Training Newbies

[prepress_goddess]

How many of you have found yourselves having to train/teach newbies to the field (not new employees, but customers) how to use industry standard software?

In the last couple of weeks, I've had about ten or so customers come in, thrown to the wolves, having to produce pieces for print production (granted, i feel for them but . . . . ). They have come in every form, from publsher to quark 7.

I have outright refused to "train" customers on teaching software that they have never, ever used to produce a piece of "production art".

My reason: many, many years ago I went to school, paid my dues, and student loans, learned my lessons through the real world of printing, and i'll be damned if I teach someone how to use software that i paid loans off for, while going to school to LEARN the software that they need to know in the REAL world.

These "designers" are wanting a "free education" while making 3 or 4 times what i'm making hourly.

what are your opinions?

I have openly discussed my objections with managers and the owner. All but the CSR agree that it's one thing to instruct a client how to compose files as opposed to coming in a sitting down with me in my office and giving lessons like i'm an adobe trainer.

Why should we wave prepress charges to teach these "students"? And why should I throw aside my dignity as a professional. If i wanted to be a teacher, I would have pursued TEACHING as apposed to DOING MY JOB AS A PROFESSIONAL.

Imput greatly appreciated. If I'm wrong, so be it, but I'm betting that the majority of you agree with my stand.

TGIF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dave - is the bar open? I need a BIG BEER NOW!

(kegging this weekend but until then . . . . .. waaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh)

[seratne]

If a customer wants to be trained, let them. Just ask the csr for a job ticket, and write down all of the hours you spend with them. You are actually at a job where you basically fix things, bad files, bad customers, same thing as long as you're getting paid and looking out for the company.

If the bosses want to charge $10 an hour so be it, if they want to charge $150/hour (what i think it should be, and what i've encouraged csr's and the bosses to charge) then even better.

Just remember you are at a job, where you get paid no matter what you do. The more willing you are to help out the company or clients, the more you should be considered for a nice xmas bonus or pay raise. If not, time to look for a new job.

[David]

Originally Posted by prepress_goddess

TGIF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dave - is the bar open? I need a BIG BEER NOW!

(kegging this weekend but until then . . . . .. waaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh)

Yes the bar is open, it's like a 7-11, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!


And, to comiserate, part of (yes, I said "part of" my lengthy job description, which for some reason, keeps getting longer!) my job description is trainer. That means to some, that I can and should train anyone, regardless of where they work.

The more willing you are to help out the company or clients, the more you should be considered for a nice xmas bonus or pay raise.

yeah, right. They considered me allright...
I haven't had a bonus in about 15 years...
and a pay raise?! What the hell is that?
If you get one, it'll be just big enough just put you in a higher tax bracket, then the gov will take all of your raise, and you'll be taking home the same money that you were getting before the raise!

hahahaha!

but, I still have a good time, still got a job, and I still get up in the morning to come back and do it again.
oh yeah, today we get to pickup our company turkey!
no it's not a person, it's an actual frozen turkey, it's my Christmas bonus...
YEEHAW!



sendin' out a brew for all you hard workin' guys and gals!
Cheers!


it's a little big, but what the hey...
finally got the truck out of the shop.

[prepress_goddess]

THANKS DAVE !

I needed that

:clap:

[chris_r]

i gotta tell you, i couldnt disagree with you more about that. the part of my job in prepress i enjoy the most is working with customers, and trying to help them get up to speed. it is none of my concern who the client hires, how much experience they have. my job is to get them up to speed on the way we can work together to make the jobs go through smoothly. the customer pays the bills, and part of the service we provided is giving them all the prepress expertise the company can.

if i heard one of my employees "refuse" to help a client becuase they felt above that kind of thing, id tell them to take a walk.

sorry, but thats my opinion.

cr

[prepress_goddess]

I'm not talking about refusing to help a client get up to speed, I''m talking about teaching someone how to operate a program from scratch. If someone wants to be a graphic designer, then they should learn how to operate the programs BEFORE they start accepting design jobs.

To have to explain to someone what each particular tool does in each program should be something they learn in school I have no problem walking clients through problems, but when i get the phone calls and customers coming in here and saying " i've never used photoshop, can you teach me how to use this program?"

Instructing on file preparation is one thing, but teaching the basics of operating a program should be pursued at a college or tech school.

[chris_r]

its really pretty simple then: if your boss says to do it, do it. if your boss says dont do it, it is his or her responsibility to step up and do something about it.

i dont know why it bothers you so much what others are making and feel resentful that you have all this training that they dont. what difference does it make, really? we are all in the game with bosses to satisfy, so if your company is asking you to train people and they are paying you to do that, it seems pretty cut and dry.

like i said, i love doing that kind of thing, but it isnt for everyone.

cr

[prepress_goddess]

I dig "sit downs" with clients. If offers an awesome collaboration of ideas, and an opportunity on both ends to learn some new tricks. But teaching programs, to . . . . .please.

I've had MANY paying customers tell me they've learned more in 30 minutes than in all the time reading the manuals to the software.

If you had a customer come in and ask to be taught by your prepress department when there are other revenue generating issues as in presses standing idle while you school someone in the art of "designing a brochure" or get what pays the bills into the work flow, what would you choose? You can't tell me that you would tell your lead operator to stop working on that 200 page book that has to go to press this afternoon and teach a new customer quark or indy on the spot instead of focusing on production.

As for my situation - we have come to the conclusion that if customers want "training/teaching of programs" they WILL be charged for prepress time.

I have much more to do in my day of running my department than playing teacher. And after my meeting today - production, not teaching like a tech school adjunct professor, pays the bills.

I hope you don't run into this at your shop.

I have no resentment as to what other people make for a living. I merely resent that I should give up what I know to people that are not willing to bite the bullet, go to school and learn what they need to, to make a living in this industry.

What would any other lead operator of ANY profession say to the customer that walks into the door that asks how learn the skills required of the job?

GO TO SCHOOL. LEARN YOUR SKILLS.

I WILL help you achieve your goals, but you NEED to come to the table and meet me halfway. I do not have the time to baby step you through the compexities of a program that has taken me many years, versions and bugs to work out.

BUT . . . . . If you're willing to pay, my boss/owner/and I will happily play TEACHER.

[gnubler]

Originally Posted by prepress_goddess

but teaching the basics of operating a program should be pursued at a college or tech school.

That's almost a laugh, and the course can only be as good as the instructor's knowledge and background. When in college, I took "Quark 101" and "Illy 101" and the pace was so slow and rudimentary to cater to every type of level and student...I finally got smart, dropped out, and just taught myself the programs with manuals and practice.

And that's what these clients need to do. Most people are wimps and want to take the easiest route to reach a goal instead of actually doing the work (this is why we all have jobs in prepress).

I don't mind giving tips and important steps to follow to clients...but as far as playing teacher? I've never really had to do that, but I really wouldn't care. I'm still paid by the hour.

[LoganBlade]

Here is the idea tell boss you will work as a contractor and you charge $100 to $200 per hour per program. If you want me to do on company time don't expect me to teach them what I payed $20,000 plus to get a degree in and share that knowlege for base pay.

Tell him you need to recoupe it some how. And you are will to share some.