mechanic apprenticeship

[(CODEZ)]

hey guys

im looking for a mechanic apprenticeship in SA
i havent got any past experience (thats why i want to get an apprenticeship lol)
i would like to try and get one at a place that focuses on the performance side of things and i dont know of any
would anyone have any suggestions of who i should have a talk to?

thanks

[nathg]

I suggest you go around to a few workshops and offer to help around so you and see what it's really like. Even if they just make you clean for a few hours each day, you'll gain an understanding in about a week of what actually happens in a work shop, and if you still want to be doing it after a loooonnnggg 4 years

[Morton]

It's not easy getting into performance workshops unless you know people. You'll have to do the hard yards in a regular garage first - suffer out the apprenticeship, take some specialist courses, then maybe with a few years' experience you can start going where you want if you have the knowledge

[(CODEZ)]

thanks nathg and morton
ill take both of your advice, looks like im gonna have to suffer doing services and telling people why their car is making that click-click noise lol
oh well i guess it will be worth it coz then i dont have to pay anyone to fix my car

[nathg]

Probably the best thing about being in the trade, access to hoists and other peoples knowledge lol.
Also, you will defiently meet people along the way of your apprenticeship, be it at your workplace ot tafe. Don't think that you can't get into the performance side of things, even say like in your 3rd or 4th year, someone at tafe might be looking for a new employee and you might be suitable.
Anyway, good luck with whatever you choose ay.

[Abrowne70]

Speaking as a recent mechanic apprentice, you really need to love the mechanically side of it, theres alot of cleaning involved until you prove yourself, then you get to do services for ages(currently where im at) eventually you'll get to do random things, pulling breaks down, changing driveshafts, cooling system based jobs.

But also remember your an apprentice and we get the sh*t jobs, you'll also help the other mechanics out alot.

just keep looking around and eventually you'll find one.

[social]

Hey mate,
Im newly a mechanic apprentice (5wks in woo) at MTA (motor trade association) and boy its not easy getting in mate and unfortunately thanks to the word fking itself over crisis thingo, its guna get even harder, all workshops are being sourced out for apprenticeships, take what you can is my opinion, you may like your mechanics but getting ANY APPRENTICESHIP at all atm would be the best bet. Goodluck.

[nathg]

Hey mate,
Im newly a mechanic apprentice (5wks in woo) at MTA (motor trade association) and boy its not easy getting in mate and unfortunately thanks to the word fking itself over crisis thingo, its guna get even harder, all workshops are being sourced out for apprenticeships, take what you can is my opinion, you may like your mechanics but getting ANY APPRENTICESHIP at all atm would be the best bet. Goodluck.

Yeah group training companies would be your best bet. I am with AGT (NSW only I believe) and if you are put in a dealership you certainly have more job security thana small workshop. As I said earlier, try and do some work experience, just to make sure its what you want to spend 4 years doing.

[(CODEZ)]

thanks everyone, what would i do without this forum lol
i reckon ill suss out MTA and see what my options are with that
im pretty sure im going to be doing a weeks work experience at enhanced automotive within the next few weeks so that will be a big help
someone there might know of someone looking for an apprentice
might even get lucky enough to be considered there

[enhancedss]

As they said previously, yes you have to do the hard yards, you dont get the creame jobs, you never will, until youve proven yourself.

We arnt dealing with just a motor vehicle, we are dealing with guys pride and joys. We arnt dealing with cars that accelerate to 60km/h in 5 seconds, we are dealing with cars that accelerate to 60-100km/h in seconds, or do 230+km/h in 400 meters.

The way you really need to start of, is Basic understanding of motor vehicles, do the 4 years, understand everything how a car works, overhaul every part on a car, and so on.

[helrzr925]

well i recently started a mechanics apprentiship with zupps and on my first day i had to do a full service on a vz maloo, and had to install upgraded speakers on a vx ss
so as far as apprentiships go that is about as close as you'll get to performance

[nemesis_adrasteia]

beware of group train organisations some are more trouble than their worth if you can get a job outside of a group training organisation youd be much better off

[cpbait]

depends, in melbourne group training companies such as megt(who i did my automotive apprenticeship through) and vacc are very good, even apprenticeships victoria are good, with out a pre apprenticeship places such as holden wont touch you which i found out and you have to go through vacc to go with them who you do a pre apprenticeship with first and when you start your actual apprenticeship they give you a set of tools to start with, plus if you have any problems with your host employer you can go straight to you group training organisation and they will help sort out any problems. and will be more secuire at the moment for pay with the current financial crisis.


i didn't have a pre apprenticship but on my first day the host employer (melbourne city land rover) put me with a qualified mechanic and had me working straight away which was the best way to start, alot better than cleaning floors and tools, etc and you learn alot quicker and can help make you a better tech, the place i moved to after i finished my apprenticeship had there apprentices cleaning and driving customers alot and by the time they were nearly finished they had hardly touched the tools and only just getting over the basics a year after finishing there apprenticeships, i have since moved on from this place though to a better workshop.