Pre Apprenticeship

[LNah]

Hi all. I'm looking at taking up a mature aged automotive apprenticeship. I've just applied for one with VACC, but got dumped. ( So much for the talk of a lack in mature aged applicants and increasing number of apprentices dropping out halfway through the game. ) I'm now looking at other alternatives. For those who are or were in the trade, do you think going door knocking will be the best bet or am I better off getting a pre apprenticeship done first? I'm kind of skeptical of door knocking, but hell.... if this is really the only way to go, I'll do it. But just looking for some advice here as I'm still kind of clueless even after getting info from various places.

Thanks all.

[Miguelone]

Might be worthwhile doing a pre app. I did most of one though and still managed to find an apprenticeship fairly easily. Have you had a look around seek.com.au? It took me about a month or so of solidly looking for an apprenticeship in particular and applying for every one within about an hours drive from me and a few interviews till I got one. I tried door knocking when I was living in Ballarat but nothing ever came from it. There's plenty on seek and other similar websites.

[eightsixboy]

I would avoid VACC anyways as from what I have heard from a union guy they will try to control your pay and shit to much.

Just do a pre app and see how you go, its really the only way to get your foot in the door.

Do you really wanna be a mechanic? If I had my time again I would have done another trade, in other states its not as bad but Vic pays the lowest for some reason, in nsw you would get atleast $2-3 per hour more, when I went up for training last year I couldnt believe what some of the other techs were on, they were on almost as much as a foreman down here which is just worng.

[LNah]

Yeah, it's been my dream to be a mechanic, though I did multimedia in uni for some other reason before. I've sent in some applications already, so still waiting on them for a reply. Did you guys go through a group training place and got them to get you the pre apprenticeship or you just went to TAFE and did it yourself? Different institutes offer different durations, so I'm kind of stuck on which one. I work full time now and still pondering whether if it's feasible to take 2 months off to do the pre app full time.

[eightsixboy]

Just went through TAFE.

Just dont be surprised if the pay is crap, even though you will mature age its pretty bad.

If you do end up doing it and start appplying for places chuck us a pm and I will tell you what places to avoid , there are so any crap wohshops out there is rediculous, I have unfortunently worked in a few of them.

[Miguelone]

Mature age you will be getting just over $14 an hour as opposed to 7.33 for a junior. I turn into mature age in November

[TJR32GTS-T]

I don't know if it's the same for mechanics, but when I did my electrical pre app they helped everyone to get an apprenticeship including some of the mature age students, there are alot of companies that will only hire through tafes,

So yes I would recommend doing a pre app

[LNah]

Thanks people!!! Appreciate it. EightSix, I'll keep you informed on my progress. Will definitely do with some info on which places to avoid working for. Pay wise, I know someone who's a mechanic and he told me that mature aged wages are about $13- $14 an hour, like what Miguelone has mentioned. A little lower than what I'm getting now, so not too much of a difference for me.

[mark33gtst]

Don't worry about PM eightsix. Avoid CAMBERWELL VOLKSWAGEN! lol

[LNah]

Right.... Camberwell VW, 1st on the list.