Becoming an Apprentice Mechanic: Thoughts?

Lt0r3n0 on 10/02/2020 - 04:38
Last edited 11/02/2020 - 11:45 by 1 other user

Hello there fellow cheap asses, I'm 23, male, I'm currently a uni student (BIT), and starting to feel its pointless/over saturated job market/just plain boring etc.

One of my passions since I was a small boy is cars (thanks dad), and as such I've heavily taken interest into becoming a mechanic. I have sent multiple emails to job providers, and done much reading, but there are still some knowledge gaps I'd like filled.

What is it like day to day to be a mechanic? How did YOU become a mechanic? Why? Is it worth it? Do you regret it now? I guess these are more personal questions, hence why a training provider can't cover such things for me. I have like, 0 friends, and I don't really know how to ask people these questions. I'm not entirely confident, but I am motivated to put in 100%. The hard part for me is the 'getting' part. I've never been employed, I've failed most courses I've tried at, and I guess over the years I've just lost all self-confidence and reason to give a shit anymore cause I feel like I'm just wasting my time and energy.

Really like your thoughts. Thanks guys.

Education & Work

Comments

MS Paint on 10/02/2020 - 06:50

+1

Cue Pegaxs…
obit11 on 10/02/2020 - 07:12

Is there a pre-apprenticeship for being a mechanic? Maybe start there.
jimbobaus on 10/02/2020 - 07:31

I work in a mechanical workshop and we just put on a new first year (VIC)
He had completed a pre-apprentice course through a local TAFE
he also had a keen interest in mechanical work and also knew a fair bit already as tends to be the case, most already have some basic knowledge of how to do things
My advice would be find out which TAFES run the programs and go down and talk to them (don't email as they will probably never reply)
and also find a workshop willing to take you on, this tends to be a good start, if you have a workshop willing to employ you the rest is easy.
- t0r3n0 on 10/02/2020 - 23:51
  
  Thanks for the advice, i'll do that! Theres only 1 or 2 TAFE's in the area running the course, but i'll turn up and have a chat
D C on 10/02/2020 - 14:10

-1

Going to be a mostly dead industry once electric vehicles become the norm.

Still going to need panel beaters though. And those brakes & tyres will still need changing.
- t0r3n0 on 10/02/2020 - 23:51
  
  Do you think it might be an idea specialising in something then instead of just "motor mechanic"?
  - D C on 11/02/2020 - 19:34
    
    -1
    
    That's an intelligent response, unlike the person who negged me, lol. Anyway.
    
    The internal combustion engine is dead. Everyone has stopped development, what we have now is it.
    
    Without the ICE, what's left?
    
    The bulk of what a motor mechanic does is working on the engine and drivetrain, and an EV doesn't have any of that. It needs about as much maintenance as your cordless drill, and that's really all an EV is.
    
    So not only will you be learning a dying product (for the most part), the industry will be shrinking as well. If EVs don't need much fixing, who needs that many mechanics?
    
    And all the aftermarket stuff will go too. Repco & SuperCheapAuto won't have a market, how do you 'hot up' an EV? Paint flames on it?
    - brendanm on 12/02/2020 - 09:49
      
      A mechanic cant work on anything other than cars? You would also have to cite a source that everyone's has stopped ice development.
      
      You think Supercheap sell mostly performance stuff? Most of their sales would be wipers, seat covers etc.
      
      You also think electric vehicles can't be modified for more performance? Wow.
      - D C on 12/02/2020 - 20:03
        
        @brendanm:
        
        A mechanic cant work on anything other than cars?
        
        They can become carpenters I guess. There's knowing starting a career that teaches you which end of a valve is which if cars no longer have them in 15 years time. As said, ICE cars will still be around, and so will lots and lots of mechanics.
        
        cite a source
        
        Here's VW: https://www.motor1.com/news/297257/vw-build-internal-combust…. I remember seeing Ford saying similar a while back. Talk to an engineer re ICE, they'll say the same thing.. Why design if there's no long-term market?
        
        Supercheap sell mostly performance stuff?
        
        No, they sell lot of stuff to maintain your car. None of which doesn't exist in an EV. Oil, radiator fluid, filters, tools… all going away.
        
        Most of their sales would be wipers, seat covers
        
        Gunna need a cite for that. Anyway, Big-W & K-Mart can sell that.
        
        electric vehicles can't be modified for more performance?
        
        For example? By the average bogan in their driveway like they do now?
        
        ICE is not going away, it'll become a niche like every other obsolete technology. Christ, IT still uses tape drives. Tape! In 2020!
        
        Don't jump on the bandwagon if it's heading off a cliff.
        
        brendanm on 12/02/2020 - 21:01
        
        @D C: Lol, you missed my point. A mechanic can work on more than just cars. There are lots of industries that will rely on internal combustion engines for a very long time.
        
        There is actually a national shortage of good mechanics.
        
        Your VW article says they'll be building internal combustion engines beyond 2040.
        
        D C on 12/02/2020 - 23:18
        
        @brendanm:
        
        beyond 2040.
        
        A 15-years old design (at least parts will be easy to get), but they don't say how many. 100? 1000? As said, it'll become a niche. Probably only diesels anyway.
        
        rely on internal combustion engines
        
        Generators to charge EVs.
        
