Offering to work for free in Spray Shop advice
Discussion
Without dwelling too much on the past I'm 25 and missed oppertunities to gain either and apprenticeship in the subject or other qualification. What are the chances if I were to offer to work for free 1 day a week for x amount of months in order to break into the industry that way. I am under no illusion that in order to become a competant and skilled car body refinisher a lot of years of practice and hard work must be put in. But I figure if someone might be glad of the help and be willing to take me under their wing so to speak. Anyone got any thoughts? I worked for IBM for 2 years then elsewhere as a manager so have plenty of life experience and obvs a clear passion for cars to boot. If this is the wrong way to go about it I will save the 3000 and put myself through college.
Do they do a day release type course for this ?
I took voluntary redundancy a couple of years ago as a friend had opened a garage and I fancied a change. I guess I was fortunate that I could literally just walk into a job and therefore get into the 'apprenticeship' scheme.
I was 29 at the time so you can't be too old, the basic wage you get may be a bit higher due to age.
Best thing to do is approach the college and some local employers to seenif they have any vacancies. The college will know of local places that take on apprentices.
I took voluntary redundancy a couple of years ago as a friend had opened a garage and I fancied a change. I guess I was fortunate that I could literally just walk into a job and therefore get into the 'apprenticeship' scheme.
I was 29 at the time so you can't be too old, the basic wage you get may be a bit higher due to age.
Best thing to do is approach the college and some local employers to seenif they have any vacancies. The college will know of local places that take on apprentices.
SambaS said:
Without dwelling too much on the past I'm 25 and missed oppertunities to gain either and apprenticeship in the subject or other qualification. What are the chances if I were to offer to work for free 1 day a week for x amount of months in order to break into the industry that way. I am under no illusion that in order to become a competant and skilled car body refinisher a lot of years of practice and hard work must be put in. But I figure if someone might be glad of the help and be willing to take me under their wing so to speak. Anyone got any thoughts? I worked for IBM for 2 years then elsewhere as a manager so have plenty of life experience and obvs a clear passion for cars to boot. If this is the wrong way to go about it I will save the 3000 and put myself through college.
I started in that trade when I was 22. I couldn't get anywhere to take me on for an apprenticeship because I was over 21 so they would have had to pay me more than a 16 year old due to minimum wage laws. I ended up going to college where I did the vehicle body repair and vehicle body refinishing courses side by side. They were meant to be differnt full time courses but they were each just 3 days a week so it wasn't too difficult. I proved there my ability and desire to do the job so when employers looked to the college for students to take on I was the first they recomended.I enrolled at a college last year and was accepted onto the course but advised 'due to the state of the country' it was highly unlikely I'd get any help with the course fees, and working full time at the time would have had to force my employer to let me go part time. Mainly because of the fact I couldn't afford the course fees that idea fell through.
Offer to help out by washing cars etc, if you find yourself just doing this after a while walk away as it wont get better, it happened to me. I could do some things but very little considering the time i spent at that bodyshop, i walked away got to the next place i was handed a spray gun and told to get to work best decision i made. What course would the £3000 get you ? What do you want to be Sprayer ? Prepper ? Panel beater ? Fitter ?
I have been in a sprayer for over 10 years now. I didnt get any qualifications till this time last year, you will learn so much more on the shop floor.
You might not learn that much if you manage to get into a large bodyshop as alot of the workforce will be on bonus pay scheme's so wont have time to hold your hand. You will also learn to be a better allrounder than just good at one thing.
Get involved, ask questions , dont be afraid of anything. It can be a very frustrating job at times, dirty , smelly, cold etc... But its very addictive, every sprayer i have spoken to who left the trade to so something else has returned. I was made redundant this time last year, and started uni in september but i still miss spraying cars.
I have been in a sprayer for over 10 years now. I didnt get any qualifications till this time last year, you will learn so much more on the shop floor.
You might not learn that much if you manage to get into a large bodyshop as alot of the workforce will be on bonus pay scheme's so wont have time to hold your hand. You will also learn to be a better allrounder than just good at one thing.
Get involved, ask questions , dont be afraid of anything. It can be a very frustrating job at times, dirty , smelly, cold etc... But its very addictive, every sprayer i have spoken to who left the trade to so something else has returned. I was made redundant this time last year, and started uni in september but i still miss spraying cars.
I did panel beating and spraying as a School leaver for a year or so on the YTS, I never took it up as I did a Printing apprenticeship instead which was a big mistake as there is no work in Printing anymore but there will always be dented cars.
I remember you got a pint of milk a day to drink it was something to do with paint damaging your lungs or it may have been more to do that I liked milk lol.
Be careful and make sure you use the face masks etc as modern 2 pack is a KILLER.
I find its good to have the experience which I use on my own cars, I don't have a compressor but I have done a few good invisible repairs using just rattle cans and a hair dryer over the past few years lol.
I remember you got a pint of milk a day to drink it was something to do with paint damaging your lungs or it may have been more to do that I liked milk lol.
Be careful and make sure you use the face masks etc as modern 2 pack is a KILLER.
I find its good to have the experience which I use on my own cars, I don't have a compressor but I have done a few good invisible repairs using just rattle cans and a hair dryer over the past few years lol.
|http://thumbsnap.com/srDMZ0cD[/url]smugglersvin said:
I did panel beating and spraying as a School leaver for a year or so on the YTS,
I did this too in 1987. Shame they dont do this anymore.That said it was only for school leavers.
OP, you have nothing to loose, if you have the time and money and someone is willing to trial you and teach you then go for it.
You can combine the 2, by doing the course and working for a garage for free on your off days. The YTS scheme was a few days at college a month and the rest of the time at the garage.
I did mine in York, at Polar motors
.........and then joined the Navy
yes, could kick myself not having done this after school as now at 25 I'd be able to focus on starting up my business. Thanks for all the advice everyone another thing i was told by the college is that as I did well at school and got 10 a-c gcses i wasnt able to get help. Should have stayed at home eh?
another thing i was told by the college is that as I did well at school and got 10 a-c gcses i wasnt able to get help. Should have stayed at home eh?I'm in the exact same boat Samba. I'm just about to finish my music degree this year (I'm 22) and I've had a change of heart on what I'd like to do. I'm also wanting to be a car body repairer/sprayer. Currently looking into phoning up/visiting body shops to see if they'd take on a 'free labourer' throughout all of summer. I'm waiting to go to an open day at a college for a body repair and spraying course.
I feel the same that I wish I had done this 5/6 years ago.
I feel the same that I wish I had done this 5/6 years ago.
On being made redundant from the Armed Forces I am in a similar situation but I've found to my surprise that no one is interested even if you offer to work for free, there is too many health and safety clauses, red tape or people just don't want to help. My advice is do not rely on anyone else. Buy the course you want to do but be sure you want to do it and make sure its worth something too!
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff