Looking to start a career in automotive

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

My first ever personal loan at the ripe old age of 16 was for a toolbox... at that time it was the largest amount of cash I'd ever had in my hands!

(A so-called "mate" at the time damn near convinced me to buy a car with it instead!)

Same, I think I was 22 when I bought my first full complete kit, had a tool box with bits and pieces I had acquired over a few years but not a complete set of anything in there, did a deal with the boss and he bought it and took a bit out of my pay each week to pay it off. 12 months later I owned it. I seem to remember $1800 paid for it, in 1990 that was a large amount of money for a single income family of 4.

 

[JmL300993]

Perhaps get onto your local MTA and see what they can do for you.....I have seen a lot of MTA trainees around dealerships, starting out in this field...

hope i dont seem like an idiot but whats MTA?

 

[JmL300993]

Same, I think I was 22 when I bought my first full complete kit, had a tool box with bits and pieces I had acquired over a few years but not a complete set of anything in there, did a deal with the boss and he bought it and took a bit out of my pay each week to pay it off. 12 months later I owned it. I seem to remember $1800 paid for it, in 1990 that was a large amount of money for a single income family of 4.

Cheers for all your information mate
You should see my bits an pieces tool box 80% of it kmart gear lol(had to start somewhere) Not the greatest stuff but i look forward to the real deal stuff soon!

 

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

MTA: Motor Trades Association.

 

[Bigfella237]

I seem to remember $1800 paid for it, in 1990 that was a large amount of money for a single income family of 4.

Can't remember what I paid for mine, I think it was around $1200 but that was the top of the range back then. From memory my 1st year apprentice wage was around $89 a week!

Andrew

 

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

I wasn't doing an apprenticeship at the time, I was on about $300 a week.

 

[Drawnnite]

You should see my bits an pieces tool box 80% of it kmart gear lol(had to start somewhere) Not the greatest stuff but i look forward to the real deal stuff soon!

as you said, you have to start somewhere.
id hate to know what ive spent on tools over the years. slowly going from ones that get you by to ones that if you ever need to replace something is seriously wrong
mind you, it is quite true, you pay for quality and although I am in a different trade, you pay for specialised tools.

 

[JmL300993]

Finally got a job its not automotive but hopefully soon !

 

[Bigfella237]

Congrats... one other thing I remember (but I don't know if it's still current), you used to be able to do a pre-apprenticeship TAFE course, which gave you some basic mechanical knowledge, and I think that cut the first year off the four year apprenticeship?

Not sure if you could do night courses or maybe online (although I'd guess there's a lot of hands-on stuff)?

 

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

The pre-apprenticeship still applies, but I think they split it up into different courses rather than just a general one now. TAFE makes more money that way. I believe doing this course used to have an advantage as employers would rather take on an apprentice that had at least some training, rather than someone totally green. My opinion is that if you have to go to TAFE to do some sort of pre-apprenticeship, how much aptitude do you really have? In my years in the industry, I have had contact with many apprentices and some 1st years had more ability than tradies than have been doing it for years.