New hire questionaire

[Smit]

I've been asked to come up with a few questions to add to a new hire questionnaire for machinist applications so I thought I'd run it by you guys. Do the guys who do the hiring of new machinists have some favorite questions that may shed some insight in a potential hires qualifications and ability to do the job?

Thanks for sharing your ideas!

[RobertELee]

Trump or Biden?

[Leehound]

Trump or Biden?

If they voted for Biden, they wouldn't be looking for a job  - Just their next stimulus check.

[HTM01]

biggest question is "can you come to work every day"

[gcode]

do you own an alarm clock?

[CADCAM396]

sad that can you make it in each day on time is a question but its true these days.
my favorite if looking for a true machinist not button pusher is how do you square up a block.
its basics but shows some roots of critical thinking in regards to Datum or reference surface.

[HTM01]

sad that can you make it in each day on time is a question but its true these days.
my favorite if looking for a true machinist not button pusher is how do you square up a block.
its basics but shows some roots of critical thinking in regards to Datum or reference surface.

true that, i bet we are lucky if 2 out of 10 of our guys know how

[Tim Johnson]

If you're running an end mill at 1000 rpm and 5 ipm, how long does it take to make a 10" pass?
How long will it take at 2000 rpm?

About 30% will get it wrong.  

[Matthew Hajicek]

Why are manhole covers round?

[Rstewart]

I'll attempt to add something constructive here....
Are you willing to show up every day with the attitude of adding value to our machining operations?

Are you willing to lean new software, tactics, or new machines you're unfamiliar with?

Can you follow work instruction?

Can you pass a drug test?

If someone is willing to do all these, you'd better hire them

[HTM01]

Can you pass a drug test?

that's a joke,
if your not drug testing everyone every week it means nothing
at most company's  you would lose a quarter of the workers

[Smit]

The fella who applied for the job had a pretty good resume. He first entered the trade in 1990. He claimed he's been making set ups on a wide variety of machines for the last 25 years. He said he's currently setting up and running precision 5 axis machines and that his role is to manufacture small quantity R&D type work and to optimize production programs.

But when I asked about basic G codes he looked at me like I was speaking a different language. G00, G01, G02, and I stopped there. It's pretty hard for me to even understand how a guy can be in the trade for 30 years and know nothing about the very basic G codes. And I don't see how a guy can optimize programs without knowing something about at least the very basic G codes.

Maybe if he was looking at a program on a control he'd have no problem understanding the g codes, sometimes when you look at familiar things in a different element they look strange. But that's pretty basic stuff.

I think he  might have value as a fairly competent operator, especially if he's willing to work 2nd shift, but I have strong doubts he's ever going to be a senior machinist.

[Rstewart]

Can you pass a drug test?

that's a joke,
if your not drug testing everyone every week it means nothing
at most company's  you would lose a quarter of the workers

Well, I guess I'm just used to having a clearance.

In the job shop world I would assume you're correct.

[Rstewart]

The fella who applied for the job had a pretty good resume. He first entered the trade in 1990. He claimed he's been making set ups on a wide variety of machines for the last 25 years. He said he's currently setting up and running precision 5 axis machines and that his role is to manufacture small quantity R&D type work and to optimize production programs.

But when I asked about basic G codes he looked at me like I was speaking a different language. G00, G01, G02, and I stopped there. It's pretty hard for me to even understand how a guy can be in the trade for 30 years and know nothing about the very basic G codes. And I don't see how a guy can optimize programs without knowing something about at least the very basic G codes.

Maybe if he was looking at a program on a control he'd have no problem understanding the g codes, sometimes when you look at familiar things in a different element they look strange. But that's pretty basic stuff.

I think he  might have value as a fairly competent operator, especially if he's willing to work 2nd shift, but I have strong doubts he's ever going to be a senior machinist.

That's pretty sad.  I couldn't imagine going 3 years into this trade and not knowing the basic machine language.

[YoDoug]

Can you pass a drug test?

that's a joke,
if your not drug testing everyone every week it means nothing
at most company's  you would lose a quarter of the workers

I have worked at companies that I wished they did regular drug testing so they could get rid of a few loser employees, however they may have also lost some really good employees. I have worked with a lot of people in the past that were great employees but would most likely fail a test for weed.