female mechanic!

bronzy

I just applied for an apprenticeship with the CIE in heavy vehicle mechanics. Alot of my friends are guys and they are telling me i made a big mistake, i wouldnt be able for it and i probably wouldnt be chosen, because im a girl. But i really want this.
Anyone have any advice??

bronzy

You dont think i would be over my head?

MrDerp

bronzy wrote: »

You dont think i would be over my head?

Hardly. More women going into medicine than men, and since the human body is a machine, I see no reason why women shouldn't make excellent mechanics.

FGR

If they're really your friends I'm surprised that they wouldn't support you in your decisions.

I can't think of any reason why a woman cannot do this job. Besides I've seen two in a garage in Cork and they seem well on par with their male colleagues.

bronzy

Well thats reassuring! I thought the general opinion would be that its a mans job! Thankfully not

Big Nasty

Why not?

Best of luck OP!

I Was VB

When i was in FAS training as a panel beater there was a burd in it she was on par with any of out panel beating abilitys.

Tho one thing ya have to bear in mind going into a all male work zone is men are all flithy bastards, even more so in the motor trade.

Best of luck!!!

Vicxas

I know a few female mechanics, and they are pretty awesome, go for it!

Tea 1000

Sure in what way would you not be able for it? You either understand engines or you don't! Any physically tough aspect of the job these days is covered by tools, as health and safety regulations don't allow people put their back at risk by very heavy work.
Besides, just cause some dude is able to pick up the engine out of a train, doesn't make him a good mechanic!
Go for it.

bronzy

Oh im not worried about the slagging il get for being a girl, i get it everyday!

How do you mean men are filthy? As in, dirty from cars, or as in sleazy?

Tefral

Fair play to you.. Mechanics in garages have a a slightly easier life than their older counter parts where lifts and such help out so lugging and dragging isnt as much where you would have had a disadvantage.

Ill say this though, i was helping the brother mount the gearbox to my car and theres still abit of strength involved, however im sure its nothing you cant handle..

Best of luck OP..

Owen

As long as you don't mind your hands being in tatters and nails filthy, go for it. There's absolutely no reason why you can't. Some people think strength may be an issue, and while that can be true to a degree with the more difficult removal tasks, it's nothing a good prybar won't sort.

Plus, you'll have a life long grin on your face everytime a guy chats you up and is surprised at what you do :pac:

Tefral

bronzy wrote: »

How do you mean men are filthy? As in, dirty from cars, or as in sleazy?

Not sleazy but theres nothing left out in conversations!! Everything is on the table.. However there are sexual harrasment laws so they cant foul of them...

MrDerp

bronzy wrote: »

Oh im not worried about the slagging il get for being a girl, i get it everyday!

How do you mean men are filthy? As in, dirty from cars, or as in sleazy?

I think what people mean is: it's typically an all-male environment, and all-male environments can lead to less than complimentary discussions about women, so don't expect men to tone back from their every-day banter. Join in the fun, and don't take anything personally.

I Was VB

bronzy wrote: »

How do you mean men are filthy? As in, dirty from cars, or as in sleazy?

Sleazy bastids! Also as a apprentice beware if your asked for the following;

Skyhook
Bucket of steam
A left handle hammer
A Glass hammer
A long weight
A long stand
A skirting ladder

Theres a few more that i cant think of!

chalkitdown

Just a note of caution, there is a world of difference between a motor mechanic and a heavy diesel mechanic. It's a filthy job with a lot of heavy lifting, much more so than normal mechanical work. All the ones that I've worked with were black with grime from head to toe everyday.

MrDerp

I Was VB wrote: »

Sleazy bastids! Also as a apprentice beware if your asked for the following;

Skyhook
Bucket of steam
A left handle hammer
A Glass hammer
A long weight
A long stand
A skirting ladder

Theres a few more that i cant think of!

Water hoover
A3 sprocket

vectra

MrDerp wrote: »

Water hoover
A3 sprocket

A Can of Compression

spurious

The long stand is the best though.:D

-Corkie-

vectra wrote: »

A Can of Compression

And a set of fallopian tubes...:D

Best of luck OP.

Gary ITR

vectra wrote: »

A Can of Compression

-Chris- sells those actually

Gingersnaps

I served my time as a heavy vehicle mechanic back in the 1970's early '80's. I did my first year off the job training with 'ANCO' (early version of FAS). There was one girl in a class of about twenty younglads. She was an excellent mechanic and well able for the job. She was nicknamed "Noballs". Took it in good spirits and was just one of the regular guys. (if you know what I mean)

There is no reason why you shouldn't go for it if you really want to do it. Best of luck.

racso1975

I think it's a huge gapping hole in the market to be honest. I know a load of women that have often said they'd prefer to deal with a female mechanic.

wildefalcon

About time more women joined the profession.

