:19 PM

I have ZERO ASE certifications. I'm confident in saying I am more competent than a few people I know with said certifications.

Hiring apprentices

Reply #6 – September 17, 2014, 08:01:07 PM

Quote from: 87thunderbirdBlackJack;438096

I went to lincoln tech for collision repair. Spent alot of time on paper and some in shop. When you were in the shop it was sink or swim. If you didnt have a clue you're screwed. Im 51 I-CAR credible and building horse trailers. I cant find a job to save my life. No experience, no job.

I personally believe that you are teaching a trade it needs to be more hands on than pencils. Cant learn as well at a desk as you can getting your hands dirty

/edit. I applaud you for hiring green guys though its tough for us to get out there. Hell Maaco turned me down lol

It's too bad you weren't down here. We don't do collision work

Hiring apprentices

Reply #7 – September 17, 2014, 08:26:16 PM

That is to bad Black Jack because I car certified guys work for JR. that is an accomplishment and you should be proud. The economy sucks and our fearless leaders tell a different story. But it is a shame you can not find work with your certs. Sorry to say the big guys and dealers wont hire you if you do not have certifications. The local school bus company has all certified techs and can not find sand on a beach in Hawaii. Sad that these ASE BS certifications have taken over the industry. How did this replace hands on experience. Nine times out of Ten those ASE guys are worthless in my view and i hire people for there ability. I find it hard to believe that people hiring folks relie on those worthless certifications. Have a great evening guys

Hiring apprentices

Reply #8 – September 18, 2014, 04:10:29 AM

I interview new truck drivers, I seen so many just out of driving school, Every endorsp00get in the world, Problem they can't drive stick. They learn with automatics. They shouldn't give CDL's ,unless you can actually drive a truck.

Hiring apprentices

Reply #9 – September 18, 2014, 05:51:40 AM

True all my town employees do not drive sticks. As the matter of fact it is not a requirement any more. The town also replaced every piece of equipment because of this and it is a disgrace. Even the Fire tanker and all the other emergency equipment. This truely is a sad thing. As book learning and certifications do not supersede hands on knowledge.

Hiring apprentices

Reply #10 – September 18, 2014, 09:40:58 AM

Tom, I applaud you for giving these young mechanics a chance to hone their skills. I see it all to often at the tractor dealership where I work-- these young fella's are thrown to the wolves without any help or guidance only to end up getting frustrated and give up. I don't care who you are or what profession you are in; everyone needs a good mentor early in their career to show you the ropes.

I think more of the veteran mechanics out there need to step back and realize that they were once a young inexperienced person who needed a good mentor and "pass it on" to these young bucks.

Hiring apprentices

Reply #11 – September 18, 2014, 10:55:23 AM

Quote from: V8Demon;438097

I have ZERO ASE certifications. I'm confident in saying I am more competent than a few people I know with said certifications.

Towards the end of college I looked at getting some ASE certifications for giggles. Took a few practice tests and 'passed' them with zero preparation. Would have gotten them if not for the two year experience requirement. hah.

I think ASE certs are a good thing to set a floor level of expectations (like most certifications), but I totally agree with you: having one doesn't mean a tech does competent work.

Hiring apprentices

Reply #12 – September 19, 2014, 08:43:51 PM

You know the automotive industry is being degraded with all this garbage. I talked to a good friend of mine that owns a local HONDA dealer. more money than Brains. He told me he does not hire any techs that do not have at least 5 ASE certs. This is Rubbish and means nothing. So i guess it makes them better at ehat they do. Nonsense pure BS in my view. Now i have numerous ASE certs and what does it mean. JR is I car certified and has all his licenses including estimator ETC. Numerous licenses that in my state have to be renewed every year and costs a fortune. Everywhere a business owner leaks the state and local government holds a bucket. Not to mention OSHA the biggest pain in the A$$. Just look at the diesel engine regulations on new engines. What a joke DEF and all the other BS like EGR and so on. The over the road guys are going nuts over this and more and more diesel engines builders are moving out of the country. So with this all these rules and regs only mean one thing More money for businesses to lay out and pass on to customers. I find it interesting when i give out an estimate for a paint job at 10Grand and people look at me like i am nuts. Clearly they do not know the costs to run a business in states like mine. If i were to move my business i could save 40-50% on costs and have a bigger shop and hire more people by moving to a business friendly state. Just saying. As far as ASE goes it is a scam and it caught on by the know nothing business men and people that actually think it means something. It does not . Thanks and have a great evening guys.

Hiring apprentices

Reply #13 – September 20, 2014, 09:53:32 PM

Quote from: 50tbrd88;438119

Tom, I applaud you for giving these young mechanics a chance to hone their skills. I see it all to often at the tractor dealership where I work-- these young fella's are thrown to the wolves without any help or guidance only to end up getting frustrated and give up. I don't care who you are or what profession you are in; everyone needs a good mentor early in their career to show you the ropes.

I think more of the veteran mechanics out there need to step back and realize that they were once a young inexperienced person who needed a good mentor and "pass it on" to these young bucks.

well, guess I don't have a long post, you said all I wanted to say!!!

Hiring apprentices

Reply #14 – September 20, 2014, 10:51:44 PM

I love the school release program. Those kids are great. Eager to learn and show they have talent. After all no one lives forever. These newcomers are the future. I always hire them pay them a good starting wage when they are on release programs and i think it keeps some of them out of trouble. better having them turn wrenches than hanging out doing nothing. I love the kids. Have a great day guys.