Going for a Diesel Technician Apprenticeship

[colourclassic]

Is anyone out there a mechanic or diesel technician?

Some background: 25/M Uni graduate but lost interest in the field (business) and prefer working 'hands on'.

I have a strong mechanical background, and already know my way around cars/bikes etc. General light vehicle mechanics interests me, but the poor wages and potential for being stuck in a dealership deters me from pursuing that field.
I'm not chasing money, but I don't want to invest 4 years into learning a trade only to be paid close to minimum wage.
Diesel appeals mainly due to the higher demand for skilled tradesmen, and also the ability to specialise in hydraulics/earthmoving/mining equipment etc. Also having a business degree, I believe I could work my way up to a workshop manager/district manager further on in this career.

Of the two apprenticeships I've applied for, I have gotten positive responses from both; one a truck dealership and workshop, the other a fleet maintenance role. I'm having trouble deciding which one to chose should I be offered a position.

Does anyone have direct experience with this trade, or even some general career advice?
Cheers

Edited July 14, 2016 by colourclassic

[Gareth]

In my opinion doing a Degree and also a trade qualification is a great idea.

I started doing Mechanical Engineering at uni, but wasn't enjoying it so thought i would do an apprenticeship while i figured out what i wanted to do and go back to uni. I ended up doing Machining and Toolmaking (fitter/turner) and i found the whole apprenticeship experience to be really good, the difference between uni and Polytech (TAFE) where huge, at Polytech the tutors were actually concerned with helping you learn (and for me it was all free due to government subsidies). The only problem was that when i finished my apprenticeship i still felt like i had too much to learn to leave for other pursuits, so i thought i would give it 5 or so years in the trade and see how I felt. 

Unfortunately when you get used to earning and you get to the age when you (or rather your partner) wants to start having a family, you have a mortgage and whatever other responsibilities the idea of going back to uni to study no longer seems like a viable option.

You have done it the right way around, degree first, then do an apprenticeship, then you have all the options in the world to go whichever way you choose.

Funnily enough for me, My employer offered me a position in the design office towards the end of my apprenticeship so i ended up in the same position i would have had i finished my degree. After one year of doing that sitting in front of a computer all day was driving me crazy so i went back to the workshop and then on to other companies.

 

I'm ok for now (CNC Machining is where i have specialised and ended up) but i can't see myself doing this for the rest of my life, not too sure where i'll go from here.

Good luck figuring it out.

[colourclassic]

Cheers for the response, much appreciated. It sounds like after all was said and done you have ended up in a good place career wise. I have always had a similar mindset of 'where to from here' and not being quite sure of what to pursue next. It sounds like persistence and dedication have paid off in your case. 

I'm happy to say that I was successful in my application, and will be starting my diesel technician apprenticeship in under 2 weeks.