Best of luck, and remember the most important piece of equipment you can use as a mechanic is your brain, followed by your ears and eyes.

bronzy

bronzy wrote: »

You dont think i would be over my head?

There are lady fitters and electricians etc, why not lady mechanics? Course you won't be in over your head. You might meet the odd narrow minded bastad who has a problem with a lady mechanic but they will be few and far between. I was getting a car NCTd in Limerick a year or two ago and one of the NCT testers was a lady. As far as I know you must be a qualified mechanic to test cars for the NCT crowd.

cronin_j

cronin_j wrote: »

Not sleazy but theres nothing left out in conversations!! Everything is on the table.. However there are sexual harrasment laws so they cant foul of them...

That happens everywhere though

At teatime at work I'd often get the girls a twix or a twirl, they love a good finger :pac:

gofaster_s13

Just a word of caution, getting a job in a state body like CIE as a female HGV mechanic is one thing but when you leave CIE when your apprenticeship is completed you might find garage owners a bit more close minded when it come's to hiring female mechanics.

Just as an edit, if it's what you want, definatly go for it, I'm a HGV mechanic and I wouldnt consider doing anything else:D

vectra

I suppose the sight of a split ar$e mechanic bent over the front of your car fiddling with your whatsit is nothing to be sneezed at :pac:

Cmar-Ireland

Anyone have the link to the apprenticeships?

Skuxx

Definetly go for it OP!! Don't worry about meeting old bastads who wouldn't approve! I work as an aircraft mechanic and there is about 5 girls working there as mechanics and they are all well capable of doing the job, well able for the bit of banter and I've never heard of any of them getting any grief from any of the lads cause they're girls! So if it's what you want to do then don't worry what anyone else has to say!!

unkel

Welcome to boards, bronzy and all the best with your career

Tough job being a mechanic but I see no reason at all why a woman couldn't do it!

mickdw

No reason why a girl cannot be a mechanic. Heavy vehicles are a different story IMO. Have you done any work experience in a heavy vehicles garage OP?

Tigger

If it's good enough for kylie

fabbydabby

and i probably wouldnt be chosen, because im a girl. But i really want this.

On the contrary, I think it will work in your favour. Lots of these state bodies have 'positive discrimination' rules where they need to take on a set number of females etc.

All you have to do is get across the fact that you really want it in your application / interview / whatever. Good luck.

bronzy

mickdw wrote: »

No reason why a girl cannot be a mechanic. Heavy vehicles are a different story IMO. Have you done any work experience in a heavy vehicles garage OP?

No i have no experience. Just bits i've picked up from mates. All my friends drive cars and its all we do 24/7 is talk about cars and mess about with the engines. Most of them are being supportive but there are a few who dont agree because i dont know half as much as them about engines etc. But i always thought the idea of doing an apprenticeship is that you dont need to know much but have an interest, and learn as you go along.

bronzy

Sitec wrote: »

You have it in one there! I was a HGV mechanic myself up until 2010. Great job to be honest, hard work but very satisfying. Every engine related problem is diagnostics so I hope your some way capable on a computer but i'd say you are.

When i was in Fas there were two girls from the army doing the HGV course with me. They were excellent mechanics, very thorough.

Go for it you have nothing to loose, I completed my apprenticeship and went back to college to study an Automotive course so even if you dont like it there's still plenty of opportunity after the apprenticeship.

Are the engines the same as car engines or more complicated? The work is no problem at all because its always easier doing something you want to do. I was in NUIM for a year and i hated it. Everyones kinda like "oh you dropped out of college......." but i dont see the point in spending 3 or 4 years doing something you hate.

Bullseye1

There is machinery to lift heavy gear. You will be fine. Go for it.

bronzy

I have to get it first! Haha :P

Plug

bronzy wrote: »

No i have no experience. Just bits i've picked up from mates. All my friends drive cars and its all we do 24/7 is talk about cars and mess about with the engines. Most of them are being supportive but there are a few who dont agree because i dont know half as much as them about engines etc. But i always thought the idea of doing an apprenticeship is that you dont need to know much but have an interest, and learn as you go along.

I started my apprentice about 3 and half years. I hadn't a clue about cars. It was only 2 years into my apprentice that I learned to drive:rolleyes: When I was in FAS the first time there was a girl, she was a plumber. Im not joking she could have been a model but she liked doing the aul' plummin! Go for it girl, I reckon you could be better than most lads. Mechanics isn't about strength or anything like that, its about using your head.

