Female Wants A Job In The Automotive Industry

[Brin]

Hey guys, and sparing amounts of ladies,

Okay heres the go.

I finished my HSC in 2007, wanted to do something related to cars but Mom swayed me away from doing so. (Should not have let her, it is her own personal reasons - my father was a "grease monkey" too)

Through 2008 I completed a Business Admin Traineeship in Cert 3 at Blacktown Council. My contract with them ceased, and it seems they didn't want to keep on a little lady who takes her sick leave and annual leave to work on her car.

I can admit modestly, that I am quite good at the clerical skills involved with the course I undertook, and through my work at Council. If I continue with administration/secretarial work I could end up doing PA work and earning a sh!tload. The only thing though, is I am not passionate about clerical work. It does not challenge me, and I was teaching the 30 something year old "qualified" clerks how to do stuff.

I would really love a job in the automotive industry, whether it be secretarial or not, but I would really love to be hands on. I have applied for a few apprenticeships, but to no avail.

I then have to weigh up if I want to do 4 years at TAFE on a crappy wage to become a sparky, which means the last year and my cert 3 in admin has been a total waste of time.

How can I convince an employer that I am not a prissy little stuck up b!tch, how can I get into the industry without being laughed at, better yet, what if I was to complete a mechanic apprenticeship and then not be able to find work in that field?

Business Admin sucks. I wanna do something I love. I wanna work on cars. Help me out guys....................

Sab

[minux]

Ok firstly, it is MUM.

If you are good looking, good luck getting hired. Mechanics I know only hire fat chicks as hot ones generally crack the sads when working late nights and weekends.(mechanic mainly).

When it comes to jobs, it is best to not be passionate, allows you to move on chasing more $$$. I'd stick with what you at if you can earn a lot of money for it, although most clerks I see top out at 65k, even good PA's get paid bugger all now.

For the record, if you took sick leave to work on your car I would have fired you well before now. It is SICK leave for a reason, why should your employer have to pay out their money so you can work on a car when you are perfectly healthy?

[Joey_21]

its the risk you take ive been looking for an electrical app for a year i decided not to take one when i finished school wanted to go tafe which i did then finished and got offered another one but i wanted to do another course which fell through and the position was taken in the mean time its all about making tough decsions and wats best for u in the future not wats in the past

[VN_Luke]

I'm with minux on this one....

keep your current line of work and climb the ladder and get as much cash as you can for every hour that you're not at home

Then when you get home - blow that cash on stuff you love doing - i.e. your car.

Mates of mine who got into the automotive industry because they loved cars etc now all drive bombs and hate their jobs. They could build a car etc, but the last thing they want to do after a day of work is go home and work some more

[Tom_1569]

Ok firstly, it is MUM.

If you are good looking, good luck getting hired. Mechanics I know only hire fat chicks as hot ones generally crack the sads when working late nights and weekends.(mechanic mainly).

When it comes to jobs, it is best to not be passionate, allows you to move on chasing more $$$. I'd stick with what you at if you can earn a lot of money for it, although most clerks I see top out at 65k, even good PA's get paid bugger all now.

For the record, if you took sick leave to work on your car I would have fired you well before now. It is SICK leave for a reason, why should your employer have to pay out their money so you can work on a car when you are perfectly healthy?

lol, I was going to point MUM/MOM out aswell. I dont care how badly you spell, just dont spell with american english, it shits me to no end.

Minux also has a fair point, most mechanics are more likely to hire a "butch" lady, because they will work, not be a sook, and not afraid to get dirty. Though I do know a girl who is a mechanic, very lady like out of hours, one of the boys in business hours.

Also dont make your passion something you will hate. I enjoy working on cars, spend most of my spare time doing it, BUT I would never do it as a job, it will kill all my interest and I would get sick of it.
If your good at clerical work then I would personelly stick with it (I stuck with IT for the record) as you will be more comfortable and still be able to enjoy your passion for cars on weekends.

On a side note, council traineeships are very well known for "letting you go" after the traineeship finishes because your wages are to high, and they can get another trainee easily as people use it as a bridge into uni.

