When you start a new job, you must be given some form of ‘induc- tion’. Depending on the size of the firm you work for, the induction you receive may be more or less formal. Whatever form the induction takes, everyone needs to know the same information. You will need to know:
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WC
No smoking on site
Holidays 22 + statutory
Finish Start Canteen first floor How many people work here?
£ Into your bank account
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• more about the firm for whom you are working, what they make or what service they supply, how large the firm is and how many other people work there
• basic ‘comfort’ information such as where the toilets are located, where the canteen is sited, whether smoking is permitted on site
• when and how you get paid
• the terms and conditions of your employment including the hours you work, how many days holiday you are entitled to and what you have to do if you are too ill to come to work.
All the information given in the preceding list is really basic and most of it would have been told to you before you started work, but issues are easily forgotten or may need to be clarified once you are actually employed.
EXERCISE 2.1
Complete the following exercise to show that you understand what is required of you as you start your training:
State the name of the company for whom you work:
Outline very briefly what this firm does:
What is the name of your trainer/supervisor?
When you have completed your training to NVQ Level 2, what engineering skills do you expect to have achieved? (What will you be able to do?)
Witness testimony
The above exercise has been completed satisfactorily by. . . .
Signed. . . .Job title. . . .Date. . . .
Once first fears have been overcome, you will quickly appreciate that there are lots of other questions that you need answers to and this is where training plans (action plans) come in. Your firm may well have a training scheme for apprentices and trainees and you may be informed that you will be attending college once a week to learn more about the theory side of your work or to extend ‘key skills’.
However, even with a training scheme, there are always things people do not understand, so it is a good idea to keep a note of questions you want answered. Jotting questions down in a diary or notebook ensures that things are not forgotten and that when you see your supervisor or training advisor you get the answers you want!
Your initial training plan is really a contract between you, your company, the Government (via some representative) and the training provider. The training plan is drawn up and this outlines the main stages in your training and may set dates by which various stages will be completed or when there will be official assessments. National vocational qualifications (NVQs) have assessment plans by which you know what stage you have reached in your training. NVQs require you to provide evidence that you are competent and can carry out a task skilfully and prove that you understand what you are doing. NVQs are not time-based, so if you show that you have a real aptitude for some areas of work, then you may find that you are passed as competent in these areas quite quickly, whereas you may be a bit slower in other areas and find that being passed here takes longer. Your progress is checked by your supervisor. Meetings with supervisors may be little more than a chat or they may be more formal, again depending on the size of your firm. What is important to understand is that your progress is being continually checked against your plan so that updated plans can be developed.
It is essential that you are fully aware of the qualification you are aiming to achieve and exactly what the training entails. NVQs are divided into units and each unit consists of two or more elements. A major NVQ qualification, such as performing engineering operations, consists of core units, support units and optional units. Additionally, you need to achieve key skills in 6 areas.
Core units Divided into at least 2 elements
Support units
+ + +
Additional
units 6 key
skills
NVQ2 - performing engineering operations
42 Developing yourself and working with other people on engineering activities
You need to appreciate that becoming qualified depends on you, as you are the one who must show that you have reached the skill level required and that you know and understand what you are doing and can demonstrate your knowledge and understanding by answering questions. Your supervisor or training advisor should ensure that you have been told what is required of you and explained what is needed for you to become qualified.
It is important that you feel that you are able to talk to the people whose job is to ensure that you are being trained properly. There is no disgrace in admitting that you need answers to some questions or that you do not always understand everything you have been taught.
Also, do not be afraid to tell people when you are finding work easy or enjoyable.
Complete the following exercise to show that you have a good overview of your training. If there are any questions that you cannot answer, then make sure you get the answer from your supervisor.
EXERCISE 2.2 Knowing about your training
Where are the details of your qualification and aims kept?
Are they up to date?
Apart from your supervisor, what are the names of the people who are responsible for your training?
(You may include people at college, key skills trainers and your training advisor) By what date (approximately) do you expect to complete your NVQ2?
Explain what you should do when you feel you are ready to be assessed:
If you are concerned that you do not understand something or need help, what action should you take?
Identify any engineering activity that you are not allowed to perform under a specified age, e.g. drive a forklift truck:
Witness testimony
The above exercise has been completed satisfactorily by. . . .
Signed. . . .Job title. . . .Date. . . .
Finally, it is important that you keep copies of your training plans, signed by you and your supervisor. The fact that you are doing this and completing the exercises throughout this book shows that you understand the nature of your qualification and what is required of you.