Auto Apprenticeship In Canberra

[JD_R33]

The young bloke is finishing Y12 this year and thinking about doing an automotive apprenticeship next year, so thought I would throw it out to the SAU brains trust for anyone's advice or experiences.

It's been a very long time since I got grease under the fingernails for a living, and I didn't get to do an apprenticeship, so don't really feel qualified enough to steer him in the right direction.

Any input on good places to work (e.g. dealerships vs private workshops) or places and things to avoid would be much appreciated.

Cheers,

JD

PS - this has got absolutely nothing to do with me getting my cars fixed for free some day. Definitely not, the thought never even crossed my mind.

[Trozzle]

You sneaky bugger

[Sinista32]

One of my sons did an automotive apprenticeship and got his ticket.

He found that working at a dealership to start with for over a year was mainly a gopher job . His interest was not in washing/cleaning cars nor just servicing - oil, oil filter, fuel filter, plugs etc... They still treat apprentices like dumb ass lackeys, so he found a performance engine building shop to do his apprenticeship, which was alot more interesting.

After he obtained his certificate he left the trade. The money was never good and didn't get much better.

Although I would always reccomend the young folk get qualified in something to fall back on.

[Shaynesspk26]

The pay is really bad I'm a 4th year apprentice when I stared at tech there was 200 new apprentices in my year now there is only 13 and of the 13 only 3 plan to stay in the trade after they qualified so u have to love what u do

[Jimmy_8472]

Agree with Sin.

If he has a genuine interest in mechanics then make sure he doesn't do an apprenticeship at a dealership otherwise he'll quickly lose that interest.

private shops are the way to go, but there are some bad ones out there.

[sweefu]

My thoughts would be to aim for a more specialised shop, either a performance shop, differential shop which still does full servicing etc. I've had friends experience working at Rolfe Subaru as an apprentice, and as mentioned above they are treated like shop assistants rather than apprentices. Smaller private shops and specialised shops seem to be the go for interesting, slightly more fun work to do.

[staticc]

I was an apprentice mechanic. I stuck at it for 2.5 years. The pay is one of the worst out there and if you are in a place that doesn't let you work on the cars then the first few years are boring. If he loves it then I would suggest it. If he wants earning potential, his looking at a long time before a good wage comes to him.

I suggest he does some work experience and see if he likes it first.

[rig136]

I know its not automotive, but what about aircraft maintenance? still nuts and bolts and u can get a pretty decent wage out of your apprenticeship. He has to be fairly ken on it though, alot of responsibility and such. shoot me a pm if he wants to have a bit of a chat about it. im just out of my time as engine airframe and still love it

[zebra]

I know its not automotive, but what about aircraft maintenance? still nuts and bolts and u can get a pretty decent wage out of your apprenticeship. He has to be fairly ken on it though, alot of responsibility and such. shoot me a pm if he wants to have a bit of a chat about it. im just out of my time as engine airframe and still love it

I can has aircraft LAME?

I fkn love planes...always have

I'd be happy to work on them for next to nothing

[Sinista32]

Any chance of seeking an apprenticeship in the forces just to mix it up a bit. Get qualed in the forces !

Woot or Wat ?

[rig136]

I can has aircraft LAME?

I fkn love planes...always have

I'd be happy to work on them for next to nothing

lol fair enough. not a LAME yet but getting there.

[zebra]

How did you get into it?

[rig136]

I did a pre apprenticeship tafe course in aeroskills in Adelaide and then got an apprenticeship in Tamworth. The tafe course gave me a year RPL and I did 3 years there and moved to canberra as an AME

[zebra]

Cool. But I don't wanna move around anymore lol

[rig136]

You might be able to find something locally if your keen but u'd more than likely have to move

[a20089]

From a shops point of view, aprents can be time consuming for little gain.

Most want to be rebuilding engines on day 1 and could not be bothered demonstrating they know the basics (what they are there for in first year). Crap pay but as stated they leave after so long, so all the investment in time and risk is eventually wasted.

A good apprentice is worth their weight in gold, most are a waste of time and so they all get treated that way. Get rid of these without a drive to succeed in the first year, then start teaching those that make it to 2nd year.

[JD_R33]

Thanks for all the info folks

I will run it all by him and see where we go from here.

Cheers,

JD

[svarl]

dunno if ur still looking but i did my apprenticeship with Lube Mobile and bassically from day one i was working on cars and doing all repairs etc only day i really had to clean which was more just tidy up was on a friday when the manager didnt go out on the road and the good thing is ur not stuck in a workshop and you have various makes and models u work on from holdens to audi's, etc. even at the moment we are looking for an apprentice as ive just finnished my time.

and there is a lot of support aswell if u ever get stuck 6 managers on call all who are mechanics aswell as 300+ mechanics on the road.

pay while an apprentice is as expected but once qualified with them you can take home quite alot some guys are taking 1300+ a week easily then they work sat so take home a fair bit.

but yea just tought i would give my 2 cents since ive just been there.

Mark

[azathoth]

I really should finish my apprenticeship, i got to end of my third year then got jack of the money.

Really don't want to take a massive pay cut now though.