what you are looking for in an apprentice/applicant

[Evan]

Hey everyone:

This is the first thread I have started... So anyway I was reading several recent threads in this sub forum (primarily Ashworth College, Foley-Belsaw And Penn-Foster and a couple of others about apprenticeships) about which training course is better and how expensive and thorough the "real" trade schools are and thought squelchtone's response in the Ashworth College thread was worthy of becoming the basis for its own thread...

What sort of prior knowledge or experience and training does one hope to find in a person you would consider taking on as an apprentice or part-time shop assistant ? I know that a lot of what you are looking for is specific to the type of jobs you do and any sort of specialty your shop/business is known for but let's just say in general for a general service lock shop...

Many different posters here have said that the training courses like Foley-Belsaw, Penn-Foster and PCDI are only an introduction to the basics and I totally agree with that yet there is more to someone than having taken such a course... Would you prefer someone who hasn't taken one of those courses at all, a blank slate you can teach how to do things the way you learned ? I know that there are a handful of really excellent in-depth trade schools out there that have locksmithing programs but usually the students who graduate from them are networked into some sort of employment by the school before they graduate and it would be truly rare to have someone like that walk in to your shop randomly and ask for a job...

So what I am asking is besides the willingness to serve as an apprentice at a reduced wage what is your personal perspective as to what attributes someone coming into your business asking to work for you should possess for you to consider them... It would help just for context if you described what your major business volume is, i.e. auto lock work, commercial, electronic access control systems, safes etc...

This hasn't really been discussed all in one thread before and I am curious about what people think about this...

~~ Evan

[globallockytoo]

Firstly,
This forum is for the hobby/sport of lockpicking and not really a locksmith site (just). I suggest you look at the other forums dedicated to locksmithing and ask your questions there.

Secondly, I personally would be less likely to take on an FB graduate due to the method of training being so low, in my opinion.

A North Bennett Street School graduate on the other hand, I would definitely look at with potential.

I personally would prefer to train a person from scratch, because that way I can have them learn the methods I think are appropriate to my business and my focus.

Too many times I have seen people trained by other companies who are not even close to the level i would have expected from them.

If they choose to also do other courses during their apprenticeship with me, that is their choice. I constantly encourage learning and education but in my opinion, FB and others tend to not train the correct methods.

I will employ a person temporarily on work experience program, to guage their abilities and their conduct over a period of 1 to 3 months. Every individual is different and has different abilities and often cannot be judged equally.

[HeadHunterCEO]

Trustworthy: If you cannot be trusted or place trust in another then I am not interested.
Loyal: Loyalty is a trait that is a meter stick in which you can measure a man. A Loyal person is someone that you can go to action with and know they have your back.
Helpful: Willingness to help out your coworkers,customers, neighbors etc. People who go above and beyond to lift someone else up are awesome.
Friendly: Are you pleasant to be around? If not then i don't want to be around you and neither will the customers.
Courteous: Everything you parents taught you as a kid are still important. Good manners leave a positive impression and inspire others.
Kind: Treating others like you want to be treated. How you treat yourself, your coworkers , family and the customers will reflect on their attitudes towards you.
Obedient: When you can lead, follow or get out of the way then you know where you stand in any given situation. This shows that you are flexible,effective and ultimately dedicated to the successful conclusion of any task. If ants were the size of dogs then they would most likely rule the world. The instinctual dedication to their roles within the colony makes them powerful in their focus which is simply survival. Know your role and execute the duties of it to the best of your abilities.respect the chain of command
Cheerful: If you mope around with a rain cloud over your head all the time then the people you are around get wet and pissed off.
Thrifty: wasteful people squander valuable resources. If you don 't respect the cost of doing business then giving you resources is a waste of time.
Brave: Self confidence is contagious and another awesome trait. helps you learn and more importantly gives you the ability to ply your new found skill.
Clean: If you look like a skel and lack personal hygene then nobody wants to be around you.

This is the type of person i would take on.
Don't care if you currently flip burgers or have a degree in mechanical engineering.
You better have a spotless driving record
You better not have felonies against you.
i was a scout and i still am

[Raymond]

Amen to the previous post. I agree with every part. I have always believed that you hire a good person based on their attitudes and presentation and not just on their schooling. I want to know that you can get along with me, my other employees and the customers. No exceptions.

After this, you MUST be mechanically intuitive. If you are not curious and cannot figure things out on you own after a little guidance you just cannot be very sucessful in this field.

[Victor's Vector]

Trustworthy: If you cannot be trusted or place trust in another then I am not interested.
Loyal: Loyalty is a trait that is a meter stick in which you can measure a man. A Loyal person is someone that you can go to action with and know they have your back.
Helpful: Willingness to help out your coworkers,customers, neighbors etc. People who go above and beyond to lift someone else up are awesome.
Friendly: Are you pleasant to be around? If not then i don't want to be around you and neither will the customers.
Courteous: Everything you parents taught you as a kid are still important. Good manners leave a positive impression and inspire others.
Kind: Treating others like you want to be treated. How you treat yourself, your coworkers , family and the customers will reflect on their attitudes towards you.
Obedient: When you can lead, follow or get out of the way then you know where you stand in any given situation. This shows that you are flexible,effective and ultimately dedicated to the successful conclusion of any task. If ants were the size of dogs then they would most likely rule the world. The instinctual dedication to their roles within the colony makes them powerful in their focus which is simply survival. Know your role and execute the duties of it to the best of your abilities.respect the chain of command
Cheerful: If you mope around with a rain cloud over your head all the time then the people you are around get wet and pissed off.
Thrifty: wasteful people squander valuable resources. If you don 't respect the cost of doing business then giving you resources is a waste of time.
Brave: Self confidence is contagious and another awesome trait. helps you learn and more importantly gives you the ability to ply your new found skill.
Clean: If you look like a skel and lack personal hygene then nobody wants to be around you.

This is the type of person i would take on.
Don't care if you currently flip burgers or have a degree in mechanical engineering.
You better have a spotless driving record
You better not have felonies against you.
i was a scout and i still am

I made it less than halfway through your list and I knew you were a Scout. I'm glad to see that some manage to use what they learn for the rest of their life. Props to you for that one.

I also understand why you're one point short. Those are actually excellent qualities to look for in anyone for any job and not just locksmithing.

[raimundo]

reverend is the last one, or it used to be, in the 1950's

[fjardeson]

From my mental list of "What am I looking for in a PC Technician" - I think it applies to lockies too...

Bondable: Insurable with a bonding agency
Professional: Has respect for the trade and the customer
Polite: Doesn't insult a customer because of a broken key etc, just helps them out without the sermon
Hard-working: The opposite of lazy

Just my .02, YMMV

[Eyes_Only]

This may not be as important but I would want someone who is willing to do their own research and take the initiative to try to learn new things without having to totally depend on someone else guiding you step by step on each job. This could be done through books and manuals, the many professional locksmith forums like Clearstar or through classes offered by big time suppliers like Clark Security or LockMasters. Just as long as they are willing to learn and keep on learning and have that passion and motivation.