How Do I Get a Job In Precision Machining?

I graduated from a 4 year apprentice program in the mid-70's. As I remember, the wages during the 1st year were sub-minimum wage, with automatic yearly wage increases. I received a Journeyman level certificate upon successful completion of the program, and a whopping pay increase to a little over $5/hr. From what management stated at that time, the per apprentice cost for the 4 year program was $ one million per. (from personnel experience, I can assure all that it WASN'T due to the apprentice wages) The Aerospace industry was a fledgling industry in California.

I believe the apprentice programs became a thing of the past as the cost of the programs (labor cost and a much higher push for profit) became the over riding factor. Sadly, the quality and the pride associated with "Made in America" were slipping away in favor of NAFTA and Made in China logos.

Journeyman were more suited to prototype/tool and die/model making and set-up type work while the production line work itself became relegated to Machine Tool Operators.

Rather than today's popular belief that every person needs a college education, (or more aptly, indoctrination) I believe that many (the individual as well as society) would be much better served by attending a trade school, or as stated, industrial arts/industrial education classes at the community college level.

As an observation, someone with patience, good mechanical skills and a willing to learn attitude would be a welcome addition to most machine shops. (Know it all type individuals need not apply, as they would be a danger to themselves as well as the prohibitively expensive equipment they assume they already know how to operate) Patience is a virtue in this trade, and attempted shortcuts can and often do result in catastrophic results, both to the individual and the equipment.

After some years in the trade, I had the opportunity to train apprentices, some of whom were a delight to teach, (mostly because of their desire to learn) and some not such a delight. (as mentioned above, they thought they already knew everything!!)

In high school, I hated anything involving Algebra or Trigonometry. (at the time, I envisioned absolutely NO practical application for either in the "Real World") That became a fools dream when I learned how heavily involved I would become with both, and by necessity, I learned both rather quickly. (both because of the necessity and desire to learn something beneficial and useful to my future)

As a prerequisite, if I were hiring a youthful person to work in the trade, (or anyone interested in the trade) I would look for someone with (1) an inquisitive mind, (2) good mechanical aptitude, (3) patience, (4) maturity, (5) good work habits (safety) and (6) a strong desire to learn. I believe someone with those characteristics will find success both in the machinist trade and life in general.