We here at the FTI of BC and DC 38, take pride in the education and training our apprentices receive, both at our training facility and with our experienced members on the job. In fact, we count on those seasoned members to instill our values of hard work, pride in our chosen craft, and dedication to a job well-done into our newest members.
With the luxury of time being in short supply on almost every project we build, it is essential that our existing Journeyworkers pass along these values and skills in the most efficient way possible. This is why we have decided to rededicate ourselves to the ideals of good mentorship through the “Mentorship Matters” program.
Effective mentorship is essential to the development of an apprentice’s skills and to their success in their chosen trade. A good mentor on the job helps to guide the apprentice by reinforcing the lessons learned in the classroom, and by passing on the knowledge and expertise they have gained through years of experience.
The FTI of BC’s progressive approach to mentoring trains both Journeyworkers and apprentices, with the “Mentorship Matters” program. Developed by SkillPlan, in partnership with the IBEW’s Electrical Joint Training Committee, this forward-thinking collaboration aims to prepare Journeyworkers to become effective mentors, and apprentices to develop the skills necessary to become good mentees.
It is common knowledge that more than 80% of an apprentice’s learning takes place on the job through mentoring relationships. As a result, mentors have a huge impact on the safety, quality, and productivity of every jobsite. Every qualified Journeyperson owes their trade skills to the experienced Journeypersons who have mentored them along the way. This essential transfer of knowledge helps perpetuate our crafts and ensures the ongoing evolution of each individual trade.
Many mentor/mentee partnerships develop into lifelong friendships which is reflected in the video that accompanies this article. This is proof positive of the value effective mentorship can have on an individual’s life, as many a mentee can attest to.
Mentors are respected tradespeople who take the time to reach out to each of the apprentices on the jobsite. In construction, time is money which is why effective mentorship is so important. Mentors help their mentees to learn and grow; they are invaluable to the training process and we need more Journeypersons to do their part by helping in the transfer of skills and knowledge.
We will be sharing video clips and information over the next couple of weeks, to show the value of the work that mentors do and the ways in which a mentee can benefit from on the job instruction.
For more information on “Mentorship Matters” or how you can participate in training, contact the FTI of BC.
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