Too late or crap work conditions being a mechanic?

[Drizz06]

As mentioned above, you do it for the passion not the money! Or just work on diesels
I've been a diesel mechanic for 7yrs now and currently on 65k plus super not including OT.
Base wage is ok but you can really earn some decent cash thru doing plenty of OT.

[Evgeni]

I would have loved to have had my time again and have done a mechanics apprenticeship.
Turned 40 earlier this year and what has stopped me from jumping into the trade is a mortgage, kids and not being able afford to leave my current job - 1st world problem of being paid well and being looked after by my employer.

As it turns out I work on cars for family and friends anyway - training I did about 20 years ago with electrical circuits which I thought I would never use, has come in very handy for diagnosing various problems.

I have decided to go back to TAFE and get my quals. Probably not next year - need to wait till my youngest gets a bit older. I'll probably be the oldest in the class! Focus has changed alot too from trying to find more KW's to understanding how things work.

Good luck

[The Yeti]

Originally Posted by wodahs

im a mechanic (well diesel fitter not to mix up with the bloke at big W change rooms yelling dees ill fit er )

BAM! I haven't heard that one in 20 years

Originally Posted by wodahs

and when working my job I had to get the licences to operate the vehicles so now Im a transport driver earning 2n a half times and still enjoy my own work shop

I don't know any one I went to tech with or worked with as an apprentice that is still on the tools, we've all used the job as a stepping stone to something else some times its in the industry other times unrelated, but I cant say I've ever bumped in to any one that thinks it was 4 years wasted

[aussie muscle]

Originally Posted by xisled

Also working on cars all day at work, people asking you to fix cars all the time, may turn you off working on your own.

This. my brother in law was a mechanic. now hates working on cars. He always had a terrible car that didn't run properly, as after spending all week working on cars, he didn't want to come home and do more of it.

[yakcam]

Beware! Sometimes when you make your passion your work, it can take away the passion.

Good luck though!

[The Yeti]

Originally Posted by aussie muscle

This. my brother in law was a mechanic. now hates working on cars. He always had a terrible car that didn't run properly, as after spending all week working on cars, he didn't want to come home and do more of it.

Mate think about it, 40+ hours of oil leaks timing chains / belts Log book services and breaks, how keen would you be to run your daily up on the hoist for PM servicing? I know exactly where your BIL was at

now i'm off the tools I love getting up to my arm pits in stuff to make it better and now i have a little knowledge to help me do it properly

[Franco Cozzo]

The wages are crap, probably one of the lowest paid trades as a light vehicle mechanic.

If you do decide to go for it, go to a small local workshop as you will get a complete experience, and especially diagnostics on so many different models and makes. At a dealership all you do is minor/major services and warranty work on the same stuff day in day out, its easier but its kinda shooting yourself in the foot.

[calais]

I started an apprenticeship in 2003, and walked away after three months.

The prestige dealer where I worked seemed to think I was a broom custodian. Even as a seventeen year old I knew where they could shove it. I enlisted in the RAAF soon after and never looked back. I should highlight here that I was never placed with a tech for mentoring or anything like that. I was on call for the little pain in the butt jobs like dropping of customers, picking up parts and mopping up oil. Not once was I allowed near a vehicle being worked on.

The quality of the apprenticeship is directly linked with the quality of the employer. In my case it was apsolutely disgusting. I was there to learn and they werent interested. They expected I'd learn everything I needed in one day a fortnight of tafe.

Every cloud has a silver lining though, I met a great mate out of it. Who took me under his wing after I left and he taught me up from down when it came to cars. He used to have to work after hours in his own shed on cash jobs to keep his kids in school and that was where I learnt more there than I'd ever have seen in a 'prestige service centre'.

Id say just do it if you really want to, but dont settle on anything less than what your fully comfortable with. There has to be definate support and agreed goals.

[Crazy Dazz]

I'm 46 and thinking of going back to Uni to get another degree, at 26 you are definitely NOT too old to start something new.

