Attn: People in the metal machining/manufacturing industry...looking for a summer job

[Safari Ary]

Hey all, I'm trying to make plans for this summer. I would like to get an internship/job in a machine shop where I can learn the trade. I thought I'd post this here since I know there are a lot of people in the machining and metal manufacturing industry in our membership. Along with trying to get an internship in this field, I'd also like to get away from the east coast for the summer, preferably in the west somewhere(CO, UT, MT, etc), but I have no gripes with California or any other states that are not entirely flat or in the south. Ideally the shop would make Jeep parts from time to time, or at least let me mess around with ideas/parts on my lunch or after hours :angel: I'm honestly not expecting someone on here to offer me a job, more like "I know someone who might be able to help you out," but if you wanna offer me a job, that's cool too Thanks guys.

Ary

 

[Beezil]

it is extremely difficult in my niche industry to gauge if there will be openings this far out, however, in the summer months, the only thing I ever have open are unskilled labor/operator jobs.

the only thing you would really learn is how to step on a pedal.

I know from experience that manufacturing facilites generally don't take on "students". They want openings filled by folks who can blast out of the gates. Also, a lot of companies are reluctant to invest any training on an individual who would be out the door at the end of the summer....

that being said, what sucks about manufacturing and the trades, is that there is no new blood entering the scene. All the good people are only getting older, and the "replacements" coming up are basically, "bottom of the barrel".....Manufacturing facilites NEED to invest time and energy on the next generation, or we might as well surrender to the chinese right now.

If I had an opening right now that i could justify the hiring of an individual without any real experience at all, that didn't end up in an unskilled operator position, that wouldn't get away after a summers worth of training, believe me, I'd make that investment.

ask me again this spring for sure, and in the meantime, I will keep my ears open for any leads that may interest you.

begin writing a 'resume' of sorts, that will let an employer at least get an idea of what your "classical training and study" has been.

 

[Safari Ary]

Thanks Beez, will do.

Ary

 

[4ward]

That's why the Dayton Tool & Machine Assc. dropped its apprenticeship program. The shops would invest in 2 years of training a greenhorn and when the kid could start turning out parts on a regular basis (that weren't half scrap) he'd go find another shop that would pay $.50 an hour more. That's a bad thing in this town where machine shops rule the roost. When I was going to the local community college, one of my classes put me in with the tool & die training classes. These people had been in the program for over a year and couldn't even get the most basic parts right. It was sad to see, especially since this is the most respected cc in the state.

 

[ChiXJeff]

I *REALLY* wish that the high school I attended had a metal shop. Man, if I hit a big Lotto jackpot........

Lack of new blood in the U.S. tooling industry is just going to drive jobs overseas. I used to work in a plastics molding plant, and we had our own tool room. Better than a dozen machinists, and I think only 1 or 2 had less than 15 years seniority. In the almost 10 years since I've left, I doubt they've been able to hire more than 2 qualified guys.

Sean, I hear what you're saying about the young folks. And it's not limited to metal working either.

 

[CRASH]

Why don't you all just import some of the Chinese buggers? If you paid them 5 bucks a DAY, they'd be getting a huge raise.

Obviously, that continent is filled with skilled workers, as exemplified by my Harbor Freight tools.

CRASH

 

[KY Chris]

Harbor Freight rules. Where else can you get a $9 angle grinder and a food dehydrator at the same time.