Kitchen Contours
The pathway to work as a cabinet-maker joiner
Ideally, the company would employ qualified cabinet-makers and joiners, if it could get them, David says. David himself did an apprenticeship as a cabinet maker/shop fitter and has taken on "at least 15" apprentices over the years, but he can't seem to find what he's looking for these days.
"We used to get our apprentices from woodwork classes in schools, but you don't get that any more. I've put emails through all the schools in Wanganui to encourage people to apply for jobs and you just get nothing. A lot of them seem to be interested in the big dollars and getting to the top as quick as they can. Attitude is the main thing: if you've got the right sort of attitude you can pretty much do anything. It's a case of being willing and able to learn on the job – listening and being able to take instructions without being a know-it-all. "
Part of the problem, David suggests, is that times have changed in the industry and some teachers don't know it.
"Some of the old woodwork teachers, who are still showing kids to do a hand dovetail, come in here and are blown away with the computerisation. And we point out the other skills they need now apart from the old cabinet-making skills."
Traditionally, joinery and cabinet-making have been careers for boys, but this is changing as well, with increasing numbers of girls now looking to move into kitchen design and manufacturing.
