Hi guys, I have been an apprentice chef for the past 3 months and have dreaded the hours since go, 10 am starts and 3 am finishes has physically killed me. Since a boy i have wanted to become a mechanic, i love my cars to death and have an attention to detail which highlights my enthusiasm for cars. is there any tips or advice i should know about the trade and how it works ? kind regards sle3per

i started working for volkswagen when i was 17, starting work at 8 and finishing 5.30, sometimes even 6. it is hard work but your body just gets used to it. im turning second year in november

do you enjoy the nature of the work, i believe its more demanding like time limits on certain jobs and stuff like that, my cousin was an apprentice for Holden in Footscray and he tells me its demanding but enjoyable at the same time depending on your enthusiasm about cars and your motivation to learn

im about half way through my second year and i couldnt be happier with my job bud, the pay for apprentices is piss even compared to other trades ( sparky, builders etc ) but if you enjoy your work its a worthwhile sacrifice. i personally wouldnt reccommend doing an apprenticeship with a dealership, had 3 mates who hated it simply because of the same **** different day aspect of it, but im more than happy as my work does mostly car yard work so different cars, broad job range plus all different private jobs. another big thing is the boss you get and the people you work with, im working with my best mate and his old man so no complaints, but if you get a c unt of a boss youll hate life. so if you like very long days and average pay... become an apprentice mechanic Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

sounds good, whats this about the dealerships, i would have thought dealerships where the way too go, but you make a valid point in regard to same thing different day, would a single independent workshop also be the way ?

Ey mate all i can say is if u have a good boss youl be right apart from the s hit pay i had some bad bosses + i got thrown in the deep end and i was to young to handle the pressure wich caused me to leav the industry cbf with moody pricks all day evryday loved the work but can be very demanding at times also mayb try a pre app az well id recomnd a dealership so all the schooling and everthn is 100% gauranteed

yes you are always rushed to do jobs. thats normal. working for a dealership has its ups and downs. its the same **** everday but your garunteed to get paid, u get your bonuses, you work in a clean environment, with the latest technology. but you do get alot of smartarsess. thats life but

I work at a dealership and as said it has it's ups and downs. You tend to do alot of the same **** and a lot of replacing parts instead of fixing them. But you do get looked after and the schooling can be pretty good. I get sent to sydney all paid for for training and the training is usually alot better than trade school. Pay is **** but

any one know of any good places besides dealerships i should be looking at, im going in as a first year apprentice, brawlr you make a good point, about replacements in dealerships instead of fixing them, and another point that seems to bother some of you is the **** boss factor and the ass hole factor of the job, the pay doesn't bother me that much, anyone have a rough estimate about apprentice mechanic wages ?

Since your based in Melb, try get a job working directly for a manufacturer in R&D for future models. Working environment is better, wages are better plus no customers to deal with You've got Ford in Campellfield and Holden in Port Melbourne plus their testing facilities on the outskirts of Melb. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

First step would be to learn to spell "Apprenticeship" correctly.

if i do diesel mechanics does that also qualify me as a light vehicle mechanic or not ?

RUN, RUN as far as you can. Dont even think about becoming a motor mechanic.

Quote: Originally Posted by sle3per [View Post] any one know of any good places besides dealerships i should be looking at, im going in as a first year apprentice, brawlr you make a good point, about replacements in dealerships instead of fixing them, and another point that seems to bother some of you is the **** boss factor and the ass hole factor of the job, the pay doesn't bother me that much, anyone have a rough estimate about apprentice mechanic wages ? You get dickheads in any industry so i wouldn't let that faze you too much. Pay will be depend on whether your mature age or not, if not you may clear 250-300p/w if your lucky. Best bet if your keen is to join a job agency. These are the guys I went through http://www.linkemploy.org.au/

How about performance workshops ?

Turn the other way and run, i done my mech app because i liked working on cars. But working on ****boxes all day, getting payed stuff all aint fun. But you do learn alot.

Quote: Originally Posted by sle3per [View Post] How about performance workshops ? i've always wanted to work in a performance workshop i once worked at kamikaze motors just doing services on cars. all the cars they did were imports so alot of skylines, supra's, chasers, evo's, 200sx's etc which i found fun coz there nice cars but since i stopped working there i havent found any other work in the industry :s

With wages the way they are (qualified mechanics clearning $650 a week), i cant see why anyone bothers... become a heavy/diesel mechanic if you're deadset on being one Or become a plumber/builder, make some real money

sounds good, i might be getting some work experience for 1 or two weeks at a performance shop, because thats where ultimatly my passion for cars lies. i thourght when your a qualified mechanic your also a qualified heavy vehicle mechanic aswell ?

Hey bro just putting my opinion out there and I don't wanna put you off, but being a apprentice mechanic is just a waste of time. $250 a week is just a joke, its like they're making you work for free, the bosses and tradespeople are just pricks and will hassle you day in and day out. As a first year all you will be doing is cleaning **** up and making coffee for everyone as well as buy them lunch. And God forbid if you spill only a tiny drop of oil or otherwise they will raise the roof. All in all unless you truly enjoy cars and don`t mind copping **** and getting **** money for the work you do go for it and be an apprentice. I did one week of work experience unpaid at this workshop and even the guy i worked for told me its **** and not worth the time working as a mechanic. **** that ****.