The Mentor

The first period apprentice

The Construction trade has so many building systems to learn.  Whether your start out building plywood forms for concrete, framing walls out of wood studs, or setting metal door jambs for interior work.  All these systems have a series of steps to follow. 

Your Journeyman may direct you to gather and string out extension cords for power, gathering materials needed to start the project and its location.

Your first goal is to establish good communications with the people you work with and to anticipate the next series of steps in the building process before the Journeyman starts working with you.

For Example

If your working on concrete footings and you have the  2x12s for forms, the plywood strips for spreaders, wood or metal stakes, and the plywood cleats to join the 2x12s together; next  begin to spread each 2x12, spreader, stake, and cleat in the following order.  The Journeyman follows behind you building the forms.  The idea is to stay way ahead of the person building.  Then fall back and help build after you have spread out all the materials. 

     Try to approach most building projects this way.  You will start to build a reputation of being a smart, motivated individual in the construction trade.

Jay Weimern

The Mentor Program