pekwah1
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| posted on 3/11/16 at 09:09 AM |
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How to become a mechanic
Hi guys,
Looking for some career advice.
I'm 34, have worked as a vending machine engineer for a number of years and now I'm customer service management, but looking to change
career.
It may not be the most glamorous, but think I'd like to try out working on cars for a living.
Obviously building a kit at the moment, have worked on dozens of cars over the years, so fairly good with the basics, engines not too
knowledgeable.
Anyway, was thinking of city and guilds etc but struggling to find an evening course I couldn't do, can't afford to drop down to minimum
wage earnings, so hopefully looking for something a bit above that, or a suitable course I can do outside of work.
Just wondered if anyone has experience of this or could point me in the right direction?
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Regards
Andy
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benchmark51
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| posted on 3/11/16 at 10:06 AM |
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You could go to the local job centre and ask. I started at 15, took apprenticeship at 16. That was 50 years ago, would I do it again? Definitely not,
you get 'off loaded' at quite an early age and younger people will be more desirable to employers. From 55 on, it can get difficult to
find work.
Mechanical work is something I love, but not as a career. If I were you, progress the career you have and learn car mechanics as a hobby through
courses. Electric cars are the way to go now, so look toward that maybe?
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Slimy38
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| posted on 3/11/16 at 11:45 AM |
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A friends husband pursued a route through MOT certification, the sort of thing that would allow him to stand out from the crowd. After many years of
being treated like p00p, he now owns and runs a corner shop!!
I would jump at the chance of being a mechanic, but being in a similar position to you (past apprenticeship years, not willing to accept minimum
wage), I'm not sure how I could get into it. The only thing I can think of is a side hobby doing lathe or other piece work.
See if you can find out how to properly tune carbs, that seems to be a skill that is still in demand but remarkably few people who can do it!!
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Fatgadget
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| posted on 3/11/16 at 12:07 PM |
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Is there such a thing as a mechanic these days? Thought they are all called technicians!
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r1_pete
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| posted on 3/11/16 at 01:01 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Fatgadget
Is there such a thing as a mechanic these days? Thought they are all called technicians!
How many are apprentice time served? the 1st thing they do is plug an OBD reader in and hope it tells them the fault....
I can tune carbs, have the kit, about to take VR, where's the demand 
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chris
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| posted on 3/11/16 at 01:21 PM |
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I started off as a apprentice mechanic but after a few months got bored of the servicing same repetitive jobs day in day out so didn't even
complete my first year however at 28 years old regretted leaving the industry so racked my brains on how I could get back into it without going back
to minimum wage and I came up with hgv mechanic sodid my hgv test got a job as a shunter come mechanic then found myself working at a truck main
dealers on the night shift then got offered a job maintaining a private fleet of 25 vehicles on days bit of a round about way but it worked for me
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chris
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| posted on 3/11/16 at 01:30 PM |
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Then got bored of that again so went to college at night to become a plumber and then did my gas qualifications so I always find a way to retrain oh
and now I do night shift driving a truck for a supermarket it pays well and I am happy for now
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loggyboy
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| posted on 3/11/16 at 01:33 PM |
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I considered this as my career path, at 15 i did my Work Exp at a garage, made me realise 95% of the work was mundane servicing and mot work, not the
fun engineering side you do when its your own work. Glad I didnt now as it would have ruined my hobby i think, busmans holiday!?
Mistral Motorsport
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theconrodkid
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| posted on 3/11/16 at 02:04 PM |
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Did my apprentiship when i left skool,worked in the trade most of my life,ended up with my own garage.
would i do it if i had my time again ?,prob not,you lift heavy things,cut your fingers to shreds,use nasty chemicals and are exposed to lost of danger
and unless you are exceptional and strike it lucky the money is pretty poor considering the amount you have to spend on tools.
i still do my own cars only when they really do need it,tinkering for fun is a thing of the past.
who cares who wins
pass the pork pies
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owelly
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| posted on 3/11/16 at 04:09 PM |
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How to become a mechanic? Or how to become a proper mechanic?
