Training certs

[P-Jay]

At our centre we were assured that we'd be given certified AMF 82/70 training as only one of our four mechanics has the cert. {We've only been in the industry for about a year and a half or so}. But now the evil overlord of the budget says he dosn't want to spend the money on us.

Here's my question. Will we miss it badly? Apparently it's just a case of making sure you've learned the calibrations from the manual and we're all probably more than capable of breaking a machine to the floor and reassembling it at this stage.

The bit of paper would have been nice because I could have went anywhere in the world and used it to get work but apart from that do you think not having it is a big deal?

[8270king]

Re: Training certs

The paper is good for wiping your butt.
Seriously.....read the manual and pay attention....you will be fine......read all old post in the AMF forum here and you will understand alot.

[P-Jay]

Re: Training certs

Cheers, king.

I'll restrain myself from busting the directors balls over it then {tho he sorely deserves it} [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif[/img]

You're right, man. I could still go anyplace in the world and just show them that I know the spotters instead.

[John Isbell]

Re: Training certs

Having the certificate....nice.
Being able to fix the machines......nicer.

Being able to fix the machine and have a certificate......priceless.

The certifcate can get you in the door, but your ability keeps you there.

Keep learning, keep listening to others.

John

[amfpinboy]

Re: Training certs

I know a few chasers that have a "B" certificate who cannot diagnose or fix a problem. Latch on to a good mechanic and learn everything you can, then pick up the piece of paper if you think you need it.

[2424pepsi]

Re: Training certs

P-Jay-No school==no Certificate-Hope you can B-S your way into a good paying Bowling Center Job. The more you go too school the more Knowledge you can provide for your center which means less problems less repairs and a better bottom line for your boss. That is what and how you have too sell it and yourself. Once you have that little paper nobody can take it away from YOU, so go for it even if you have to pay for it. I've got to go to Muskegon, Mich. in July--More impute--More impute!!!!

[John Isbell]

Re: Training certs

PJ,

I have been teaching mechanics for most of my career, and issued many certificates.

Yes, there are those out there that have a certificate, but don't know which end of a wrench to pick up. Same can be said about many college graduates.

The biggest problem I've seen, the student leaves the class and goes back to thier center, and they are forbidded to practice what they have learned, because they "will just mess things up".

If you don't practice your trade you never get better.

I've been in many centers where the Head mechanic does not train, or is not capable of training, or does not want to train thier people.
Sometimes this happens for reasons of job secuity.

I've always trained my people well, and had my replacement ready to go, so I can move up.

I've never fired a mechanic who had a top notch crew, they are the ones who got the best pay increases.

I have had 30 year veterans in my class, not because they needed the training, they wanted to go to meet others, share ideas, and learn new things.
And .........they received a certificate!

I have had other "veterans" who did not want to be at the class, they were told to go, they were distant and smug for whatever reason.
I take those guys and ask them how they perform a particular adjustment or what tricks they use, what a change, they open up and out flows pricless information, the new students flock around them, the once smug veteran now becomes a teacher and makes the class better for all.
And............they received a certificate!

We all start somewhere and learn at different speeds. Classes, schools, working with new people, and certification are all good tools to advance your career.

Go to school if you can!

John

[maister]

Re: Training certs

P-Jay i have sent you a private message asking where you are in the u.k.
maister

[Mark_S]

Re: Training certs

I didn't even know they did courses in the uk !
I guess that's what you get when you work for a small company.

[Mike Stalker]

Re: Training certs

Origonally posted by John Isbell
The certifcate can get you in the door, but your ability keeps you there.
__________________________________________________

John's statement here is so true!

It drives me crazy when I meet a mech that is certified and does not know his a$$ from a hole in the ground.

My C Mech's of the past knew more then most of these guys. You meet all types in the field.

Unfortunately, based on a piece of paper, some of these guys get lead jobs and run someones investment and business into the ground, and even bankruptcy.

References are everything when it comes to protecting your investment. Both the Tech and Owner are taking a risk upon one another. I have seen a lot of unqualified techs and also a lot of unqualifies owners. Both hurt bowling, and always will!

[P-Jay]

Re: Training certs

Thanks for your thoughts, guys.

It's sounding like there's a lot of quality reasons to save up a few months and bop over to the mainland for some training. I'm also realising that there's quite a few holes {more and more} in what I can know from working here.

I'll talk to the rest of the team next week about it and see how they feel and find out how much money's involved and all of that.

@Maister, I'll pm you when I post this.

[vinson]

Re: Training certs

WE CHARGE MORE TO WORK WITH A NEW AMF CERTIFIED MECHANIC! That way they know that we know they didn't learn anything.

[TheGMan143]

Re: Training certs

John Isbell has it pinned... those papers may make a manager or HR desk jockey sit still long enough for you to do your employment sales pitch, but that's about it.

I'd take ability over education any day. I've worked jobs with "certified" people who didn't know their a$$ from a hot rock when it came to doing their job. Sure, they were able to read it out of a book and puke it back into the instructor's lap in the same order, and were able to pass "practical" set-up tests, but that's where it ends. Throw them a little curve ball or take them out of the "clinical" environment, and they're confused as a blind lesbian in a fish market.

Don't take it the wrong way... there's nothing wrong with having the papers to prove what you know... as long as you actually KNOW it. I worked a technician job in a larger company's I.T. department, and I knew of 3 people in the crew of 12 that were MCSE certified, but were complely useless at most tasks. Why? They got the job because they were MCSE certified, but they got the actual certification as a college elective!!! Two of them were "liberal arts" majors... when they got out of college and found out there was no money in the arts, they got a job in computers... and all because they didn't want to take phys ed or basketweaving, so they took the MCSE class instead. They were able to memorize and answer all the questions on the test, but take them out of the 'college environment' and put them on a an IT department terminal handling system requests, or throw them into a dusty crawlspace to chase wires and re-pin cables, and they're as useless as t!ts on a bull. The other guy actually admitted to BUYING off the answers to the MCSE cert exam!

Just to cut my tirade short, certifications are fine as long as you have the skill and ability to back them up... but I think that the first time someone shows that they don't have anything but the piece of paper, it should be taken away from them so they can't use it to BS anyone else.

[bent wrench]

Re: Training certs

I have to agree with G man. i know that at times these 70's can drive us all nuts, no matter if you have the papers or not. to me, the school is not necessary if you are inclined mechanically in any way. i understand that the electrical is a totally different deal. If you are willing to get in there and just get 'er done when it needs to be, you should be ok. In my opinion, the best way to learn the machine is to just watch it run (as a chaser) they will learn a bunch from that alone. As a mechanic... be curious. 44,000/year....no school....im happy.

[simbowling2002]

Re: Training certs

Hello John, I'm one of your little grasshoppers!
Aug 04 Alexandria Va, small class, enjoyed every minute.
It not just a piece of paper for some... That piece of paper got me job security, a sh$$ load of knowledge, more $$$ and confidence. Not that I didn't have it before. I am mech... incline.
I guess depending on how long you have been doing it and what insructions you had before it may not be needed. But for me it was!
I like my CERT... Its like my trophy, would you like a reward after bowling a 300, many would say yes. Take the class when its achievable.
Just my opinion... keep up the good work John.
Sim.