Sharon:
I appreciate your delima. You have too much to do by yourself
but not enough benchwork to hire someone full time. Meanwhile,
your customer’s clammer for in-house service yesterday! Can’t
say as I have an answer to your all-too-common problem except
that perhaps you would have some luck contacting sone to the
trade shops in your area and let them know of your needs. I
would think that they would know of several promising students
who would jump at the chance to perfect thire skills and earn
some money at the same time. Someone youn and un married who
could move nearby and perhaps work part-time for you and an
arrangement mught be worked out so that they might take in trade
work as well and do it in your shop so that they would be there
full-time when you need them. Hope this helps; Steve Klepinger
...Someone youn and un married who could move nearby and
perhaps work part-time for you and an arrangement mught be
worked out so that they might take in trade work as well and do
it in your shop so that they would be there full-time when you
need them. Hope this helps; Steve Klepinger
Steve,
Thanks for the idea. I have plenty of room for someone to set
up their own shop area and I could trade rent for partial pay.
I’ll check with our local craft league and see if anyone is
interested.
BTW, does anyone know if there is an official apprenticeship
program and if so, what are the requirements? or do I have to
check with local state government?
Thanks to you all for your input.
Sharon Z.
Sharon - In the past, the only possibility to recieve a formal,
moderated apprenticeship (here in the USA) was through the
jewelers union. My father took such a program, in the 40’s, even
though he had apprenticed under his father. The primary benifit
being that one could more readily find employement in union
shops. That has since been scraped, as has the union, here in the
Bay Area. So unless you have a union program in your neck of the
woods, or a large manufacturing shop (as in Providence, R.I.)
which will fund the long time and supervision needed to train an
apprentice, you will find that kids have to rely on ‘charity’ ( a
jeweler willing to spend a few convenient hours), a trade school,
community college, university or one of the expensive private
schools. All of which I find highly inadequate to the formal
apprenticeship program found in countrys where the government
sponsors or at least supervises them.
Great Britain still has a good apprenticeship system as well as
Germany and Sweden.
What about Canada?
Good luck. Kim-Eric Lilot
Kim-Eric Lilot,
I am not looking to be an apprentice, but have been approached
by people looking to learn by working for me “cheap”. I was just
wondering if there were any specific requirements which need to
be fulfilled before you can say you are apprenticing someone.
While browsing through the US Government listings in the phone
book just now, I noticed a number for “apprenticeships” under the
Labor Dept. Sounds like a good place to get an answer.
Thanks for you help.
Sharon Z.
BTW, does anyone know if there is an official apprenticeship
program and if so, what are the requirements? or do I have to
check with local state government?
You might try checking with Manufacturing Jewelers and
Silversmiths of America, located in Providence, RI. They’re
always looking for placements in apprenticeship programs.
Katherine Palochak
I am not looking to be an apprentice, but have been approached
by people looking to learn by working for me “cheap”. I was just
wondering if there were any specific requirements which need to
be fulfilled before you can say you are apprenticing someone.
When I was facing the draft in the early seventies, my mentor
got me signed up with what was then the “Manpower
Administration” in Washington, D.C., as an apprentice. It was
enough to satisfy any requirements of my draft board to get me a
deferment. Likewise, when we were hiring for my own company some
years later, the Virginia board of apprenticeships or somesuch
government administration which oversees “official”
apprenticeships and provides some classroom training gave us
approval; which allowed an apprentice of mine to receive VA
benefits. I’d suggest that you get in touch with your state
board of education and any apprenticeship councils that you can
find in the phone book.
Bruce D. Holmgrain
Maryland’s first JA Certified Senior Bench Jeweler
@Bruce_Holmgrain
http://www.goldwerx.nu
703-593-4652
BTW, does anyone know if there is an official apprenticeship
program and if so, what are the requirements? or do I have to
check with local state governme
Many years ago I went through an actual apprenticeship program
with my employer, an old German goldsmith, and the state. It was
a mix of on the job training and school. I think that an
apprenticeship is only as good as the master, mine was good. But
the classroom portion was really a waste of time. Its just not
set up as well as it is in Europe, they didn’t know what to do
with a goldsmith. The appreticeship agreement indentures you to
3 years of service and locks you into a predetermined pay scale.
I was never getting paid what I was worth, (does anyone think
they are?). I came to the conclusion that I would have learned
just as much and made more money if I had just worked for the
shop rather than going through the formal apprenticeship
program. It really doesn’t mean anything in the U.S. anyway.
Mark P.
I am not aware of any official apprenticeship programs,
apprenticeships these days (I had two) are negotitated case by
case.
The modern equivilent is the college intership. If you go
through a college the intership (or co-op) office will help you
work the system. But basically you write a description and they
advertise the job on campus and you advertise. Internships can
be paid or unpaid. Co-ops are generally paid. Some internships
pay transportation and lunch only.
In our area we have two woodworkers offering a one year unpaid
apprenticeship and training.
Elaine
Fresh from a show so bad everyone packed up and left 2 hours early!