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Career Change Advice Needed

  • 03-10-2010 11:33PM
    #1
    Aha-shake
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24 ✭


    I've been a delivery van driver for nearly two years now. I'm 21 with a pretty basic leaving certificate (290 points). I genuinely like my job as I love driving and anything car related. But for a while now I have been thinking about how much I'd have loved to have started a mechanic's apprenticeship as a 17 year old school leaver. But I was discouraged from doing so on the basis of it often leading to redundancies and the lack of decent pay for years, apparently. So as a 21 year old, earning around 350 a week with steady employment, albeit relatively unskilled work, am I mad to want to leave it and start up an apprenticeship? More to the point, do they even exist in this day and age, do garages still take them on? While I don't have any experience in mechanics first hand as is (rather not learn from my mistakes unguided on a car a hold dearly) I would like to think I have a firm grasp of the basics of it and I regard myself as a bright and quick learner when it comes to anything hands on. So I don't think competence would be an issue. Just thought I'd put this out there, while I know a careers advisor would be far more appropriate, I'd be interested in hearing people's opinions.


Comments

  • #2
    BostonB
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,056 ✭✭✭✭BostonB


    I'm not in the trade, and know nothing about it. But my 2cents is...

    Good mechanic's with a love of what they do, and an interest in people, are quite rare. You'd have people beating down your door.

    But don't get sucked into the lazy culture in main dealers. But I would expect you'd find it hard to find someone to take you on as an apprentice at the moment. Most are probably letting people go. You might be better finding a local specialist which is busy, has a good rep, and is interest in someone who is keen. Might take ages to find one.

    That said theres a lot of boring routine jobs, in cold drafty garages, and not that well paid. If your happy to put up with that...


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