I want to be an auto mechanic

[ncow82]

Is it impossible to change professions and become a car mechanic at 27? The addiction to car tinkering is now so complete I have to quit my job and beg steal or borrow my way in the trade any advice/ warnings? Am I crazy?

[5harp3y]

apprenticeship, c.10k a year if you are lucky

[Cupramax]

Depends what skills you currently have. Tinkering and working for a garage are two entirely different things.

[Talk2Dave]

alot of my friends have done this, albeit a bit younger, as much as they loved tinkering with cars, they soon stopped enjoying it as its basically what they have to do each day.
It's one thing doing it for fun, but to do it as a profession, day in day out is completely different.

[ncow82]

Thanks for the replies so far. Have thought about approaching local colleges but fear it will be me and a class of 15 yr olds. not a good look. Still I'm currently a chef and it doesn't stop me cooking at home. Just wondering if its worth approaching local garages and seeing what they say? hope not to get laughed at really. I'll go out now and have a pop i think.

[RW774]

some tips form an old fart.
Try evening courses. Back in the day semi skilled guys needing their C and Gs for max rates of pay went to night school. Generally a much maturer bunch of guys attend evenings than the spotty faced louts we were!.Get yourself a job as a general hand. Offer to work for free if you can just to gain the experience. Make yourself a valued member of the team.Then be flexible with your rates of pay demands. Take the least you can afford and work as hard as you can. You will be ridiculed but put up with it.listen and learn , conduct your tasks with the utmost profesionalism however meaningless they maybe.Eventually you will become a dependable team member and will be offered a full time role I`m sure.

[ncow82]

Again, thanks for the replies. I didn't think that i would receive any replies. Still not sure what to do now though. Should i approach current mechanics or just try and join a course at a local college? Does anyone here run a garage? what would you say?

[jeoff82]

Im 27 too and am trying to do the same thing as you. I was made redundant from a well paid office job a couple of months ago and I took it as an op to do something Ive always wanted. First of I enrolled in a night class at my local college, no cert for the course but helps on CV. I asked around at garages if they would consider taking on a trainee and now I have a Saturday job at a local garage as a trainee (bare in mind sometimes you will have to be prepared to work for nothing! I work for £10 a day as the experience is more valuable to me atm). I have applied for an apprenticeship with the council too and have a test next week for that. So update your CV and ask around, if you need any more advise pm me. BTW if there are any garage owners in the Bucks/Beds region reading this I am also looking for a PT/FT traniee role also, have some tools and own transport.

[ncow82]

thanks, most people have been trying to put me off. I hate my job at the moment but it still pays the bills, I'm pretty lucky as i can work as little or as much as i need. I'm looking for a career not a just another job. Hopefully i can approach some local garages and see what they say...got to admit that is a little intimidating. Better just grow a pair.