How long would you "aprentice"...

[channelcat]

They'll remove enough of the floor stripping to renail to the new joist from above...or 'sister' another joist to the existing. Actually not that bad.

'young surgeon' and 'stupid money' are kinda synonymous.

Sounds like you got the idea. Keeping low key alone is worth $$ to your 'employer'.

 

[SM610]

They'll remove enough of the floor stripping to renail to the new joist from above...or 'sister' another joist to the existing. Actually not that bad.

'young surgeon' and 'stupid money' are kinda synonymous.

Its hard to picture what I saw. The older real hardwood floor was undisturbed from the top. The new joists were not sistered to the original ones. As best I can tell the old joists were removed and new ones were installed from beneath with screws (not nails like the rest of the house). I can't even figure out how they got the joists in there. There was no opening in the foundation, and the access hole was in a closet. The house is older, the joists were brand new with modern joist hangers. I saw no sign that the new joists were connected to the sub floor, and no sign the the hardwood floor was disturbed in any way from above.

Obviously I missed something, but I feel good about my report. That part was not nessassarily a point of contention, it was confusing....I guess. I have a decent amount of construction experience, as does my boss and both of us were scratching our heads as to both HOW it was done and WHY it was done that way. Obviously they were trying to not tear the whole thing apart, which to us seemed like the only was to do it correctly.

 

[kevin 714]

I don't think you should work for free. Like someone else said, $10/hour at least. Even some interns i've known made minimum wage. At least, if you are a real employee, you are on the books and have workers comp in case you fall through a roof or something, at least the guy will act like he knows you. Any real apprenticeships, like electrician, or carpenter or something like that, the shop owner will know that you still have to eat and pay bills. And the apprenticeship will have a definite, laid out type of program, and also materials that you will have to know to pass the test. Even in the machine shops, they guys that are new, are sweeping floors, cutting materials, cleaning and oiling machines, and making at least minimum wage, and usually a few dollars more, while learning.

appretince in the trades is a fully paid position, it just denotes how long youve worked, like 1st step, 2nd step, 3rd step apprentice, then journey outm, etc etc

apprentices in the trades still make good money

 

[injun]

A JOB
Tell me it ant so Pat

 

[augustiron]

What they have you doing is illegal by labor law. Do you know if you are covered by their WC if you get hurt? Have you been trained in lead and asbestos awareness?

 

[channelcat]

^Jeez, don't sugar coat it. well, now that it's out of the bag..
OP, enjoying doing physical work, enjoying observing and thinking about what you encounter, and the 'we're all in this together' camaradie is all kind of a sideshow covering the fact that you are not getting paid, unless there's something you're not saying about it. You seemed hopeful and enthusiastic about it, and who am I to quash that? maybe your sitch is such that staying cool with your people, you're running the co. in two years. I just can't know, but I will tell you that contracting, from outhouses to space shuttles is about finding who will do the job competently for the least amount of money, free is good, and that, if you will pardon my french, is a goddam fact. if you like the work, please don't let that dissuade you from pursuing home inspection as a trade. if you get a rep for integrity and good client relations, it's practically printing money, on your schedule.
GL

 

[TripleSeven]

If I could do things over again I would apprentice for up to 2 years. I apprenticed as a tattooer in a couple different San Jose shops for a total of a year. Unpaid. But when I started working on clients I was able to charge $80 to $125 an hour, depending on what shop owner told me to do. I still dont think I learned enough to do the job as best as I could have, but that's my fault for not finding a better mentor. Tough as hell to find an apprenticeship as a tattooer.

 

[kevin 714]

I'm actually flirting with tattooing as an idea.


Apprentecing as a tattooist is actually one of the FEW non paid apprenticeships I would do.

 

[channelcat]

I shoulda stayed with restaurant. they fed me, and the waitresses were easy.

 

[goodness-707]

Oh shit! A test! Well, at some point there had been a lake under the house. Can't say exactly why.

Probably the 1998 El Niño year. My cousin, who also does home inspections said about 2/3 of the bay area was like that after that winter.

btw, it's not an apprenticeship; it's unpaid training. Unpaid training is common in some lines of work. I don't know if home inspection is one of them. Just be honest with yourself about what it is, and expect that your employer do the same. I don't think I'd work a month for free, but that's easy for me to say already having a job.

 

[TripleSeven]

I'm actually flirting with tattooing as an idea.


Apprentecing as a tattooist is actually one of the FEW non paid apprenticeships I would do.

It's doable. If you want to do it right and respect the craft... Spend the next year drawing -tattoo art- on your own, and only then consider seeking an apprenticeship. Then with good portfolio of quality -tattoo art- in hand; consisting of drawings and watercolor paintings, that are finished pieces, hit up every shop in town and beyond, in person. Prepare to be turned down by at least 10-15 shops or more, sometimes with attitude. One will probably give you a shot. Assuming you stick it out, dont expect to touch a machine for another year or more depending on shop. After cleaning the shop and toilets and running bitch errands daily, while drawing, drawing, drawing, then you may be able to tattoo, first yourself, then friends, then clients. That's the right way. Don't buy tattoo supplies or machines until told to, or any stuff off eBay and never tell a tattooer you have machines if you did buy them.

