world skills competition 2010

[brad]

any one heard of world skills competition?
competition for top under 25yr tradies, national comps are on in first wknd of may in bris,
anyone on here get in? or know someone that got in? have competed before?

[Frak]

Yeah, for quite a number of years I used to judge part of the automotive competition(every 2 years), usually engine overhaul/rebuild. This year I was way too busy at work to judge.

I have Judged national level and the event is huge, as they have basically every trade there, from cooking to hairdressing.

As a judge you see from one end of the spectrum to the other, guys that are very good and guys that have no idea. The prizes are usually very good and it's always something for your resume. If you win the local(state) competition you will get a prize and plaque, you wil then go onto national level and if you win that, then on to world level. They hold the world comps in a different city.

[Gotcarbs]

its for apprentices isn't ?

[Frak]

Only for apprentices

[orange32]

A dude form my work is competing, he'll be in the machining section. He should do pretty well

[Sam-Q]

problem is he will have to do his machining on their machines and it might be hard for him to get used to them. Let us know how it works out for him

[brad]

i thought it was for anyone under 25..
any tips frak?
i am repping tas in light vehicle, will be interesting to see how it goes..

[Frak]

Brad, the tasks can be comprehensive, this is to work out the men from the boys. It may appear that the tests are there to trick you but infact they are to test your whole knowledge, to get full points you must test as per procedure and get the desired outcome. Be very thorough without taking so long that you look like you have no idea(if that makes sense)

For example, say you are checking brakes as part of finding a problem(scenario) I'd check the runout of disc rotors and then look at reasons why the disc may have runout.

Be conversant with all the equipment used for a particular scenario. For example I used to judge engine overhaul/rebuild, one year I had about 40 students through, only about 2 or 3 of them had ever seen a bore gauge, the rest had no idea what it was even for, when they tried to bluff their way through it, it was quite humourous! Also some students could only read digital micrometers/verniers and had no idea when it came to reading conventional ones.

In the above instance knowing that each task takes 2/3 hours, I gave the students the option of been shown how the equipment is set up and used(bore gauge etc, as I have a particular way of setting up which I think is the best) but I would mark them accordingly and gave them that option. Everyone of them took up the offer, later it got back to me that it was their favourite part of the comp The students that did not need help and used the equipment properly were marked accordingly.

If they have set up good tasks, it is a great thing to show off your skills against other trademen/women.

[Mr Awsome]

wish i new about this when i was doing my useless trade.

[Richard]

i did this a few years ago i came 7th