Work experience at a Ford Dealership (or somewhere similar)

[Coogs289]

Hi everyone,
I'm currently in year 10 which means that I've been given the opportunity to apply for work experience. I've decided that I'd like to work in the automotive industry and was wondering if anyone could tell me if their are any work experience/job placements available at any Ford Dealerships near Keilor (the north western region) - well somewhere that is reasonably easy to get to using public transport (although I can be driven on Wednesday's and Friday's). I would also consider something similar. The work experience is in June and goes for a period of two weeks. Once again, any info would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers, Anthony

[Bossxr8]

They will teach you all you need to know, basically the 2 phrases "they all do that" and "its within factory tolerances".

But just find the closest dealership and ask them, shouldn't be a problem, I know people who have done work experience at a Ford dealership.

There's a dealer locator on the Ford website I think.

[FPV8U]

As has been said contact your nearest dealer, shouldn't be a problem.

[Bucknaked]

I did my work experience in a pro shop. I had planned to be a professional golfer. All I did was serve customers , pick up balls from the golf range and then clean them. Also had to clean the hire clubs.

But I did score a caddy's job during a professional golf tournament here in Canberra. That was worth it.

Still suck at golf. :

[Lightning Strike XR6]

Mate I wanted to do the same but decided to pursue real estate instead and I'm just about to get a traineeship if all goes to plan next week. If you like sales it might me anoher option. There's more money in it. But only your going to work hard for it.


Just an idea have fun whatever you do.

[Peuty]

Work experience at a Ford Dealer....like Bucky said, you won't be doing anything exciting. Working for Ford at a dealer level is excruciatingly boring, I know, I've done it before.

Let's hope that you are good with a chamois.

[Coogs289]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

There's a dealer locator on the Ford website I think.

I've done the following:

City Ford: They 'don't do' work experience.
Binks Ford: No response...
Jefferson Ford: Nothing at the moment, but will get back to me if something comes up.
Essendon Ford: I used the dealer locator on the ford site. I typed in my postcode (3036) and Essendon Ford came up (which I knew would). ESSENDON NORTH
Essendon Ford
330 Wirraway Road
ESSENDON NORTH VIC 3041
Phone: 0393747000
Fax: 0393747044
Website: http://www.essendonford.com.au
Email: jeffm@essendonford.com.au

i sent an email to them yesterday (using my bigpond account) and they rang me back today. the only thing, it was actually JEFF WIGNALL that rang me, which means that the closest yard would be in frankston. just a BIT too far for my likings. i've got no idea why they contacted me instead but i sent another email to essendon ford using the "enquiry service" on their site.
hopefully they reply soon... how long do you think it should take to get a response. city ford took a couple of weeks, binks still haven't replied (it's been like a month...), essendon/jeff wignall only took one day and jefferson, i don't really know how they got my number. i was looking at the fg xd6t review on drive.com.au and on the side saw that you could send an email to all the dealers in melbourne at once. i tried to send it and failed 3 times so....:S

[Peuty]

Email. :

Pick up the bloody phone and talk to someone in person. You'll be surprised how much further you'll get when you make one simple phone call.

[Coogs289]

Originally Posted by Peuty

Email. :

Pick up the bloody phone and talk to someone in person. You'll be surprised how much further you'll get when you make one simple phone call.

lol. yer i probably should've called by now... if essendon don't reply to the email in the next couple of days, i'm going to ring.

[73gscoupe]

Originally Posted by Peuty

Email. :

Pick up the bloody phone and talk to someone in person. You'll be surprised how much further you'll get when you make one simple phone call.

AGREE 100%.

Pick up the Phone and call. Speak confidently and politely. Get onto the right person in the organisation, and tell them what you want, and why you want to come work for them for 2 weeks.

If I were you id call the FPV Customer Relationship Centre - 133 378 - give it a shot, who knows?

[Serial_Fool]

Mate I've done 3 different work experiences during my time at school and for the most part the first place I went to they said "sure no worries" and signed the form. The best way to get a work experience is to physically ask them as this implies that you have a backbone and they can gauge you on your posture/clothing.

Simply ask for a ride to the nearest FORD dealership from your folks while wearing respectable clothes (average plain ones, no baggy jeans etc) and ask for the Service Department Manager and ask if he would like to take on a work experience kid for a week. TBH the work at the FORD dealership I went to wasn't that good, mostly just simple servicing and wheel alignments followed by alot of sweeping but any experience is good experience and I learned alot from the mechanics on cars.

