Melbourne Girl Looking To Get Into Mechanics.

[esther]

So, I'm pretty interesting in taking up an apprenticeship in Mechanics sometime this year (Gonna do a pre-apprenticeship course first tho). Anything I should know/expect? Help? Thanks!

[madbung]

It's dirty work and the pay is crap.

Specialist mechanics do a little better ie: diesel, marine ect

The Adf's are always looking for spanner hands.

[FLYREX]

What mad said. only way to make money is to be your own boss. otherwise its dirty, pays rubbish and got to deal with morons all the time

[ras1983]

What mad said. only way to make money is to be your own boss. otherwise its dirty, pays rubbish and got to deal with morons all the time

That seems to be true for most professions. Be it trades/bluecollar jobs or white collar jobs.

[madbung]

Hardly Ras, a chippy, plumber,sparky ect can earn good money sub-contracting

You're average mechanic earns lawnmower man type $$

[ras1983]

Subbies aren't the same as a paid employee though. They usually get higher hourly rates or get paid by the job from my experience.

The tradies I know don't make that much unless they own their own business and get their own jobs.

[R31Nismoid]

I'd go via Defence, i think its either 3 or 4 years and your out with good experience and qualifications.

I know many people through my best mate (whos Navy since '99) and they have gone very great places, big coin off the back of thier Defence work.

Its not the lifestyle for everyone, but its the fastest way and you get to see some of the world at the same time

[Ruffels]

I'd go via Defence, i think its either 3 or 4 years and your out with good experience and qualifications.

I know many people through my best mate (whos Navy since '99) and they have gone very great places, big coin off the back of thier Defence work.

Its not the lifestyle for everyone, but its the fastest way and you get to see some of the world at the same time

Yes and No Ash, the defence force do look after you very well.. however there are a few catch 22's some people should be aware of before jumping in.

* you're locked into it

* they don't run the same scheme as the Australian Apprenticeship scheme, so if for some reason you get say a "medical discharge" half way through your apprenticeship, and then want to go back to your apprenticeship later with an everyday mechanic, you have to start from scratch because the australian apprenticeship sheme and the defence force scheme do not interconnect at this point in time from what i've been told!

My biggest suggestion when going for a mechanical apprenticeship is to stay away from dealerships.. from my friends experiences, you will only work on one brand of car, and most likely will not ammount to much more then a lube mechanic with limited diagnostic experience, which goes along way in the automotive industry when it comes to repair.

any monkey can change a part, but not every monkey can figure out which part needs changing, and why!

just my 2c

[ras1983]

also as far as I can recall you're required to sign up with the DF for an amount equal to half the time they spent training you once you've finished your apprenticeship. These rules were put in place a couple of years ago to stop people from leaving as soon as they were qualified.

[R31Nismoid]

Yes and No Ash, the defence force do look after you very well.. however there are a few catch 22's some people should be aware of before jumping in.

* you're locked into it

* they don't run the same scheme as the Australian Apprenticeship scheme, so if for some reason you get say a "medical discharge" half way through your apprenticeship, and then want to go back to your apprenticeship later with an everyday mechanic, you have to start from scratch because the australian apprenticeship sheme and the defence force scheme do not interconnect at this point in time from what i've been told!

My biggest suggestion when going for a mechanical apprenticeship is to stay away from dealerships.. from my friends experiences, you will only work on one brand of car, and most likely will not ammount to much more then a lube mechanic with limited diagnostic experience, which goes along way in the automotive industry when it comes to repair.

any monkey can change a part, but not every monkey can figure out which part needs changing, and why!

just my 2c

Oh yeah I totally agree about the 22's - there are some things that you have to take into account like you said and weigh up the options of course.

Quick trip into Defence plaza/house on Bourke St and you'll get any info you need easily enough

Its just another good avenue to explore I think mainly was my point, I would do it if I was looking @ that route, but everyone is difference.

[W0rp3D]

I have a couple of mates who are qualified mechanics, none of them stayed in the job for more than a year or so, they all hated it.

