[Jewelry making - Article 00273] - Re: [Orchid] Apprenticeships

[David L. Huffman]

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    Just have to include my opinion in this thread. 

    Apprentices definitely must be paid!  This attitude that when we
    teach someone a useful trade they should be grateful enough not to
    expect payment is a misunderstanding and misinterpretation of the
    original apprenticeship system and one of the things that has
    contributed to keeping wages in our field among the lowest in the
    skilled trades.  Here we have it . . . so few really good jewelers
    left with the time or willingness to train the next generation, and
    men and women practicing a trade that takes decades to master making
    the same wages as an auto mechanic.  In the old days of
    apprenticeship, the apprentices were kids, and they got room and
    board and guidance.  And then they were expected to leave to work for
    other masters as "journeymen" after their training.  There were no
    high schools or colleges for the children of the working class.  I
    really resent the idea that just because someone is enjoying what
    they do for a living that all the money should go into the pockets of
    the man who is "gracious" enough to exploit them.  I can speak from
    experience that if you really know your trade, you can pick the right
    employee, train them properly, and have them making money for you
    such that you will realize that when you create another skilled
    artisan and pay him/her properly, it's the best investment you can
    ever make.  But this is the job of a master, not a mere businessman. 
    You've got to know how to recognize that diamond in the rough before
    you start cutting just any old rock.  That's the other side of
    mastery.  Understanding temperament.  You should spend the time to
    train someone, even when it puts a strain on your cash flow and your
    time.  Attitude and aptitude are equally important and more important
    than anything else.  We skilled trades cannot pony up the capital to
    achieve independence.  We only have our skills. Invest your skills in
    another just as the son of a merchant will borrow money and invest in
    inventory and a storefront.  Your goal should be to end up with the
    best paid, best trained, and best equipped jewelers in the trade. 
    What?  Are you expecting to get rich making jewelry?  You don't get
    rich just making this stuff.  You get rich if you are a skilled
    self-promoter and a quick study at marketing and mostly if you are
    lucky, lucky, lucky.  But if you think exploiting your employees is
    going to get you there, you are on a dangerous path.  If you get a
    reputation as a skin-flint and a slave-driver, your turn-over problem
    will make your life a living hell and in the end you will go broke. 
    Meanwhile, people like me will be breathing down your neck and hiring
    away people you've already spent time and money training, and don't
    expect any pity from anyone but your own kind.  Pay your people well,
    train them well, treat them well.  Let them inside the business where
    they can both help and understand the decisions that you have to
    make.  This advice used to be based on my working class values, but
    now I believe it is actually the most sound financial advice as well. 

David L. Huffman


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