[Rangas GTP]

Do us all a favour and ask for customer service job. Approve all warranty work in your two week period. : You will leave your mark at Ford for many many years

[3vXT]

Originally Posted by Rangas GTP

Do us all a favour and ask for customer service job. Approve all warranty work in your two week period. : You will leave your mark at Ford for many many years

Not sure if thats a good idea. If you listen to some people on here and elsewhere, 2 weeks of accepted warranty claims would just about finish Ford off financially

[LTDHO]

If I had the oportunity I wouldn't go to a dealer. Unless you like to sweep floors.

Contact wreckers, that is the best way to learn the workings of a variety of cars. You will gain experience in how a car goes together and comes apart. Enhance you knowledge on cars.

Sure a dealer can teach you how to change oil, pain brake pads and plug in diagnostic machines...

[LOWBA6]

If you want work experience at a dealer give them a call or better yet go in there and ask in person. Thats what i done when i did work experience at the local ford dealer. It was pretty boring most of the time but i done a bit of everything. Washing parts, sweeping floors, took a diff out of an EF for a rebuild, serviced an kia, AU, then watched as they done a major/big service on a mondeo. Also washed/prepped new cars and helped with dealer fitted options. During lunch i watched one of the mechanics work on his XY GT which he had kept at work.... :P

[Powdered Toast Man]

I actually did my year 10 work experience at Wignall Ford (Mornington, the Frankston branch didn't even exist then) in the service department. But like you said it's a bit far from Keilor.

Mostly sweeping floors and standing around watching. But I was assigned to the LPG fitter so most of my hands on work was with him. Stuff like drilling holes and tightening bolts. Exciting stuff I know lol.

I did see the EF a couple of weeks before it's official release while I was there though. I remember thinking how futuristic it looked.

[XRSIKS]

Originally Posted by Bucknaked

I did my work experience in a pro shop. I had planned to be a professional golfer. All I did was serve customers , pick up balls from the golf range and then clean them. Also had to clean the hire clubs.

But I did score a caddy's job during a professional golf tournament here in Canberra. That was worth it.

Still suck at golf. :

LoL sorry its off topic, but i had to laugh at that... I used to play golf with my old boss, well, we used to dress up like idiots in golf outfits and drink at the bar at the club, then hit balls with a skin full of rum



Did my work experience with an I.T Company, just walked up and asked them., no harm in asking.

[TZENU]

I actually did my work experience at Mercedes Benz Pro Star Motors in Hawthorn... I helped out servicing, and even got my hands dirty rebuilding a motor with the senior mechanic... Had heaps of fun there... And yep on the Friday i had to sweep and mop the floor... Best part was been given the keys to move the C43 AMG and i was only 15!!!!

[Coogs289]

GOT WORK EXPERIENCE AT ESSENDON FORD!!! : : :
Thanks for the advice everyone
So what sort of jobs do you think I'll be doing?

Cheers, Anthony

[Peuty]

Washing cars, sweeping floors. If you're really lucky you'll get to sort the shed full of old warranty parts and match them to their RO's.

[Coogs289]

Originally Posted by Peuty

Washing cars, sweeping floors. If you're really lucky you'll get to sort the shed full of old warranty parts and match them to their RO's.

lol, sounds like fun... I'M STILL STOKED! : : :

[mik]

another vote for get cleaned up and go to dealers, if your really keen keep pestering them (in a nice way) you`ll get your work experience.

[AUXRVIII]

Originally Posted by velocity_avisGT

GOT WORK EXPERIENCE AT ESSENDON FORD!!! : : :
Thanks for the advice everyone
So what sort of jobs do you think I'll be doing?

Cheers, Anthony

Standing next to some 88yo cynical old fart who's had enough of the trade and listen to him rant all day about how the company will use you, there is no incentives, the car industry is going down the gurgler, how cars work better back in his day because they are too complicated now etc etc etc.......

[LTDHO]

In summary.

If you want to learn anything you wouldn't go to a dealer.
Unless you want to learn how to sweep and mop.

[Coogs289]

Originally Posted by LTDHO

In summary.

If you want to learn anything you wouldn't go to a dealer.
Unless you want to learn how to sweep and mop.

as well as... how to change oil, pain brake pads and plug in diagnostic machines... I get to wash cars too! : Lol. It's all good bcoz they're ORSM cars! : :

[Peuty]

Originally Posted by velocity_avisGT

pain brake pads

That sounds painful.