On the other hand if you manage to get in with a good performance workshop that would probably be more interesting with the type of work they do.

[Jezza-gtR]

My biggest suggestion when going for a mechanical apprenticeship is to stay away from dealerships.. from my friends experiences, you will only work on one brand of car, and most likely will not ammount to much more then a lube mechanic with limited diagnostic experience, which goes along way in the automotive industry when it comes to repair.

I have to disagree slightly, i work in a dealership right now, and yes bad things are said constantly about them but its not always the case. In my 1.5 years at my workplace now iv had the chance to work on a range of models, citroen, alfa romeo, fiat, lotus, mg / rover and random trade ins that you get so there can be a bit of diversity. Everything is about who you work with, obviously you cant choose them but if your with a great team it makes for excellent working conditions.

some of the mechanics i work with are the best blokes going around and have just taken the time to teach me so much, iv also been lucky enough to tackle big jobs by myself to learn faster and the support is there if i need it. The cars i work on are very electronic controlled so there is always plenty of diag to learn. It's rather funny to see the apprentice know the ins and out of the daig computer program when a qualified mechanic doesn't even know how to hook it up to talk to the car those are the people who are only good for putting a part on.

but yes long term it may not be the best career choice, but its always worth a shot

[_Ryan_]

diesel thru ADF IMO

[Ruffels]

Sounds to me that you work at a multidealer that deals in a variety of cars... i was more hinting towards the likes of holden/ford.

although you are right about the random blow ins from other makes.

as far as diagnostics i wasn't really meaning electronic diagnostic... plugging in a scanner and getting error codes or putting a car on the gas bench doesnt really take alot of know how.

i was more refering to diagnostics in mechanical terms, also without computer aid.. like knowing what noises mean what when something is broken inside a gearbox or engine....

for eg. a friend of mine was working as an app. mechanic at holden and he was told to change a part... while he was being helped to change it he decided to enquire how the service manager knew this part was broken and how it could have become that way?

he was basically told to shut up and just learn how to change the part...

this didnt sit well with me as i regard the later two just as important as knowing how to actually change the part or fix the problem...

it soundsl although you work in a good place... you should be very greatful, they are quite rare these days..

i'm an electrical apprentice, and boy am i treated like a shit kicker *rolls eyes*.. its quite painful, but as the apprentice i just have to take it unfortunatly.

3 years, 2 months and 8 days left... but i'm not counting

I have to disagree slightly, i work in a dealership right now, and yes bad things are said constantly about them but its not always the case. In my 1.5 years at my workplace now iv had the chance to work on a range of models, citroen, alfa romeo, fiat, lotus, mg / rover and random trade ins that you get so there can be a bit of diversity. Everything is about who you work with, obviously you cant choose them but if your with a great team it makes for excellent working conditions.

some of the mechanics i work with are the best blokes going around and have just taken the time to teach me so much, iv also been lucky enough to tackle big jobs by myself to learn faster and the support is there if i need it. The cars i work on are very electronic controlled so there is always plenty of diag to learn. It's rather funny to see the apprentice know the ins and out of the daig computer program when a qualified mechanic doesn't even know how to hook it up to talk to the car those are the people who are only good for putting a part on.

but yes long term it may not be the best career choice, but its always worth a shot

[Jezza-gtR]

Sure do work for a multidealer, Zagame automotive group yes i agree with what you say about the plug in, read the code, and find it out, but its not always as simple as that. But learning how to daig with using other tools and wits is a must for skills to have. Just wanted to say its funny how products get linked with personalities as well in the auto trade, but it just comes down to the attitude / personality of the mechanics in the workplace.. like every other workplace

If your friend is treated like that imo he should find another job, never going to learn anything that way. I haven't had much of that ''just go change this part coz i said so'' but the times i have i have voiced my opinion about it being wrong. I've seen some of the real old school mechanics be tossers coz they had a hard apprenticeship no need to treat others like that with no respect. I've seen plenty of apprentice's come and go and just get walked all over, its all in the attitude.

