Any vechile mechanics or learning mechanics?

[ManxMatt34]

Hi guys, well i've finally decided to take a step in the right direction with my life, get my head down and learn a trade so that by the time i'm in my early 20's i'm easily employable and can enjoy my life :).

I am looking to become a mechanic obviously through fulltime college/apprientiship. My one question to the mighty org...


When learning to be a mechanic, like any trade is it a nessesity almost to have some experience, or and general knowledge of the paticular trade. I am told not by friends, but just wondered if anyone had any experience, going almost blind but prehaps with a desire or intrest into a trade.

Essentially can you really learn from the bottom of the level with just determination and drive, i am not thick and aslong as i apply myself to something can acheive it.

Do you think this ambition is possible. Matt. :confused:

p.s. i'm now 18, almost turning 19.

[Dave20046]

Aslong as you're willing to learn and aren't a complete academic nonse (think inbetweeners) then you should be aight. It'll come very fast if you're interested and have something you can relate it to, luckily for you you have a bike and a car, no?

[ManxMatt34]

Aslong as you're willing to learn and aren't a complete academic nonse (think inbetweeners) then you should be aight. It'll come very fast if you're interested and have something you can relate it to, luckily for you you have a bike and a car, no?

I may do/say some stupid things, but suprisinly i was expected good results in school until essentially i dropped everything without being big headed i'm not atall thick as i say. Just a lazy ****... but time i get my head down.


Yes i have a bike and car, yes i want to learn, and yeh the main concern really was would it come aslong as i listened and learnt etc... or did you need a knowledge of it already. Well i'm gonna be phoning college tomorrow. Woop. :smt026

[Sean_C]

Like Dave says, if you're willing to learn and have a couple of brain cells to rub together, starting at the bottom is no problem.
I'm doing an engineering apprenticeship. Before I started, I had absolutely no experience with lathes or mills, the most I'd done that would approach engineering is fit a gsxr front end to my SV. Now I'm flying ;)

[DarrenSV650S]

learn a trade so that by the time i'm in my early 20's i'm easily employable and can enjoy my life

:smt082

[Wideboy]

Aslong as you're willing to learn

and there it is right there, that listening and watching. when you get to college and start your apprenticeship you will see the ones that wont make it as they are the ones who **** about, don't do what they're told and dont watch something when they are shown "how to"

i started as a marine engineer...... new sweet f all about any of it same with boat building, carpentry then joinery and machining didn't have a clue, but i simply showed willing to learn, i watched and i listened and i passed it all with a distinction

[Wideboy]

oh and remember starting at a company as an apprentice your expected to be crap so dont worry

[Dave20046]

No knowledge required ;)
It's possible; treat it seriously, be responsible and work your **** off. Most important thing on an apprenticeship (if you're in the workplace) is always find something to do - looking busy at all times is essential. At my first apprenticeship we were monitored by camera at all times so it came natural quickly (ofcourse there was the odd fireextinguisher fight behind closed doors ;) ).
I started with little knowledge in IT I'm now 2 years on supposedly to become a manager at the start of the year*

*whether or not it happens is another matter, but I'll stay optimistic

[Alpinestarhero]

Go for it - but do yourself a favour. Don't learn just the minimum required. Actually learn about vehicles, the intricate details, the engineering required. Clue yourself up on differant engine types, differant valve trains (some cars use cam chains, some use cam belts for example). Some, like the mazda RX8, dont even have pistons. Learn what things like oil does (it does more than just lubricate!) and know when things should be changed, knwoeldge you could pass onto customers so they know how to keep their vehicle well maintained.

The more you know about vehicles in general, the less scared you'll be when you come across something that you havn't seen before as you can relate it to what you've learnt previously.

And insist that you never

ever

ever

work on french cars.

Well, maybe the once if its an "initiation test"

[edit]

Wankel.

[Dave20046]

A* how did you manage to complete that post without using the work 'wankle' once? :(

[yorkie_chris]

Interesting choice for a man who told me "I just put the petrol in!"

[Alpinestarhero]

A* how did you manage to complete that post without using the work 'wankle' once? :(

I shall edit the post for amusment :smt058

[Dave20046]

:lol: thankyou

[ManxMatt34]

Interesting choice for a man who told me "I just put the petrol in!"
:D I do but i do want to learn, just really know almost **** all, thanks to davenumbers i no how to remove the back wheel from my bike, and refit it (well pretty much).

Main issue over here after ringing the college (who are ****ing useless). I have to litreally pick up the phone book and use anyone i know too get the apprientiship then agree with them i will attend college once a week. and work the other 4 days.

College don't help you atall, so i think the biggest problem is going to be getting that apprentiship, if i can atall. Made that call to the college today. :|

Whole thing relies on that really, gonna speak to two people i know who run a garage/ second fella is a fully qualified mechanic.

Then after that as soon as i return from the uk next week will be phoning round. I have a bad feeling i won't get in anywhere me thinks. It's hard enough to get in as a plumber/sparkey anywhere as a first year once your over 16 (come straight from school essentially).

