How to become a mechanic

mechcar · 17-01-2012 10:35pm #1

I want to know the steps involved in becoming a mechanic, finding an apprenticeship ect.. any help would be great

17-01-2012 10:37pm

Need a garage to employ you as an apprentice, than register with Fas (if they're still called that), than it's half work and half time in Fas. You'll struggle to find an employer though.

kildare.17hmr · 17-01-2012 10:38pm

Find a garage willing to take you on as an apprentace, they will register you with fas and your pretty much good to go. What age are you, what area you in and are you interested in cars or vans and trucks?

mechcar · 17-01-2012 11:45pm

Im 17 live in north dublin. i love cars and what is under the bonnet. im quitegood with my hands but im better at theory. i know apprentices get paid very little but does anyone know the rate

kildare.17hmr · 17-01-2012 11:51pm

I think first year rate is about 180 a week or so, better than the dole anyway!! Plenty of garages around north dublin, start local to you and start going in to see the service managers with your cv. Good luck with your search lad

couldntthink · 17-01-2012 11:54pm

When i started it was 156 euro a week, that was in 2004. I'd say it's not much more now. Every other trade was paid better and we were the poor ones in FAS. But now at least it's not as dead as the other trades.

If my experience is anything to go by, you need to be willing to put up with quite a bit of ****, kinda like being a first year in school. That depends on the garage also. Don't expect to get to do loads of stuff straight away. Cleaning and sweeping will be a big part of your first few months.

But if you have an interest go for it. Go in person to garages, much better than phoning or e mailing. Always ask for the service manager. If you're really desperate I would consider telling them you'll work for free for a week just to show how serious you are.

If you do get in, registering with FAS is your top priority.

Apprentice Mechanic · 18-01-2012 12:06am

couldntthink wrote: »

When i started it was 156 euro a week, that was in 2004. I'd say it's not much more now. Every other trade was paid better and we were the poor ones in FAS. But now at least it's not as dead as the other trades.

If my experience is anything to go by, you need to be willing to put up with quite a bit of ****, kinda like being a first year in school. That depends on the garage also. Don't expect to get to do loads of stuff straight away. Cleaning and sweeping will be a big part of your first few months.

But if you have an interest go for it. Go in person to garages, much better than phoning or e mailing. Always ask for the service manager. If you're really desperate I would consider telling them you'll work for free for a week just to show how serious you are.

If you do get in, registering with FAS is your top priority.

That is very true,I honsetly taught FAS was total utter crap

kildare.17hmr · 18-01-2012 12:06am

Wouldnt recomend saying you will work for free, all good advice above tho, puttin up with the **** is all part of it but its also part of the fun

goeast · 18-01-2012 1:33am

buy an italian car

Quazzie · 18-01-2012 1:36am

Apprentice Mechanic wrote: »

That is very true,I honsetly taught FAS was total utter crap

Not true. If you apply yourself in the theory side of the FAS phases then it'll stand to you in the long run.

Apprentice Mechanic · 18-01-2012 2:08am

Quazzie wrote: »

Not true. If you apply yourself in the theory side of the FAS phases then it'll stand to you in the long run.

There was two garages toke on apprentices in the last year in my local area through FAS which FAS told me the will be letting me know if there was apprentice job created but saying that I am reigestred with FAS for the last four years & I also tried all the garages in my local area
four years,I am currently doing day release in Omagh doing a City and Quilds qualifactions in AMR which is the same as Agricultraul Mechanics

mechcar · 18-01-2012 10:30pm

Thanks for the advice, does anyone know if an aircraft mechanic is a better way to go??

Quazzie · 18-01-2012 10:34pm

mechcar wrote: »

Thanks for the advice, does anyone know if an aircraft mechanic is a better way to go??

It really depends on your motivation and what interests you more, the practical or the theory. A mate of mine is an aircraft mechanic and he said he hated it because it was so beaurocratic, and regulations played a much larger part of the job. The job opportunities are limited too. Ya won't get too many nixers as an
Aircraft mechanic.

Apprentice Mechanic · 18-01-2012 10:48pm

mechcar wrote: »

Thanks for the advice, does anyone know if an aircraft mechanic is a better way to go??

My uncle is one by trade but saying that the aircraft mechanics in not as they used to be as busy and also he said that work is very scarce

Apprentice Mechanic · 18-01-2012 10:56pm

Quazzie wrote: »

It really depends on your motivation and what interests you more, the practical or the theory. A mate of mine is an aircraft mechanic and he said he hated it because it was so beaurocratic, and regulations played a much larger part of the job. The job opportunities are limited too. Ya won't get too many nixers as an
Aircraft mechanic.

Thats very true, but some compaines dont want people doing nixers

mechcar · 18-01-2012 11:36pm

is it really necessaries to do the leaving cert???

Hellrazer · 18-01-2012 11:55pm

mechcar wrote: »

is it really necessaries to do the leaving cert???

I would say its a definate.Out of all the apprentices we`ve taken on Id say 90% of them have a leaving cert.Thats not saying you wont get one without a leaving cert but it does give you a better chance and proves that you have the ability to learn in a classroom and not drop out at the first opportunity ie the junior cert.

Heres some advice for you if you really want to try get an apprenticeship.

1.Just keep calling on garages.Drop your CV off to every single one that you can.
2.Then follow it up with a phone call.
3.Make an effort in your appearance when you call into a garage--dont go in in a pair of runners and a tracksuit with big diamonds hanging out of your ears and tattoos showing--it puts potential employers off--Wear something decent.It sticks out if someone makes an effort even in just dropping off a CV.

I interviewed a lad last week and he turned up in a pair if runners,skinny jeans,a t-shirt,2 big fake **** diamond ear rings and a tattoo on his neck that was in full view.
This lads CV was impressive for what we were looking for but he wasnt even considered because he made no effort whatsoever at the interview.

mechcar · 19-01-2012 1:13am

Thank you for the advice, I think i look presentable.No earrings or tattoos, I play a lot of golf so i spend half of my time dressed well

mechcar · 19-01-2012 11:02pm

Does anyone know if your pay increases after each year??

Quazzie · 19-01-2012 11:11pm

Yes it does. If by year you mean every second phase, because sometimes two phases can't go on longer than a year depending on how long you've to wait for college

swimfast · 14-06-2012 2:01pm

any other ways to do it any colledge courses ?

Guy:Incognito · 14-06-2012 5:43pm

There doesnt even seem to be a decent DIY course for it, let alone doing a full apprenticship through college.

I've been looking for a good while now to start but there doesnt seem to be much out there. The Quick Fit style of places advertise now and then for first and 2nd years and I've sent a letter with my CV anytime they have, lookign for a start but never get a reply. I've been through an apprenticeship before (Plumbing) but dont have much of an interest in it (ceetainly no where near as wmuch as I would in workign with cars) and coupeld with there being very little work for plumbers either, it's not much fun out there.

Syllabus · 14-06-2012 8:59pm

my advice

do a bit yourself but dont bother with the apprenticeship

do something else - dead end job tbh

what with the intro of hybrids and elec cars the role of the mechanic is only going to keep changing. its more and more computer based

i wish i went to college and did something completely different

How to become a mechanic

Comments