New job as an apprentice. Any advice?
- Thread starter Gamisch
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Gamisch
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To clearify; I've been doing renovations all year ,along with making ebikes. Carpentry and painting mostly . This was all "under the table" or "black money" as we say in my language. But I got noticed by a company and they offered me to become a professional, get an education ect. Even tho i have tons of experience, I'm still catious about being TOO confident and being a "know -it-all".
The plan is to get some good money painting, order a shyteload of material from China to prepare ebikes and eventually develop my own (affordable but quality) ebike. Got many plans with both painting and ebikes, just need the money to get rolling.
I say this in hopes of inspiring whoever needs it.
Be early everyday, soak up all knowledge, go on all courses/education offered, most importantly... do not call in sick for 4-6 months.
Last point (imo) goes without saying but you would be amazed how many people call in sick within 3 months, I always aimed for 6 months with no sick days, and usually never called in sick. Timekeeping (I learned this later in life) is one of the big "optics" - people will be watcing you and your work and definitely notice the maturity and discipline being early takes.
I was passed up on a leadership role in my early days because of my lax persona.
Last point (imo) goes without saying but you would be amazed how many people call in sick within 3 months, I always aimed for 6 months with no sick days, and usually never called in sick. Timekeeping (I learned this later in life) is one of the big "optics" - people will be watcing you and your work and definitely notice the maturity and discipline being early takes.
I was passed up on a leadership role in my early days because of my lax persona.
Gamisch
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What you say about calling in sick is really good advice. If I get my yearly flu attack i will still be there .
Actually, the man I worked for previously was a dying breed. Dude is now 60 and almost dying due to alcoholism, but he could do all the trades and could build a castle with a hammer and a screwdriver. Unfortunately he is also extremely bluepilled (oldfasion if you like) and got literally torn apart by women and alcohol/drugs. Was just me and him and extra help if necessary.
But the reason I say this is because the job always HAD to go on. No such thing as being sick. Because this due was alkost dying every day, but running his iwn thjbg meant he always had to be working. He would drag me out of my bed if i would " call in sick". Really good education from that regard.
Good to see you can admit fecking up opportunities due to being nonchalant. I did that as well bro, but we can't go back in time,only forward.
Bible_Belt
Master Don Juan
Don't risk everything on one shipment from China. I know vape companies that have gone out of business that way. Get samples first, and build up your order quantities over time with a trusted supplier. And also never forget nothing stays the same forever. One day the quality of your order might suddenly be garbage, and the company needs to be able to weather such an occurrence. Good luck with everything.
Gamisch
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Thanks alot that's really great advice, and I will definitely apply this.
Scaramouche
Master Don Juan
Hi Gamish,
Your thoughts on Painting send shivers down my spine....Wrestling with the hairy stick aint work,it's a disease,look what it did to Hitler!....Though good for the mind and gentle on the joints you are everyday breathing a cucktail of toxic chemicals...At one time,I used to prepare mostly Carpenters to become Licenced builders,even setting their Entrance Exams ...Entrepeneurship is where its at,the astute Builder has a mix of contract jobs and his own renovation projects,so the profit on one disappears into the other....In this Country you can roll over one House every three years tax free....In my case I would buy a run down Home,converting it into a Dual Occupancy,living in it while renting rooms to Students....Working for a Boss in a cut throat industry is a Mugs game....One may only guess at the ruthless competition from the hungry wetbacks you people are encouraging to enter your Country.
Your thoughts on Painting send shivers down my spine....Wrestling with the hairy stick aint work,it's a disease,look what it did to Hitler!....Though good for the mind and gentle on the joints you are everyday breathing a cucktail of toxic chemicals...At one time,I used to prepare mostly Carpenters to become Licenced builders,even setting their Entrance Exams ...Entrepeneurship is where its at,the astute Builder has a mix of contract jobs and his own renovation projects,so the profit on one disappears into the other....In this Country you can roll over one House every three years tax free....In my case I would buy a run down Home,converting it into a Dual Occupancy,living in it while renting rooms to Students....Working for a Boss in a cut throat industry is a Mugs game....One may only guess at the ruthless competition from the hungry wetbacks you people are encouraging to enter your Country.
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Gamisch
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I feel you.
Its not the cleanest work but also FAR from the dirtiest work I've ever done. Besides that, my colleague is a refugee from a war torn country and its baffling that "we" in the west need refugees to do work that will always be there..there's always need for experts. This guys makes tons of money, is an expert and tbh I'm kinda digging the job.
I'm in a situation where I don't have too many options tbh. Few years ago I thought that I was "too smart" to do such work, and I do have a degree from the art academy but that degree is nearly pointless.
At some point a man(like me) maneuvers himself in such a miserable position that he becomes LESS valuable than a refugee who doesn't even speak the native language.
Yet I'm here babbling about wanting hb8 and up, all from a "Tyrone-ish low life-poosy over everything " state of mind.
Scaramouche
Master Don Juan
Hi Gamisch,
Very interesting....Picked up on your thoughts about the Art Degree being useless,you really are wrong,such learning is never a burden to carry you never know what lateral value this may have to some unforeseen opportunity in the future...Know your strengths,you are a great communicator and a Cultured Man,You will go well...Anyway take heart in knowing that you wont be displaced by AI,there are worse fallbacks,you will never starve!
