How to become a mechanic?
 

Hi guys,

This is mainly a question for those of you who have successfully got a job in the auto industry. I have been working on cars for years, and love getting my hands dirty. I have been couped up in an office for the last several years and now with my 30 birthday coming up I want to make a change and do something I actually love for a change. I'm interested in becoming a mechanic, and after that working my way into the customizing side of things. My question is: after a lot of soul-searching, and a little research I've become a little discouraged. I don't know a lot of certified mechanics, have never taken my car to a garage other than for an alignment.....so I'm not quite sure how to break in to the industry. I know the first and most common way is to get an apprenticeship, but after reading one too many horror stories of guys being used for "cheap" labour, I'm slanting towards looking at a different avenue, perhaps some Pre apprenticeship training. Anyhow, I'm just wondering if anyone out there that has made a go of things can give me some advice on what to do, or where to go. Maybe even share some horror stories of lessons learned.

Thanx in advance to anyone who has anything to share,
Chad

im not in the auto industry as yet, but i have worked at a BMW Dealership and got to work in the shop for a few months. From what i heard from the successful mechanic's is that the best thing to do is start off at a small shop. Reason why......cause you will learn a lot more then some guy who works at BMW, Benz, Lexus, etc.

Once you do have some good knowledge you gonna want to move to bigger shop's like BMW, Benz, Lexus, etc ....cause well, thats where the money is at. Small shops you gonna learn a lot but may not make as much as the guys at BMW.

Go to Canadian Technicians site .
Heres a run down on being a mechanic Red seal class A automobile and truck licence . Cant work on heavy stuff cause of 3 banged up discs.
Licenced since 93 Make 20 bucks an hour , no benefits , dental , medical , nothing . 2 weeks hollidays .
On the other hand my ol lady has worked at a plastics factory making abs pipe an roof vents , started 6 months ago. Will be16 bucks an hour in 6 more months . Shift premium for nights,2 hours free legal fees in case of divorce whatever , 2 for 1 passes to cineplex theaters. medical , dental , eye glasses, life ins, stock/share buying plans , pension , retirement plan.sick days 3 weeks hollidays a year.they come around and make you drink cool water on hot days or nights. covered for chiropractic care, even accupuncture if work related reasons.
They even have company psychiatric care availible .
Should i go on ??.
Unless you plan on owning your own business , or working for benz or something like that. Or police , city works . Dont waste your time , go do something else . After 5 yrs of working on other peoples , you,ll be hard pressed to be able to even work on your own stuff , even with alcohol induced stimulants..77.

Thanx for the feed-back so far. .77 I've heard what your saying from almost every mechanic I've talked to. Most of them discourage getting into it and I know its not easy on the body. I do want to get into the high end cars, thats my main passion cause they definately pay well and I feel with everything going electronic, and the fact that cars will just keep coming off the assembly line its a solid future with lots of opportunities once you get the experience. I may be naive, I know but its something I've been telling myself to pursue for the last ten years now. There is just nothing else I like to do. I'm gonna check that site out right now, many thanx...keep the input coming guys

I used to be an apprentice mechanic...No matter how much training you have, you still have to go through the apprenticeship to become licensed.
.77 summed it up nicely. Wages aren't great, work is inconsistent, benefits are often missing etc etc.
If you're looking at trades: electrician, HVAC, carpenter, plumber...Among others, these are all going to pay more than the typical mechanic position, as well as being unionized.
Of course, mechanics aren't unionized...One of the many reasons they get ****ed over so bad.

A friend of mine works in a company that reinsulates heating and cooling pipes in factories , schools , hospitals etc . 5 yr apprenticeship , unionized, start at 22 , go up to 28 by end of training . Then when you go into union , after training , its up to 32 bucks an hour ..77.

I'm a certified Tech on the Truck and Coach side of the industry, Benefits are good. $25-30 an hour in the oem sector (I work at a Dealer)

Breaking into the Truck and coach side is way less painless than auto
Pay is way better for the younger guys. and we work straight time, they wont offer flat rate cause we'd make too much money.

The trick to Truck and Coach is to not work at a small shop., a dealer will have more training and more equipment. they can also cover up a mistake with warranty...

Good luck with your choice, I've been licenced since I was 29 and I'll never be unemployed because of it. we are a dying breed....no one wants to do this

i really appreciate all the input everyone. Wow .77 that Canadian Technicians site is a real eye-opener! I guess until you dig real deep everything seems like roses. I definately want to break into a trade but I'm not going to jump into anything. I've though about the truck and coach side of things as well. Its strange...there are more vehicles on the road than trucks probably but car mechanics really do seem to get the shaft, its really sad. I wonder why things haven't been unionized? Not only that but car repair is so technical these days and so much adaptation is needed from day to day, and year to year. I am really starting to understand why so many have tried to discourage me. Seems like most of the trade opportunities are in the states and down on the west coast of canada. I really respect anyone who makes it through their apprenticeship and has made it. Like every other job everyone wants experienced people and there are a lot of people out there willing to take advantage of a newb. I'm a little worried about what to do cause I'm turning thirty soon..I can't see myself paying out the ass for an education and hoping for an apprenticeship that will help me move forward towards the money and not waste more years of my life making 10 bucks an hour