Melbourne Girl Looking To Get Into Mechanics.

[BeEnAr]

what you training as? English Teacher?? jokes sorry.

My bro was in the Navy, did an electronics tech apprenticeship, then got bored and did clearance diving for a bit. Now he's been out for about 20 years and is in IT earning a pretty penny for his ADF Quals

[R31Nismoid]

What does a career change have to do with it... makes little sense comparing apples to oranges

[WARLORD BAS]

some dealerships are basically just about spinning filters and doing very basic work.

it all depends on where you get placed

im currently a 2nd year mechanic and i work for a volkswagen.

its a great brand to be in and even better to be a specialist in this car.

there is plenty of diagnostics involved the technology is alot better then other car makes.

to have your own business and be a specialist in a particular car make (like vw) means big time $$$$$$$$$

BUT, in all honesty if you do wanna do it and your extremely keen to be a mechanic then go for it

and try hard and learn as much as you can so you can eventually start your business. its not the type of trade

that you would want to stay in and work for someone.

as soon as i finished my apprenticeship and have my a/c licence and roadworthy licence then im out of it

and do what i feel is right at the time.

[R TUNE]

Yes i know my english is not the best.

but for me im qulified in the following.

crewman m1a1 abram MBT i drive them.

caverly scout - basicly a rcon

and have multerple qulifications in wepons, field work, some leadership, first aid.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk9BiypNxQM...feature=related

[33gtst]

Good luck Huni. Just be careful, choose wisely and dont EVER let anyone sway you from your wants. The automotive scene is rife with morons and wankers, so be warned as a chick in the male dominated mechanics scene its not always easy. That being said, if automotive is your passion, dont get too carried away in all the hype and excitement, and lose site of your own personal motivations. Its dirty, filthy work actually, but after a few days, youll certainly know if its for you, and if your at all handy with a spanner!

Its a very tough call what environment might suit, the thrill of the performance scene can be exciting, but the job stability and security may not be there, however at a dealer over time you can become invaluable to that brand. Yes minors/majors can be boring all day, but after 2 years turbo r + r can get that way to. Like any job, same shit different day.

I started my app as a mature age apprentice and have not completed it with 2 yrs remaining, but at the moment im not really in a position financially to go back to a shithouse wage...I do hope to complete my cert 3 and had huge plans to open my own shop...if this is really what you want I hope you dont end up as I have, getting only 1/2 way has been the biggest dissappointment of my life thus far!

[BeEnAr]

What does a career change have to do with it... makes little sense comparing apples to oranges

Was just tellin the story dude, plus he got the job because of his Navy Quals. Employers look highly at a background in the ADF as it shows you have commitment and aren't gonna just hang round for a couple of months and then piss off

[R TUNE]

Was just tellin the story dude, plus he got the job because of his Navy Quals. Employers look highly at a background in the ADF as it shows you have commitment and aren't gonna just hang round for a couple of months and then piss off

2nd that. My dad does recuiting and has placed a lot of people with ADF backgrounds in to jobs over other people casue the employers like the disaplen and comitment they have.

Any way good luck with what you choose.

[VB-]

its alright to say join the defence force to do it, but do we really want a GIRL fighting for our country?

in all honesty though, dont be a mechanic. as much as you want to, its just a bullshit career move. as above, dont let anyone sway you if you really want it, but just keep in mind, if you get fed up with it down the track, your either going to be stuck in a shit job you hate, or your going to have to start fresh, which you probly ownt do as you dont wanna go back to apprentice wages/no income if you go back to school

think about it long and hard. and whatever you do, dont go to a dealership. i've got a few mates who did, still crap pay, still dirty work, and they learn sweet f*** all

another thing to keep in mind, most of my mates that became mechanics did it for the love of cars, which they no longer have due to the job....

[NUTWGN]

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!

My advice as someone who works as a service receptionist for a private mechanic is keep trying and dont let anyone get you down. There is a young girl around here who tried to get on as an apprentice mechanic, kept getting knocked back (she thought it was because she was a girl) and just gave up.

Another good tip is to pay attention and give your 110% in the pre apprenticeship course - Im in the country but know of a few mechanical workshops around here that have put their first year apprentices on through reccomendations from the TAFE teachers of the pre apprenticeship course.

Good Luck with the job hunt!

Cheers

Anna

[GTR-32U]

its alright to say join the defence force to do it, but do we really want a GIRL fighting for our country?

in all honesty though, dont be a mechanic. as much as you want to, its just a bullshit career move. as above, dont let anyone sway you if you really want it, but just keep in mind, if you get fed up with it down the track, your either going to be stuck in a shit job you hate, or your going to have to start fresh, which you probly ownt do as you dont wanna go back to apprentice wages/no income if you go back to school

think about it long and hard. and whatever you do, dont go to a dealership. i've got a few mates who did, still crap pay, still dirty work, and they learn sweet f*** all

another thing to keep in mind, most of my mates that became mechanics did it for the love of cars, which they no longer have due to the job....

Some pretty good advice here

I am not sure how old you are but if you are young and really that determined, just do the apprenticeship somewhere and then get out and find something else. It really is the crappest job in the whole automotive trade, with the crappest wages and worst working conditions.