Very interesting....Picked up on your thoughts about the Art Degree being useless,you really are wrong,such learning is never a burden to carry you never know what lateral value this may have to some unforeseen opportunity in the future...Know your strengths,you are a great communicator and a Cultured Man,You will go well...Anyway take heart in knowing that you wont be displaced by AI,there are worse fallbacks,you will never starve!
Wrong
EyeOnThePrize
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- Befriend and surround yourself with those smarter than you, never argue with them or try to outshine them.
- If you have the opportunity to get a degree, whether subsidized or on scholarship, do it, knowledge is power. If you go to school remember to network as much or more than you study, your professors will know people in high places.
- Don't shiit where you eat. aka don't mix business with pleasure. Even if you're going out for drinks with coworkers, keep your composure and remain respectful.
- Never mention how hard the work is, your accomplishments should appear effortless.
- Always appear patient, as though you know that everything will come to you eventually.
- Learn to delegate.
- Your relationship to change defines your success in any job, and in life, be flexible and dependable.
Gamisch
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Every morning when I wake i tell myself " eyes on the prize " . Couldn't remember where I picked up that qoute but now I remember.
Thanks a lot for this great post.
Gamisch
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Yoo bro!!! Yeah ,thanks for asking I appreciate that a LOT!! I got a lot to say!!
Man , I've been taking y'all advices by heart.
Especially the ones to treat it like my own company and to never be sick/ill (willed ), be as cooperative as possible and ofcourse to never ever ever be late .
There's this dude who is the operating manager ( aka most experienced painter) and this dude LOVES me. E.g he picks me up every day, despite me saying I am okay with traveling with public transport. Sometimes there is no work for me due to my lack of experience, but he always takes me with him. Another preparation manager did/does the same, he takes me with him to show me how he prepares for the employees ect while that position is FAR above mine.
They just appreciate that I am a MF SOLDIER. Rain, storm or the burning sun, I'm ALWAYS grinding like crazy. I don't wait or hesitate to carry heavy shyte, get up high on the ladder to do some work, get wet or sweat, or doing boring tasks like sanding all day long.
I lost my driver license few years ago due to driving intoxicated and under the influence of drugs , and never managed to get the thousands of euros to get it back. But there's this foundation gives away sponsorships for driver licenses, but ONLY if a company is willing to sign you up. The company insisted that i need my license back, and yesterday I got news I got chosen out of 1000s of candidates to get a sponsorship to get my driver license through a speed course of a month !
On top of that I can start an education, and i already have two weekend gigs to paint people's houses.
Lastly I quite drinking, porn, hbsub 6 h0es and smoking (both pot and cigarettes) . The latter costs me some homies seemingly ..
They dont wanna hang with me no more since i quite smoking?? Lot are muslim, seems like they cant stand it me is LIVING like a perfect Muslim despite me being...atheist/ a little bit of protestant at best (got a cross tattoo on me chest) I am also kinda cranky sometimes now I dont self medicate anymore.
I am also at 13 % bodyfat, throwing a hip hop event which is selling out, and I'm having contact with my daughter again!!!!
Just gotta control my anger (issues) some better as I might throw it all away by smacking some disrespectful MF'S left right...I am the only black dude in the company, and its not even colleagues but rather "people in town" making disrespectful comments about my skin color every now and then disguised as"a joke ".
SpartanWarrior77
Senior Don Juan
Thats fukkkn awesome to hear man! Sounds like things are on the up and up for you.
Do u mind saying where in Europe u are? Im a plumber in the US and the $$$ is good once u get your license and even side gigs could be great but I do have a European passport so it would be interesting to see what kind of opportunities I could get if I wanted to switch things up a bit.
I lost a few jobs for being kind of a lazy mofo at my previous companies. I'm not the best at taking orders and I get bored really fast which makes me a little slow and daydreamy. I just started a new job at a company and I'm doing my best to hustle harder and so far it seems to be working: the crew seems to like me although we had a small issue about me wanting to come into work later (its sort of a flexible company and technically u could show up late-ish) but Im new so it didn't make me look too good. The way I used to see it was that these companies are in desperate need for people (which is true) so I could afford to be a little entitled but after getting fired once or twice and just seeing how people treat me, i don't think its worth it.
That’s great, every man in the labor force should understand the definition of work ethic like you do.
Congratulations Sir
In the building trade in the UK apprentices can be the butt of jokes. It usually involves sending them on errands to the builders merchants to buy something along the lines of:
Paint with stripes in it
Tartan paint
A left handed screwdriver
A long weight.
Paint with stripes in it
Tartan paint
A left handed screwdriver
A long weight.
RazorRambo24
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Maintain a positive and optimistic attitude about everything, no matter what task is given to you. Avoid people when they are upset-- people often associate emotions with those who are around them. Socialize intelligently.. Nothing pushes opportunities more than friendships. Becoming friends with your managers makes it easy to get promoted. But first you have to prove that you're just a good reliable guy...
People are motivated by self interest.. if you can play on somoenes self interest rather than make it obvious you're after your own, while also befriending them and proving to be a reliable, optimistic and positive person, you can work your way to the top of many ladders.. and past some interesting doors in life.
People are motivated by self interest.. if you can play on somoenes self interest rather than make it obvious you're after your own, while also befriending them and proving to be a reliable, optimistic and positive person, you can work your way to the top of many ladders.. and past some interesting doors in life.