-Corkie-

Plug wrote: »

I started my apprentice about 3 and half years. I hadn't a clue about cars. It was only 2 years into my apprentice that I learned to drive:rolleyes: When I was in FAS the first time there was a girl, she was a plumper. Im not joking she could have been a model but she liked doing the aul' plummin! Go for it girl, I reckon you could be better than most lads. Mechanics isn't about strength or anything like that, its about using your head.

:D:D

LMFAO

Plug

-Corkie- wrote: »

:D:D

LMFAO

Im not joking. The girl was actually one of the best looking girls I came across, an absolute stunner. I loved her in the Snickers work gear:cool:

I'll see can I dig out a face book page pic:p

Gary ITR

Plug wrote: »

Im not joking. The girl was actually one of the best looking girls I came across, an absolute stunner. I loved her in the Snickers work gear:cool:

I'll see can I dig out a face book page pic:p

Plumper or Plumber? There's a world of difference dude

Plug

Onkle wrote: »

Plumper or Plumber? There's a world of difference dude

Oh god my mistake. A plumber, the pipe fixing people. SH!T!!!:D

zom

Sitec wrote: »

The engines are the same as cars in a way, just much bigger.

I worked as a hobby with car and motorcycle mechanics. Must say - its heavy stuff work. Can't say you always use lifting equipment. And believe me sometime one man strength is not enough. Good if you can ask someone for help but sometimes you can't. And to be serious mechanic you should be always ready to do heavy stuff. If you small/skinny person but want to work with cars think about some panel bitter or spray painter.

bronzy

Sitec wrote: »

The engines are the same as cars in a way, just much bigger. 13 or 14 litre turbocharged. The gearboxes are more complicated alright but the basics are the same.

Brakes and suspension are different to cars.

You will have to learn about pneumatics and hydraulics as well but it's all covered very well by FAS.

You will probably be working on light commercials as well like vans. They are the same as a car.

The only thing you wont really learn about is petrol engines but considering you wont be working on them it doesn't matter.

I learned about petrol engines in my own time when i was on phase four in DIT. They have a great selection of automotive books in the library.

Im doing this with the CIE though? Do you think they will cover things just as well? :O

I was looking for a motor mechanic apprenticeship with FAS but they said they have none I dont know half as much about trucks and stuff than i do about cars! But the way im lookin at it is mechanics is mechanics. Just gona go from there!

bronzy

bronzy wrote: »

I was looking for a motor mechanic apprenticeship with FAS but they said they have none

You need to find employment as an apprentice before FAS will be needed, FAS don't give out apprenticeships, they train apprentices

bronzy

RoverJames wrote: »

You need to find employment as an apprentice before FAS will be needed, FAS don't give out apprenticeships, they train apprentices

But what if i find employment and im there 3 years or whatever and then i dont get papers? My friend has been a mechanic for 4 or 5 years, he was trained in a garage and told it was an apprenticeship but here he is years later with no papers to show for it. Im afraid that i will get somewhere who will take me on but i will be working hard with nothing to show in the end?

bronzy

Sitec wrote: »

Strange you should say that because in my local area dealers are recruiting apprentices.

I knew very little about truck's going in to my apprenticeship but they grow on you. The technology in HGV's these days is amazing, so if your interested in mechanics and not dump valves you will really enjoy it.

As regards CIE, do they not send apprentices to FAS?

Even if they don't the training will have to be on par to get your cert.

Where are you???????

I am very interested in mechanics! I dont know an awful lot but im so keen to learn its un-natural! But then again id be lying if i said i wasnt interested in dump valves either! :P

I dont know what way the CIE works. But im hoping to find out.

DublinDilbert

If your genuinely interested definitely go for it.

I'm not sure if it's been mentioned but long term it would have good prospects, I know loads of women that would prefer to deal with a female mechanic....

bryaner

C.I.E and heavy work that's a laugh, you should have no problem op, best of luck..;)

bronzy

bronzy wrote: »

But what if i find employment and im there 3 years or whatever and then i dont get papers? My friend has been a mechanic for 4 or 5 years, he was trained in a garage and told it was an apprenticeship but here he is years later with no papers to show for it. Im afraid that i will get somewhere who will take me on but i will be working hard with nothing to show in the end?

From the outset both parties must be clear that it is an actual apprenticeship with block release to FAS. If you are there 3 or 4 years and never darken FASs door than how can you expect to be getting papers.

I think you really really need to do some research on this mechanic lark before going any further