That said, I would recommend specialising in something related, but slightly different to your passion. Something like a heavy diesel fitter. You can make GOOD money in mining/ transport/ Construction, whilst the cars you fix in your spare time are sufficient different to keep the passion burning.

I was Tax Accountant for over a decade, and (strange as it may seem) I REALLY enjoyed it, I still know more about Tax than most professionals, yet I pay somebody to do my return.

[Crazy Dazz]

Originally Posted by calais

I started an apprenticeship in 2003, and walked away after three months.

The prestige dealer where I worked seemed to think I was a broom custodian. Even as a seventeen year old I knew where they could shove it.
I should highlight here that I was never placed with a tech for mentoring or anything like that. I was on call for the little pain in the butt jobs like dropping of customers, picking up parts and mopping up oil. Not once was I allowed near a vehicle being worked on.

The quality of the apprenticeship is directly linked with the quality of the employer. In my case it was apsolutely disgusting. I was there to learn and they werent interested.

You’re joking right?
WTF did you expect to be doing in the first 3 months of an apprenticeship?

I suppose the lesson here is to UNDERSTAND what an apprenticeship is, and go into it with your eyes open.

Originally Posted by calais

I enlisted in the RAAF soon after and never looked back.

A Good option. If you want to learn a trade, with good job security, and a reasonable wage (and you can handle the commitment) the Armed Forces are a Good option.

[ratter]

Originally Posted by calais

I started an apprenticeship in 2003, and walked away after three months.

The prestige dealer where I worked seemed to think I was a broom custodian. Even as a seventeen year old I knew where they could shove it. I enlisted in the RAAF soon after and never looked back. I should highlight here that I was never placed with a tech for mentoring or anything like that. I was on call for the little pain in the butt jobs like dropping of customers, picking up parts and mopping up oil. Not once was I allowed near a vehicle being worked on.

The quality of the apprenticeship is directly linked with the quality of the employer. In my case it was apsolutely disgusting. I was there to learn and they werent interested. They expected I'd learn everything I needed in one day a fortnight of tafe.

Every cloud has a silver lining though, I met a great mate out of it. Who took me under his wing after I left and he taught me up from down when it came to cars. He used to have to work after hours in his own shed on cash jobs to keep his kids in school and that was where I learnt more there than I'd ever have seen in a 'prestige service centre'.

Id say just do it if you really want to, but dont settle on anything less than what your fully comfortable with. There has to be definate support and agreed goals.

It's good you have found some thing that suits you, but all those jobs your previous boss had you doing are for a reason, you obviously did not get it, but have moved on and are now happy

[STINKY NINJA]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

You’re joking right?
WTF did you expect to be doing in the first 3 months of an apprenticeship?

I suppose the lesson here is to UNDERSTAND what an apprenticeship is, and go into it with your eyes open.

A Good option. If you want to learn a trade, with good job security, and a reasonable wage (and you can handle the commitment) the Armed Forces are a Good option.

You do an apprenticeship to learn mechanical skills not be somebodys cleaner,employers who take this approach need a good smack in the mouth.
My very first job as an apprentice diesel mech was helping to rebuild a ktta50 cummins v16 engine,of course i did crap jobs too but that was when there was no mechanical work to be done,being lowest on the totem pole doesnt mean you should only be sweeping,that type of attitude went out decades ago....
Mate you are there to learn and if you dont, then tell them to bash it hard!

[cs123]

Originally Posted by STINKY NINJA

You do an apprenticeship to learn mechanical skills not be somebodys cleaner,employers who take this approach need a good smack in the mouth.
My very first job as an apprentice diesel mech was helping to rebuild a ktta50 cummins v16 engine,of course i did crap jobs too but that was when there was no mechanical work to be done,being lowest on the totem pole doesnt mean you should only be sweeping,that type of attitude went out decades ago....
Mate you are there to learn and if you dont, then tell them to bash it hard!