Try a four year apprenticeship with one day release at college plus evening courses. You'll be too old to attract any governemt apprentice
funding but without proper training, you'll be just another semi-skilled wanabe that may be able to fix cars, but won't do it well. Find a
good workshop that will invest in you and let you train on the job. You'll have to work for labourers rates until you get to know the ropes.
http://www.ppcmag.co.uk
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rusty nuts
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| posted on 3/11/16 at 06:41 PM |
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How to become a mechanic ? Why would you want to ? Years of hard graft for not very good money before you become good enough to earn a decent wage,
often dirty, uncomfortable, downright painful at times. I've been at it now for nearly 50 years but have never found any problems getting a new
job but I work damn hard which is more than I can say for a lot of younger guys I've worked with . I'm lucky in a way I don't get to
do too much servicing , I tend to get more in the way of jobs that take a bit of thought . As for apprentices the last probably 25 years anyone with
anything between their ears wouldn't be going into the motor trade so they tend to be a bit thick , obviously there are exceptions. You need a
decent tool kit which you have to buy yourself at a cost of tens of thousands . Would I do it again, no chance , and I still enjoy my work
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Toprivetguns
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| posted on 3/11/16 at 06:49 PM |
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I'd recommend an adult trainee scheme with Monarch engineering. It's usually a 3 year course with the option of obtaining your B1 engines
airframe or B2 avionics license. Provided you have an interest In engineering, have an open mind to troubleshooting, a keen eye for detail and behold
good manual dexterity, it maybe something for you. A contracting licensed aircraft engineer can earn a very decent wage. Also your from Horsham,
gatwick is right on your doorstop.
Only drive as fast as your angel can fly... !
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spaximus
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| posted on 4/11/16 at 04:44 PM |
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If you are serious about doing this and I would think long and hard, the easiest way would be to go and work for the likes of Kwikfit. They have many
many faults but they run proper training and for the right people they do offer a career path with qualifications.
Get an MOT licence and you then have a further choice of employer.
Getting further into the subject and I was a mechanic for years, you will spend a fortune on tools and then working for others is poorly paid in
comparison.
I love cars, but I would have become a plumber or electrician had I known then, both these trades have restrictions on what people do in their own
homes and as a result you can charge great money and are in demand. When water is pouring in or there is no heat money is less of a challenge
When they were building T5 at heathrow you could not get a plumber or sparky in London unless you were paying a kings ransom.
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steve m
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| posted on 4/11/16 at 05:48 PM |
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I would also add, qualify as an Electrician, although my boss may disagree
I wish I had done it years ago, instead of doing 26 years hard labour working for a crap airline with crap management
Now that ive retired/took redundancy, and work part time for an Electrician (I am a goffa !) I really do love the new role, and getting out and about,
and not stuck in an office with arsehules is a blessing
we could of done with you Andy, today, as fitting some spots in a ceiling, and as im only 4'4" tall, it was a pain
you at 6'5" would of been VERY usefull
steve
Thats was probably spelt wrong, or had some grammer, that the "grammer police have to have a moan at
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olberj
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| posted on 5/11/16 at 03:43 PM |
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I did the same at 27. Years of sales and tinkering on my own cars under my belt, I got a shot training with a toyota engine conversion specialist. I
learned many things I wouldn't taking the normal route but I missed a lot out too. Subsequently self employed contracting to local garages on
and off.
Still in the game at 35 but running my own business.
IMO you need 100% to do a year or 2 solid in an everyday garage, hammering the basics into your head, brakes, suspension, brake pipes, fault finding,
timing belts and servicing.
If you follow that path onto working for a dealership and grinding your way up, you'll maybe one day end up in a half decent wage working for a
premium car manufacturer but still hating your job.
If you get in, know it will take years to learn and have a way back out with your own business, which in turn will take years to build.
Don't fall into the system and grind away your life hating cars and car owners.
You need the skills but do what you enjoy when you have them, building kits, restoring classics, etc etc. I'm lucky I have friends with car
collections who need them constantly looked after so it keeps me going alongside my daft projects. Some of them now into racing too which will result
in a proper race team too in a years time. Working with a kit manufacturer to build special versions of their cars. You need a finger in many pies
which means being a businessman too.
Some folk get comfy and stay working for dealers for years, parts fitting till they're going dolally but getting very quick at it. I
couldn't do that myself.
Depends what you want to get from it but be aware of the time scales involved, it's not a quick route to fun or money.
Still, handing someone back their pride and joy after you've built it back up is a feeling that never leaves you.
All about the customers to me. I hate doing work for people who don't love cars.
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mark chandler
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| posted on 5/11/16 at 06:31 PM |
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My friend makes a very good living, started off as a lowly spanner monkey and started on his own specialising in landrovers so purchased old cars and
broke for stock and has a very good reputation now... In fact he has never advertised.
He employees a couple of people now, his wife does the books and daughters sell stuff on the Internet as he got a supply deal with bearmach for new
and frogs out the old stuff.
If you work at the business rather than being a spanner monkey it can be very good, get a decent niche market.
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coozer
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| posted on 6/11/16 at 10:36 AM |
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Your at the right age to get into trucking!
A bit of outlay to get your licence then your right into a decent wage, then if you want the HGV technician route will open if you look for it.
1972 V8 Jago
1980 Z750
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