 

[vato_loco]

OP, why don't you contact Werkstatt?

 

[kevin 714]

It's doable. If you want to do it right and respect the craft... Spend the next year drawing -tattoo art- on your own, and only then consider seeking an apprenticeship. Then with good portfolio of quality -tattoo art- in hand; consisting of drawings and watercolor paintings, that are finished pieces, hit up every shop in town and beyond, in person. Prepare to be turned down by at least 10-15 shops or more, sometimes with attitude. One will probably give you a shot. Assuming you stick it out, dont expect to touch a machine for another year or more depending on shop. After cleaning the shop and toilets and running bitch errands daily, while drawing, drawing, drawing, then you may be able to tattoo, first yourself, then friends, then clients. That's the right way. Don't buy tattoo supplies or machines until told to, or any stuff off eBay and never tell a tattooer you have machines if you did buy them.

I actually already have it lined up if I chose. Artist friend of mine, we exchange art and ideas a lot. If I was committed I could start next week

 

[SM610]

OP, why don't you contact Werkstatt?

Strangely enough, Jen and I go way back! My first shop was underneath Werkstatt. Jen went as a chaperone (sp?) on my first date with my wife. Aaanyway, umm, no thanks....

Thanks for all the info everyone. As I see it, any good education is going to cost something. At the end of this one I get a good paying job.

 

[augustiron]

I've been thinking about this today and your last post was on the topic of my thoughts.

I don't think I would want to work for a company that:

1) financially was not able to pay me for my work while starting out but promises great money later on. (per your first post) Sounds like they are doing poorly, I wouldn't want to tie my future to them.

2) was breaking labor laws and getting free work out of me under the premise of #1.

Are you simply shadowing another experienced worker all day on every part of the house so you are essentially not providing any "work" or adding value or are they sending you into the attic/crawl space alone to do work?

I don't mean to poopoo on your hopes, I really wish you well in a career change but I managed a branch of a national construction business and oversaw my office of 60+ tradespeople for years, Personally Hired and fired hundreds, but even the worst knuckle dragger that didn't last 2 days got paid for the time he spent standing around and checking his phone until we got him back to the shop to fire him. On the job training, apprenticeship, whatever, is paid work. Slavery is unpaid. Work is not a school.

 

[hophead]

^^^

 

[SM610]

I've been thinking about this today and your last post was on the topic of my thoughts.

I don't think I would want to work for a company that:

1) financially was not able to pay me for my work while starting out but promises great money later on. (per your first post) Sounds like they are doing poorly, I wouldn't want to tie my future to them.

2) was breaking labor laws and getting free work out of me under the premise of #1.

Are you simply shadowing another experienced worker all day on every part of the house so you are essentially not providing any "work" or adding value or are they sending you into the attic/crawl space alone to do work?

I don't mean to poopoo on your hopes, I really wish you well in a career change but I managed a branch of a national construction business and oversaw my office of 60+ tradespeople for years, Personally Hired and fired hundreds, but even the worst knuckle dragger that didn't last 2 days got paid for the time he spent standing around and checking his phone until we got him back to the shop to fire him. On the job training, apprenticeship, whatever, is paid work. Slavery is unpaid. Work is not a school.

It IS a one man company at this time, plus me. He is pretty damn busy. As far as adding value, I can do many parts of the inspection after only 6 days of tagging along. But here's the thing, if I miss something, for instance, a broken seal on a duel pane window, he gets pinched or even sued by SOMEONE. So he has to actually check EVERY THING I check. I provide little value at this point.

Also, my future is not tied to this company, I can take what he teaches me and go to any number of other companies. He is investing also. We get along great, my day is filled with interesting stuff and I am learning a lot. We discussed paying me yesterday, but I understand why it doesn't make sense yet and am able to withstand a few weeks of on the job training without pay. I don't think it will come to that, he wants and needs me earning $$ as soon as possible. I should start to get some pay by the end of the month, and I looks like I could earn high 5 digit pay right off the bat.

I would like to think that at this point of my life I have a good sense of when someone is taking advantage of me, I don't feel like he is and will keep my eyes open in that regard.

 

[Wormwood]

My son is a working apprentice (non union) in construction.

The guy he works for is a retired shop teacher at the local high school. He started his own construction business and hires local kids to work with him and learn the trade. He pays 10-12 an hour.

That is apprenticeship in my book.

 

[mike23w]

if you can afford to not get paid, don't worry about getting paid.

think long term, not short term.

few months without pay gives you:
1) entrance to a new career
2) hands on training
3) good will with your boss (who sounds like a fairly decent guy), and may open up opportunities with him or others

consider also that you don't know anything about this career, so your boss is also taking risk by taking you on.
you are probably getting the the better end of the bargain (a new career).

 

[SM610]

if you can afford to not get paid, don't worry about getting paid.

think long term, not short term.

few months without pay gives you:
1) entrance to a new career
2) hands on training
3) good will with your boss (who sounds like a fairly decent guy), and may open up opportunities with him or others

consider also that you don't know anything about this career, so your boss is also taking risk by taking you on.
you are probably getting the the better end of the bargain (a new career).

That's definitely how I'm looking at it right now. As far as I can tell, he can't wait to start me on my own, as its his first steps toward business growth that's badly needed