PLEASE HELP...most important day of my career!

[kingm1988]

Hi all. As the title suggests, I am in need of some advice! Tomorrow I will be spending half a day with a plumber which may result in him taking me on as a plumbers mate. This is a really big moment for me and will be the first time I will be spending time with a plumber.

I'm just looking for any pointers that you guys can give me. Whether you are a plumber with experience in taking on mates/apprentices or likewise if you have been taken on as a mate/apprentice. Any advice hugely appreciated!

Thanks in advance.

 

[sunzzofman]

im not a plumber but one of my friends was on a apprentership and now is fully qualifyed etc,so i carnt give you many tips but first thing is dont panic,they want you to be in control so if something goes wrong just take your time.quality over quantity!.Allso be polite to anyone you meet.kinda basic but i thought id refresh your memory incase your over thinking

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

just be honest

if your not sure ask

it will look twice as bad if you do something wrong when you werent sure but didnt check

 

[Barry98]

keep stum, listen and make as many cuppas as he wants and youll go far

thats what i did

 

[Spudhater]

Always keep busy.............tidy workplace/van/toolbox/fittings box carry his tool box and keep asking if there is anything you want "me" to do ....

You could wait outside your house when he arrives to pick you up.. show`s your keen..


Plenty of chat is not a bad thing in this game..

 

[joe brown]

Communicate with him find out what he likes then bullsh*t about it ..lol, OJ , Make him brews, Tidy up as he goes along, Be extra polite to customers, compliment his work, Ask his advice on your work, Help him put tools away in van !

 

[Spudhater]

"Communicate with him find out what he likes then bullsh*t about it"

Quality..

i used to do that with a deputy down the pit, he would go on for hours about his car and forget about the time, 2 hrs later we would get up and do some work..

 

[justlead1]

When you shake his hand in the morning. Remind him of your name and tell him your nervous, just to break the ice. Good Luck

 

[kingm1988]

Guys I am forever grateful for ALL the advice given. No doubt I will have reached the 'over thinking' stage by tonight, but reading these back is quite reassuring.

Will let you guys know tomorrow how it goes!

 

[Steve001]

Good luck, mate. hope it all goes well. And when it does, don't worry too much about money just keep learning.

 

[kingm1988]

Cheers steve. And you've just reminded me of something. Say it's coming towards then end of this 'half day' i'm spending with him, and he hasn't at all mentioned pay, would it be good of me to offer to work for free for a trial period?

 

[sunzzofman]

Cheers steve. And you've just reminded me of something. Say it's coming towards then end of this 'half day' i'm spending with him, and he hasn't at all mentioned pay, would it be good of me to offer to work for free for a trial period?

well you dont want him to think your weak and a push over,so i aint to sure if you should,maybe at the end you can say,if you ever need a hand just gimmie a ring or something like that

 

[Steve001]

Yeah, sunzzofman is thinking on my lines on that one, start off working as and when needed, see what he's like, (you might think he's a knob)

Some people can be happy taking the micky, letting you work for nothing, but apprentices/mates can be a huge drain on some employers, esp in current climes, its a happy balance your after.

If you can keep busy when there's nothing obvious or exciting/interesting to do, be polite to his clients, look like you can work for a living, keep off your mobile and take things in, you'll soon be an asset worthy of taking on.

 

[Dannypipe]

Keep the site tidy, don't get under his feet and don't play on your mobile phone. Also be polite to customers, listen and ask sensible questions at the correct time.

Don't crawl up his backside though, but be respectful and he should do like wise. Good luck.

 

[oldplumber]

MOST IMPORTANT, turn up on time or 5 min early, clean and tidy lunchbox in hand. make an impression by thinking ahead a bit and handing him a tool he wants before he starts hunting for it. I am working hard to get a lad back on his 3rd yr at college as he has no apprenticeship and i have told the college ill try and give him the works experience needed for his nvqs but i dont need an apprentice at present, But hes a good lad, watches where i keep forgeting i put my tools and hands them to me without asking. Hence why im happy to help him out, had him out for a rad move yesturday, he di most of it himself, didnt moan when he cut himself, got his head down and made himself useful. If he keeps on like that then im willing to help him out as well, and he deserves a break

 

[REDSAW]

"Communicate with him find out what he likes then bullsh*t about it"

Quality..

i used to do that with a deputy down the pit, he would go on for hours about his car and forget about the time, 2 hrs later we would get up and do some work..

sounds like my bro'

 

[charlie1]

Good luck mate, let us know how it goes.
Good bit of advice is to not even take your phone out of the van as many tradesman can hate a phone going off in the middle of something. Plus take your lunch with you as my old employer used to hate people having to go off site to get their lunch.

 

[REDSAW]

lunch,sarnies?.

we dont take or have lunch, 10 hours straight.
you only take lunch if your getting paid for it imho.

 

[Smcart5]

I don't have experience but isn't this like any other job, turn up on time every day, do a good job and don't irritate the customers or your boss, i know an apprenticeship is rare and all as i have been looking for one for a while, and congrats on finding someone to train you but don't put it all on a pedestal or worry yourself silly...