[Jewelry making - Article 00074] - Re: [Orchid] Bench Test Basics

[Mark Parkinson]

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Hi Chas,

>     I've worked almost exclusively with silver and while I've set a
>     few stones I have yet to even retip my wife engagement ring which
>     wore out years ago. So what should I expect from a typical bench
>     test.

    If you came to our shop, I would try to assess you skill level in the
    initial interview. I'd ask what you can do, go through a list of
    tasks, if you said you can do it I would ask you detailed questions
    about how you do those tasks. By the end of the interview I would
    have a pretty good idea of what you think you can do. When you came
    back for the bench test I would have work that matched up with your
    stated skills, and some that stretched them a bit. I'd be looking at
    the basics, how you saw, solder, file, hold your tools, your working
    position, etc. I would also be keeping an eye on your interaction
    with the other goldsmiths and office people. 

    If I didn't know anything about you I would give you stock or scrap
    merchandise to work on (it would all be gold). I would have you size
    it, assemble something, repair something, set a stone.... I would be
    trying to give you a range of work to get a better idea of your
    abilities, both you ability to do the work and you ability to deal
    with problems. I always keep in mind how uncomfortable a strange
    bench and shop are for people, not to mention the pressure of trying
    out for a job that would have you working in a new metal. I'm just
    looking for indications of your skills. 

    If I think you have the basic skill set we need, and you are
    trainable, I will then have the rest of the shop interview you
    (informally) to try to be sure that you would get along with all of
    us (that's a big part of the job). If everything is good we make you
    an offer. 

Good luck,
Mark
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