What should I do with the work experience kid

[neergish]

So tomorrow I'm lumbered with the work experience kid for the day to learn all about photocopiers apparently. Anyone got any ideas of what tortures I can have in store for him? Personally I'm hoping for a day of service calls because he isn't allowed to leave the workshop, the office girls can deal with him.

I'm thinking of putting him to work figuring out how to fix the over toning issues with the Ricoh MP 4500's, any other ideas?

[ToshibaTech]

What's a work experience kid?

[neergish]

Quoting from the Victorian state ministerial order no 56 "Work experience is the short term placement of secondary school students with “host” employers, to provide insights into the industry and the work place in which they are located. Students are placed with employers primarily to observe and learn – not to undertake activities which require extensive training or experience."

So I have a disinterested 15 year old following me around getting underfoot and expecting me to find "things" for him to do.

[Rob Sandberg]

I was one of these kids in 1976. The company I was assigned had me wash the windows.
It was the last time they had a work experience kid.

Rob S

[TheOwl]

Get them to run up a couple of new machines or something.

We have had work experience kids before and that's what we get them to do. All they have to do is run the machine up to the point where it is reday to turn on so that someone else can check it before initial power on.

[Jules Winfield]

Put him to work scrubbing covers on a refurb...

[SCREWTAPE]

Put him to work scrubbing covers on a refurb...

That's where I started.

[nmfaxman]

Give him one day to meet everyone and do the paperwork.
One day to see his territory, ride along.
Day three, kick him to the wolves and see what happens.
A good exp. tech will jump in with both feet and give it his best shot.
That is how I learned and I now fear no box.
They all work the same way.

[Mr Spock]

Go to a color machine and make 10-20 color copies of your test chart. Insert test chart with white side down on a black and white copier and have him hit print a couple of times. Ask him to explain how color came out of a black and white machine and leave him alone for a few minutes and see what he does!!!!!!

[Mr Spock]

Give him one day to meet everyone and do the paperwork.
One day to see his territory, ride along.
Day three, kick him to the wolves and see what happens.
A good exp. tech will jump in with both feet and give it his best shot.
That is how I learned and I now fear no box.
They all work the same way.

One place I worked I tried to go out by myself after day 3 only they had no tools or parts for me to use so I had to "train" the tech I rode along with......... Not a fun job!

[OMD-227]

I did the work experience program when I was 17. I went to a Canon dealer out in the country as my uncle was a manager there. I went out with the techs everyday, and can clearly remember carrying ALL the boxes, vac, toolbag and assorted items for each call. I actually enjoyed it and it lead me down this path into doing this as a career, so dont be too harsh on the poor kid.
Now 16 years later, I have work experience kids with me sometimes. I make them do all the stuff I had to do.
If they are cool and work hard, shout them a coffee or buy them lunch. If they have no interest and cant wait until the day is over, drive like a maniac, swear like a trooper and maybe 'forget' to leave them behind at a call.

[KEVIN900]

Have him separate that box of screws that you find in every shop into different categories; type, size. Perfect job for young eyes.

[Herrmann]

As a first test i would suggest to give him a ricoh 2232c fuser assy, tell him to disassemble it down to the last screw an reassemble it: Take the time he needs

[prntrfxr]

work experience kid

1. Clean refurb covers

2. Inventory parts in stock room

3. Show him how to rebuild some fusers (the simple ones) or pick up asm's

4. If he does real good and seems sharp, give him a service manual, open to the removal parts section and sit him in front of a older model b/w printer (not a copier unless it a small simple one). Tell him to follow the instructions exactly and disassemble the printer (mark the pages of the parts you want him to remove). Tell him not to be rough, that if anything requires excessive force to remove he is either doing it wrong or there is another screw somewhere he has to remove. Either strip it for parts or when he's finished have him reassemble it in the same order, test it and see if it works. If it doesn't, teach him how to use the manual to troubleshoot the problem. Then have him disassemble it again (practice, practice is good), show him what has to be cleaned and how to replace the maintenance kit (will require a bit of supervision).

Reason: 1. All of these are things we end up having to do. 2. This is how I train new techs before I explain laser theory, so he will be learning what real techs do. 3. It will keep him busy and out of your hair for most of his visit. 4. When he puts it back together and powers it up or finally gets it working, he'll be hooked and he may end up being another tech. 5. You get a stripped printer for parts that you didn't have to waste the time doing if you decide not to get it reassembled. 6. If you teach him how to replace a maintenance kit during the early part of the week (if you have him that long), you can get him to refurb a couple of printers by the end of week ($$$ for the company).

I wish I had him for a week, I might actually get caught up. Have fun!

[mrwho]

if anything requires excessive force to remove he is either doing it wrong or there is another screw somewhere he has to remove.

Still today, roughly 10 years since I began, I sometimes forget this simple rule. Last one happened in front of my boss. Ouch.

I began by setting up konicas 1212 and 1216. It was quite fun, actually! I used to allign them in a row and setting them up one by one.