Shop Time w/T.W. Friends

I am guessing where you work your not going to see his application and resume >

I used to hate that new person starts today you have no idea till they tell you my last job was high end retail

 

I don't think they even used any of my interview questions. I actually used several questions that were asked of me on my recent interview. I forget what type of questions they ask here but many times it has absolutely nothing to do with the job. Brilliant right?
My recent interview, the lead machinist was even on the panel of 3 asking me questions.
At least some employers still do it right.

 

My former employer didn't want to pay for skilled industrial mechanics so they used the logic of "he used to be a contractor so he will be good in maintenance".... These guys were always the 2 guys with a pick up truck type contractors.

First, he must not have been a very successful contractor if he is applying at this disaster.
Second, how often do you need windows installed in a factory.
Third, even if (by some miracle) this guy has a passing understanding of electricity -- you show me a house with a 3 phase furnace.
<< Rusty

Then you had their alternate choices "he used to work on cars" or "well, he worked on farms..." At least the farm guys usually understood the idea of getting to work.

HR Manager did all the interviews -- he was the smartest guy he ever met.

 

I feel pretty optimistic; the superintendent told me he's younger than me, went to a trade school, and he's coming out of a small job shop in Lincoln NE, where he said he might get a mangled up piece of farm equipment and reverse Engineer a new one. Sounds promising....like he'll be ready to learn too.
I'm very hopeful.
There are other power stations throughout the US that have pretty difficult tests to complete in order to be qualified machinist.
One of the test I came up with here; I'll hand them a piece of HSS (high speed steel) and say go grind me a right hand cutting tool for the lathe. Simple. Actually the test paper instructs to make both but one is sufficient.

 

Hopefully hes not a "tool"

 

The test at Wolf Creek in Kansas is a doosie; I'm pretty sure that I could do it but probably be sweating bullets the whole time.
One of the guys that help me during outage actually called me beforehand for some advice on taking the test. He passed and was confident I could do it. They also made it easier than the example I have in my possession.

 

I actually sat in on some interviews over the years, I had a test question:

Me: You did electrical service calls and installs?
Candidate: Oh, yeah, all that
M: Familiar with motor starters and thermals?
C: Sure, sure, all the time
M: How do you size the heaters?
C: Uh, Um, well -- it's ah 100%, 115%, or is it 85% of the - ah (mumble, mumble) -- of the temperature -- ah, of the full load... ah ...

Answer: There is a chart on the inside of the enclosure.... .... NEXT!

 

It was funny. Anytime I went for a job, it was always
“Your reputation precedes you,
When do you want to start”?
I never had a so called “portfolio “…..lol

 

Haha yes, I darn near got there myself when they asked me the taper of a NPT taper thread...my initial reply was about one and a half degrees...then he asked me taper per foot, I finally just said, " if I needed to turn one on the lathe I'd go to the machinist handbook to be sure". Perfect answer

 

This is why we have references.... I would always rather hire someone who said, "I don't know the answer, but I know where to find it!" Trying to bulls**t your way out will get you exactly nowhere!

 

But what if it's an open starter? Or solid state?(be a good one to trip someone up on)

 

Email just came in.

 

Competency Test, all manual machines and grind tool bits. I'd have to look at what concentricity specified but was told if I ever go down there and take the test, be sure and have them check it before unscrewing it.

 

I’m neither a welder or machinist, but I took this Sno-Cat wheel that was cheezed, bored out the center, turned a new sleeve with bearing and seal races, pressed it in and welded it up. Not a professional job but not too bad for an electrician I don’t think.

 

That makes me laugh around here some of the Co Gen plants for those that don`t know the basic theory is use the years of coal dirt mixed with enough coal to burn clean .

They seem to have a training school for the maintenance mechanics don`t pay much work a year or two then get a job working for one of the companies doing outages. They have worked with.

 

What's that? A contractor that works out of a pickup?

 

Looks like a fine job to me!
Actually make me think of guy I've known since I was a kid. Although I haven't seen him in over 20 years, but that guy was a master of so many trades it kind of mind boggling.
I mean from plumbing, electrical, drywall tape and mud, all types of welding and machining!

 

I imagined a company that my brother worked for for just a few days. The name of the company was very close to two men and a truck.
My brother said when he seen the guys shooting up with needles, that was his last day.

 

Thanks! I try to do the best job I can even though 90% of the time I struggle to find my ass with both hands. But I enjoy doing little projects so i guess I’ll keep saying yes!

 

Just like we say here - "Read the manual", or in this case the documentation that comes with the part.