        A mechanic can work on more than just cars.
        
        Yeah, we call them millwrights. Or handymen.
        
        national shortage
        
        Be an oversupply soon. Compare the service guide to an ICE car to an EV. What's going to happen to the dealers, garages, Repcos et al when that isn't needed. Oil change? Radiator flush? Muffler polish? What's that, old man?
        
        SuperCheapAuto etc won't go away, they already sell enough non-vehicle related stuff, like nail guns. Maybe they'll start selling toasters & TVs too to make up for that big slow revenue drop. (Wipers & seat covers, lol.)
        
        Still curious as to how you hotted up your EV.
        
        brendanm on 12/02/2020 - 23:22
        
        @D C: Ok mate lol. There are a lot more things than generators. But you know best.
        
        Evs are still computer controlled. They can be limited by the computer, by the motor(s), by the batteries, by the esc, by the wiring etc. Surely you know all this? All of this can be modified for more performance. It's just a large scale version of electric r/c cars.
        
        There will also always be the people who want to lower the suspension, put on stupid chrome wheels etc.
        
        D C on 15/02/2020 - 00:25
        
        @brendanm:
        
        lot more things than generators
        
        And how many of those can be replaced by electric? Small ones like mowers etc? Electric, already happening. Construction, boats, planes & bikes won't be electric any time soon, but they're smallish markets. Anything else?
        
        I can see some construction going electric, look at forklifts. Petrol ones are dead, but the LP gas vs electric argument is the same as for cars, ICE is cheaper to buy but electric is cheaper to run (less maintenance).
        
        The same blah blah happened with corded vs cordless power tools 30 years ago, and now you can barely give corded tools (esp drills) away.
        
        They can be limited by the computer,
        
        We've had this for years, change the chip & it goes faster.
        
        And there you have it, hotting up your EV is reduced to some nerdy stuff and painting flames on it, yay. Might as well hot up your drill.
        
        That's the problem, EVs are boring. There's really not much to fiddle with, so a large chunk of the male population will need to find a new hobby. I ride a bike, they're not going electric any time soon so I can still fiddle.
        
        ICE isn't going away, but in cars? Dead.
        
        Oddly enough EV will produce a demand for motor mechanics in the short term. People will hang onto their current vehicles a few years longer than they normally would while hoping EVs get cheaper. There will one last hurrah for car manufacturers when they dump ICE so business will be good for a few more years, but that time the 2nd-hand EV market will be here and who's going to buy a petrol car then?
        
        brendanm on 15/02/2020 - 12:11
        
        @D C: Sure thing mate. You know it all obviously.
        
        D C on 15/02/2020 - 15:12
        
        @brendanm: No worries mate: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_hominem
        
        ICE is dead, build a bridge and get over it.
        
        brendanm on 15/02/2020 - 15:40
        
        @D C: Will do. It's not an ad hominem by the way, I don't feel the need to discuss something with someone who doesn't know what they are talking about. Anyone that says construction, boats planes are a small market has no idea.
        
        Electric vehicles aren't boring, as I said, go play with some electric r/c stuff. Much more to it than some "nerd shit", which is how modern internal combustion engines are mostly modified nowadays anyway.
        
        D C on 18/02/2020 - 20:26
        
        @brendanm:
        
        Anyone that says construction, boats planes are a small market has no idea.
        
        Yeah yeah, and all those car mechanics are just going to rock up in 10-20 years time and get a job? Nah. Not because they can't do the job, but they're competing withe all their mates.
        
        I used to do forecasting for Komatsu, that was fun for a while. But yeah, I've no idea.
        
        brendanm on 18/02/2020 - 20:41
        
        @D C:
        
        I've no idea.
        
        Yep pretty much.
        
        D C on 20/03/2020 - 15:22
        
        @brendanm:
        
        Yep pretty much.
        
        Tell me all about about construction equipment then.
        
        You know what diesel-electric means, yeah? The diesel engine is only there to act as a generator? And since the only thing that ever goes wrong with is the diesel engine breaks down…
        
        The construction industry would love to get rid of the diesel engine, there would be f-all that breaks down. (Well, aside from the odd hydraulic hose, and any idiot can change those.)
        
        Look at trains as an example. We don't run diesel-electric ones if we can help it. Electric all the way.
        
        And good luck with that career as a motor mechanic: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/19/business/electric-semi-tr….
brendanm on 10/02/2020 - 14:29

+1

You will be a mature age apprentice, which means an employer would have to pay you much more. You are 23 and have never had any job at all?

Your best bet would be to do a pre apprenticeship and do work experience. I'd you are good, someone will take you on, as there is a shortage of mechanics.
- t0r3n0 on 10/02/2020 - 23:53
  
  I have never had a job no. I know I'm not exactly in the best position, but I have my own vehicle and license, and I'm happy to drive or move + take minimum wage just to get my foot in the door. I mean, that is reasonable no?
  - brendanm on 11/02/2020 - 07:16
    
    +2
    
    No, you will have to do unpaid work experience. No one will pay for someone with literally no working experience, and no proven mechanical experience.

Becoming an Apprentice Mechanic: Thoughts?

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