Getting into the automotive industry

[stoged]

Hi guys,

Looking for some advice, i'm about to finish a traineeship in IT... For the past 2 years or so i've litterally hated my job. My interested are under a bonnet, not stuck behind a computer screen.

My problem is i'm 22 years old now and can't see myself sticking through another 4 year apprenticeship on min wage till i'm 26. Do i have any other options? night TAFE? A shorter apprenticeship?

Thanks guys

[ari666]

there were govt. subsidys a while back to help convince people to go into trade jobs. not sure if they are still running though. there is a test on 'prior learning' you can do for each stage of a mechanical qualification 1, 2, 3 etc. but it means you have to prove you were in the trade for X amount of years and pass a verbal exam (i had to do that cos' ive been in the trade 10 years, but no formal supervisor, it isnt a hard test)

other than that i cant really see a way. mechanical jobs are thankless and underpaid. you have to really love it, and not care about being broke for a few years

[GenReaper]

Dont bother with automotive mechanics, no money in it.

Go diesel or forget it IMO.

Yes you need a trade to make good money.

[CSP]

My interested are under a bonnet, not stuck behind a computer screen.

That can be re-written as "my interests are making barely any money, not a shit load of money".

[illusionalvr]

join the army

[ari666]

lol, dont listen to em' the auto trade is great fun, get to work with tools, and your workmates will be tools too, customers always think your ripping them off, weather like this means WHEN you skin your knuckles it hurts just a little bit more, hot weather means it hurts a bit less but bleeds more so it takes longer to clean, everything that is broken on a car will be blamed on you even if it has been broken for the last 20 years...

etc etc

[havavb]

Im also interested in being an automotive mechanic so i can work on and fix my own car. Its just something i prefer to do so i dont have to call around everytime i think something is wrong. Im 19 and would stick out the 4 yrs but not on low wage. Whats the average pay for apprentice mechanics? And if anyone from Melbourne could help me out with getting into one i would greatly appreciate it! I live around the Heidelberg, Bundoora area...

[axemurderer101]

have you considered auto electrics?

[Sabbath']

lol, dont listen to em' the auto trade is great fun, get to work with tools, and your workmates will be tools too, customers always think your ripping them off, weather like this means WHEN you skin your knuckles it hurts just a little bit more, hot weather means it hurts a bit less but bleeds more so it takes longer to clean, everything that is broken on a car will be blamed on you even if it has been broken for the last 20 years...

etc etc

Amen to all of that.

[nemesis_adrasteia]

Im also interested in being an automotive mechanic so i can work on and fix my own car. Its just something i prefer to do so i dont have to call around everytime i think something is wrong. Im 19 and would stick out the 4 yrs but not on low wage. Whats the average pay for apprentice mechanics? And if anyone from Melbourne could help me out with getting into one i would greatly appreciate it! I live around the Heidelberg, Bundoora area...

im a 1st year light stream mechanic i get around $260 a week

[havavb]

im a 1st year light stream mechanic i get around $260 a week

Thats basically the dole every 2 weeks lol. so i think thats good considering id be earning double a fort night and learning skills.

[nemesis_adrasteia]

Thats basically the dole every 2 weeks lol. so i think thats good considering id be earning double a fort night and learning skills.

yeah if you dont have to travel to far. i think thats pretty much minimum wage for a first year mechanic these days some employers pay more. im not sure if heavy stream gets more money either

[stocky]

That can be re-written as "my interests are making barely any money, not a shit load of money".

Agreed here. You will get sick of cars in no time, and have no motivation to work on your own. I'll be happy to stick with a desk job, and tinker with my own car on the weekends.

[OFF T4P]

go to the mines and do a trade as a heavy vehicle fitter or lv fitter even 1st years earn upwards of 50 grand a year once your a tradey you will be on around 140 grand a year working 2 weeks on 1 week of .

[soop]

dont do you're hobby as a job....
the automotive sector would have to be the worst industry for basically slave labour. Heaps of work, but no bloody money in it. If i had my time again, I'd be a house painter. Good money and easy as piss work.

[nathanVY]

dont do you're hobby as a job....

+1 you'll ruin it and end up hating what you used to love.

plasterers get good money. other than that get into sales, I've been doing it for 3 weeks and loving it, loving the money too.

[partymixx]

where does the money go :O i mean you can pay any where between $100 - $200 for a basic service and a major service can be around the $400-$500 mark fluids and parts dont cost that mush so one would believe that its the labour thats costing the coin.
please correct if wrong.
if your good at what you do then u will earn good money.

[Bravotwozero]

There is money in anything if you know how to get it.

[tonza]

If you like cars, DONT getnto the automotice trades.
I used to love cars, but after panel beating, i hate them.

[soop]

I don't hate cars as such, still love driving them.

LOATH having to fix them, which some what dampens the enjoyment i get from driving.

[Philthy]

I took a shortcut into the car industry this year. I took a minimum wage shit-kicker job at a smash repairer, and within 3 months my boss saw that I was a hard worker, offered me $12g worth of training, and I've gone from 21 year old uni dropout to a 22 year old earning a decent wage with a decent career ahead of me that I am actually enjoying.
Might have just been lucky though...

[soop]

Yeah pretty much, most panel shops wont pay a detailer squat. Because they rarely get paid to wash cars themselves.

[ari666]

where does the money go :O i mean you can pay any where between $100 - $200 for a basic service and a major service can be around the $400-$500 mark fluids and parts dont cost that mush so one would believe that its the labour thats costing the coin.
please correct if wrong.
if your good at what you do then u will earn good money.

well lets see:
3 phase power
tool maintenance
RENT
OH&S
materials
wages
tax

have i forgotton one? this is what i meant by "everyone things your trying to rip them off" they have no friggin idea of what costs there are involved with even LOOKING at their car. i still wont join the "dont do your hobby" club, cos' i am doing my hobby and still love it, but .. yeah... dunoo.

oh p.s. Philthy! congats dude. i dont think you were lucky at all. people who work hard get paid and a good boss will try to keep you happy if your a good worker. from the sounds of it you earned what you got so well done.

[nemesis_adrasteia]

where does the money go :O i mean you can pay any where between $100 - $200 for a basic service and a major service can be around the $400-$500 mark fluids and parts dont cost that mush so one would believe that its the labour thats costing the coin.
please correct if wrong.
if your good at what you do then u will earn good money.

yeah labour is what my boss pays his bills with mate, hes gotta pay for electricity and water like everyone else plus maintaining the shop.

[nemesis_adrasteia]

well lets see:
3 phase power
tool maintenance
RENT
OH&S
materials
wages
tax

have i forgotton one? this is what i meant by "everyone things your trying to rip them off" they have no friggin idea of what costs there are involved with even LOOKING at their car. i still wont join the "dont do your hobby" club, cos' i am doing my hobby and still love it, but .. yeah... dunoo.

oh p.s. Philthy! congats dude. i dont think you were lucky at all. people who work hard get paid and a good boss will try to keep you happy if your a good worker. from the sounds of it you earned what you got so well done.

beat me too it mate, weve got a big sign on the wall in the office saying all that stuff, people still think theyre getting ripped.