Change of Career INTO the Vehicle Technician Industry

[everson38]

Hey all,

First time posting on her, so be gentle if I make any faux pas.

So I 36 years old and have been working on cars for the past 6 years alongside my main, I where I have built up a small / medi but dedicated customer base from word of mouth. I am wanting to make the change over into the industry full time. I am currently scheduled to start my Level 2 at college in the coming months with the plan to get my level 3, but I want to obtain some experience from people who have been doing it longer, but I am struggling to find any places who want an extra set of competent and honest hands in exchange for some work experience hours. I wanted to see if anyone had any leads or know of any establishments in the west midlands area who are open to this. I have no ego about my learning and simply want to be better and be pro active.

All ideas and thinkings are welcome 😁.

Thank you

[solo2]

I'm not of any use to you but I've been in the Sales side of the motor trade since the late 1980's.

Franchised retailers are unlikely to be interested as there is too much red tape with you not being employed buy them and having set hours etc etc.

A smaller independant/franchise specialist may be more the place that will welcome you. You've probably already tried these avenues though. I think people will find it hard to comprehend you working for free but also be worried you may steal their trade.

[everson38]

Hey Pal,

Thank you for getting back to me. Yes I see your point with the franchised garages thank you for highlighting this. Stealing their trade I also see your point but would be surprised also, because having a good mechanic in my opinion is like a good barber you rarely change willy nilly, so to.lose your customers that easy would be more of a reflection on yourself. I am still reaching out, but currently just.met with "unfortunately no" which again is a little surprising, as all I read is how people are not going into the trade , you would think people would want to get them in, but maybe I have a more rose tinted view of the industry due to coming into it later than average and still having the love. The working for free is more of a selling point for them really, luckily I have placed myself that I am ably to know try to persue another career I am passionate and ideally have no regrets in life when looking back. 👍🏽👍🏽

[Richard-390a0]

I reckon you'd struggle to get into a main dealer as most have their own brand dedicated training colleges / facilities these days, almost like boarding schools for some of our apprentices lol!. I'd also suggest you're at the age most are looking to get out rather than into the trade (I'm still in the trade, but off of my tools at 40). You'll also find the reality of the pressure of meeting timed efficiency targets / bonuses is a world away from pottering about fixing cars at home. Not to p*ss on your chips but there are very real reasons why techs are leaving like rats on sinking ships. There was a good thread on here a couple of years back of someone who was cheesed off 'being on the tools' if you can find it of what the reality is like for most techies these days.

[CoupeKid]

Wasn't there a thread from someone who started a BMW apprenticeship in his 30s? IIRC he went into it bright eyed and keen to learn everything he could and having a career.

He updated it a couple of years later, utterly disillusioned with being treated like dirt and paid a pittance.

[Steve H]

If you are already building up your customer base, keep building!

There’s a decent living to be made in repairing cars but generally not so much if you are working for someone else.