[Zeussy]

heyy there, firstly let me say good on you for wanting to get into the mechanical field, and if thats what you decide to do then goodluck with it..

but in my experience, (albeit stuff all) if you do end up convincing an employer to give you a chance - (not saying that you or other women are incapible of doing such a job, or anyless suited to such a position) just that there will be quite a bit of the older 'alpha' male or whatever you call them, ''women shouldn't be in this line of work'' type attitude to deal with, although it is illeagle nowadays, with the harrasment laws, some will still do it.. in my opinion people like this should be shot - all they do is make everyone elses day at work harder than what it needs to be.. haha

although if you're willing to have a go for it, may i suggest some sort of pre-apprenticeship course, or other sort of training based in the mechanical field, it may not actually count for anything in your apprenticeship, but it might help persuade your future employer that this isnt just a spurr of the moment decision, and having a basic knowledge of mechanical principles, or a bit of an idea what does what sort of thing?, if that makes any sense, lol

and another thing to consider, although its not a real biggie, in buisiness admin, (not 100% sure what it entails) do you normally work in a/c offices? in a trade, its very rare to find such luxuries!! on a hot summers day you might be regretting it! but whatever you do have a good think about it, there isnt any real rush is there?
and like joey said, dont worry about the past, look forward to where you want to be!
take it easy n goodluck

[VrWagz1]

All i can add to this is mechancis wages = LOW
You can make better money almost anywhere(and probably less hard work), and areas like this are now vunerable to the current finacial crisis too, as some people decide to service their cars themselves or even start to skip services.

You gotta remember when ever you enter an industy where you deal direct with domestic customers you will never earn much as an employee, as you are always at the mercy of what a customer is going to pay.

[levymetal]

Mates of mine who got into the automotive industry because they loved cars etc now all drive bombs and hate their jobs. They could build a car etc, but the last thing they want to do after a day of work is go home and work some more

exactly, i've got mechanic mates, some drive vn v6s, vks, old old barinas... not many mechanics actually have a good car simply because they can't afford one. being a mechanic is a very hard, dirty job, and for the pay is absolutely disgusting - but someone's gotta do it. so consider yourself lucky that you're not! if you're passionate about something, keep that as your weekend hobby. i'm happily going to say that no one enjoys their job forever, even some famous people who shit money every day hate their lives and still end up commiting suicide. so whatever you do, you'll hate it one way or another, so take the easier course through life

[greenfoam]

Girls make the best spare parts people!, 10x easier job than being a mechanic and probably pays the same if not more

[MikesCalais]

Ok firstly, it is MUM.

Compared to many of the other posts on here, including many of my own - and most likely this one itself!, this one seemed pretty coherent, so I'd say we can let that one slide

anyway, I'd say (and its just my opinion of course) do what you really feel as though you should be doing... If working with cars is what you really want to do, I'd say go for it...

taking 'sickies' to work on your car doesnt seem like youre really overly excited about your work but its a trade off - doing what your passionate about, or earning some extra cash by doing something youre not so crazy about

just my two worthless cents

[greenfoam]

Well as my ever optimistic dad who retires tomorrow told me the other day . You spend 20 years at school 45 at work and then 10 to do what you want before you die.

Basically he's saying (on reflection of his life) don't do anything you don't want to do

[Zuicider]

in all my time as a tradey ive only ever worked with two chick apprentices, they seemed to have known sumone behind the scenes to get there. both were treated differently to the male apprentices given the easier more mundane tasks but they were never considered a girl in the work place . she is one of the boys attitude . i think we have all waged work in our day to do sumthing we wanted to do . whats different from taking a sickie to work on your car to having a sickie to stay home with the missus, or watch a movie or go to the beach.

its not bad till your get caught and no problem really if its once and a while, spruces up a dull working life

[minux]

in all my time as a tradey ive only ever worked with two chick apprentices, they seemed to have known sumone behind the scenes to get there. both were treated differently to the male apprentices given the easier more mundane tasks but they were never considered a girl in the work place . she is one of the boys attitude . i think we have all waged work in our day to do sumthing we wanted to do . whats different from taking a sickie to work on your car to having a sickie to stay home with the missus, or watch a movie or go to the beach.

its not bad till your get caught and no problem really if its once and a while, spruces up a dull working life

So take annual leave rather than ripping off your employer.

[danja]

All the mechanics I've spoken too (and there's been a few 20-something blokes who've been in it for a few years all the way to 50yo "old farts") say they hate working on their own cars, a lot of them got into it because (like the OP) they had a passion for it, but turning that into a 9-5 has killed the excitement.

Suggest you get a well paying job that you don't hate, then find the spare time to endulge your passion.

So take annual leave rather than ripping off your employer.

I agree with you in the ideal world, but in the real world most employers I've had rip the workers off worse, so tit for tat.