I'm a 2nd year, about 2 1/2 years left for me, i just want the wage increase of each year to feed my dirty modding habit

[esther]

Thanks for the help guys!!

I don't really wanna do it through the DF cause yeah, i really dont wanna get sucked into having to stick around for even longer after. just doesnt appeal to me im more into the whole pulling everything apart and putting it back together right bit of it and learning how to tell whats broken without just guessing (if that makes sense).

im not gonna be going into it for the money either, so im not too stressed about that. its just something ive wanted to do and been interested in for ages so yeah.

Yeah ive been told my my cousin (did a year of a mechanics apprenticeship then stopped) to stay away from one type dealerships.

[Tomek]

I'd go via Defence, i think its either 3 or 4 years and your out with good experience and qualifications.

I know many people through my best mate (whos Navy since '99) and they have gone very great places, big coin off the back of thier Defence work.

Its not the lifestyle for everyone, but its the fastest way and you get to see some of the world at the same time

Yeah, definately the way to go.. Plenty of experience and an excellent resume once dis-charged. The locked in contract is 6 years..

[DogKnight]

My mate is a mechanic, did his apprenticeship through Chisholm Tafe while working at Kmart automotive as part of it. He hated it there, didnt enjoy it at all. Found a work shop in the local area where the boss treats him pretty well and he gets on with his workmates. As with any job, whether you enjoy it or not usually depends on the environment youre in and who you work with. Good luck.

[Rowdyr32]

Go Aviation in helicopeters. CLEANER and way better payed than working on cars and is a way more respected trade. People see car mechanics as just mechanics where as in aviation you work to such a tight quality control and close tolerances that you can branch off into any mechanical trade after you finish due to the quality of training you recieve and the respect people give the trade because if you f up somebody dies and takes a $500k to over $3million plus helicopter with them.

So much to learn compered to automotive. If you want to see how simple cars are buy one. Pull it down and rebuild the engine and g/box with a manual and thats it. Its all the same. There is nothing to cars and I don't see how people don't get bored working on them. Being a mechanic is more about learning how things work, diagnosing it and remembering it I believe. The more diverse the the area of mechanicals you work on the more you learn so you stay interested. Avaition has piston engines (carby and injected), gas turbines (mech governed and electronically), hydraulics, gearbox's, avionics, sheetmetal and fibreglass fabrication and lots more. It like being a panel beater, auto elect, mechanic, gearbox rebuilder, hydraulic specialist, NDT inspector and office worker plus more all in one job.

Something to think about.

Also diesel is shit to work with since you stink no matter what you do. I've been there and hated it. Also worked for DSI as head dyno operator and hated it working with automatic transmissions.

[R TUNE]

Ok my 2cents.

http://www.defencejobs.gov.au/army/jobs/Ve...nic/JobDetails/ all the info u need

My background first,

Joined army reserves at 17 and started apprentership mechanic at 18

After 2 years of mech aprenterchip v 3 years of army I preferred the army due to the reason listed below.

ARMY advantages over apprentership:

Granted job in the army v uncertainty with the current economic down turn.

Grate pay even in trg ($33000 pa while trg pus 8k service allowance) v a couple hundreds bucks a week while doing same amount of time. (Some one confirms current pay rates please.)

Free medical, dental, legal, and v - you will pay for all these in civi would. Cheep accommodation and meals (apx $100 per fortnight for an on base room in Darwin and apx$130 p/f for meals) v depends on where u stay.

Grate pay when complete trg $55k first year out.

Course time 18 months theory plus 12 months on the job. V 4 years.

Disadvantages.

Yes your are located in but this is not 100% as there are circumstances that will allow u to leave early

6 years service req.

WHAT U GETS TO WORK ON?

Basically any army vehicle from land rovers to the new M1A1 Abrams tank.

Can choose posting any were in Australia (subject to availability).

and yea i do my job not casue of money or qulifercation, but cause of the satersfaction i get and the challange.