A mechanics wage and job worries...

[Dischord]

When I was 16 I went to college and got an Level 1 NVQ in automotive vehicle repair. After that though I dropped out and since then (I'm 19 now) I've just been going from one shit job to another.

Recently been thinking about going back to college and getting fully qualified as a mechanic but have heard alot about piss poor wages for general mechanics, like £6 or £7 an hour which to me doesn't justify another 2 years of no money since it's so close to minimum wage.

My ideal job would be a bike mechanic but the course is around 40 miles away and without a guaranteed job at the end of it I don't think it's worth the effort. Would it be worth asking all the local bike garages if they would take me on as an apprentice while I go to college?

Or, anyone got any other unusual trades I could look into? CBA with half-assed jobs for the rest of my life, time to sort it out now I reckon
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[Tiff]

If you really want to be a mechanic,get some main dealer training,BMW's apprenticeship is especially good.Cars are getting so complex now that apprenticeships have changed,and mechanics are now specialising in diagnostics etc instead of just generally doing everything to a car.If I were to start over,this is where I'd go-straight to a main dealer apprentceship for a prestige car manufacturer.Motor trade wages have risen in the past few years to try and attract new blood,and also to keep exsisting tech's.If you have specialist knowledge in the future,I reckon there's good money to be made...I've been in the trade 18 years now,and only do MOT's at the moment,car and bike,and when we are busy,my wages are around £12-£14 an hour. There is always the opportunity later on to go self employed if you want to! Try the car mechanics forum,and try all the websites and sign up for them-Lexus,BMW,Mercedes,Land Rover all have sponsored training I think.Don't leave it much longer or you'll be too old!
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1996 Kawasaki GPZ1100s,1996 VFR750,1980 BMW R80,1982 Kwak Z250B,1992 ZZR1100C,1996 BMW K1100LT,1994 Kwak ZZR600E,1993 BMW R1100RS,1992 ZZR 600D,1988 BMW K100LT,1998 Aprilia Pegaso 650,1994 Suzuki RF900,1991 Yamaha XJ600, 1988 Honda Dominator,1992 Kwak KMX125,1987 Yamaha RD50MX,1984 Honda MBX50.1984 Honda Superdream 125

[TUG]

i have half of the nvq lvl 2, i need to get an aprentaship and do another 3 years to get my lvl 3 in light vehicle repair, but am gunna do it when i can to get that out the way, if you have a passion for it you'll do whatever it takes reguardless of money.
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[Itchy]

Just judging by the local bike shops now the mechanics employed in the summer are always let go for the autumn and winter period.

Also there is the tendancy for home service 4 years ago I'd have not even gone near the bike now I do everything except mend plastics by myself.

The only people I see who are doing well are indies like Pete who is the local excellent bike mechanic (who is having a deadly quiet period right now anyway), and Matt Thomas the tyre man who is also having a quiet period.


I reckon Tiff is right though , many modern cars I've seen whine at you , the guy across the road owns a merc , it TELLS you when it needs a service , you can change the oil + plugs but the dash still tells you it needs it and thus the specialised tool Mercedes uses.
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[Retro-Man]

I run a Land Rover workshop for a living and I am responsible for hiring/ firing techs.

Hourly rates vary greatly dependent on region, but here in cambridge Franchise apprentice served qualified master techs can earn up to £14.00 an hour basic, Whilst techs with little experience if qualified can earn around £8-£10 per hour.

Bed warned though from an employers perspective I am happy to pay for your skills and experience and will pay You top dollar if during the interview you claim to be very experienced / able, if however you don't meet the expectations it's good night vienna...

My advice is to be honest with any prospective employer about your skills and expect to be paid accordingly, once on the ladder achieving skills and experience will see you rewarded properly.

My techs are graded via online and physical exams and a pay grade is awarded automatically on achieving the next level.

BTW expect to have difficulty getting on a main dealer apprentice if your 18 or over as it is considered late with most apprentices starting at 16

Retro
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[Jamie S]

What college are you thinking of going back to ? Deeside ?

[ms51ves3]

I tried to get an apprenticeship with Honda but them turned me down for some scrout. The best place to go would be some sort of main recognised dealer as they spend around £50,000 to train you up so want to keep you as long as possible.

[Method]

I started a VW apprenticeship scheme when i was 16 - straight out of school. I was taking home about £500 a week and working my ass off for it.

The problem i found was that as soon as i could do big servicing and your common repairs (Exhausts, Brakes, Tyres, that kind of thing), i was put on those day in day out, and the only time i was learning anything new was when i went to college once every two months.

I ended up leaving after a year and a half, - completed the first year of the VW scheme at college. This was for many reasons, the actual company running the scheme on behalf of VW was changed over to another company who would basically incoporate all aspects into a huge all-in-one center (which they now have), which meant there was lots of rubbish flying around and problems left right and center - i didnt feel safe. The people at the dealership were complete c*nts to me apart from the odd few, and i was sick of not learning anything.

Just over 3 years on and im sitting here wishing i had stuck at it. Im 21 next year, and as far as im concerned, if i havent spent the last 2 years working on cars in a garage somewhere, then im not going to even be looked at to start the scheme again, even though i would ace my way through the first / 2nd year. Not only that but i dont think i can take the drop in money again now, and finally i would be 24 by the time i completed the course - thats far too old i think

My advice would be to go for a VW / Main dealer apprenticeship scheme, you get all the qualifications, a job at the end of it, prospects, you get that main dealer stamp which is highly regarded (or at least was), it just puts you one step above the rest if you go on one of these schemes!


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[syl]

[panrider_uk]

[syl]

[panrider_uk]

Yes, I'm just saying you can reject a candidate on age grounds before getting to the interview stage and come up with a different reason for it.

Mark
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Current bikes: Honda ST1100 Pan European. Moto Guzzi V85 TT Travel

[Retro-Man]

[syl]

[Retro-Man]

As our company lawyer often says

"With law and the courts, theres the theory and then there is the reality"

Theoretically an employer would have to consider applicants of all ages for aprrenticeships

Realistically, in over 10 years in the business I've only come across one apprentice applicant over the age of 18 and in any case as already said a good interviewer keeps records of each interview, and a formal decision process which as it's meant too, weeds out the applicants you don't want to employ, for what ever reason.

I would guess 99.9% of people over the age of 19 would not fancy working a 39 hour week and attending college whilst earning peanuts that don't cover the cost of training, meaning most would have to take out a substantial loan to cover the difference in earnings and course costs, thats with out taking in to account living costs.
Its simply not sutainable for the average person over 3 months let alone 3 years????
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[MoshizZ]

I've heard from somewhere that the college pay's the establishment who takes you on £1000 a month or something...

Could just be a lie but thats what i heard.

Maybe go from one shit job to another, getting a few quid under your belt and then starting your own garage? Self employed?
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[john1]

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