Advice needed - 25 too old to become a mechanic?
Discussion
Hi All
Just signed up to this site today to seek some advice really.
Im 25 now working in IT sales. I currently live in Spain but after 5 years here, beginning to miss UK (believe it or not).
Im writing this thread whilst sat at my desk, bored as hell with my job and not enjoying it at all. I really believe that sitting at a desk day in day out is not for me.
Due to my interest in cars, i figured why should I not work within the motor industry.. combining interest with career?
Upon my return to the UK I would like to train to become a car mechanic. Now, from the little research i've done, it would appear the best route is through an apprenticeship, which is aimed mainly at school leavers 16/17 yrs old.
I just wondered if anyone else learnt to become a mechanic at an older age and what are the options open to me (if any)?
I just dont believe that a career as an auto mechanic can only be available to young school leavers, surely there is something out there for older people? I hope.....
Just signed up to this site today to seek some advice really.
Im 25 now working in IT sales. I currently live in Spain but after 5 years here, beginning to miss UK (believe it or not).
Im writing this thread whilst sat at my desk, bored as hell with my job and not enjoying it at all. I really believe that sitting at a desk day in day out is not for me.
Due to my interest in cars, i figured why should I not work within the motor industry.. combining interest with career?
Upon my return to the UK I would like to train to become a car mechanic. Now, from the little research i've done, it would appear the best route is through an apprenticeship, which is aimed mainly at school leavers 16/17 yrs old.
I just wondered if anyone else learnt to become a mechanic at an older age and what are the options open to me (if any)?
I just dont believe that a career as an auto mechanic can only be available to young school leavers, surely there is something out there for older people? I hope.....
You can do a full time or evening course in vehicle mechanics to gain a recognised qualification, but the reality is that you will be surrounded by knucklehead 16 year olds who are only there because their parents have been on at them to find a job and as they like cars they want to be a mechanic. This isn't stereotyping, this is a fact.
I looked into doing one myself a few years ago as an evening class purely for my own knowledge gain and to put on my CV, but I was put off by the people I would be 'in class' with plus the fact that it starts off with the basics of the basics ie. it is a long stint of learning about combustion and theory before you are let loose on cars and as someone who knows that along with basic mechanics ie servicing and brakes already it wasn't worthwhile.
Your best bet if you are serious is to approach dealers asking if they have any apprentice positions available and go in that way ie 4 days a week as someones apprectice and 1 day a week at college. I'm sure they'd rather take on someone older for the same money.
However my personal advice is to think long and hard as to whether this is what you really want to do, short term on terrible wages and long term on hardly fantastic wages. You'll be on apprentice wages for at least a couple of years and even full pay isn't fantastic as a career. Couple in the often high pressure rush environment of most workshops, working in all weathers and book times to meet unless you want to be constantly questioned. Your absolute ceiling wage even as a valued and fully competent and trained mechanic will struggle to break 20k a year.
Plus there are always plenty of good mechanics looking for jobs, especially at the moment given dealer and garage closures so competition is usually quite high.
And then there is the small fact that job satisfaction is rarely high and the work is often mundane and far from skilled and most mechanics are either happy to plod along or moan about getting out of the motor industry. Career progression is virtually non existant.
I looked into doing one myself a few years ago as an evening class purely for my own knowledge gain and to put on my CV, but I was put off by the people I would be 'in class' with plus the fact that it starts off with the basics of the basics ie. it is a long stint of learning about combustion and theory before you are let loose on cars and as someone who knows that along with basic mechanics ie servicing and brakes already it wasn't worthwhile.
Your best bet if you are serious is to approach dealers asking if they have any apprentice positions available and go in that way ie 4 days a week as someones apprectice and 1 day a week at college. I'm sure they'd rather take on someone older for the same money.
However my personal advice is to think long and hard as to whether this is what you really want to do, short term on terrible wages and long term on hardly fantastic wages. You'll be on apprentice wages for at least a couple of years and even full pay isn't fantastic as a career. Couple in the often high pressure rush environment of most workshops, working in all weathers and book times to meet unless you want to be constantly questioned. Your absolute ceiling wage even as a valued and fully competent and trained mechanic will struggle to break 20k a year.
Plus there are always plenty of good mechanics looking for jobs, especially at the moment given dealer and garage closures so competition is usually quite high.
And then there is the small fact that job satisfaction is rarely high and the work is often mundane and far from skilled and most mechanics are either happy to plod along or moan about getting out of the motor industry. Career progression is virtually non existant.
Thanks for the advice guys!
Well.. I've thought about being a mechanic in Spain, but studying in another language just makes it 10 times more difficult, and although I speak intermediate Spanish, studying engines in Spanish is a whole new language.
My plan was to actually study in UK, get some experience in a garage and then maybe move back to Spain and open up my own garage. But first - I need to get the qualifications and experience.
