Work Experience

[Adeptandy]

So, had my arm twisted to have a friends son for 2 weeks work experience. Jumped through the required hoops from the school and it all kicks off tomorrow.
Any advice the TFF collective can offer ?

 

[Robert K]

So, had my arm twisted to have a friends son for 2 weeks work experience. Jumped through the required hoops from the school and it all kicks off tomorrow.
Any advice the TFF collective can offer ?

What sort of jobs have you got in mind

 

[HolzKopf]

Don't give him 'donkey-work' it's boring and probably unsafe. Put him with someone and rotate him and then they him try his hand under supervision. As @Robert K says it depends what you do to judge what he can do.
Is he interested in what you do so he can benefit in his proposed career or does he just need experience of work? Let him meet people - with you - perhaps your suppliers or customers; introduce him and try and get him to tell them why he's with you. It'll be easier than you think if you involve him

 

[DRC]

Plumbing or farming ?

 

[Chae1]

Any septic tanks to unblock?

 

[holywell farmer]

Any septic tanks to unblock?

Never give Job out that wouldn't do yourself I say,

 

[holywell farmer]

So, had my arm twisted to have a friends son for 2 weeks work experience. Jumped through the required hoops from the school and it all kicks off tomorrow.
Any advice the TFF collective can offer ?

Give him bit basic tractor work at first,

 

[Adeptandy]

It will be both, starting him off on a mini digger tomorrow digging a hole for a septic tank

 

[Adeptandy]

Any septic tanks to unblock?

Digging one [emoji41]

 

[Adeptandy]

Never give Job out that wouldn't do yourself I say,

I never ask anyone to do something I won’t do myself, apparently that’s one of my redeeming qualities when I have hired help in [emoji23][emoji23]



The detrimental one is the expected work rate I’m told [emoji51]

 

[Shutesy]

I'd think just having him around while you do what you usually do will be good experience for him with the varied days you have, then you can keep an eye on him and he can try his hand at a few things (perhaps not tractor driving straight away but that could be a treat later in the week). Even jobs such as spraying where you don't need his help, take him out in the machine (assuming your sprayer has a buddy seat) and explain the job to him and chat about chemicals, nozzles etc. He would learn far more that way although not actually working compared to being stuck on the end of a broom for 2 hrs while your out in the field.

 

[GeorgeK]

Darn good health and safety talk first! Brakes on, engine off, key out, keep clear of moving machinery, crush and fall risks, eye and ear protection. Don't rush, think things through first, don't panic if you make a mistake. Don't get frustrated... a lot of things on the farm take years of practice before they become easy to do.
Followed by a 30 minute lecture on the intricacies of grease nipples

 

[som farmer]

we have had a couple, seem to be pretty good , just make sure they are safe, give them work they will enjoy doing, and talk to them, we need to encourage youngsters into farming, and this is a chance to do so.
ps I usually pay them a bit, even though we are not meant to !!!!

 

[Princess Pooper]

I assume you talked about risk assessments with the school, I do an induction session, walk them round the yard, talk about any no-go areas, where to report when they arrive etc, plus a few rules such as 'always assume the tractor driver has not seen you' and not to go anywhere without your knowledge/permission.
Aim to give them a wide variety of tasks to do or 'shadow'. You didn't actually say how old they are I am assuming 15 or 16. Time spent shadowing and explaining what is being done and why and how it fits in with the eventual product can be really interesting. Even a trip to local ag merchants etc might be a novel experience and it's good for them to meet and interact with other people, who are likely to ask them questions, which is important for any youngster.
Spend some office time as well, looking at stuff like soils maps, fert planning, rations (if stock) etc. If working with any cattle be really careful as so easy for a novice to get hurt. Encourage him to ask questions, I get annoyed with with students who don't ask and although I will spoon feed them to start with, I will clam up if they don't start taking the initiative, but I don't mind how naive the questions are and try and reassure them if they are are feeling stupid about some rookie questions.

 

[Pan mixer]

I assume you talked about risk assessments with the school, I do an induction session, walk them round the yard, talk about any no-go areas, where to report when they arrive etc, plus a few rules such as 'always assume the tractor driver has not seen you' and not to go anywhere without your knowledge/permission.
Aim to give them a wide variety of tasks to do or 'shadow'. You didn't actually say how old they are I am assuming 15 or 16. Time spent shadowing and explaining what is being done and why and how it fits in with the eventual product can be really interesting. Even a trip to local ag merchants etc might be a novel experience and it's good for them to meet and interact with other people, who are likely to ask them questions, which is important for any youngster.
Spend some office time as well, looking at stuff like soils maps, fert planning, rations (if stock) etc. If working with any cattle be really careful as so easy for a novice to get hurt. Encourage him to ask questions, I get annoyed with with students who don't ask and although I will spoon feed them to start with, I will clam up if they don't start taking the initiative, but I don't mind how naive the questions are and try and reassure them if they are are feeling stupid about some rookie questions.

Good advice, I normally don't expect any of them (and we have had dozens over the years) to do anything productive for a week or so, they are usually very 'green' and everything is an unknown novelty.

With someone that age I never let them work with just one other (male) person just in case of future legal trouble, this can be really tricky but we are lucky (?) enough to have many manual tasks about the place and my full time helpers and indeed myself are glad of a bit of company/help.

They do usually end up doing a bit of power washing somewhere along the line.

A rewarding task on the whole but not with every single youngster, however I regard ones who have been put off farming or being a vet or whatever following their time here on work experience as equally successful - best to find out before you waste years.

My record is one whole day before he quit, others I still correspond with after 30 years have passed.

 

[Lincs Lass]

It will be both, starting him off on a mini digger tomorrow digging a hole for a septic tank

A big heap of muck well away from buildings is a good place to practice first ,get him used to the machine before you let him loose digging a hole ,,one wrong move ,the digger could be in it

 

[traineefarmer]

I'm guessing from the OP that he has not had a work experience with him before?

If that's the case my advise would be:

1) Consider him to be a work observer rather than a work experiencer for the first days. If he's a good-un they will ask to help and muck in.
2) He's not a slave .I've seen too many farmers and business owners rub their hands with glee at some free labour. If he works and has helped you out, give him a wage.
3) He's there to learn about the world of work, so treat him as you would any other employee. Fairly.
4) Make it fun or enjoyable. A good experience with you could earn you a valuable future employee. A bad one and he could end up a benefits sponge, put off the world of work forever.

 

[ARW]

Flog him like a dead horse and pay him nowt. Good old fashioned way

 

[Adeptandy]

I'm guessing from the OP that he has not had a work experience with him before?

If that's the case my advise would be:

1) Consider him to be a work observer rather than a work experiencer for the first days. If he's a good-un they will ask to help and muck in.
2) He's not a slave .I've seen too many farmers and business owners rub their hands with glee at some free labour. If he works and has helped you out, give him a wage.
3) He's there to learn about the world of work, so treat him as you would any other employee. Fairly.
4) Make it fun or enjoyable. A good experience with you could earn you a valuable future employee. A bad one and he could end up a benefits sponge, put off the world of work forever.

Your right, first time experience for me

 

[glasshouse]

Get him to work on a saturday for no pay