Car detailing career

Philipki

Hi everyone ,

Mightn't get any response to this as I don't think it's an area too many people know about but I'll try it anyway.
I've always been into keeping my car clean to a high standard including polishing and waxing but I'd like to learn how to do paint correction and actual detailing. I've always been into my cars and have an eye for detail.
Is there anyone here that works as a detailer that could tell me how long training takes and what kind of wages before and after you're trained up? There is only one detailing company in my county so it might be worth taking a trip to them.
Thanks in advance!

Curran

- There is no certification for training*; dont be told otherwise
- You are only as good as your last job, and good work brings good clients
- Start off pricing too low and it will be difficult to increase, start to high and without a portfolio you'll struggle to get work
- Wages is worked out by what you'll be happy to accept for your time; plus rent, light and heat, insurance, cost of equipment spread across X amount of jobs, cost of products used to complete the work, and a small % on each job to factor in for the job that just doesn't go to plan
- Its not easy work, but it is rewarding
- You dont really ever stop training; the industry is constantly evolving and you need to keep up with the latest technology in terms of product performance and how to maximize this; that goes for every aspect, be it Last Stage Protection, developments in polish / pads, etc

*There are companies and manufacturers out there who give certification, but at best this only represents the fact that you attended. There is a) no standard to say to what they train to and b) the standard that you have met; unfortunately attendance doesn't reflect ability.
Note: there are companies that offer accreditation - where it is in their interest to ensure that you as a detailer have reached a standard sufficient such that they are willing to recognize the fact that your work is good enough to be associated to their brand. This would be more effective than a cert from X, Y or Z saying that you attended a course in which nobody ever fails!

Philipki

Curran wrote: »

- There is no certification for training; dont be told otherwise
- You are only as good as your last job, and good work brings good clients
- Start off pricing too low and it will be difficult to increase, start to high and without a portfolio you'll struggle to get work
- Wages is worked out by what you'll be happy to accept for your time; plus rent, light and heat, insurance, cost of equipment spread across X amount of jobs, cost of products used to complete the work, and a small % on each job to factor in for the job that just doesnt go to plan
- Its not easy work, but it is rewarding
- You dont really ever stop training; the industry is constantly evolving and you need to keep up with the lastest technology in terms of product performance and how to maximize this; that goes for every aspect, be it Last Stage Protection, developments in polish / pads, etc

Thanks very much for your advice. I know it can be hard to know how much a detailer can earn week to week , but if you were working 40 hours a week for a well established company what could you expect to earn? Even a rough figure would do. I would say maybe €500 a week in a good place but that's just a guesstimate. Thanks again!

Curran

Unfortunately it is very much a case of how long is a piece of string!

- Location
- Standard of work
- The type of work you draw

If you were in London, drawing the type of clients that drive Ferrari's and Lambo's, who are wanting every aspect of the car completed - the car could be in the workshop for a week or more; you could be making 1000's a week
If you are in Mayo and performing a single stage polish before someone sells their car, you could be getting through 5-7 cars a week and making a couple of hundred.

If there is a market for it, where you are located (or are willing to rent a unit and travel closer to where it is), you do a very high standard of work and draw the right clients, there is no reason why you cant make a comfortable living. Its what you make of it. Again, getting accreditation from a leading brand, brings work and rewards that surpass the effort you'd have to put in to gain it (but that's not to be confused with its easy to achieve)

Philipki

Curran wrote: »

Unfortunately it is very much a case of how long is a piece of string!

- Location
- Standard of work
- The type of work you draw

If you were in London, drawing the type of clients that drive Ferrari's and Lambo's, who are wanting every aspect of the car completed - the car could be in the workshop for a week or more; you could be making 1000's a week
If you are in Mayo and performing a single stage polish before someone sells their car, you could be getting through 5-7 cars a week and making a couple of hundred.

If there is a market for it, where you are located (or are willing to rent a unit and travel closer to where it is), you do a very high standard of work and draw the right clients, there is no reason why you cant make a comfortable living. Its what you make of it. Again, getting accreditation from a leading brand, brings work and rewards that surpass the effort you'd have to put in to gain it (but that's not to be confused with its easy to achieve)

London is definitely an area with wealthy car enthusiasts with big bucks to spend. I'm based in Cork and there's only detailing place here. Gonna take a trip to them to chat with the owner about some possible work experience which I'd do free of charge. I'll see how I get on.

Curran

There is more than 1 in Cork.

Work experience in the industry is a difficult one. You have to remember that a top detailer / detailing company has high standards to set, so you wont be let off to practice. You might end up just washing and preparing cars, and not really getting into the juicy stuff that you need to gain skills in.
You'd be best honing your skills on your own car, or scrap panels. Moving onto cars of friends and family building up a bit of history of your work. If you can set a good standard, perhaps than approach a detailer who may send work your work way. They are constantly pestered by people giving responses such as, 'Oh Joe down the road said he'd do it for 125 Euro, how come you charge 250 Euro'...they dont want this type of client, but is perfect for you to get the ball rolling and charge somewhere in the middle!

Philipki

Curran wrote: »

There is more than 1 in Cork.

Work experience in the industry is a difficult one. You have to remember that a top detailer / detailing company has high standards to set, so you wont be let off to practice. You might end up just washing and preparing cars, and not really getting into the juicy stuff that you need to gain skills in.
You'd be best honing your skills on your own car, or scrap panels. Moving onto cars of friends and family building up a bit of history of your work. If you can set a good standard, perhaps than approach a detailer who may send work your work way. They are constantly pestered by people giving responses such as, 'Oh Joe down the road said he'd do it for 125 Euro, how come you charge 250 Euro'...they dont want this type of client, but is perfect for you to get the ball rolling and charge somewhere in the middle!

What other ones are in Cork other than d&d detailing? I think Alpha sud in Blarney and Douglas do a bit of detailing as well. I'd be happy to wash cars for a while and then get into a trainee role after I've proved my worth. D&d were hiring a trainee recently but someone got there before me. They are close to where I am so be worth calling to them for a chat.

Foxhole Norman

I work in D&D as the head detailer in the garage. I'm on good wages there, more than average, even more so than those that completed the college course I was doing.

We are actually still looking for a new apprentice as it didn't work out with the last person we trialed. Pop away up to us or PM to grab my email and send me a CV if you'd like.

But back to your main question, most of your points were answered well by Curran and reflect the state of the industry. It isn't easy for sure and the hours can be long. My average week is between 48-60 odd hours per week and I typically work 6 days with our current load, I don't mind it at all as I love the job but it can at times become too much but we're more than accommodating for time off or just working a standard 5 day week.

Philipki

Foxhole Norman wrote: »

I work in D&D as the head detailer in the garage. I'm on good wages there, more than average, even more so than those that completed the college course I was doing.

We are actually still looking for a new apprentice as it didn't work out with the last person we trialed. Pop away up to us or PM to grab my email and send me a CV if you'd like.

But back to your main question, most of your points were answered well by Curran and reflect the state of the industry. It isn't easy for sure and the hours can be long. My average week is between 48-60 odd hours per week and I typically work 6 days with our current load, I don't mind it at all as I love the job but it can at times become too much but we're more than accommodating for time off or just working a standard 5 day week.

I'll pop up to ye tomorrow , that would probably be the best thing to do. Thanks very much.