I would like to not just know the mechanical side of things, but also modifying car bodywork etc. .the full works - which I think could be quite lucrative?
Anyway, I guess I still need to think long and hard about this, explore my options... but your advice is appreciated! Cheers.
Well.. I've thought about being a mechanic in Spain, but studying in another language just makes it 10 times more difficult, and although I speak intermediate Spanish, studying engines in Spanish is a whole new language.
My plan was to actually study in UK, get some experience in a garage and then maybe move back to Spain and open up my own garage. But first - I need to get the qualifications and experience.
I would like to not just know the mechanical side of things, but also modifying car bodywork etc. .the full works - which I think could be quite lucrative?
Anyway, I guess I still need to think long and hard about this, explore my options... but your advice is appreciated! Cheers.
jez25 said:
Thanks for the advice guys!
I would like to not just know the mechanical side of things, but also modifying car bodywork etc. .the full works - which I think could be quite lucrative?
That's quite a lot to learn!! In fact, that's too much for one person to do effectively if you're planning on being successful off the back of it. The more successful mechanic type business IMO are those which specialise, either on one type of area (such as turbocharging, or remapping), or alternatively specialise on one make/model of car (TVR Power would be a good example). I would like to not just know the mechanical side of things, but also modifying car bodywork etc. .the full works - which I think could be quite lucrative?
That said, any business can be lucrative, but don't for one moment underestimate how difficult it would be to make decent money from simply mechanical work or modifying. There's plenty of people I know that are superb mechanics, or specialise in one area, and still just "get by" like the rest of us!
Unless your intention is to go and work at a main dealer and stay there I would say forget it.
I know lots of GOOD people scattered all over the motor trade and they are struggling to make a good living.
There is a big difference between liking cars as a hobby/interest and making a living out of them - I have done both.
Good luck with it if you give it a go.
I know lots of GOOD people scattered all over the motor trade and they are struggling to make a good living.
There is a big difference between liking cars as a hobby/interest and making a living out of them - I have done both.
Good luck with it if you give it a go.
paoloh said:
I do not know of 1 non main dealer around here doing well at the moment.
Slightly O/T but the only dealers that seem to have gained big time from the scrappage farce are Hyundai dealers. I know of one in particular that have and still are doing very well out of it.No doubt when the bubble bursts they will join the rest though but at least they will have punters for the workshop. Not exactly sure where this is going, but it ain't a nice place.
Ribol said:
paoloh said:
I do not know of 1 non main dealer around here doing well at the moment.
Slightly O/T but the only dealers that seem to have gained big time from the scrappage farce are Hyundai dealers. I know of one in particular that have and still are doing very well out of it.No doubt when the bubble bursts they will join the rest though but at least they will have punters for the workshop. Not exactly sure where this is going, but it ain't a nice place.
paoloh said:
Ribol said:
paoloh said:
I do not know of 1 non main dealer around here doing well at the moment.
Slightly O/T but the only dealers that seem to have gained big time from the scrappage farce are Hyundai dealers. I know of one in particular that have and still are doing very well out of it.No doubt when the bubble bursts they will join the rest though but at least they will have punters for the workshop. Not exactly sure where this is going, but it ain't a nice place.
Ribol said:
paoloh said:
Ribol said:
paoloh said:
I do not know of 1 non main dealer around here doing well at the moment.
Slightly O/T but the only dealers that seem to have gained big time from the scrappage farce are Hyundai dealers. I know of one in particular that have and still are doing very well out of it.No doubt when the bubble bursts they will join the rest though but at least they will have punters for the workshop. Not exactly sure where this is going, but it ain't a nice place.
I totally agree with you and selling cars, means the service depts are kept busy with prep and warranty work.
To maintain, or gain, a respectable income you need to work for a main dealer, stay with them and progress - at somewhere like BMW, a fully trained service technician with all diagnostic techniques will earn more than you think. You could then try and sidestep into the management side, IE service manager, etc. £40k a year is not an unreasonable target within a prestige environment, but lots to learn and a lot of training.
Either that, or set up on your own after having gained relevant experience. I know of a couple of mobile guys that earn good money, relatively speaking, but you have to put up with s
tty working conditions.
However much you like cars, you wont attain a decent income level as a standard spannerman. You either need to specialise, work for yourself or go down the dealership route.
Whatever way you choose, competition is fierce!
Either that, or set up on your own after having gained relevant experience. I know of a couple of mobile guys that earn good money, relatively speaking, but you have to put up with s
tty working conditions.However much you like cars, you wont attain a decent income level as a standard spannerman. You either need to specialise, work for yourself or go down the dealership route.
Whatever way you choose, competition is fierce!
Edited by Rollcage on Saturday 9th January 11:33
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