[Jewelry making - Article 00865] - Re: [Orchid] Looking for Apprenticeship opportunity

[Richard W. Wise]

========[ Invite a Friend - http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm  ]========

>     As far as apprenticeships, they are almost nonexistent in the US,
>     but that's another story". 

    Alan's points are well taken. We have been looking for an apprentise
    for about a year. Currently have a summer intern graduate of Savannah
    College of Art who we would like to stay but is homesick. We have
    bench tested three people in the past several months and will test a
    likely candidate at the end of August. May I say that the whole
    process is very frustrating. 

    Over the course of 28 years we have taken on several apprentises.
    Most have come to us with some background, a BFA in Jewelry or a
    related discipline. The best of the group actually became our lead
    designer for about three years...(nice fellow) he is currently
    studying to become a chiropractor. The last one, a young woman,
    applied twice assured me she was committed, then her husband took an
    out of town job and she left after 8 weeks in the middle of our
    busiest season. 

    Now a BFA will cost maybe $100,000 and an MFA in Metal say $75,000
    more. You would think that an apprentiseship that pays a salary and
    offers benefits would have em beating down the door.  Not so, at the
    risk of seeming to be an old curmudgeon, which I guess I really am,
    seems to me that generations X, Y and Z don't understand the concept
    of beginning at the bottom.  At our $9.50 per hour beginning pay
    rate, an apprentise costs money for the first 3-6 months.  If they
    come with good basic skills they may start to make a bit of money
    after that.  Course then we give them a raise and the benefits kick
    in. 

    The last guy I interviewed is 40 years old with a wife, kid and a
    sucessful career.  Dumb sob wants to become a goldsmith and I may
    just hire him because he understands that he will have to make a
    sacrifice to get where he wants to be.  He asked me why I bother
    with this whole apprenticeship idea. Couldn't come up with a good
    answer. Damned if I know. Maybe I need a good chriopractor. 

Richard
www.rwwise.com
For Information and sample chapters from my new book: 
www.secretsofthegemtrade.com

____________________________________________________________________
T h e   O r c h i d   L i s t
Open Electronic Forum for Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Procedures
____________________________________________________________________
Orchid FAQ:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/faq.htm
Orchid Archives:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive
Orchid Galleries:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/gallery.htm
Invite a Friend:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm
____________________________________________________________________
Tips From The Jeweler's Bench - Article Archive
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/tip_sear.htm
The Jeweler's Selected Bibliography List
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books
Buy Orchid Jewelry:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/shop
____________________________________________________________________
-Unsubscribe:
-Email: orchid-request AT ganoksin.com Body=unsubscribe subject=blank
____________________________________________________________________