[Brin]

Well many times I did have a medical reason to be off, and took in a medical cert EVERY SINGLE TIME. I just spent the day carrying out repairs in the backyard that I don't get to do when you work 6 days a week.

I took one day as "special leave" to pick my car up with its new engine in August, and two days "Annual Leave" in October which they knew was to make her roadworthy so I COULD CONTINUE TO TRAVEL FROM LIVERPOOL TO BLACKTOWN FOR WORK.

As for my English, English is my mother tongue, I was born in Australia, although I have a Sri Lankan background. Sorry if my manner offends, but after calling her Mom my whole life, it's a bit hard to turn it around 19 years later!!

For those who have encouraged me, thanks alot dudes. I applied for a few apprenticeships last night, so we'll see what happens.

A fellow at Commwreck told me to ask Ackie (the owner) for work that she'd probably hire me to do deliveries and cleaning... Which isn't bad, it's a start in the industry..

Once again, for those who have enouraged a little lady to keep looking for work in the particular industry, thankyou sooo much. I don't wanna be doing something I hate for the rest of my life.

Anyway folks, I shall leave it at that.

Cheers

Sabrina

[-Junior-]

Since being a Sydney girl, get a hold of Automotive Group Training (AGT) at Bankstown (think there still there). They are an apprentice placement company and have a variety of jobs in the industry. Did my app through them a while ago now, they are helpfull.The other option would be to work in the office of a service dept etc.

As people have said, pay is cr@p even for foreman, and this is one of the reasons I am not in the trade now. Also the last thing that you want to do on a day of is to work on your own car after working on them all day.

There are options if this is what you want to do but remember it is still a boys club in most workshops.

[Jo3_Blo]

I wanted to be a mechanic up until about 2 years ago when mechanics I spoke to said that the industry is changing, becomming revoloutionised.

I dreamed of getting under a car and spinning some spanners, pulling something apart, fixing it and putting it all back together again and have it work as good as new.

Nowadays it's all computerised and hi-tech crap. - No thanks.

I reckon building industry isn't gonna change to much, and its what I always wanted to do until I wanted to be a mechanic, so I reckon I'll probs do something in that field. And hopefully earn plenty of cash and have time to spend on my cars.

I have never seen a female mechanic (in real life) but there are plenty of spare parts chicks, that work for say Bursons, and go around in a ute to all the workshops delivering parts. That might be a reasonably fun/easy job and similar pay for you.

[soop]

Eh?

I just repaired a blown head gasket on a 5.7ltr diesel 6cylinder.
Now I'm in the process of replacing a farked fuel level float. (Which happens to be hidden in the biggest PRICK of a spot.)

It's not changing any more than it has compared to 1910, when they used to smash the carbies with hammers to fix them. (No joke, that was about all you could do to "Fix" the carbies on the Model A fords.)

[doms3]

Make a good coffee?

[-Junior-]

^^^^^Bahahahahahaha HARSH!

[VLDavo]

if u really wanna do it nothing will stop u.. just try hard at it.

but i couldnt handle working on shit boxs and doing services for 15 bucks an hour

[Sabbath']

As for my English, English is my mother tongue, I was born in Australia, although I have a Sri Lankan background. Sorry if my manner offends, but after calling her Mom my whole life, it's a bit hard to turn it around 19 years later!!

So you were taught how to speak english. No real excuse in my opinion for talking like an American if you were schooled in the Australian education system.


Go through a group apprenticeship scheme. In Victoria we have the VACC where you sit through a written examination (english is a part of it so you may have already failed) that looks at your mental ability to work out simple maths and mechanical logic. You then do a face to face interview if you are get through the first level.

[Julie]

If you have any aspirations of being well off get this idea out of your head quick smart. Theres a few qualified mechanics at my hubbys work that left the trade to become offsiders in teh factory because the money was so much better.

Have you considered approaching businesses directly and looking for opportunities to do a bit of unpaid work experience? Maybe you could prove yourself that way.

[Zuicider]

who cares about the mom thing anyway australia is suppose to be mutlicultural, if we all spoke with the same words wouldnt that make us bloody sheep

[Boonz]

if your handy with electronics, and want to learn how hydraulics work then theres plenty of opportunity working as a mobile technician with catterpillar and john deer.

good clean work and pay is about 4 times the average mechanic

just gotta do alot of training and be good at it. its not really that difficult once you ahve your head around it after the training is finished