Try and picture this,

Imagine a 40 degree summer when you are in your overalls dying from heat exhaustion as most mechanic workshops are stinking hot anyway. Imagine then having to work on some burning hot , Oily greasy piece of Garbage searing the flesh on your arms and then trying to perform contortionist types of moves with tools trying to undo or tighten some stupid bolt. it really is that Bad

I think I know your predicament and to be honest 99% of car enthusiasts who dont work in the Auto trade are in the same Boat ( myself included )

It really sux that here in Australia to do any sort of Mechanic course you must be an apprentice.There really isnt anything that i know of that caters for us people who dont work in the autotrade. I do know that in the US there are some great courses going where they will teach even the most inexperienced beginner How to fully build and Blueprint engines all the way through to competiition cylinder head porting

Check out this link

http://www.mondello.com/index_files/Page778.htm

[Jezza-gtR]

So much hate for being a mechanic such a laugh

mechanics in america are all specialized so iv been told like one guy changes filters, one fluids, one does brakes etc etc.. much more skills needed for being a mechanic here, you need to know how to do everything

[MeL_rps013]

Best thing to do is do a pre app, 3months see how you like it, you will meet all the dickheads at tafe so you will get a taste of the kinda people you have to work with lol i was a motor mechanic and loved it tho in time it ruined my hobby working on my cars etc and was low on cash which kinda sux when you wanna upgrade mods and so on.. so i took a break... its really hard to find a job as it is a male dominated trade unfortunately, it took me 1yr to find a diesel app so i gave up had enough of all the time wasting and a big factor is ppl around you being negative like some of the posts above. My mate told me to go for a interview at a wshop that was hiring and i said ok last one, i got the job and now im an app absolutley love it, pays better and working on trucks is different to cars!! I actually look foward to go to work haha but just remember your hands will b stuffed cuts, grease seems to live under your nails 24/7, cant wear white, allways covered in black sht, dont mind lifting heavy things and coping shit off ppl at work.

if your really egar go for it dont let anyone talk you out of it.

good luck

[EeLeYe]

A few years back there used to be some commercial with a chick mechanic answering the phone... All I remember is that she was HawwwwwwTT. I wonder if anyone else remembers it...

Since then, chick mechanics have been a turn on

Obviously this post is in no way a helpful one. Then again, maybe I should be posting it on redhotpie or adultmatchmaker...

[adis]

My advice is, to mminimize your chances of being "mistreated", look for a job in bigger company. Some doddgy, rude mechanics out there. my 1.9 cents

[MYRB30]

This is quite funny. Not long a go a fella was saying he wanted to be a mechnic. I let rip with my view of the trade and was shot down for being over negetive and crap at my job!

How disliking your job eqates to being no good at it beats me. Shane Warne wanted to be an AFL player, didn't really care much for cricket, but was the best bowler of all time.

But here in this thread alot of people are advising against it.

I have no doubt females can make great mechanics. You just gotta be able to stand up and tell the idiots running the show to F#@K OFF alot of the time. After all why aren't they working on the cars?

Automotive customers are the worst in the world. I am sure of this. Im sick and tired of chasing dash rattles and squeaks. Consumer law says these are not warranty, and we should get paid to find them. I spend alot of my day doing warranty stuff, and they business just doesn't get paid for it. Hence my time is worthless. Thats what annoys me the most. Im selling my life away at a rediculously low cost.

How can a lawyer justify $80 just to answer an email, where I can work on a car for two or three days and the business doesn't recieve a cent.

[R TUNE]

its alright to say join the defence force to do it, but do we really want a GIRL fighting for our country.

mate there are plenty of chicks fighting for us at the moment. and whats wrong with a girl fighting for our country, if she wonts to serve andprotect the country she live's in then let her. If it was up to me i would let any girl who could do the work the guys do join the same job they do.

we have girls as comabt pilots, on bord navy ships and in support roles in the army.

and right now we NEED people badley, in every trade.

personaly do what u think is best but for the moeny and benifits go defence much better option then apprentership.

brentt

[VB-]

yeah... i wasnt actually serious dude? i couldnt give a f*ck if she wanted to join the army

[eeiko321]

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!

hey there

sorry i havent read all the posts in here

but to be honest, i dont think its worth it.

i was once an apprentice mechanic.......when i finished year 12 back in 1998, i really didnt know what to do.... i had an interest in cars...so i thought that was the way to go...

infact..then i learnt it was a SHIT house of a job, the pay was shit... (even qualified tradesmen get shit...) the Award wage is around 15$ per hour....

its really hard work and very dirty......and its practically like Factory/warehouse job...where you just bundy in and the boss has a little window that oversees the whole workshop....so always you'll be on your guard... ( i worked at a holden dealer & mazda/Audi dealership)

then i realised, everyone loves cars........but driving one is totally different to fixing one....

it was really HARSH on your hands.....being a grease monkey all day but washing your hands after every job ...with Strong industrial type hand cleaner... and a percentage of people actually suffer from dermatitis with thier skin conditions after being a mechanic.

Oh..and TAFE was a total shit fight also..... at the time i did it...........they were adjusting the cirriculum (making it harder as they always do) it was like hairdressing....where you have a log book, and u write down what cars and what jobs you do to it....so at the end of it.....they will go through it and see if your worthy to get the ticket

.. kinda like your hours in your Learners driving plates.

i finally gave up......im seriously glad i got out of there...it was personally the BEST thing i done....

but the BIGGEST REGRET was that i did it for 3 years.....nearly to 4th year apprentice......that was a total waste of 3 years of my life...... and i remember 3rd year wages was about $11 per hour.. and 4th year was $13 per hour.

seriosuly.....people who work at ALDI get 19$ per hour....and the work is no where near as crap

but anyhow......at the end of the day........you'll know whats right for you.....

so in saying all that you can see how i feel towards being a mechanic..........but not all hope is lost......there are a small minority of successful female mechanics lingering.... in sydney a dealer called Rick-Damelian... an Aussie girl whom was pretty much reknowned Sydney wide for being a good female mechanic in a male dominated trade......

good luck with your decision

Edited March 8, 2009 by eeiko321