Wow. Glad you found and employer that lived up to your expectations.

[Gaz]

Originally Posted by calais

I started an apprenticeship in 2003, and walked away after three months.

The prestige dealer where I worked seemed to think I was a broom custodian. ...

The quality of the apprenticeship is directly linked with the quality of the employer. In my case it was apsolutely disgusting. I was there to learn and they werent interested. They expected I'd learn everything I needed in one day a fortnight of tafe.

Your employer needs to find a middle ground. As a 17 yo i can understand their reluctance to let you get ya hands dirty in the first 3 months. It can be hard for them due to having time to teach and liability or cost of ****ups of letting you do something.

The first 3 months can also be an attitude check, if you ***** and moan you'll struggle. If you do what they want, even **** jobs, and do it proficiently you'll get rewarded.

Most of the apprentices I work with are 18/19, and you can see the jobs they are given are based on attitude and ability.

At my work, (after 3 months) without having previously worked on or being trained on them, have been sent offsite to fix a cat 970f tyre handler conversion whose hydraulic arms had stopped working and had a start/shutdown fault and a 785 dump truck that wouldn't start and had a fire suppression fault. They are big machines and the information I was given is that the 785 is air started and the fitting was hanging from the LHS chassis rail and left to figure it out.

I believe they have seen my work at the workshop, I have proven that I get **** done and they trust they can leave me with a job and I will work it out.

I am also lucky I'm at a place that can afford to let me take the time to work these things out.

[pottery beige]

If I was to go again I would head towards heavy diesel.. Cat meow meow..

smash the hydraulics and auto sparks side for good all rounding...

[The Yeti]

I switched to heavy about 1/2 through

best move I could have made, and I only did it because the dealership I started at went bust

[pottery beige]

firm believer in skilling up and all rounding.. none of this not my job crap.. its for the better of yourself..

+ it leads to guru status and a possible path of the tools when youre old and stuffed..

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

You’re joking right?
WTF did you expect to be doing in the first 3 months of an apprenticeship?

I suppose the lesson here is to UNDERSTAND what an apprenticeship is, and go into it with your eyes open.

A Good option. If you want to learn a trade, with good job security, and a reasonable wage (and you can handle the commitment) the Armed Forces are a Good option.

Sorry but people like you are the reason most kids don't finish apprenticeships.

I was a trainee parts interpreter at a Ford dealer once, lasted 6 weeks before i got the $#&$%*$^* with washing the bosses car, emptying the bins and sweeping the floor. Mate I can do that anywhere, I'm here to learn how to do a job - not be a gopher.
7 years later and I am head spare parts guy where I work, I have no formal qualifications in spares but I have a buttload of experience, I'm good with customers and I take the time to listen and find what I need to get the job done. Reason being my previous boss and the one that bought the business saw I was keen to do it and gave me a go - nothing more, nothing less. The rest I did myself.

This utter BS - yes it is BS - about kids getting treated like garbage and made to do menial tasks that they could do anywhere, instead of learning the actual trade, is why kids dont finish apparenticeships and why employers get jaded about putting on trainees. And it's nobody elses fault but their own.

[fordomatic]

Originally Posted by ratter

award is something like 34K a year for a qualified mechanic

That is disgusting, it's not an easy job, the owners of the mechanics only paying there workers these wages must be rolling in it. My MRS earns 58k a year and all she does is manage a medical practice. You would have to do it for the love of the job for that money.

[ratter]

there is no reason a kid should be made to feel like they are garbage, but if a kid can't take pride in small "menial" jobs like cleaning etc and carry them out correctly then how are they to be trusted doing jobs that are important.

