June 21, 201610 yr I'm suffering with a professional whose performance as a ducker and diver rivals that of the average dolphin. He's trotted out some pretty good excuses, mostly of the 'dog-ate-my-homework' type. The latest is 'the-system-ate-your-email' What's the best excuse you've heard?
June 21, 201610 yr "Hasn't my husband paid you?" and then when I ask him..... "my wife says she'll pay you, all you have to do is ask". Tossers
June 21, 201610 yr I've just been lumped with a new apprentice. Straight out of school and you would be amazed how many things are "impossible" or "just wouldn't fit" , blunt knife, the drill slipped, the level's out, All he really needs to say is "I fu*ked it up. and I don't know what I'm doing wrong", instead he reams off some BS that he doesn't realise I tried on my teacher years ago and he didn't accept it either. literally 2 hours ago I got told that it's because the Bhaco knife has got too big a shoulder on it for him to cut plasterboard straight :D....... GGGGRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrr why do they keep giving me apprentices?
June 21, 201610 yr Because your young and easy to abuse. Happened to us all. Why it is hard for the over 50's to get jobs, we have seen it all before and know where it ends.
June 21, 201610 yr Author 22 minutes ago, Construction Channel said: [...] why do they keep giving me apprentices? Pressure and support. Expect a little more and give just a bit more support. We were both like that once Ed.
June 21, 201610 yr I try, But I just don't think I'm a good person to teach while working to a deadline, he's still settling in and in time hopefully he will get better, AFAIC I'm still trying to learn how to do this building malark, and am not really in a position to teach, but unfortunately the boss and the college seem to think differently
June 21, 201610 yr 1 hour ago, Construction Channel said: GGGGRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrr why do they keep giving me apprentices? Because the draconian, outdated, defunct, corrupt, not fit for purpose Construction Skills levy leaves your boss little choice than to try and reap back the indirect taxation that it is! I'm not saying that apprenticeships are bad, far from it. But the way its run by CSkills is terrible. And from next year they've found an even better way to force you into NVQ's too with the introduction of the skills specific card. Yet another way to keep the machine oiled! Sorry, rant over!
June 21, 201610 yr When it comes to craft teaching, you have to explain everything, usually show it a few times, help them for the first few, and then make it absolutely clear that if they are unsure, they have to ask. What you should not do is assume that they can transfer skills right away. Every day, spend 10 minutes at the start and explain whet they are going to help you with. Just like school/college, you recap on what you last did and explain what you are going to do today. I always tried to add a bit of maths and science as I went along too. It often confused, but they will think you are pretty clever and you get a bit more respect as it looks like you care. Edited June 21, 201610 yr by SteamyTea
June 21, 201610 yr Not to mention that in my neck of the woods they're not funded / subsidised any more. I've seen my apprentices through with funding, but I'm not paying them to become my competition. No ta.
June 21, 201610 yr 9 minutes ago, SteamyTea said: When it comes to craft teaching, you have to explain everything, usually show it a few times, help them for the first few, and then make it absolutely clear that if they are unsure, they have to ask. The carpenter I've used a fair bit always says "you caint learn in boy" He also uses one of my favorite expressions when asked to do something tricky............. "I'll give it a good coat of lookin at"
June 21, 201610 yr Getting back on track........... One of my managers recently said to me (in response to having lost £10k's worth of our tools and equipment). "They're not lost. We simply don't know where they are"
June 21, 201610 yr well I de-railed that thread in a grand total of 1 reply.... But Steamy you're annoyingly right, I didn't choose this career because I wanted to teach people and I instinctively begrudge it, but if I want to create anything useful I suppose I will have to put the time in. soooooo, bad excuses??
June 21, 201610 yr "I really need a minidigger to help ... erm ... save the newts. Darling". Perhaps Mrs RA can supply the genuine version... *innocent face* Edited June 21, 201610 yr by Ferdinand
June 21, 201610 yr A mate of mine Father was the 'Man from Delmonte", well not really, he worked for the South African Fruit Exchange. When we had the miners strike on in 1984/5, someone that owed money said the cheque must have been delayed because they used the empty coal trucks, on the return journey, to transport the mail. I liked that. There was a song about a lazy bloke that made up excuses, being bitten by a snake, was one of them. http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/beautifulsouth/fromunderthecovers.html Edited June 21, 201610 yr by SteamyTea
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