[Dave20046]

:D I do but i do want to learn, just really know almost **** all, thanks to davenumbers i no how to remove the back wheel from my bike, and refit it (well pretty much).
The key to it is the swearing & pointy/vehicle related rambling ;)

[Philbo]

I started out as an apprentice spark, new feck all about it but got some good test results in the, "can you count", and "are you a nutter" tests. The college will only help you out once you have funding in place, or a job as I call it. Beware the big dealerships though, or anywhere else that employes 6 new apprentices every year...there won't be a job at the end of it for you, and being a freshly qualified mechanic aint great when you're competing for jobs with guys who have been in the trade for decades.

When it comes to applying for jobs, some basic knowledge helps, but as others have said nobody expects you to know anything. Sometimes knowing less is better as some employers will see you as a "blank canvas", ready to absorb all the "this is how we do it in this garage" type of information.

When it comes interview time make sure you leave the following impressions, and you won't go far wrong:-
Display an eagerness to learn
Look smart on interview day
Be interested in everything discused
Ask questions, even if it's only "what's that car in for".

[ManxMatt34]

I started out as an apprentice spark, new feck all about it but got some good test results in the, "can you count", and "are you a nutter" tests. The college will only help you out once you have funding in place, or a job as I call it. Beware the big dealerships though, or anywhere else that employes 6 new apprentices every year...there won't be a job at the end of it for you, and being a freshly qualified mechanic aint great when you're competing for jobs with guys who have been in the trade for decades.

When it comes to applying for jobs, some basic knowledge helps, but as others have said nobody expects you to know anything. Sometimes knowing less is better as some employers will see you as a "blank canvas", ready to absorb all the "this is how we do it in this garage" type of information.

When it comes interview time make sure you leave the following impressions, and you won't go far wrong:-
Display an eagerness to learn
Look smart on interview day
Be interested in everything discused
Ask questions, even if it's only "what's that car in for".

Apprieciate the helpful reply there, will bare this all in mind when im back from uk in a little over a week time :).

[jimmy4237]

Starting from the bottom of the ladder is the very hard part. These days vitually nobody offers any apprentices jobs, so if you get one grab it.

Then work your ass off, don't screw up, and you get noticed.

Being a mechanic can be fun, and life learning. If you can get qualified, and can be proven to be excellent,the skills are wanted all over the world. Mechanics can make good money in Canada, and the US, because good ones are hard to find. Even if you go self employed when you get good, is attracting customers, and keeping them, which means being very knowledgeable about all cars, inside and out.....

If you really want to get into mechanics, then phone every garage and ask if they'll take you on, and offer to go on learning courses. What you really want to get into is vehicle electronics.. that's the future, and I know people who make a fortune from doing it already... lucky bassas....

Oh and french cars are to be avoided at all costs. Everything is made of soft cheese, and can be hell to fix. I know....=; VW Golfs are brilliant to work on. Good german engineering at its best

[Wideboy]

Starting from the bottom of the ladder is the very hard part. These days vitually nobody offers any apprentices jobs, so if you get one grab it.

+1, took me 2 years to secure one they don't grow from tree's and handed to idiots like people believe (ok a part from me ;))

also echoing the "ovoid big companies" point, you are also more likely to learn and do more at a smaller firm, going for a big dealership (or any company in a trade) may result in you doing mundane simple things over and over again and not learn anything. most people forget this and start not to care aslong as the money comes in but you will pay for it in the future, if you are offered to do something different do it

[jimmy4237]

I'll openly admit to the fact that I'm not a qualified mechanic with the correct stamped papers, but it's where you start that counts..

My dad owned a couple of dealerships (Ford was one of them), and he had me at the age of 10 driving the cars around the forecourt, and into the workshops.... He also had me doing brakes, and common repetetive stuff like brake pads, bulbs, fuses, oil and fuel filters, etc etc by the age of 12... start 'em young that's what he said....

Then he sold up, and went to diggers, and road haulage... The learning curve took a big step up when you had to deal with the servicing and maintenance of the big stuff like JCB's and 44 tonne trucks...

One day he went out with mum and guests to a boat, and told me (when I was 16), "I want that artic hooked up to that trailer, reversed over the inspection pit, the oil, air and diesel filters changed, the whole artic rig greased where it needs it, all lights and other fluids checked and washed ready parked up outside for me on Monday
I'm late, see you later, have fun......". then left me to it:shock::shock:

And he expected it all done that day, no shoddy excuses or crap workmanship, because he went round that artic when he came back, looking at every nook and cranny to see if I'd cut any corners, but never said a word to me... just smiled....

In this day of HSE, no 16 year old would be given that level of responsibility regarding heavy goods vehicles.... lucky if they were given a spanner for their mountain bike...... But this was way in the past though..

[Dave20046]

If you want to move to sheffield matt I can get you a job ;)

[barwel1992]

any advice just ask , as you know im fairly competent with a spanner (just mesage me on facebook)

ps get ure own tool and have a go on ure bike so u have a bit of a head start

[ManxMatt34]

If you want to move to sheffield matt I can get you a job ;)

I have come very close to moving too the uk in the last few weeks, don't tempt me. And pm pm pm me some details over.... i am still an english citezen, is a possibility... pending being able to afford accomidation. Intrestingggggggg.

P.s. would it allow me to be tied into a college, and is there a college near by i assume (ask a stupid question i know, but i don't know sheffield atall, been 3x in my life... 2 of them involving yourself.

[Spanner Man]

A* how did you manage to complete that post without using the work 'wankle' once? :(


It's spelt Wankel, you wankre :D