My customers are too important to me to have someone not doing things correctly and to a certain standard

[ratter]

Originally Posted by fordomatic

That is disgusting, it's not an easy job, the owners of the mechanics only paying there workers these wages must be rolling in it. My MRS earns 58k a year and all she does is manage a medical practice. You would have to do it for the love of the job for that money.

there's not that much money in the trade, not many financially rich mechanics out there

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by ratter

there is no reason a kid should be made to feel like they are garbage, but if a kid can't take pride in small "menial" jobs like cleaning etc and carry them out correctly then how are they to be trusted doing jobs that are important.

My customers are too important to me to have someone not doing things correctly and to a certain standard

Dont get me wrong, if a bin needs to be emptied or a floor vacuumed mate I am doing it no questions asked and thats the way it has been (and always will be).

But what is the point of putting someone on to do a job, and then not allowing them to even try? Granted parts is different to swinging spanners but to give you an example, if I have a new casual staff member starting with me the first thing I do is give them a rundown of what I do and how I do it. After I feel (and they agree) they're competent, I give 'em a list of parts to look up for a car, and I check their results. That's how I learnt - by doing. Not by watching someone else do it while I mopped the floor.

Wouldnt be all that hard to supervise someone changing an oil filter, doing an air filter etc. Not exactly rocket science.

[ratter]

there is a time issue, if you have a staff member that everything they do needs to be checked it is pointless having them there. Yes apprentices need to have their work checked, but if they show initiative from the start and can do a job to the best of their ability and take pride in the final product, then they can proceed quicker, but if you have a guy that can't even clean properly and a job is visibly left that way then how can they be trusted in doing a job that would be partially out of sight.

[STINKY NINJA]

Originally Posted by ratter

there is no reason a kid should be made to feel like they are garbage, but if a kid can't take pride in small "menial" jobs like cleaning etc and carry them out correctly then how are they to be trusted doing jobs that are important.

My customers are too important to me to have someone not doing things correctly and to a certain standard

Well maybe you should employ cleaners instead of apprentices,if you cant teach the kids skills dont waste their time.
I understand running a high performance business you need to ensure the jobs are done correctly so if you cant trust an apprentice to do the job under your supervision dont employ them in the first place...

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by STINKY NINJA

Well maybe you should employ cleaners instead of apprentices,if you cant teach the kids skills dont waste their time.
I understand running a high performance business you need to ensure the jobs are done correctly so if you cant trust an apprentice to do the job under your supervision dont employ them in the first place...

Have to agree.

[STINKY NINJA]

Honestly guys the attitude to teaching apprentices is that far in the dark ages its no wonder they just go and work at coles for more money and less hassle,or just drive a fork for 30 plus bucks an hour.
Come on young people sign up for an apprenticeship so we can treat you like dirt and pay you peanuts for it,come on do it....

[GTMOND]

I'm 38 and just done my RPL only a cert 3 but its a start, and working in a small mine in the N.T but will be still trying to do a mature age apprentice through CAT. Diesel fitter the way to go if you want money as well.

[broekn]

Diesel is the way to go. The skills are essentially the same but on a bigger scale, plus some hydraulics, and air brakes. I started my apprenticeship at 27 and was no where near the oldest of my class.

Good luck getting a job as a diesel fitter though, with the mining industry going southward most maintenance companies are putting off people not taking them on.

[ratter]

Originally Posted by STINKY NINJA

Well maybe you should employ cleaners instead of apprentices,if you cant teach the kids skills dont waste their time.
I understand running a high performance business you need to ensure the jobs are done correctly so if you cant trust an apprentice to do the job under your supervision dont employ them in the first place...

doesn't matter whether it is a performance car or just an everyday run about, all jobs require thorough attention.
All trades require apprentices to come through the ranks, so they need to be employed otherwise there will eventually be no trades people. Too many people these days think they are better than they are and do not like to do basic jobs, they want to start at the top , it looks like some people posting here are like that.

[Windsor220]

It has destroyed my interest in cars as a hobby but I don't mind it as a job. Money is about average. 60-65k for 38 hours a week isn't that bad. Sure its not FIFO money but you can easily live on it.